A common cataract surgery complications is a posterior capsule opacity in the lens implant. A procedure called a YAG laser capsulotomy can quickly and effectively restore vision following posterior capsular opacification.
Category Archives: Patient Cases
When you need blood work
Did you know that the retina receives its nourishment through many blood vessels? When there’s damage to these blood vessels, we call this retinopathy. Often, retinopathy occurs due to systemic diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension. Blood work confirms this. Retinopathy lesions are commonly seen in middle aged and elderly people without diabetes. Ocular conditionsContinue reading “When you need blood work”
Contact lens overwear
Corneal vascularization occurs when contact lenses do not allow your eyes to breathe normally. In order for your eyes to be healthy again, you must decrease contact lens wear time and/or change to a more oxygen permeable contact lens material.
When chemicals touch your eye…
Toxic keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva) can occur when your eye is exposed to a foreign substance or chemical. The response is typically an immune reaction associated with Type IV hypersensitivity. Symptoms include pain, itching, swelling and irritation, with follicles presenting in the palpebral conjunctiva. Copious irrigation and flushing of the eye isContinue reading “When chemicals touch your eye…”
Asteroid hyalosis
Asteroid hyalosis is a degenerative condition of the eye involving small white opacities in the vitreous humor.
When your pupil sticks to your lens…
A synechia happens when the iris adheres to either the cornea or lens. Synechiae can be caused by ocular trauma, iritis or iridocyclitis and may lead to certain types of glaucoma. Anterior synechia causes closed angle glaucoma, which means that the iris prevents proper drainage of the aqueous. This raises the intraocular pressure. Posterior synechia also causeContinue reading “When your pupil sticks to your lens…”
An angry, red eye…
Cornea Transplant During a cornea transplant, an surgeon removes a portion of your cornea and replaces it with a donor cornea. About 40,000 cornea transplants are performed in the U.S. every year. Expect an angry, red eye right after a corneal transplant! There will be light sensitivity, discomfort, and swelling around the incisions. However, with long-termContinue reading “An angry, red eye…”
Eyelid crusties
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, which causes the eyelids to be red, itchy, swollen and scaly. Here you see crusty build-up at the base of the eyelashes. Feeling like something is in your eye Burning of the eye Sensitivity to light Red and swollen eyes or eyelids Blurry vision Dry eyes CrustingContinue reading “Eyelid crusties”
A corneal transplant
Recognizing the main warning signs of corneal transplant rejection is the first step to preventing graft failure. These can be remembered using the acronym RSVP: Redness Extreme Sensitivity to light Decreased Vision Pain
When eyelashes poke your eye…
Entropion is a condition in which your eyelid turns inwards instead of outwards. Your eyelashes then rub against the eye, causing irritation and discomfort. It can be seen in older adults, but I have also seen it in babies, as well as Asians. Entropion can eventually cause damage to the cornea, resulting in eye infectionsContinue reading “When eyelashes poke your eye…”
When your eyes don’t breathe
When the cornea does not get enough oxygen, there is corneal hypoxia. This is the most common complication of contact lens wear, especially extended-wear lenses. The cornea has no blood supply of its own, so it gets oxygen only from tears and directly from the atmosphere. Sleeping in or overwearing your contact lenses reduces theContinue reading “When your eyes don’t breathe”
A lasik complication
Epithelial ingrowth is an uncommon complication of lasik. The incidence of visually significant epithelial ingrowth is about 1% in primary cases and 2% on enhancement cases in microkeratome-assisted flap creation.1,2 The incidence may be less with femtosecond-assisted flap creation.3,4 For mild and non-progressive epithelial ingrowth (Grade 1), no treatment is required. If vision is affectedContinue reading “A lasik complication”
Crusties in the morning
When you have ocular allergies, symptoms can include: itching, tearing, discharge, burning, photophobia, red eye, and decreased vision. Often, contact lens wear can worsen the condition, so a change in contact lens material or to daily disposables, is recommended. Cold compresses, artificial tears, and steroid eye drops are also recommended.
A yellow blob in the eye
Sometimes a nevus on the retina is not pigmented. These appear as lightly colored lesions under the retina. These are monitored over time to make sure they do not transform into melanomas, which are much more serious & life-threatening.
Eyelid bump
A stye develops when an oil gland within the eyelid gets infected. It looks like a bump on your eyelid and hurts when you touch it. Ointments and drops are ineffective for a stye. It must be treated with an oral antibiotic, such as a Z-pak (Zithromycin).
Yellow spots in the eye
Drusen are tiny yellow deposits in a layer of the retina called Bruchs membrane. They are the most common early sign of dry macular degeneration. Drusen are made up of lipids, a type of fatty protein, which may be the result of a failure of the eye to dispose of waste products properly. There are severalContinue reading “Yellow spots in the eye”
Surgery wound
After cataract surgery, it is important to evaluate the wound for any leakage. Key clinical signs that you may have a wound leak include poor vision, low eye pressure (below 8mm Hg), excessive tears, and optic nerve swelling. The easiest way to identify wound leakage is with the instillation of fluorescein dye. IfContinue reading “Surgery wound”
Christmas tree cataract
A Christmas tree cataract describes a cataract with a polychromatic iridescent crystalline appearance Nuclear sclerotic changes also are evident in this patient. Patients who have myotonic dystrophy can have Christmas tree cataracts. Cataracts are most commonly associated with aging, but other risk factors include UV-B radiation, smoking, medications (particularly steroids), and trauma. Other causes forContinue reading “Christmas tree cataract”
When the optic nerve bleeds
In a glaucomatous eye, a disc hemorrhage is a sign of trouble, indicating that the glaucoma is active and progression is likely. However, disc hemorrhages can also occur in diabetic or hypertensive patients. A disc hemorrhage is a sign of damage rather than something that is treated. Identifying the systemic cause is important, so bloodContinue reading “When the optic nerve bleeds”
Bleeding in your eye
Bleeding inside your eye can indicate an underlying systemic condition! Blood work-up is necessary, as well as a consult with your primary care physician.
Corneal Erosion
Recurrent corneal erosion is a condition characterized by the failure of the cornea’s epithelial cells to attach to the underlying basement membrane (Bowman’s layer). The condition is excruciatingly painful because the loss of these cells results in the exposure of sensitive corneal nerves. Symptoms include recurring attacks of severe ocular pain, feeling like there’s something inContinue reading “Corneal Erosion”
Stars at night
asteroid hyalosis A benign condition that creates suspended particles within the eye’s vitreous. This can be seen during a dilated eye examination. These yellowish particles made of fats (lipids) rarely interfere with vision or cause symptoms. The particles move within the eye’s gel-like vitreous and resemble stars at night. The condition is not well understood,Continue reading “Stars at night”
Holes in the Iris
A Yag laser iridotomy is a procedure that is done to treat or prevent angle-closure glaucoma. Here, a laser makes a hole in your iris. The fluid in the back of your eye can then flow freely to the front of iris. If you have “narrow angles,” it means that the fluid inside yourContinue reading “Holes in the Iris”
After cataract
Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) referred to as ‘secondary cataract’ or ‘after cataract’, develops over the clear posterior capsule a few months or even years after a successful cataract surgery. This results from the growth and abnormal proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) onto the artificial lens implant. The good news is that an after cataractContinue reading “After cataract”
Eyelash dandruff
Blepharitis is a common eyelid inflammation that can cause eyelid irritation, a gritty sensation in your eyes, crusting of the lids, dryness, eye redness, and fluctuations in vision. Blepharitis has two basic forms: Anterior blepharitis, affecting the outside front of the eyelid where eyelashes are attached. Posterior blepharitis, linked to dysfunction of meibomian glands withinContinue reading “Eyelash dandruff”
Radial Keratotomy Incisions
This patient had radial keratotomy (RK) many years ago, but reported significant discomfort. The green, fluorescein stain seeps into the RK incisions that are slightly open. RK incisions that have not completely healed can cause inflammation and irritation. Eye drop and ointment medications can help. While some patients have done well after RK, othersContinue reading “Radial Keratotomy Incisions”
Diabetes in the Eye
What is diabetic eye disease? Diabetic eye disease can affect the retina, macula, lens and the optic nerve. Diabetic retinopathy affects blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue called the retina that lines the back of the eye. It is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetes and the leading cause ofContinue reading “Diabetes in the Eye”
Corneal Edema After Cataract Surgery
Corneal edema is the most common post-operative complication following cataract surgery. This causes decreased vision, but rest assured! It usually resolves within 1-2 weeks. Be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations for eye drops.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis symptoms and signs include: Watery eyes Red eyes A gritty, burning or stinging sensation in the eyes Eyelids that appear greasy Itchy eyelids Red, swollen eyelids Flaking of the skin around the eyes Crusted eyelashes upon awakening Eyelid sticking More frequent blinking Sensitivity to light Eyelashes that grow abnormally (misdirected eyelashes) Loss of eyelashesContinue reading “Blepharitis”
A Posterior Staphyloma
A posterior staphyloma is an area of disturbance or atrophy in the retina. Posterior staphylomas are usually congenital or occur with high myopia (nearsightedness). They can affect visual function, sometimes causing distortion. There is no specific treatment for this condition. This is carefully monitored for rare complications, such as neovascularization (bleeding).
A New Cornea
Corneal transplantation, also known as corneal grafting, is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue (the graft). The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil and anterior chamber. This is done when medications and contact lenses cannot improve vision. There isContinue reading “A New Cornea”
A Soccer Ball Injury
Did you know that a soccer ball can cause blunt injury to the eye? Damage to the outer retinal layers caused by shock waves is called commotio retinae or berlin’s edema. A sheenlike retinal whitening appears some hours following injury. Several mechanisms for the retinal opacification have been proposed, including extracellular edema, glial swelling, andContinue reading “A Soccer Ball Injury”
A Wrinkle on Your Retina
An epiretinal membrane is a thin scar-like tissue that grows over the macula. Vision is distorted, with straight lines appearing wavy. Treatment of an epiretinal membrane is not always necessary, especially if symptoms are mild. However, if symptoms are more severe, then a vitrectomy is recommended. Here, the scar tissue and vitreous are removed andContinue reading “A Wrinkle on Your Retina”
When You Have a Cataract
A cataract is a clouding and yellowing of the the lens inside the eye. Symptoms of cataract include: Blurry vision. Faded colors. Glare and halo around lights. Night vision problems. Double vision Many people can have an age-related cataract in their 40s and 50s, but it doesn’t affect vision. After age 60, cataracts often affect vision and requireContinue reading “When You Have a Cataract”
An Angry, Red Eye
Did you know viruses can cause an angry, red eye? Viral conjunctivitis is a type of pink eye that is highly contagious, because airborne viruses can be spread through sneezing and coughing. If you’ve had an upper respiratory infection, such as the measles, the flu, or the common cold, you are more susceptible to viralContinue reading “An Angry, Red Eye”