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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
The common problem of watery eyes has many causes which are most easily understood if we approach it like a plumbing issue. Tears are produced in glands (lacrimal glands) located in the outer corners of the upper eyelids, just underneath the bone above our eyes. The tears flow out of the gland through ducts in… Read more »
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A) is a new non-invasive approach to visualizing retinal vasculature and is changing the way physicians see the retinal and choroid (layer below the retina) vasculature. The technology uses light waves to take cross-sectional images of the retina and is similar to ultrasound imaging, except that it uses light instead of… Read more »
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 »
The eyelids protect and maintain the health of our visual system. They lubricate our eyes bathing tears over the surfaces of our globes countless times a day. The tears provide nutrients, oxygen, disease-fighting antibodies, protective mucus and oils that are all key to the health of our eyes. At times, a person’s eyelids may become… Read more »
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 »
There are many ways to manage or treat dry eye, a common condition – especially here in the desert. Studies show that about 25% of patients over 50 have clinically significant dry eye. There is now a new FDA-approved treatment which utilizes nasal neurostimulation to increase tear production. This is a non-pharmaceutical way to manage… Read more »
Every year more than 750,000 people suffer a stroke, the most common disability for Americans. A stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted. There are two basic types: an ischemic stroke, most often due to a blood clot blocking a blood vessel, and a hemorrhagic stroke, occurring when a blood vessel… Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Dry eye is a common condition that is often under-treated or under-addressed, especially here in the desert. Our local climate has many unique factors that contribute to “corneal surface disease” which is the new descriptive name for dry eye. Factors include low humidity, wind, particulate matter in the air, dust, pollens, lots of places with… Read more »
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 »
Approximately 800,000 people suffer a stroke every year, making it is the most common disability among adults. There are two basic types of strokes: an ischemic stroke (when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel) and hemorrhagic stroke (when a blood vessel ruptures or leaks). Some stroke patients have preceding symptoms called transient ischemic attacks… Read more »
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 »
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 »
As one who has always enjoyed 20/20 vision, I never thought of going to the eye doctor for a regular checkup. It was only recently that I succumbed to cheaters, and if something more significant had changed with my vision, I would certainly know it. Then Dr. Evans sent us a study stating that patients… Read more »
