Cataract Surgery

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye. A normal lens is clear and lets light pass to the back of the eye. Cataracts block some of that light and as they develop, it becomes increasingly difficult for the person to see. Cataracts are a normal part of aging. Cataracts can be corrected with surgery. 

Many people with cataracts may experience symptoms such as:

• Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy vision
• Difficulty in seeing to drive, especially at night
• Trouble seeing to do close work
• Double vision
• Poor vision in bright light
• Seeing halos around lights
• Frequent changes and a stronger glasses prescription

Most people do not need to stay overnight in a hospital to have cataract surgery. You may go to an outpatient center or hospital, have your cataract removed, and leave when the doctor says you are fit to leave. However, you will need a friend or family member to take you home. You also will need someone to stay with you for at least a day to help you follow your doctor's instructions.  It usually takes a few months for the eye to heal from cataract surgery. 

Glaucoma Surgery

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the United States.  A simple painless eye exam can detect the disease. With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can usually be controlled and blindness prevented. 

Glaucoma can affect anyone from newborn infants to the elderly.  It has been estimated that up to 3 million Americans have glaucoma.  At least half of those people do not know they have it because glaucoma usually has no symptoms. People who are at a greater risk for glaucoma usually have the following conditions:

• At least 45 years old without regular eye exams
• A family history of glaucoma
• Abnormally high eye pressure
• African descent
• A family history of glaucoma
• Previous eye injury
• Regular, long-term use of cortisone/steroid products 

To detect glaucoma, your physician will test your visual acuity, visual field, dilate your pupils and test the pressure in your eye.  Regular and complete eye exams help to monitor the changes in your eyesight and will help to determine whether you may develop glaucoma.  

Treatment to control glaucoma include medications in the form of either eye drops or pills, laser surgery and conventional surgery.

Corneal Transplants

The cornea is the clear front of the eye that covers the colored iris and the round pupil.  Light is focused while passing through the cornea so we can see. To stay clear the cornea must be healthy.

If the cornea is damaged it may become swollen or scarred. In either case, its smoothness and clarity may be lost. The scars, swelling or an irregular shape cause the cornea to scatter or distort light, resulting in glare or blurred vision.

A corneal transplant may be necessary under the following conditions:

• Corneal failure after other eye surgery, such as cataract surgery
• Scarring after infections or injury
• Hereditary corneal failure, such as Fuchs' dystrophy

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the physical disturbance of the center of the retina known as the macula. The macula is the part of the retina which enables acute and detailed vision. The macula is used for reading, driving, recognizing faces, and watching television.  Macular degeneration is the leading cause of legal blindness in people over age 55.  Surgery to remove the scar produced by macular degeneration has been successful in younger patients, but less successful in older patients.

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)

CK is one of the first procedures designed specifically for the millions of people with hyperopia. Instead of a scalpel or a laser, CK uses a probe that is as thin as a strand of human hair, which releases radio frequency energy, treating your farsightedness without cutting or removing tissue. CK reshapes the cornea by using a controlled release of radiofrequency energy to shrink the corneal tissue, steepening the cornea and changing the way the eye focuses light. The radiofrequency energy is applied in a circular pattern, causing a peripheral constriction and a relative central lengthening of the eye.