Cataracts:
What’s a cataract?:
The lens in the eye is normally crystal clear. When it becomes cloudy it is called a cataract. Cataracts usually develop slowly with symptoms of blurred vision, decreased color perception and the feeling of a "film over the eye".

Who Gets Cataracts?
Cataract formation is a normal aging process. Most cataracts develop in the elderly, however, they can be present in the young or as a result of injury, certain disease processes certain medication, or excessive ultraviolet radiation.
 
Treatment:
Unless the cataract is causing visual difficulty, surgical treatment may not be necessary. Frequently a change in the eyeglass prescription may be all that is needed improve the vision. When corrective lenses or contacts no longer provide adequate vision, surgery is the only treatment. .
If the cataract develops to the point that you are unable to see well enough to carry out your normal activities, you should be examined to determine if surgical removal is indicated.
THERE IS NO LASER REMOVAL OF CATARACT
 
Cataract Surgery:
If surgery is indicated, the procedure is done as an outpatient procedure (no overnight stay) at a local hospital or outpatient surgery center.
Thru a small incision the cataractous lens will be removed and replaced with an intra ocular lens implant.
Surgery is performed using LOCAL ANESTHESIA, not general anesthesia.
You will be required to have a physical examination by your private medical doctor. Your doctor and I will determine whether an EKG, chest X-r-ay add/or blood work is needed.

Post Operative Care:
You will need several post cataract surgery follow-up examination to monitor the healing procesS8. During this time you will be using antibiotics/anti-inflammatory medication on the eye. After the eye has healed, glasses may be prescribed or a change in your current prescription may be needed for optimum post operative vision.

Does a cataract recur?
NO, since the cataractous lens bas been removed, it does not return. Occasionally opacity of the posterior lens capsule that remains in the eye at surgery develops.
If the posterior lens capsular opacity causes vision problems or glare, a YAG capsulotomy can be performed in my office.

GLAUCOMA:

What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease of the eye in which usually the fluid pressure in the eye rises and causes damage to the optic nerve with resultant blinding- Tile most common glaucoma, chronic open angle glaucoma, has no early symptoms. Frequently called the "Sneak Thief Of Sight”, glaucoma if untreated can cause blindness.

Types of Glaucoma:
The most common glaucoma is chronic open angle glaucoma. This type is thought to be cause by inadequate drainage of the fluid normally produced in the eye. There are generally no symptoms because the damage is so slow.
Narrow angle glaucoma or angle closure glaucoma develops when the drainage angle in the eye becomes so narrow that the normal eye fluid is blocked from draining normally, The pressure rises rapidly often causing pain, blurred vision and halos.
 
Low-tension glaucoma is glaucoma without the elevated pressure. Optic nerve damage and vision problems are identical to glaucoma with elevated pressure.
Glaucoma can also be secondary to medications, diseases, injury, etc.
Who Gets Glaucoma:
Glaucoma is most commonly found in individuals over the age of forty. African Americans and those with a family history of glaucoma are at greater risk of developing glaucoma.

Nearsightedness and diabetics are also considered risk factors.
Certain medications and diseases (diabetics, uveitis) also may cause the development of glaucoma.

There are no early warning signs so regular eye examinations are important for early diagnosis and early treatment.

How is Glaucoma harmful?
When the ocular pressure is too high, the optic nerve is damaged which results in vision loss. The vision loss is usually slow and starts at the periphery of the visual field. If glaucoma is untreated, the peripheral vision loss slowly extends to include the central vision and blindness results.

Symptoms of Glaucoma:
The symptoms of glaucoma vary, depending on the type.
Primary open angle or chronic open angle glaucoma generally does not have any symptoms. The disease develops painlessly and so slowly that there are no early warning signs or symptoms. The damage develops so gradually that yon will not notice a problem until your central vision is disturbed. At that point the glaucoma is very advanced.

Angle closure glaucoma, which results from a sudden blockage of the fluid drainage in the eye, may cause sudden blurred vision, pain and halos.

How is glaucoma detected?
Because there usually are no symptoms associated with glaucoma, you should have a comprehensive annual eye examination. Tonometry will be performed during the examination to determine your intra ocular pressure. Your optic nerve will be evaluated and a visual field examination, corneal pachymetry and a nerve fiber evaluation will be performed.

Treatment:
Glaucoma is usually treated by eye drops and/or pills that must be taken regularly. Occasionally, laser therapy or surgery may be necessary.

Treatment does not restore vision loss that has already occurred due to glaucoma.

Regular eye exams for early detection of glaucoma are important.

Glaucoma cannot be prevented or cured. Early detection and treatment can control glaucoma and reduce the chances of optic nerve damage and blindness.
Ocular hypertension:
Ocular hypertension is an elevation of the eye pressure above the range considered normal but with no changes in vision or damage to the eye.
Ocular hypertension must also be closely monitored to determine if it is developing into glaucoma.
 
Ocular hypertension may be treated with eye drops or only monitored, depending on pressure, risk factors etc.