FAQs

Dry Eyes

Symptoms:

Stinging, burning, itching, sandy or gritty feeling and excess tearing.
Any of these symptoms can leave your eyes feeling very irritated and uncomfortable and can even blur your vision. There is no cure for dry eyes, but new technologies continue to improve the treatment of dry eyes. Artificial tears used throughout the day and gel at bedtime are the first steps in the treatment. If this does not improve the comfort of your eyes, you need to contact your eye care professional to be evaluated for further treatment.

Blepharitis

Symptoms:

Red, itchy and irritated eyes. Loss of lashes and sties can also occur.
Blepharitis is an infection of the eyelids. It is a very common and permanent condition, yet the severity may change over time. Keeping the lids around the base of the eyelashes clean is essential. The best way to do this is wet a washcloth with comfortably warm water and hold it over the eyes for a few minutes. As the washcloth becomes cool, re-wet it again with the warm water — repeat this 2 to 3 times. Then use the washcloth to gently scrub around the eyelashes. If the symptoms lessen, do not discontinue the lid hygiene. This should become a daily routine in order to control the blepharitis and its symptoms. In some cases, medication is needed.

Flashes and Floaters

Floaters appear in all shapes and sizes. They may appear as small specks, clouds or cobwebs moving in your field of vision. They are usually more noticeable when looking at something with a light-colored background or on a bright, sunny day. The most common cause of floaters is a Posterior Vitreous Detachment. This usually happens when people reach middle age. The vitreous gel, which fills the inside of the eye, may start to thicken or shrink and pull away from the back of the eye, forming clumps or strands and causing a Posterior Vitreous Detachment. As the vitreous pulls, you may notice flashes of light. This is a very common occurrence, but you should notify your ophthalmologist as soon as possible so he may determine that a more serious condition–such as retinal tear–has not occurred.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is usually associated with swelling of the lid and a yellowish discharge. The eyes may itch and have mattering around the lids in the morning. Conjunctivitis may be caused by a variety of factors. The most common factors are bacteria (as in “Pink Eye”), virus, allergies or chemicals. The most common form of Conjunctivitis is Bacterial Conjunctivitis. This is very contagious and can easily be transmitted. The best treatment is to see your ophthalmologist for antibiotic drops as soon as the symptoms appear. Hand washing is a good precaution in the spread of the disease.

Ocular Migraines

Symptoms:

Loss of vision, usually in one eye and lasting up to 20 minutes, an aura of kaleidoscope-like lights or sensitivity to lights. You may experience one or all of these symptoms.
For some people, this is a warning sign of the onset of a migraine. There are no serious complications caused by migraines, and treatment in most cases is not necessary unless associated with the common migraine.

Cataracts

Symptoms:

Patients with cataracts often do not experience any symptoms when the condition first develops. Cataracts will continue to progress with no apparent pain, although patients may experience:

• Seeing halos around lights
• Poor vision at night
• Poor vision in bright light
• Trouble reading
• Blurred or hazy vision
• Frequent changes in eyeglasses or contact lens prescription
• Treatment of Cataracts