Did you know that babies can have cataracts? This is called a congenital cataract, and means that the eye’s natural lens is cloudy instead of clear. Vision could be affected and cataract surgery may be required In about 0.4 percent of all births, congenital cataracts are found or soon develop.* Not all congenital cataracts require… Continue Reading
Cataract surgery usually improves your vision significantly. However, if you have macular degeneration, dry or the more severe wet form, your vision may still be blurry.
Did you know that your blink rate with computer use can change from 20 blinks/minute to 5 blinks/minute? No wonder your eyes burn, feel gritty and tired at the end of the day!
Aniridia is the absence of the iris, usually involving both eyes. It can be congenital or caused by an injury. Glasses or contact lenses to reduce the amount of light coming into the eye can be helpful. A comprehensive glaucoma work-up must be done.
After cataract surgery, the wound must be examined carefully for any leakage. A fluorescein dye is applied, to more easily detect wound leakage. If there is a wound leak, management depends on the severity. Often the wound will seal itself, as it heals. In more severe cases, the surgeon will need to surgically repair the… Continue Reading
Did you know that certain drugs, such as Tarceba, can cause thick, curly eyelashes? Women love this side effect!
Mild epithelial defect after lasik: no symptoms, discomfort, or vision loss, but sent back to surgeon for evaluation. Notice the flap stria, which are a common side effect after LASIK surgery. Often striae are small and asymptomatic, but occasionally they can produce significant visual complaints, usually when the folds are large or involve the visual… Continue Reading
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which the cornea thins and bulges into a cone-like shape. This causes vision distortion and blurriness, which occurs in one or both eyes and often begins during a person’s teens or early 20s. Treatment includes rigid contact lenses. This photo shows the contact lens touching the cornea, causing… Continue Reading
All cataract surgery causes some damage to the corneal endothelial cells. Most corneas recover quickly, within 1 week. However, occasionally, after cataract surgery, the endothelial cells don’t function well enough to keep the cornea clear, causing poor vision and often discomfort. In this case, it takes a few months to recover. Anti-inflammatory eye drops… Continue Reading
A police cop pulled over my patient, saw his red eye, and questioned him for DUI. Did you know that bloodshot and “glassy” looking eyes are associated with alcohol consumption? Episcleritis is a relatively common, benign, and self-limited cause of red eye. It is caused by inflammation of the episcleral tissues. A 2013 study estimated… Continue Reading
Optic nerve drusen are abnormal globular collections of protein and calcium salts in the optic nerve. They are often present in both eyes, but sometimes occur only in one eye. Rarely, peripheral vision loss may occur slowly, but is so minimal that it is not noticeable. Visual field exams may be performed to monitor for… Continue Reading
My in-office nursery is now officially my pre-testing room! To my staff and my patients, thanks so much for your loyalty. It’s been an honor to serve this community for the past 20 years. This community rocks!
Small 1-2 mm, chalky, yellow-white lesions on the inside of your eye may be conjunctival concretions. Treatment is usually unnecessary if you are not experiencing symptoms. They can often be removed with needlepoint forceps or a 30 gauge needle. They can also be removed surgically.
There are numerous benign growths that can afflict the eyelid region. If they are bothersome or suspicious, they can be removed. Usually, they do not need treatment.
Yes! Because you can avoid a corneal ulcer, which is caused by a bacterial infection of the cornea. Extending the life of your weekly and monthly lenses, and wearing them for too many hours are often the culprits. A corneal ulcer is a painful open sore on the clear front surface of the eye that… Continue Reading
Severe retinal damage after a blunt eye trauma caused by a firearm resulted in permanent vision loss. Safety eye wear was prescribed to protect the other eye. So important!
A patient came in for a 2nd opinion on a surgical recommendation. An epiretinal membrane is a thin sheet of fibrous tissue that can develop on the surface of the macula. It is sometimes called a macular pucker, premacular fibrosis, surface wrinkling retinopathy or cellophane maculopathy. If the vision is not significantly impacted, surgical intervention… Continue Reading
Keratoconus is an eye condition where the cornea thins and bulges into a cone-like shape. This causes distorted, blurry vision which cannot be corrected with spectacle glasses. Rigid contact lenses are the only way to correct this astigmatism. Good news! There are designs that are customized to your eye. It can take more visits… Continue Reading
A growth of pink, fleshy tissue on the conjunctiva (the white clear tissue around the iris) is called a pterygium. It can look scary, but it usually isn’t cancerous. The growth might spread slowly during your life or stop after a certain point. In extreme cases, it can cover your pupil and cause vision problems. … Continue Reading
Not necessarily! An eye freckle is called a nevus. It is a common, colored growth, similar to a freckle on your skin. You can have a nevus in the front of your eye, around the iris, or under the retina at the back of the eye. A nevus under the retina is called a… Continue Reading
With more public appearances, I would like to look my best and get rid of my glasses! I found out that I’m an ideal candidate for Lasik. I was worried about my corneal thickness, but everything was OK! I am seriously considering Lasik, as it would really improve both my vision and my quality of… Continue Reading
Dry macular degeneration is a common eye disorder among people over 65. It causes blurred vision, due to disruption of the pigmented layers in your macula. The macula is the part of the retina responsible for your central vision. Prevention and early detection may delay vision loss due to dry macular degeneration. I recommend getting… Continue Reading
White blood cells can penetrate into the corneal tissue as part of the body’s inflammatory response to the presence of bacterial toxins. A corneal ulcer is an epithelial defect with underlying inflammation and involves much more pain, redness, and vision loss. An ulcer is more serious and requires immediate, aggressive treatment with antibiotics taken every… Continue Reading
Corneal pannus is the growth of blood vessels onto the cornea. A common cause of corneal pannus is contact lens wear, particularly if the contacts aren’t fitted properly. In that case the contacts should be refitted, or perhaps discontinued. Sometimes pannus is a result of past infection such as herpes simplex. Sometimes corneal pannus is not… Continue Reading
A bandage contact lens and antibiotic drops taken every 1-2 hours work like a charm! Healing usually takes 1-2 days.
Scleral lenses provide excellent vision and comfort for those with highly irregular corneas, such as keratoconus. However, a poorly fit scleral lens can lead to conjunctival blanching and patient discomfort.
If you have blepharitis, which results in sore, red eyelids, with crusty debris, Demodex mite infestation could be the cause! The incidence of Demodex infestation increases with age, occurring in 84 percent of the population at age 60 and in 100 percent of the population older than 70 years of age. One way to prevent… Continue Reading
A pterygium is an elevated, wedged-shaped bump on the whites of the eye. It can grow onto the cornea. Though it’s commonly called “surfer’s eye,” you definitely don’t have to be a surfer to get a pterygium. But being at a higher elevation with more UV exposure increases your risk for getting it. Most pterygium… Continue Reading
One of the causes of sudden blurry and distorted vision is a macular hole. The macula, is a very small spot in the retina. Prompt referral to a retinal specialist is necessary for treatment.
Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) is common and occurs when the vitreous gel that fills the eye separates from the retina. Symptoms include floaters and flashes in your vision. In this photo, the patient had cataract surgery, so the floater is more visible. Symptoms usually subside over several weeks. Rarely, a PVD can develop into something… Continue Reading
from The Los Alamos Daily Post Online shopping has truly revolutionized the way we purchase things. Indeed, many of us prefer online shopping to in-store shopping. Now, coming to a theater near you, the first online eye exam that gives you a prescription! This is where the lure of “cheap and convenient” is a disaster… Continue Reading
Epithelial ingrowth is the presence of corneal epithelium in an area where it does not belong. After LASIK, epithelial ingrowth can occur in the interface between the flap and the stromal bed of the patient’s cornea. If the ingrowth is peripheral and not vision threatening, it can just be monitored.
I use my optical coherence tomographer (OCT) for evaluating complex contact lenses, such as sclerals. It is important that there is enough space between the cornea and the contact lens. TABLE 1 Applications for Anterior Segment OCT in a Specialty Contact Lens Practice • Evaluating pachymetry and corneal edema • Measuring soft and GP lens… Continue Reading
A scleral lens that is fit too tightly in the periphery can result in vascular blanching. To remedy this situation, flatten the midperipheral curves to loosen the fit.
After lasik, stria can occur. Visual acuity determines their severity and the need for surgical revision.
