post-surgical eye care

Retinal Detachment: Definition, Symptoms, and Treatment

December 1, 2018 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

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

Flashers and Floaters in the Eye: What are They and What do They Mean?

November 22, 2018 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

As we age, the eye’s gel-like vitreous begins to dissolve and liquefy, creating a watery center. Occasionally some un-dissolved vitreous particles will float around the now watery center, appearing as spots or what we refer to as floaters.

Floaters in the eye are a fairly common, harmless apparition that will generally fade away in time. Yet, while these floaters are typically common, they can be the first signs of a more serious medical condition, such as retinal detachment.

If you ever see a shower of floaters (spots) accompanied by flashes of light (photopsia), then you should seek immediate medical attention. The sudden and dramatic appearance of these symptoms could indicate that the retina is either tearing or detaching.

Retinal detachments and retinal tears are both emergency conditions that require immediate medical attention. An eye surgeon must reattach or repair the retina to prevent permanent vision loss from occurring.

So if you see floaters in your eye, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – at your earliest convenience. Any change in your sight is a serious medical condition that requires prompt attention. If these symptoms appear rapidly and include flashes of light, call your eye doctor right away.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

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

Sources:

Eye Floaters, Flashes and Spots

The Polakoff Foundation’s Mardi Gras Celebration to Help Raise Money to Aid the Fight Against Blindness

January 19, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

On March 3, 2012, the Polakoff Foundation is teaming up with Blind Industries & Services of Maryland (BISM) to hold A Mardi Gras Celebration at The Sheraton in Towson, Maryland. The event will feature dinner, dancing, live music from The Junkyard Saints, celebrity bartenders, and a silent auction.

The primary goal of this event is to raise money to help aid the fight against blindness. All proceeds from A Mardi Gras Celebration will be used by the Polakoff Foundation for: Training Services, Programs and Opportunities for Blind Individuals, Research, Free Screenings and Support in the Fight Against Glaucoma.

The Polakoff Foundation, founded in 2006, concentrates its fundraising efforts to assist those who can pursue breakthrough research in the quest for a glaucoma cure. They also provide assistance to organizations offering services related to the fight against glaucoma. These services include, but may not be limited to, free regional screenings in the Baltimore metro area as well as educational material to aid those who may be newly diagnosed or at risk.

The Polakoff Foundation maintains an all-volunteer staff. Their efforts depend on donations from corporations and caring individuals like you.

Please support A Mardi Gras Celebration by:

1.Purchasing tickets online ($125 per person)

2.Sponsoring the event (Sponsorships Information)

3.Donating auction items – email Nancy Kapp at nkappinc@comcast.net

4.Making monetary donations

Thank you in advance for your friendship and your support with this important cause.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about this wonderful fundraising event, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Dr. Boles and everyone else at the Anne Arundel Eye Center proudly support the efforts of The Polakoff Foundation and their role in the ongoing fight against glaucoma.

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.

Glaucoma and Cataracts 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!

The Elderly are at an Increased Risk for Eye Disease

October 28, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

In a statement by National Eye Institute Director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., on World Sight Day 2011, the Director urged older Americans to protect their vision. Because, as Sieving explained, older people are simply at an increased risk for eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Diabetic Retinopathy.

AMD – This eye disease can cause loss of central vision due to the breakdown of the light-sensing cells in the retina.

Cataracts – This eye disease clouds vision because of a clumping of proteins in the eye’s lens.

Glaucoma – This eye disease involves damage to the optic nerve caused by increased intraocular pressure (IOP).

Diabetic Retinopathy – This eye disease impairs vision due to diabetes-related injury to the eye’s blood vessels.

Early stages of these diseases have no symptoms, which is why regular eye exams are crucial to catching eye disease before permanent vision loss occurs. The importance of early detection and treatment of age-related eye disease cannot be overstated.

If you experience a sudden change in vision, such as blurriness/blurry vision, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor immediately. If this change in vision is extreme or if any eye pain is involved, consider having a family member or friend drive you to the emergency room.

Any change in your sight is a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Led by Dr. Boles, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers complete 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.

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

Sources:

National Eye Institute urges older Americans to protect their vision

Insomnia and the Yellowing of the Eye’s Lens

October 21, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

A recent study uncovered a direct link between the yellowing of the eye’s lens and insomnia. The study evaluated participants (970 in total) using a lens autofluorometry, a non-invasive method that determined how much blue light was transmitted to the retina. And because blue light plays a crucial role in regulating the brain’s melatonin levels – which directly affects one’s daily sleep-wake cycle – subjects with lower levels of blue light were more prone to sleep disturbances.

Volunteers were considered to have a sleep disorder if they confirmed that they “often suffer from insomnia” or if they purchased prescription sleeping pills within the last 12 months.

But what was causing these individuals to filter out blue light?

As the lens of the eye becomes more yellowed it filters out more and more blue light. This yellowing occurs naturally as we age and may explain why sleep disorders become more frequent with increasing age. It also may explain why smokers and individuals suffering from diabetes mellitus also experienced higher rates of sleep disorders. Diabetes and smoking have been linked to the pre-mature yellowing of the eye’s lens,

Currently, the only known way to effectively reverse the yellowing process and thus possibly to improve sleep is through cataract surgery.

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 and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Can’t Sleep? Maybe it’s due to cataracts. Blog.VisiVite.com

Cataracts Could Cause Insomnia in the Elderly Ivanhoe.com