Anne Arundel Eye Center

Cataract and Glaucoma Specialist

Dry Eye: Understanding Symptoms and Treatment

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Pigmentary Glaucoma Annapolis

Dry eye: you have heard the term before, but do you really know what it is? Dry eye is a little more complicated than it sounds, and the resulting consequences go beyond simple dryness. With the widespread use of face masks to reduce disease transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen that dry eye symptoms are increasing in our patients who are regularly wearing them. Research from the University of Utah published in the journal Ophthalmology and Therapy suggests that face masks without a tight fit can direct airflow from breathing up and across the eye surface, facilitating evaporation that promotes dry eye.

Dry eye can also be caused by a number of underlying conditions, ranging from the natural aging process to side effects of prescription drugs, structural problems with the eye lids (lid margin disease, blepharitis) and side effects of certain diseases, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and other collagen vascular diseases.

Your eye depends on tears, a combination of water, oils, mucus, and antibodies, to provide constant moisture and lubrication in order to maintain not only comfort, but also proper vision. When there is an imbalance in the tear system, a person can experience dry eye. If you are experiencing eye stinging or burning, itching, inability to keep eyes open for long periods of time, the constant feeling of something in your eye, or excess tearing, then you may be suffering from dry eye. It is important to bring these symptoms up to your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – to start treatment as soon as possible.

Thankfully, there are several treatments currently available for dry eye. Eye drops, which are artificial tears that can help keep your eyes properly lubricated, are an over-the-counter method of treating dry eye. Also, certain medications and topical steroids are non-invasive methods that can be used to temporarily bring the tear film to a healthy and stable state. These treatment options are typically successful, but there are also surgical options, such as temporary and permanent punctual occlusion, that your eye doctor can consider if symptoms persist.

If you believe you are experiencing dry eye, whether it is a chronic issue or if your symptoms started because of regularly wearing a face mask, it’s vital to let your eye care provider know. While untreated chronic dry eye may cause permanent damage to your eye, there are very successful and accessible treatments available. Even if you are not suffering from dry eye, these dry eye symptoms may be caused by another eye disorder which may need treatment by a specialist.

For more on this topic or other questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center. The staff is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone – call 410-224-2010.

What You Should Know: Emergency Eye Care

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An eye emergency constitutes an event that puts your eyesight at risk. Any such event requires immediate professional treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. Examples of eye emergencies include:

Loss of Vision: If you experience any form of vision loss, even if you are not experiencing pain, contact your eye doctor immediately. In fact, loss of vision is one of the most significant indicators of an eye emergency. Lack of pain in no way diminishes the seriousness of the situation.

Torn or Cut Eyelid: If you experience a cut or torn eyelid, apply gentle pressure with a clean, dry cloth until the bleeding subsides. Then rinse the area with water, cover with a clean bandage, apply a cold compress over the bandage to reduce pain and swelling, and seek medical help immediately.

Scratched Eye: If any direct damage occurs to your eyeball, DO NOT apply any pressure to stop the bleeding. Gently place a cold compress over the affected eye to reduce swelling and help control any bleeding and seek medical help immediately.

Protruding Eye: Any bulging of a single eye, especially in children, is a very serious sign and requires immediate professional attention. Contact your eye doctor immediately.

Foreign Object Under the Eyelid: First of all, DO NOT rub your eye if something becomes stuck under your eyelid. Try to wash it out with water. If that does not work, contact your eye doctor immediately.

Chemicals in the Eye: If any chemicals come into contact with your eye, immediately flush the eye with cool tap water. Turn your head to the side, with the affected eye facing down. Hold the eyelid open and allow the water to run over the eye. Do this for 15 minutes. After flushing the eye, seek immediate medical attention.

Foreign Object Embedded in the Eye: First and foremost, as hard as it may be to resist, DO NOT try to remove the object or apply pressure to the eye. Leave the object in place and bandage the eye. Then cover the healthy eye with a clean cloth or gauze and seek immediate medical attention.

There is a general theme when it comes to eye emergencies; if you experience an eye emergency, seek immediate medical attention and contact your eye doctor – ophthalmologist or optometrist – right away. If you are unable to reach your eye care physician, have a family member or friend drive you to the nearest emergency room. And remember the following advise.

•DO NOT rub your eye.

•DO NOT attempt to remove a foreign object that is in contact with the cornea or that is embedded in the eye.

•DO NOT use dry cotton or sharp objects on the eye.

•DO NOT contaminate a burn. Avoid breathing on the affected area.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about AAEC’s Emergency Eye Care Services, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

Sources:

Emergency Eye Care ClearVue.org

Cataract Treatment & FSA Funds

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Some patients find that at the end of the year they have funds left in their FSA accounts and that money is “use it or lose it”. Instead of writing it off as a loss, why not make an appointment before then and see if you are a candidate for LenSx® Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery and/or a Multifocal lens? Anne Arundel Eye Center is open and seeing patients in the office while observing COVID-19 procedures for your safety.

When a cataract has progressed to the point that it is interfering with normal, everyday functions, such as driving or reading, surgery is often the recommended course of action. Cataract surgery involves removing the lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens. Approximately 90 percent of cataract surgery patients report better vision following the surgery.

The LenSx Laser Assisted Surgery is a blade free procedure that allows the extra benefit of not just removing the cataract but also addressing astigmatism in the same procedure. It is the most technologically advanced option for cataract patients today, allowing your ophthalmologist to create a cataract surgery that’s 100% unique to you.

Multifocal Lens Implants offer an expanded view over the standard lens implant and many patients find that their dependence on glasses is decreased significantly after surgery with LenSx Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery and/or a Multifocal Lens Implant.

Both the laser and the advanced technology lens implant are elective additions that are not covered by insurance carriers and are out of pocket expenses that are added onto surgery. They are a great way to ensure that FSA funds do not get lost while also providing yourself or a loved one with the best possible options for superior vision.

For more on this topic or other questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center. We’re dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone – call 410-224-2010.

The Truth About Cataracts: They’re Not as Scary as You Think

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You may notice that your bleach is not working anymore, and your white clothing is not as bright as it once was. Your glasses are always dirty no matter how many times you wipe them off. The characters on the television are hard to make out, and headlights on the road at night wash out your vision.

What you do not notice is that you no longer read the paper, and you move through your surroundings slower. You stop enjoying activities that require precision; crossword puzzles, bird watching, and sewing.

You have cataracts.

Cataracts, unlike other conditions, are usually a gradual decline in vision. This means that you will not notice how much you are not seeing until the cataracts become advanced. As you gradually get used to seeing less, you begin to lose interest in activities that once brought you joy.

How did you get them? Well, they are as natural as gray hair; eventually, we all get them. It does not mean that you are unhealthy. It is a natural event and thankfully, one that is easily treatable. Cataracts are removable, and you can easily reclaim your mobility and connection to the world around you.

When you come to Anne Arundel Eye Center, our goal is not only to treat the cataract, but to get you back to doing the things you love. We have multiple options to enhance your near or far vision, including special lenses that can often give you a range of vision beyond what it was before the cataracts formed. Our team of doctors and our surgical coordinator, Travis, will get you on a treatment plan and give you all the resources you need to make the choice that is right for you. You will be cared for by our wonderful staff, who will cheer for your restored vision every step of the way.

You may think that surgery is scary, and we agree with you; it is. But you’ve come to the right place – cataracts are one of our specialties. We take care of patients just like you every single day. While it is new for you, cataract surgery is one of the most performed surgeries worldwide. Our surgeon, Dr. Samuel Boles, and our Consultive Optometrists, offer world class cataract treatment that can’t be bested.

Cataract surgery involves removing the lens in the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens. After your cataract surgery, you will notice a difference mere hours or days after the surgery has been completed. Whites are whiter, the world is brighter, and you cannot believe how much your vision has changed for the better. The day after your surgery, you will come in for a follow-up appointment to ensure that you are well, and your vision is improving. In most cases, you will eventually only return to see us every six months, and then once a year for a routine checkup. However, if you need us, we are just a phone call away.

While we will miss seeing you, we will look forward to your yearly checkup because we know the best part about that visit is when we see you, you see us back. Call us at 410-224-2010 and let us help you restore your vision.

Posterior Capsule Opacification Treatment in Annapolis

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As we age, our eyes undergo natural wear and tear, resulting in the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, known as cataracts. This is a normal part of the aging process. However, when the symptoms of a cataract persist and become bothersome, cataract surgery can often be used to help improve vision. This involves removing the cloudy lens and, in most cases, replacing it with a crystal clear, intraocular lens implant (IOL).

Cataract surgery has the highest success rate of any surgery practiced today. Still, many patients develop what is known as Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO), or an After Cataract. While PCO rates have declined in recent years, as a result of advances in surgical techniques and intraocular lens materials, PCO is common and is essentially a normal side effect of successful cataract surgery.

Posterior Capsule Opacification Annapolis

Posterior Capsule Opacification can develop over the clear posterior capsule anywhere from a few months to a few years after cataract surgery. PCO results from the growth and abnormal proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) on the capsule after cataract surgery. Eventually, these cells migrate to the center of the posterior capsule, causing blurred or blurry vision.

Posterior Capsule Opacification Treatment in Annapolis

A simple examination should be able to diagnose your issue and, if the problem is found to be Posterior Capsule Opacification, YAG laser capsulotomy can be used to rectify the situation. This procedure involves a few simple steps:

  1. The eye is dilated using eye drops.
  2. The hazy posterior capsule is removed using a laser.
  3. Drops may be used to reduce inflammation following the procedure.

YAG laser capsulotomy takes only a few minutes and is painless. Patients may resume normal activities immediately following the procedure. However, as with any eye procedure, if your vision does not improve or if it worsens, call your Annapolis eye doctor immediately. Any sudden change in your vision is a serious medical condition that requires prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

If you have any questions about Posterior Capsule Opacification Treatment in Annapolis, or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact Dr. Boles, Dr. Nicole Regis, Dr. Kathryn Turner and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

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