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Retinal Detachment: Definition, Symptoms, and Treatment

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A retinal detachment refers to a separation of the retina – the light-sensitive membrane in the back of the eye – from its supporting layers. This serious medical condition is typically caused by trauma, diabetes or an inflammatory disorder.

Symptoms of Retinal Detachment

•           Flashes of light (Especially in peripheral vision)

•           Blurred/blurry vision

•           Floaters in the eye. Also referred to as shadows or spots

•           Blindness in a portion of the visual field

The sudden and dramatic appearance of these symptoms is a strong indication that the retina is either tearing or detaching. If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor immediately. Any sudden change in your vision is a serious medical condition that requires prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Treatment of Retinal Detachment

Most cases of retinal detachment require one of the following surgeries.

•           Freezing (cryopexy): The application of intense cold to the area with an ice probe to form a scar, which holds the retina in place.

•           Laser Surgery (photocoagulation): This is used to seal the tears or holes in the retina.

•           Pneumatic Retinopexy: The placing of a gas bubble in the eye to help the retina float back into place. Then a laser is used to fix the retina in place.

More extensive cases require more invasive procedures, including:

•           Scleral Buckle: This is done to indent the wall of the eye, relieving the tugging of the vitreous on the retina.

•           Vitrectomy: This is done to remove gel or scar tissue that may be pulling on the retina.

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

Led by Dr. Boles, 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.

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

Sources:

Retinal Detachment

Anne Arundel Eye Center opens an Eastern Shore Office

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You depend on your vision for nearly everything you do. So why not depend on Anne Arundel Eye Center and Maryland’s top physicians to care for it? Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center are dedicated to the health and happiness of you, our patients.

To better support the community and our physician referrals, we have opened a second location on the Eastern Shore.

Anne Arundel Eye Center – Eastern Shore

1630 Main Street, Suite 210

Chester, MD 21619

We invite you to visit us at our Eastern Shore office, offering the same great services and team! Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment centers are dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

Anne Arundel Eye Center’s Eastern Shore office is located in the Anne Arundel Medical Center Building, next to the Fire House in Queen Anne County.

Anne Arundel Eye Center provides complete medical eye exams as well as diagnostic surgical eye care. This comprehensive approach ensures you access to the most current information and resources available regarding eye care conditions, including:

When you visit Anne Arundel Eye Center, you can be assured you’re in expert hands.

To learn more about the Anne Arundel Eye Center – Eastern Shore office or to schedule an appointment, please contact us by calling 410-224-2010 or visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

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

Cataract Surgery, Hip Fractures, and your Annapolis Eye Doctor

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As we age, our eyes undergo natural wear and tear, resulting in the clouding of the eye’s natural lens. This clouding is known as cataracts. Cataracts develop when proteins in the eye’s lens form abnormal clumps that gradually get larger, distorting vision. To treat cataracts, cataract surgery is used to remove the damaged lens and replace it with a new crystal clear lens to remove any clouding.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, cataract surgery has an unexpected benefit. We know that cataract surgery helps restore clear vision, but what else can cataract surgery do? According to the study Risk of Fractures Following Cataract Surgery in Medicare Beneficiaries, cataract surgery could also help reduce the risk of breaking a hip, something that plagues 350,000 Americans annually.

Visual impairment is a known risk factor for fractures. So naturally, cataract surgery should help reduce the risk of hip fractures, right? Well, lead investigator Dr. Anne L. Coleman of Brown University certainly believes so.

“Seeing helps you navigate a new environment and helps with balance,” said Coleman. “You really need your eyes and vision to help you stay stable.”

Coleman and her colleagues analyzed the effect of cataract surgery on the frequency of hip fractures. Of the more than 1 million Americans over the age of 65 who had cataracts, 1.3% suffered hip fractures. However, the frequency of hip fractures in those individuals who underwent cataract surgery was 16% lower. By statistical analysis, the reduction in risk was even greater, coming in at 23%.

Anne Arundel Eye Center & Dr. Samuel Boles, your Annapolis Eye Doctor

The Anne Arundel Eye Center is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of both glaucoma and cataracts. We provide complete medical eye exams as well as diagnostic surgical eye care. Should you require surgery, your comfort and wellbeing are our top priority, from pre-op testing to post-op care. When you come to the Anne Arundel Eye Center, you can be assured you’re in expert hands.

Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

To learn more about the Cataract Surgery, please contact Dr. Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

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

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Source:

Cataract Removal linked to fewer Hip Fractures Harvard Health Publications

Vision Problems in Children: August is Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month

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According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), 1 in 4 school children have vision problems. And with the new school year right around the corner, now is the perfect time to have your child’s eyes examined. This is why the Prevent Blindness America Association has named August Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month.

Children’s Eye Health Checklist

Because children do not know what normal vision looks like, they are often unable to articulate the problem to their teachers or parents. This is why the American Optometric Association has compiled a list of warning signs to help detect potential eye problems in children. These warning signs include:

  • Sitting close to the TV
  • Squinting
  • Holding reading materials close to the face
  • Tilting their head
  • Rubbing the eyes frequently
  • Turning of an eye in or out
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Difficulty with eye-hand-body coordination
  • Avoiding coloring activities, puzzles and other detailed activities

If you notice your child displaying any of the above warning signs of vision problems, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – at your earliest convenience. The early detection and treatment of vision problems is the best way to help preserve your child’s sight. This is why regular checkups with eye doctor are so important.

In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus recommend the following exams:

  • Newborn: It is recommended that all newborns undergo a red reflex test, which is a basic indicator that a baby’s eyes are normal.
  • Infant: A second vision screening is recommended between six months and one year old.
  • Preschooler: It is recommended to have a child’s eye alignment and visual acuity tested between the ages of 3 and 4.
  • School age: It is important to have a child’s vision tested upon entering school or whenever a vision problem is suspected.

Eye exams for children are important for normal vision development and academic achievement, as vision is closely linked to the learning process.

To learn more about Children’s Eye Health, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

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.

Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

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

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

August Awareness: Children’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness

The Importance of Sunglasses :: UV Safety Month

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As we explained in one of our previous blog posts – July is UV Safety Month :: Protect your Eyes from the Sun this Summer – proper eye protection is crucial, especially during the summer months when the sun’s rays are noticeably strong. Still, year round protection is crucial, even on bright winter days.

Exposure to UV rays can lead to several different eye problems, including macular degeneration, cataracts, pterygium, corneal sunburn, and skin cancer of the eyelids. So what is the easiest way to keep your eyes protected? Sunglasses!

“A substantial proportion of people still do not understand that UV exposure is harmful to the eyes as well as the skin,” says Paul Michelson, MD, chairman of the Better Vision Institute, the medical advisory arm to The Vision Council. “Even those who do understand, few understand it is the cumulative exposure that can be damaging.”

Because it is the cumulative effect of UV exposure that can be damaging, it is important to ALWAYS wear sunglasses. Still, many Americans fail to adhere to these safety recommendations.

Facts & Statistics about Sunglasses use in America

The Vision Council polled 10,000 adults from across the nation.

  • 27% of people NEVER wear sunglasses
  • Only 58% of parents encourage their children to wear sunglasses
  • More than 50% of people either lose or break their sunglasses every year
  • Only 16% or people that do wear sunglasses admitted they did so for eye health reasons
  • Astonishingly, about 20% of people don’t believe their eyes are at risk from UV exposure

Remember, not only is it never too early to start wearing sunglasses, it is never too late to begin wearing them, either!

To learn more about Eye Protection, Harmful UV Rays, or Proper Eye Health, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

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.

Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

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

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

More People – Even Kids – Need to Wear Sunglasses

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