Patients who are diagnosed with wet macular degeneration have new options for laser treatments. As macular degeneration progresses, new blood vessels may develop in the eye, which can cause scarring and a loss of central vision. To stop the progression of the disease and limit scarring, laser treatments

Presbyopia is a difficulty in focusing that many people begin noticing after age 40. Most people first notice difficulty in reading very fine print. Print seems to have less contrast and a brighter, more direct light is needed for reading. In many cases, patients begin holding reading material further

Keratoconus is a degenerative disease of the cornea that causes it to gradually thin and bulge into a cone-like shape. This shape prevents light from focusing precisely on the macula. As the disease progresses, the shape becomes more pronounced, causing blurred or distorted vision. Patients with keratoconus

Nearsightedness occurs when light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This is caused by a cornea that is steeper, or an eye that is longer, than a normal eye. Nearsightedness causes difficulty seeing at a distance. It is often discovered in school-age children who

LASIK (Laser-In-Situ Keratomileusis) For more than three decades, laser vision correction has been the dominant method for refractive surgery. Today, LASIK is most frequently used as an outpatient procedure for the correction of low, moderate and high prescriptions. Prior to LASIK surgery, your eye

Blepharitis is a common inflammatory condition that causes burning, itching and irritation of the eyelids. In severe cases, it may also cause styes and irritation or inflammation of the cornea (keratitis) or conjunctiva (conjunctivitis). Blepharitis is characterized by sandy, itchy eyes, red or swollen

Glaucoma is a disease caused by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) resulting either from an overproduction of fluid or from a malfunction of the eye's drainage structures. Left untreated, an elevated IOP causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve and retinal fibers, which leads to progressive and

Two laser treatments and one surgery may be recommended at different stages in the treatment of glaucoma: Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI), Argonne Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT) and glaucoma surgery. Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI) This preventative technique is used to preempt the occurrence of a glaucoma

If you see black spots or spider webs that seem to float in a cluster or singly in your vision, or if you see spots that move or remain suspended in one place, or flickering or flashing lights that are most prominent when you look at a bright background, then you have experienced floaters and flashes.

Patients with diabetes are more likely to develop eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma, but the disease's effect on the retina is the main threat to vision. Over time, diabetes affects the circulatory system of the retina, and this effect is called diabetic retinopathy. In its earliest phase,

Farsightedness occurs when light entering the eye focuses behind the retina instead of directly on it. This is caused by a cornea that is flatter, or an eye that is shorter, than a normal eye. Farsightedness causes difficulty seeing up close. Symptoms of farsightedness include blurred distance vision,

Strabismus is caused by one or more eye muscles functioning improperly, resulting in a misalignment of the eyes. Each eye has six muscles that work in unison to control movements. The brain controls the eye muscles to keep the eyes properly aligned. These muscles must function together for the brain

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens, the part of the eye responsible for focusing light and producing clear, sharp images. The lens is contained in a sealed bag or capsule. As old lens cells die, they become trapped within the capsule. Over time, the cells accumulate, causing the lens to cloud

When cataracts reach the stage where they are seriously decreasing an individual's vision, cataract surgery is called for. In this common procedure, the doctor removes the natural lens in the patient's eye, which is replaced by a permanent lens implant. The implant is made specifically to fit the patient's

Corneal transplants are commonly used for treating two types of corneal problems. The first is kerotoconus, a disease that causes progressive thinning of the cornea. The second is excessive scarring caused by chemical burns, blunt trauma or other severe lacerations to the cornea. During the surgery,

Color vision deficiency is a term that is used to describe one of a number of hereditary or acquired color vision problems. The inherited form is the most common deficiency. It affects both eyes and does not worsen over time. This type of color vision deficiency occurs more in males than in females.