Cataract Lens Dislocation

Although rare, a cataract lens implant can dislocate after surgery. Dislocations can occur in the early post-operative period of cataract surgery or even several years later. Any weakness to the zonular support structures or capsular bag that holds the lens implant can place a patient at risk for lens dislocation.   Symptoms of this condition… Read more »

Ever Need Cataract Surgery Twice?

With over 3 million operations performed annually in the U.S., cataract surgery is extremely common.  But does it ever need to be performed twice? Once a cataract is removed, it does not grow back. That being said, there are rare instances when patients may need another surgery months or years after their initial cataract surgery… Read more »

Are Your Eyes Feeling Your Stress?

Our eyes are truly the windows to our souls. They also give important clues and are general indicators of our overall wellness. With many of us feeling stress at this time, it is important to note that even our eyes can be affected.  During stressful times, you may notice familiar symptoms with increasing frequency, or… Read more »

Options for Treating Thyroid Eye Disease

The popular TED conferences feature inspiring talks about technology, entertainment or design. This “TED Talk,” however, is focused on thyroid eye disease (TED) and expands upon my January/February article about how the small thyroid gland affects the entire body, including our precious eyes.  If someone with thyroid dysfunction is experiencing symptoms of eyelid swelling, eye… Read more »

How Does my Thyroid Affect my Eyes?

Because our eyes serve many purposes beyond providing visual input, they can be important indicators of other health-related issues. A variety of systemic conditions have ocular manifestations. One overlooked organ that may cause significant changes to the eyes is the thyroid gland which functions as our inner “thermostat,” setting the rate at which our body… Read more »

Why Are My Eyes Always Sticky and Watery?

We don’t think about our eyes until they bother us. We count on them every day to function comfortably. But sometimes they are prone to discomfort. Common complaints include tearing, dry eyes, itching, discharge and general irritation. Tearing adversely affects visual function, causing blurry vision and the need to constantly dab the eyes. The eyelids… Read more »

Why the Puffy Eyelids?

Our eyes are the focus of our face. It is natural to want to appear our best – rested and bright eyed! But sometimes puffiness and bagginess make us look – and feel – tired. We may even be perceived to be ill or angry. Although a very small percentage of our skin’s total surface… Read more »

New Treatments for Keratoconus

Have you ever been told by your eye doctor that you have keratoconous [ker-uh-toh-koh-nuhs], a type of astigmatism that cannot be fully corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses? To understand keratoconus, you must first understand that the eye has many components that all work together to help you see including the cornea, lens, and… Read more »

New Treatments for Glaucoma Surgery

Glaucoma, a group of diseases that leads to damage of the optic nerve, is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Left untreated, glaucoma causes permanent vision loss and blindness. Given that it is so common (it affects about 3 million people in the US alone) and there are many available treatments for it,… Read more »

Eye Disease in Diabetic Patients

A recent article published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology1 helped highlight the difference in eye disease based on whether a diabetic patient is on insulin or not. The study involved over 15,000 patients followed for 9 years. What is interesting is that outcomes were differentiated by any eye disease, sight-threatening eye disease, and something… Read more »

Unregulated Contact Lenses

Did you know you can change your eye color to match your outfit, or don scary snake eyes to match that perfect Halloween costume? Such fashion statements are possible, as a number of companies sell decorative, non-corrective contact lenses online. There are also online companies selling corrective lenses to consumers without a prescription which are… Read more »

Treating Eye Disease with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs

Acupuncture has been used for more than 3,000 years to treat eye disease. By inserting tiny needles into the skin (not in the eyes or eyeball), the therapy can help preserve vision for those with a wide range of eye conditions including dry eyes, eye floaters, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. When the macular begins… Read more »

The Evolution of Cataract Surgery

After almost 40 years of practice, I have seen tremendous changes in the evolution of cataract surgery. Prior to the mid 1970s, cataract surgery involved removing both the lens of the eye and the capsule. Implantable lenses had not been perfected leaving patients with very thick, very heavy glasses and poor optics. The advent of… Read more »