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Eye Surgery
Eye
Surgery Most people who wear glasses
and contact lenses wish they didn't need them.
Fortunately, there is an alternative that may reduce
your dependence on corrective lenses and possibly
eliminate your need for them completely.
Laser vision correction has transformed lives. The
ability to see more clearly without the inconvenience
of contact lenses and glasses has inspired people to
explore new horizons in vision correction.
What is
Lasik? LASIK, medically known as
Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, is a type of
laser vision correction that is used to reshape the
cornea, correcting vision.
How soon after
surgery will my vision improve? Most
people notice a dramatic improvement even as they
leave the office. However, every person has different
results. Also, the eye drop medications can cause some
blurring.
How do I know
if I'm a good candidate for Lakik? An
examination, evaluation and consultation by a
refractive surgeon can determine if you are a good
candidate for this procedure. Potential candidates
include:
People who are near-sighted, far-sighted or
astigmatic.
People who are 21 years of age or older, have
healthy eyes that are free of retinal problems,
corneal scars, and any eye diseases are suitable.
People with lifestyles or occupations in which they
are dissatisfied with contact lenses or glasses.
What is
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (or AMD) is the
leading cause of severe vision loss in the United
States and other developed countries. The type of
vision lost -- known formally as central vision --
affects driving, reading, watching television or any
task that requires focusing on small objects.
Complications of AMD can lead to vision loss through
degeneration and damage to the cells in the macula,
that part of the retina responsible for central
vision.
Who is at risk
for Macular Degeneration? Most
people affected by AMD are 50 or older, and risk
increases with age. Additional risk factors for AMD
include:
family history smoking
What are
symptoms of Macular Degeneration
Symptoms of AMD include:
distorted vision (straight objects that appear
curved)
visual hallucinations
loss of vision
If you notice any symptoms, please contact your
doctor at once to schedule an eye exam.
In many cases, though, people experience no visual
symptoms when developing AMD. To accurately diagnose
AMD, your eye doctor will need to dilate your pupils
so he or she can look at your retinas to determine if
AMD is present.
What is
Diabetic Retinopathy Over
time, diabetes can damage small blood vessels
throughout the body. This blood vessel damage can
cause foot ulcers, nerve numbness and kidney failure.
In the eye, it can cause retinal damage. This is known
as diabetic retinal disease, or diabetic retinopathy.
People lose vision from diabetic retinopathy due to
two major causes: swelling and bleeding. Swelling of
the retina can occur when blood vessels leak fluid.
When fluid leakage causes swelling in the central
retina, or macula, vision becomes blurred.
If diabetic retinopathy is severe, the retina
becomes starved for oxygen. Blood vessels may then
grow out of the retina or optic nerve into the
vitreous jelly that fills the inside of the eye. These
fragile vessels can cause bleeding into the eye and
block light from reaching the retina. Without adequate
light, vision is impaired. Bleeding can result in
severe scarring, leading to retinal detachment.
How do I know
if I have Diabetic Retinopathy?
Unfortunately, diabetic retinopathy may have no
symptoms in its earliest, treatable stages. By the
time people notice a problem with their vision,
retinal disease may be advanced and difficult to
treat. This is why periodic screening examinations by
your ophthalmologist are very important.
Diabetic patients should have such examinations
even if their vision is completely normal. An
examination to detect diabetic retinopathy will
include drops to dilate the pupil. Your doctor can
then look through the pupil with a bright light and a
special magnifying lens to see the retina and any
early signs of diabetic retinopathy.
As people can develop diabetic retinopathy at any
time, periodic eye examinations are important.
What is Eye
Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery? Eye plastic and
reconstructive surgery is a specialized area of
ophthalmology that focuses on the eyelids and the
structures surrounding the eye, including problems of
the lachrymal (tear) system and the orbit, the region
surrounding the eyeball.
Procedures include cosmetic enhancement and
reconstructive care following trauma or the removal of
a tumor.
An ophthalmic plastic surgeon is an ophthalmologist
(medical doctor and eye surgeon) who has completed
additional training in plastic surgery as it relates
to the eyes. As surgery around the eyes can affect
your ability to see, ophthalmic plastic surgeons are
the best qualified to perform this delicate surgery
and provide attention to the care of the eye.
What kind of
surgery does an Eye Plastic Surgeon
perform? Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty (repair of baggy or tired eyelids)
Brow lift
Cheek lift
BOTOX injections (for facial wrinkles)
Functional Eyelid Surgery
Droopy eyelid repair (ptosis surgery)
Repair of eyelid malposition
Correction of excessive tearing
Reconstructive Eyelid Surgery
Repair of eyelid injuries
Reconstruction of eyelid after removal of skin
cancer
Management of loss of an eye
Orbital Disorders
Thyroid related eye disorders
Removal of orbital tumors
Repair of orbital fractures
Glaucoma
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that cause
progressive damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma is one
of the leading causes of blindness in the United
States. While the damage caused by glaucoma is
permanent, early diagnosis and treatment usually can
prevent vision-threatening loss.
Who is at
risk? Glaucoma can develop in
anyone at any age. The following people are at high
risk for developing glaucoma:
older adults
African-Americans
people with a family history of glaucoma
What is
it? The most common form of
glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, usually has no
symptoms until there is extensive loss of
vision.,p> Acute angle-closure glaucoma usually
causes severe symptoms because of the sudden rise of
pressure in the eye. These symptoms include pain in
the eye, blurry vision, halos around light, bloodshot
eye, nausea, vomiting and headache.
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