A Look at Your Eyes

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 »

Bright Eyes: More Than a Fresh Look

Interpersonal communication is such an important part of life. And we are naturally drawn to people’s eyes as the focal point. The eyes provide visual and emotional cues and other non-verbal information and are vital in communication. Thus, we naturally want our eyes to look and feel their best. Cosmetic eyelid surgery restores your natural… Read more »

Are Whitening Drops Bad for Your Eyes?

The short answer is “maybe.” To understand why, we need first to understand why one would use an eye whitener; other conditions it could mask or complicate; and how long it has been used. Eye drops are often prescribed to treat multiple eye conditions such as glaucoma, allergies, infections, dry eye, and inflammatory eye conditions… Read more »

Eyelid Lumps and Bumps

The eyelids are delicate structures meant to protect the eyes. Like all skin, they are prone to various lumps and bumps that leave us wondering, “Is this something to worry about?” Areas of concern may appear gradually or seemingly suddenly. They may be quite obvious or very subtle. An exam by a physician is the… Read more »

Women’s Eye Health

The majority of people believe that men and women have about an equal incidence of eye disease causing vision impairment. The reality is that women are more affected than men, with the difference starting to accelerate at about age 50. Women have a higher incidence of cataract, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. This trend… Read more »

Eye Infections Building Resistance to Meds

Microbial keratitis, corneal ulcers, conjunctivitis and uveitis are all part of the day-to-day clinical presentations for eye doctors. Medications are often prescribed to combat these conditions; however, we are seeing more and more resistance to commonly used drugs. There is an ongoing study called the ARMOR  (Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring in Ocular Microorganisms) Surveillance Study designed… Read more »

Advanced Treatment for Wet AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that can lead to the loss of central vision. For a long time, a patient that progressed to the more advanced “wet” form of the disease was inevitably going to lose the central vision in the eye. Prior to 2005, retina specialists would use laser to destroy the… Read more »

Off-Label Drug Use

Many physicians use medications that are approved and marketed for one condition in order to treat alternative or other conditions. This practice is not only permissible; in fact, it’s good medicine. The Alliance of Specialty Medicine’s position states that “the FDA acknowledges that physicians may prescribe any legally marketed product for an off-label use, as… Read more »

A Closer Look at That Eye

Like skin elsewhere on our bodies, our eyelids are often prone to developing small growths. Most often, these lesions are benign entities such as nevi (moles) or skin tags. Some growths, however, are cause for concern. Our beautiful weather brings with it intense ultraviolet exposure which is the most significant cause of skin cancer, and… Read more »

Eye Disease: The Most Common Diabetic Complication

As a certified telemedicine diabetic reader, I participate in a program that is run through UC Berkeley called Eyepacs, a web-based non-proprietary application for exchanging eye-related clinical information. The bulk of Eyepacs communications involves bringing diabetic retinal assessments into the primary care physicians’ offices.  The program works without regard to physical location, is validated, and… Read more »

Dry Eye and Sjogren’s Disease

Sjogren’s (SHOW-grins) syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which an individual’s white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands.  Although the hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, Sjogren’s also causes serious complications throughout the entire body which can include dysfunction of the kidneys, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas and the central… Read more »

Patients Benefit From In-Office Testing

CLIA, short for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, is a federal regulatory body that oversees laboratory processes and testing on humans. It also grants waivers for testing that may be done in-office. There are hundreds of CLIA waived tests utilized by different specialties to provide better care, and it is important that these tests be performed… Read more »