Types of Glaucoma and the Risk Factors

Glaucoma is a “multifactorial chronic disease of the eye leading to a characteristic optic neuropathy which results in permanent loss of vision.” Wow, that’s a mouthful! Basically, there are two main types of glaucoma. The common kind is called chronic open angle glaucoma which makes up about 98% of the glaucoma we see. The other […]

Who Needs Cornea Transplants & Why?

When the cornea has lost its transparency due to scarring from previous injury or infection, abnormal corneal shape (keratoconus), or an inheritable swelling called Fuch’s Dystrophy, a corneal transplant is needed. Corneal transplants are the most successful form of transplant. Traditionally, the surgeon completely removes the cloudy cornea and sutures a donated clear cornea into […]

Macular Degeneration Can Be Hereditary

Macular degeneration has a very strong genetic risk factor, accounting for about 70 percent of the lifetime risk for developing vision loss. Risk factors include older age, female, overweight, fair coloring, smoking, lifetime sun exposure and, most important, nutrition. Most people don’t need genetic testing; however, in some cases it may be desirable to know […]

After Cataract Surgery: It is Possible to Be Independent of Glasses

In the past, even after cataract surgery, patients with astigmatism would still experience blurred or distorted vision without glasses because a standard lens implant cannot correct pre-existing astigmatism. High quality vision – the kind you need to be independent of glasses — is not regained unless the astigmatism is also corrected. Today, if a patient […]

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism, like near-sightedness and far-sightedness, causes your vision to be blurry without correction. Astigmatism, however, is an imperfection in your vision that causes blurriness both at distance and near. It is mostly due to an imperfection in the shape of your cornea. The cornea, which is the front window of the eye, is ideally shaped […]