Ophthalmology

The Best In Surgical Eye Care

Edgewood Surgical Hospital offers the best in surgical eye care with advanced diagnostic and surgical techniques.

Common eye conditions treated at our centers include glaucoma, cataracts and retinal and vitreous problems.

Glaucoma Care/Treatment

Glaucoma is the result of the eye’s drainage passage being blocked or not functioning properly. The clear fluids build up and eventually cause the intraocular pressure to rise. Over time, this pressure damages the optic nerve resulting in peripheral vision loss and finally the loss of central vision. Even if the intraocular pressure is below average, the optic nerve could still be damaged.

There are no early symptoms of the most common kinds of glaucoma. And unfortunately, once a patient loses vision due to glaucoma, it is usually too late. Early glaucoma treatment can help to control most of the problems with glaucoma.

Glaucoma can affect individuals of any race and any age. Risk factors increase with the following:

Increased age
African American heritage
High blood pressure
Family history
Diabetes
Extreme nearsightedness
Long-term steroid treatment
Injury or trauma to the eye

Check for glaucoma during annual eye examinations. While there is no cure for glaucoma, there are treatments that can control it.

Our recommended glaucoma treatments come in pill form or as an eye drop (most patients use the drops). Medications on the market today have few side effects and prevent blindness.

Patients need to see the eye doctor for pressure checks every three to six months, depending on how severe the glaucoma is and how the pressure is responding to glaucoma treatment. When medication and/or laser surgery do not control the intraocular pressure, filtration surgery is utilized by our ophthalmologists. This glaucoma treatment creates a new drainage channel that allows the aqueous humor to drain from the eye.

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery can be a positive, life-changing experience once you understand what a cataract is and how it is removed. Cataracts can result in loss of vision if left untreated, and unfortunately, medicines and diets do not work to get rid of the issue.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. It is also one of the most successful. When a cataract (the cloudy lens behind your pupil) is removed, you receive a lens implant that corrects your vision. Cataract surgery allows patients to have corrected vision and some do not ever have to wear glasses again.

In the past, eye problems such as astigmatism and presbyopia could be corrected surgically and the patient had to wear glasses afterward. Edgewood offers cataract patients the chance to correct astigmatism and presbyopia as well as nearsightedness and farsightedness. This could mean you never have to wear glasses again.

Monofocal Implant: This helps to correct vision; however, bifocals are required for the sharpest vision for far and near. Medicare and private insurance companies cover 80 percent of the surgery’s cost with a basic monofocal implant.

Toric Implant: This corrects astigmatism so you can see distances clearer and can perform activities easier such as watching television or driving. After the implant, you will be required to wear glasses for tasks that are near, such as reading or working on the computer. Astigmatism is where your cornea is steeper in one meridian than another (like a football), not spherical (like a basketball) and therefore blurs vision.

Custom Implants: If you get these implants, you will be able to see the full range of vision including near and far. If you suffer from astigmatism, our surgeons will correct it by making a small incision in the peripheral cornea (LRI). You will be able to perform about 90 to 95 percent of your daily activities without glasses by correcting presbyopia. (Presbyopia is where you need glasses or bifocals if you are over the age of 45.) Whether you are 45 or 85, this cataract surgery will correct your vision permanently.

Retina Laser Surgery

The retina has two parts: the peripheral retina and the macula. The peripheral surrounds the macula, which is very small and is what is used when we see something out of the corner of our eye. Because peripheral vision isn’t bringing in the detail clearly, it cannot be used for reading or other close work. If someone is seen off to the side, they may be recognizable because of their general shape, but it will be impossible to distinguish the expression on a face.

Retina eye surgery is used to address problems like retinal detachment and intraocular infection.

Retinal detachment occurs when the vitreous liquid seeps under the retina, lifting that part up off the back wall of the eye. Symptoms include floaters, or a gray curtain or veil moving across the field of vision.

Retina eye surgery or cryo-surgery secures the detached part to the eyewall around the retinal tear. Sometimes this procedure can be done in the ophthalmologist’s office. Recovery from the procedure will result in some discomfort, so medications are usually given, and the patient is advised when to resume normal activity. A change of glasses may be necessary after the reattachment has been accomplished.

About the Surgery: A laser light is focused onto the retina, selectively treating the desired area while leaving the surrounding tissues untouched. The absorbed energy creates a microscopic spot to destroy lesions or weld tissues together.

Lasers were first used to treat eye diseases over 30 years ago and have become the standard of care for previously untreatable disorders. For many patients, laser treatment can preserve or prevent vision loss if done in a timely fashion.

The only way to tell if you need laser surgery is to have a careful, dilated retinal examination, often followed by a special test that evaluates the eye’s circulation (fluorescein angiography).

Common conditions that may require laser surgery include diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, age-related macular degeneration, ocular histoplasmosis, retinal breaks and detachment and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Retina Surgery Recovery

During retinal eye surgery recovery, a patch is placed over the affected area for a few days. The patient must avoid lifting anything, and in general just be patient while healing takes place. In some instances, the patient is instructed to lie still in bed for a few days to let healing begin.

Any surgery has some risk; however, left untreated, a retinal detachment will usually result in permanent severe vision loss or blindness. Some of the surgical risks during retinal eye surgery recovery include infection; bleeding; high pressure inside; or cataract. Most retina eye surgery is successful, although a second operation is sometimes needed.

Vision may take many months to improve after retinal eye surgery recovery, and in some cases may never fully return. The more severe the detachment, and the longer it has been present, the less likely the vision may be expected to return. For this reason, it is very important to see an ophthalmologist at the first sign of trouble. If an operation is proven to be necessary, the retinal eye surgery recovery will be less troublesome if it is done as early as possible.

Proper care of the body through nutrition and exercise will ensure that the eyes are in good health, too. Proper equipment when engaged in activities that could harm the eyes is also important. Glasses that protect eyes from fragments of wood or metal are vital. Avoiding irritants like chemical fumes or smoke will help keep the eyes healthy. Wearing corrective lenses will avoid strain to a person’s eyes, and keep them healthy.

Illness can affect a person’s eyes in permanent ways, although usually not the retina. For instance, measles can cause visual weakness requiring corrective glasses. However, diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that causes abnormalities in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. They fail to provide the nutrients to maintain a healthy retina, leading to a slow or rapid loss of vision. Laser retina eye surgery can prevent further bleeding and control the visual loss. All diabetics should have a baseline evaluation by an ophthalmologist for early detection and a better chance for preserving vision.

Retina Surgery Q&A

What happens during my surgery?

There are no special preparations before eye laser treatment. You should eat normally and take your regularly prescribed medications before surgery. Retinal laser surgery can be performed either in the surgeon’s office or the hospital. Eye drops will be given to dilate the pupil and numb the eye. The treatment is performed while you are seated in a chair, similar to the one used for regular eye examinations. You will remain awake and comfortable. Treatment is usually painless, although some patients may require a numbing injection for discomfort or sensitivity to the laser light. The laser treatment usually takes less than 30 minutes to complete, and you can go home immediately following surgery. Arrangements for transportation should be made in advance since you may not be able to drive right away.

What are the restrictions and side effects after laser?

There are virtually no restrictions following retinal laser surgery, and you should be able to resume your normal activities and work schedule the following day. Most patients notice no vision changes following their laser surgery, although there may be some temporary blurring for several weeks to months. In addition, depending on the condition being treated, some may notice a permanent blind spot or decrease in peripheral and night vision.

Will I need more than one laser treatment?

It will take several weeks to months before we can tell whether laser surgery has been successful. Many patients, however, will need more than one treatment to control their eye problem and prevent further loss of vision.

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