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Allergic eye disease is an inflammatory response of the eye to an allergen, resulting in redness, swelling of the eyelids and surface of the eye, itching and tearing. The symptoms can occur seasonally, in specific age groups or with specific risk factors. The diagnosis is made by history and examination. Allergy testing may be considered to identify specific allergens. Treatments include allergy drops, artificial tears, cool compresses, and avoiding allergens.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is when the natural lens becomes cloudy. Cataracts most often develop gradually, and people may not notice the decrease in vision initially. This can be age-related, after injury, due to medical conditions and medications. Risk factors include diabetes, steroid medications, smoking, ultraviolet exposure, inflammation of eye, prior eye surgery, injury to the eye, and genetics.
What are symptoms of a cataract?
Cataracts cause a decrease in vision including:
How can cataracts be treated?
Currently, there is no effective medical treatment for cataracts. Options that can be tried include, avoiding UV exposure, controlling blood sugar in diabetes, avoiding eye injury, increase lighting conditions for reading, using magnifying lenses.
Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in medicine, and it is one of the most successful surgeries. Most often, the cataract is removed by phacoemulsification in which a small instrument is used to soften and remove the cataract from the eye. The cataract is then replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL). There are many types of IOLs including monofocal, multifocal, near-vision enhancing, and astigmatism correcting. The goal of the IOL is to reduce the dependency on glasses or contacts for distance and/or near vision after cataract surgery.
A more recent technology is the use of the femtosecond laser in cataract surgery to replace some of the manual parts of the cataract surgery with the precision of laser. The laser helps to soften the cataract and can help reduce the need for glasses after surgery by correcting astigmatism.
Your eyesight is a precious gift, and protecting against vision loss is essential to maintaining your quality of life. By taking the simple step of making a comprehensive eye examination part of your healthcare routine, you can help safeguard your vision.
As part of a comprehensive eye examination, the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C. will assess your eye health and every aspect of your vision. In addition to determining your proper eyeglass or contact lens prescription, we’ll screen for eye diseases that can lead to vision loss, as well as check for any other problems that may affect eye health. Since your eyes can be an indicator of your overall health, we’ll also look for any warning signs of underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
It’s also essential for children to have their eyes checked on a regular basis. Periodic eye exams help determine if their vision is developing on schedule and detect any emerging issues that might require treatment.
By scheduling an appointment with the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C. for routine exams and care, we can help you and every member of the family enjoy optimal vision while protecting the health of their eyes.
A comprehensive eye exam provides an in-depth look at the health of your eyes and a thorough assessment of the quality of your vision.
We begin by reviewing your overall medical history and gathering relevant information on your eye health history and that of your family. We’ll also discuss any symptoms you may be experiencing, along with any work-related or environmental conditions that may affect your vision. You’ll then receive a thorough clinical examination to check the health of your eyes and assess the quality of your vision. While taking a close look at your eyes, we perform a series of comfortable tests to determine your visual acuity. We also check the degree to which your eyes work together, how well your eyes follow a moving object, your depth perception, and evaluate other indicators of vision function.
You’ll also be carefully screened for the development of eye diseases that can lead to vision loss. Many eye diseases, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, as well as other conditions affecting the retina, demonstrate few if any overt signs or symptoms until irreparable damage to your eyesight has occurred. Detecting diseases that can threaten your sight in their earliest stages supports effective management and care.
As surprising as it sounds, your eyes are the only part of the body where blood vessels and nerve tissue can be viewed directly without surgery. For this very reason, a comprehensive eye exam can potentially reveal telltale signs of illnesses and medical conditions that have originated elsewhere in the body. Eye exams can provide critical findings in the diagnosis of congenital syndromes & inherited disorders, primary cancers and metastases, cardiovascular disease, circulatory problems, blood disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, or the side effects of certain drugs.
At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., we’re passionate about providing the highest quality of care and dedicated to meeting the vision care needs of every member of your family. We offer a complete range of services, including comprehensive exams, prescription lenses, and contacts, as well as vision screening services to detect any developing conditions affecting the health of your eyes.
Approximately 80% of the information from our environment is gathered and sent for processing by way of our eyes. Healthy vision not only supports the enjoyment of our surroundings, but it also enables us to carry out our daily routines. Comprehensive eye exams performed on a routine basis, or more frequently as recommended, enable the timely correction of vision impairments along with the early detection, management, and treatment of any emerging eye problems.
A comprehensive eye exam involves a series of comfortable and pain-free tests that offer a close-up look at your eye health and visual function. Between having all the tests performed and discussing the results with our eye doctor, you can expect your visit to last up to an hour.
While every patient is different, many of the following tests are typically performed during a comprehensive eye exam:
Visual acuity testing – Measures the sharpness of your vision and how each eye compares to the optimal standard of 20/20 vision
Color blindness testing – Helps to detect hereditary color vision deficiencies or eye health problems that may affect your color vision
Stereoptsis testing – Evaluates how well your eyes work as a team with regard to depth perception and 3D vision.
Eye muscle testing – Checks for eye muscle weakness, poor control, or impaired coordination as your eyes follow a moving object
Pupil testing – Checks how your pupils respond to light
Autorefraction – A computerized test that provides an approximate and preliminary measure of your prescription
Retinoscopy – Uses reflected light to estimate the lens power needed to correct your vision
Refraction – Determines the type and level of refractive error and your exact eyeglass prescription
Keratometry – Measures the shape and curvature of the cornea
Slit-lamp examination – Examines the structure at the front of your eyes along with those farther back within the eye under high magnification
Peripheral Visual Field – Evaluates the integrity of your peripheral vision and checks for blind spots
Intraocular Pressure Measurement – Checks for the presence of glaucoma
Pupil dilation – Dilating the eyes allows for a better view of the back of the eye and its internal structures. It provides a clearer look at the retina, small blood vessels, and the optic nerve. A dilated eye exam offers an opportunity to check for eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This type of exam is essential for individuals at risk for eye disease.
Please note: dilating eye drops take about 20 minutes to work, and your eyes may be sensitive to light for a few hours following your exam. It’s wise to bring sunglasses to your visit or have someone drive you home from the exam.
Although the above tests provide a detailed view of eye health and function, additional evaluation and testing are sometimes indicated. Further testing may include fundus photos, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, corneal topography, automated visual field, and others. Today, advanced retinal imaging devices can capture high resolution, wide-angle views of the retina, and save these images for comparisons over time.
At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., you can rest assured that your vision care is in the best of hands. We maintain a position at the forefront of advances in technology and treatment to provide patients with the highest quality of care.
Did you know that more than 150 million people in the United States alone wear some form of corrective eyewear to correct refractive errors?
Your eye operates in much the same way as a camera. Just as the lens of a camera focuses the entering light on a piece of film to produce a sharp image, the lens of your eye focuses light on the retina to form a picture that is then sent to the brain. When a refractive error is present, it means that your eye cannot focus light correctly on the retina. A refractive error is a common eye disorder that can occur for a number of reasons; it may be due to an irregularly shaped cornea (the clear front surface of the eye), the length of the eyeball itself, or develop as the lens of your eye ages.
There are a number of symptoms that can be associated with a refractive error. While the most common one is blurred vision, you may also experience other symptoms such as headaches, double vision, eye strain or glare, and halos around light.
Myopia (nearsightedness) – Myopia is the most common refractive error. Most cases of myopia occur because the eyeball is too long, and light is focused before it reaches the retina. It can also be the result of the cornea or the lens being too curved relative to the length of the eyeball.
Hyperopia (farsightedness) – Hyperopia is a refractive error that is due to the eyeball being too short and/or a cornea that is flatter than normal. In cases of hyperopia, it is more challenging to see up-close objects clearly.
Astigmatism – Astigmatism is due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. In cases of astigmatism, the eye is unable to evenly focus light on the retina to produce a clear image. Astigmatism may occur in conjunction with myopia or hyperopia.
Presbyopia – Presbyopia is a refractive error that affects the majority of individuals over the age of 40. It occurs with advancing age as the lens of the eye loses its elasticity, and its ability to focus. With presbyopia, it is more difficult to see up close.
Refractive errors can be readily detected during the course of an eye exam. To do this, we’ll have you read a vision chart as well as perform tests to assess how the light bends as it travels through the cornea and the lens of your eye. Once it is determined that a refractive error is present, we’ll determine the exact prescription needed to correct your vision.
In the old days, the only way to correct refractive errors was by wearing eyeglasses. While wearing a pair of eyeglasses remains an excellent and fashionable way to enjoy clear, crisp vision, choosing contact lenses or refractive surgery to alter the cornea's shape can also effectively correct some vision impairments.
Based on your specific needs and lifestyle, our office will guide you in choosing the safest and most appropriate treatment to maintain the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision.
As everyone knows, the health of your eyes is essential to your overall function and quality of life. Yet despite the desire to ward off the effects of aging, much like everything else in the body, your eyes and vision are not immune to the changes that come with time. At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., we do our utmost to help you protect the health of your eyes and preserve the quality of your vision throughout every stage of life.
While the need for reading glasses in middle age is typically part and parcel of the aging process, there may be other emerging vision changes that are indicative of more serious eye conditions. With advancing age, your risk of eye disease significantly increases. In addition to glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, the incidence of problems such as dry eye, floaters, and retinal detachment also occur with greater frequency in older adults. As a matter of fact, by the age of 65, one in three seniors are affected by an eye condition that results in vision impairment.
Since many eye diseases develop without discomfort, routine eye care is essential. For this reason, a baseline eye exam is recommended at the age of 40. By performing an examination at this time, our office can detect eye disease and vision problems early in their onset, when treatment and management to preserve your eyesight are most effective. And, while annual eye exams are essential for older adults, if you are under the age of 40 and have a family history of either glaucoma or macular degeneration or suffer from systemic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, it’s also important to get your eyes routinely checked.
Taking your child for a comprehensive eye exam at an early age and maintaining the recommended eye care schedule as they grow is the best way to ensure your child's vision development and that they acquire the visual skills needed to fully participate in all their activities.
According to guidelines established by the American Optometric Association, children should receive an eye exam at between 6 months to 12 months of age, once between the ages of 3 and five, before entering first grade and then annually thereafter. However, in the presence of certain risk factors or diagnosed vision issues and impairments, the recommended exam schedule may differ.
At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., we provide skilled and experienced vision care for children and do our very best to make sure they enjoy optimal vision as they grow. Our specialized pediatric eye care services include child-friendly and age-appropriate exams to check visual acuity, eye tracking, focusing skills, and problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, lazy eye (amblyopia), crossed eyes, dyslexia, color blindness, disease or medical conditions. Depending upon the findings at your child’s eye exam visit, eyeglasses, vision therapy, or additional procedures will be prescribed as needed.
Even if your vision is 20/20, it’s essential to keep in mind that everyone requires a comprehensive eye exam periodically. Nonetheless, how often you or a member of your family should have one depends on several factors. A patient’s age, family and personal medical histories, a previous eye injury, existing eye conditions, and environmental or occupational factors influence the recommended frequency.
The American Optometric Association offers the following guidelines:
Children – Children should receive an eye exam at between 6 months to 12 months of age, once between the ages of 3 and five, before entering first grade and then annually thereafter. However, in the presence of certain risk factors or diagnosed vision issues and impairments, the recommended exam schedule may differ.
Adults – In the absence of risk factors, adults between the ages of 18 to 39 years should schedule an eye exam at least once every two years. Because several eye diseases can develop with age, a baseline eye exam is recommended at the age of 40. A patient’s risk factors determine the recommended schedule between the ages of 40 and 64 years. At-risk adults over 40 may require annual or more frequent eye exams. For low-risk adults, the eye doctor may determine that an exam every two years may suffice. For adults 65 and older, annual exams are recommended.
It’s essential to remember to bring your current eyeglasses or contact lenses prescription to your visit. If you also wear reading glasses, computer glasses, protective eyewear, or other visual aids, you may want to bring these as well. Because getting your pupils dilated can leave you sensitive to light for several hours following your appointment, it’s wise to bring sunglasses to the appointment.
In addition to your medical and eye health history, you will be asked about your family’s eye health history and any contributing factors that may increase your risk of eye disease. As best you can, be prepared with this information. It’s also helpful to have a comprehensive list of any medications that you are taking. Remember to bring your medical insurance and vision insurance card and information along to your visit.
If you have questions or concerns about your eye health and vision, an eye exam visit offers an excellent opportunity to discuss what's on your mind and get helpful eye care tips and guidance.
It’s essential to keep in mind that vision screenings take a very basic look at your eyesight and are not used to diagnose or treat vision problems. They are designed to merely detect them and are often performed by a school nurse or pediatrician. While a vision screening may be useful in identifying a vision impairment that requires further care, it is by no means a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam. As a rule, the only way to precisely detect and diagnose any vision abnormalities or identify the presence of eye disease is through a comprehensive and in-person eye exam.
If you have vision insurance, you can expect to have coverage for some aspects of care. While every vision plan offers specific benefits, they generally offer some coverage for routine care such as annual exams and eyewear. If your eye condition qualifies as a medical issue, some coverage under your medical insurance may apply. At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., we strive to optimize your insurance benefits and minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. Although our financial office is well versed in the complexities of insurance coverage, it’s always a good idea to review your specific benefits with your HR department or insurance carrier.
At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., we welcome patients of all ages and offer a comprehensive range of vision care services and products to help every member of your family protect the health of their eyes and enjoy optimal sight. We use the most advanced technology and proven treatment methods to deliver precise, gentle, and effective care. Whether you or any member of your family require an eye exam, prescription lenses, protective eyewear, contacts, and hard-to-fit contact lenses to pre and post-LASIK care or other eye care services, we’re well equipped to help.
For more information on our office and the many services we provide, give us a call today.
Today, contact lenses are more versatile, more comfortable, and more convenient than ever before! Thanks to advances in vision care technology and lens materials, contact lenses offer satisfying, easy-to-wear, and safe solutions to address a broad range of needs.
At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., you can feel confident that your family’s eye care needs are in the best of hands. We provide experienced and compassionate care to help patients of all ages enjoy the benefits of healthy eyes and vision. If you or any member of your family is interested in getting examined and expertly fitted with contact lenses or would like additional information, we’re happy to help. From assessing eye health to accurately fitting you with the right contact lenses and instructing you in the proper lens care methods, we’re with you every step of the way.
It’s essential to keep in mind that selecting the correct contact lenses is based on your vision prescription, eye anatomy, and daily needs. During a contact lens exam and fitting, our eye doctor will measure your eyes, select the proper lens type, and determine the precise amount of vision correction that’s required. In addition to prescribing lenses for corrective and medical purposes, contacts are also available to cosmetically transform and enhance eye color.
According to the most recent statistics, close to 45 million people across the country wear contact lenses. In many cases, they are used to address refractive errors.
By wearing contact lenses, individuals who are dealing with either one or a combination of the following refractive errors can enjoy clear, crisp vision:
Nearsightedness (myopia)
Farsightedness (hyperopia)
Blurred vision (astigmatism)
Age-related loss of close-up vision (presbyopia)
A contact lens is a small synthetic lens that is placed on the film of tears covering the surface of your eye. Although most people wear contact lenses for corrective purposes, a smaller percentage of people use them for medical and therapeutic reasons. Contact lenses are also available for cosmetic purposes for individuals looking to enhance or transform their eye color. However, as all contact lenses are considered medical devices, even cosmetic contact lenses require a prescription.
Choosing the correct design and accurately fitting the contact lenses are essential for healthy and comfortable wear. While getting fitted for contact lenses is typically a routine procedure, some people fall into the “Hard to Fit” category. At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., we offer a comprehensive range of vision care services, including hard-to-fit contact lenses for the treatment of eye irregularities related to disease or injury.
Although eyeglasses are available in an extensive range of fashionable and attractive styles, many people choose to wear contact lenses as an appealing part-time or full-time alternative.
In addition to correcting a broad spectrum of vision impairments, contact lenses offer several benefits, including the following ones:
Contact lenses are easy to wear, provide greater freedom and greater flexibility.
Allow wearers to enjoy optimal vision that looks and feels natural without the appearance of eyeglasses
Eliminates the limits of the eyeglass frame with the entire field of vision unobstructed and in focus
Unlike eyeglasses, contact lenses do not fog up with changes in temperature or get splattered by water in wet weather or conditions
With contact lenses, non-prescription sunglasses can be worn
Contact lenses provide unmatched freedom of movement in sports and other leisure activities.
If you are interested in wearing contact lenses or you are due to have your current pair of contacts checked, our office will perform a specialized evaluation to measure and assess your eyes. Unlike a routine eye exam, an exam for contact lenses will ensure your contact lenses fit properly while providing the required vision improvements. It also helps determine if your eyes will be able to tolerate wearing lenses without any harmful consequences. However, a contact lens exam does not replace a comprehensive or routine eye exam to assess eye health and visual function.
Different measurements are required for contact lenses because, unlike an eyeglass lens, positioned approximately 12mm away from your eye, a contact lens sits directly on the surface of your eye. Once your eyes have been measured and evaluated, our office will discuss the types of contact lenses and wear schedules available to you. Depending upon your vision requirements and lifestyle, we’ll guide you in choosing the most suitable and effective contact lenses to address all your needs.
Choosing the right contact lenses to address your needs depends on several factors, including your prescription, eye anatomy, how much wear you intend to wear your contact lenses, and your ability to clean and maintain them as required. We’ll also discuss any medical conditions, environmental factors, lifestyle demands, or budgetary considerations that can influence your choice.
By far, the most comfortable and popular contact lenses available today are soft contact lenses, made of water-absorbing materials called hydrogels. Because of the high water content, these contact lenses are soft, flexible, and extremely easy to wear. Soft contact lenses come in many versions and are available for daily wear, extended-wear, or as disposables.
Daily-wear disposable contact lenses are a type of soft lenses designed to be worn during the day and discarded nightly. Much more convenient and lower maintenance than other types of contact lenses, disposable lenses are a popular choice for many contact lens wearers.
Extended-wear contact lenses can be worn both daily and overnight for longer periods of time. While some extended wear contact lenses are FDA approved for one to two weeks of continuous wear, others can be worn up to 30 days. Available as either gas permeable or soft contact lenses, an extended-wear contact lens prescription offers the convenience of not having to frequently remove your contact lenses for maintenance, along with the benefit of waking up to clear, crisp vision. However, in the absence of proper care, extended-wear lenses may pose a higher risk of infection.
More rigid and durable than soft contact lenses, rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lenses allow a healthy flow of oxygen to reach the eye. More resistant to lens deposits than soft contact lenses, RGP lenses do not need to be replaced as often and are less likely to harbor bacteria. Though initially not as comfortable as soft lenses, due to the ability to retain their shape, RGP lenses can provide crisper, clearer vision.
Toric contact lenses are specially designed contact lenses used to help correct astigmatism. Typically available as soft contact lenses, some toric contact lenses also come in a rigid gas-permeable version.
Bifocal contact lenses contain two prescriptions in each lens to improve near and far vision for individuals affected by refractive errors and age-related presbyopia. Multifocal contact lenses have more than one lens power to provide clear vision for objects at multiple distances. While bifocal contact lenses contain two distinct segments with different prescriptions, multifocal contact lenses transition gradually between lens powers.
Monovision offers an alternative approach for individuals who may be having difficulty getting used to bifocal or multifocal contact lenses. In these cases, single vision lenses are worn in each eye, with one correcting for distance and the other correcting for near vision.
For individuals seeking a new look, contact lenses are available to correct vision and to enhance or change one’s natural eye color.
At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., we firmly believe that communication is essential to good patient care. In addition to performing a thorough contact lens examination, we also take the time to address every question and provide detailed information on caring for your new contact lenses.
While for many people getting contact lenses is a routine procedure that offers a relatively quick and easy solution for their vision needs, there are others who fall into the “Hard to Fit” category.
Difficulty wearing contact lenses may be due to any number of factors, including:
Eye Shape
Astigmatism
Presbyopia
Dry Eyes
Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis
The Aftermath of Lasik or other Refractive Surgery
Keratoconus
Pellucid Marginal Degeneration
Corneal Scarring
Yet despite these issues, it’s essential to keep in mind that these eye conditions do not rule out the possibility of wearing comfortable and effective contact lenses to address your vision needs. Our eye care team is skilled and experienced in the fitting of specialized contact lenses and will find the most suitable ones to fit your eyes and improve your vision. Furthermore, if your eye condition requires treatment, we’ll provide you with the most appropriate guidance and recommendations for care.
Proper contact lens care is essential for maintaining eye health and reducing the risk of infections. Contact lenses must be worn, cleaned, and replaced as instructed. Hands should be washed, rinsed, and thoroughly dried before handling your contact lenses. Never wear lenses beyond the recommended time and replace them as scheduled. If any eye discomfort or vision impairment develop, it is important to remove your contact lenses and make an immediate appointment for care.
Remember, your contact lens prescriptions should be evaluated annually. At this visit, we’ll perform a thorough exam to check your current contact lenses as well as the overall health of your eyes. New contact lenses will be prescribed if there has been any change to your vision or if innovations in care have made improved ones available.
Unlike an eyeglass lens positioned approximately 12mm away from your eye, a contact lens sits directly on its surface. In addition to determining the lens power needed to correct any vision impairment, your contact lens prescription requires information about the anatomy of your eye, the curvature of the cornea, the diameter of the lens, and other parameters. This data helps ensure an accurate fit and optimal vision correction, which in turn supports healthy and comfortable wear.
Although contact lenses offer a convenient and comfortable alternative to eyeglasses, it’s essential to handle, wear, and maintain them as directed. With proper care, the risk of problems is quite low. However, not wearing or taking care of your contacts can cause significant problems and lead to eye infections, corneal abrasions, dry eyes, corneal ulcers, or other issues, including vision loss. Remember, it’s essential to be vigilant and get professional guidance and care as soon as a problem develops.
While contact lenses provide millions of people with an effective and satisfying solution for a broad range of vision impairments and eye issues, some people cannot comfortably or safely wear them. If you are prone to eye infections, have severe allergies or dry eyes that are not responsive to treatment, are exposed to a dusty daily environment, or cannot properly care for contact lenses, we’ll recommend a different option in care.
While, in some ways, contact lens considerations for children are the same as those for teenagers and adults, some significant differences require further discussion. Whether or not a child is a candidate for contact lenses and at what age they can safely wear them depends on several factors. For one thing, it’s essential to evaluate how well a child can handle the responsibility of safely and properly caring for their contacts. Another consideration is the presence of underlying medical conditions or significant seasonal allergies. At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., we provide skilled and experienced care. If you are interested in contact lenses for your child, we’re well equipped to advise you on the healthiest and safest vision care options.
The United States Food and Drug Administration recommends contact lenses not be exposed to any form of water. The reason is that certain bacteria present in impure water can become attached to contact lenses, increasing the risk of infection and possible vision loss. However, if lenses are worn in a bathtub or hot tub, it’s essential to avoid getting water splashed in your eyes. Also, tight-fitting goggles can offer a measure of protection when swimming with contact lenses.
Based on research and scientific evidence, the American Optometric Association offers the following advice:
“If lenses are accidentally exposed to water, instill a lubricating drop to help loosen the lens on the eye then remove the lens with clean, dry hands. Next, clean and disinfect the lens before re-inserting, or discard the lens. Never sleep in a lens that has been exposed to water without first cleaning and disinfecting it. If lenses were removed prior to getting in a bathtub or hot tub, they must be properly cleaned and disinfected before being re-inserted.”
A prescription for contact lenses is valid for a year. Purchasing contact lenses requires an annual eye exam to generate a valid prescription.
It’s always worthwhile to invest in your vision! With that said, the cost of contact lenses varies. It all depends on the type of lens, whether they are daily or extended wear or specialized lenses designed for a specific purpose. Most vision insurance plans provide some coverage for contact lenses. However, copays and coinsurance rates can vary by plan. In some cases, when a medical condition precludes eyeglasses, a patient may receive coverage for contacts under their medical insurance.
At the office of Eye Physicians of Orange County, P.C., we provide the finest quality of care to help patients of all ages maintain healthy eyes and enjoy optimal vision. We offer a comprehensive range of services from eye exams, prescription lenses, and all types of contact lenses, to vision screenings to detect any signs of disease or injury affecting the health of your eyes. Our position at the forefront of advances in vision technology and treatment methods demonstrates our dedication to serving our patients' needs. It’s also the reason so many patients choose our office for care.
What is cornea transplantation?
The cornea is the clear, round surface of the eye that helps focus images in the eye. The cornea must be clear, smooth and healthy to be able to see. In certain conditions, the cornea can become cloudy, scarred, and swollen and the vision will decrease. If the cornea cannot be healed, the eye may require a cornea transplant. The cornea has layers and the outer, inner or whole cornea may be replaced with human donor tissue. The donor tissue is carefully checked to ensure that is safe and healthy for transplantation.
What causes cornea problems?
The cornea can become cloudy or scarred by:
What are cornea transplant options?
The different layers of the cornea may be replaced. In DALK (deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty) the outer layers of the cornea are replaced. In EK (endothelial keratoplasty) the inner layers of the cornea are replaced. Most commonly DSEK (Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty) is performed where 20% of the inner cornea is replaced. In some cases, only the thinnest inner of the cornea is replaced in DMEK (Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty. When all layers of the cornea are replaced, a PK (penetrating keratoplasty) is performed. The goal is to replace the damaged cornea with healthy tissue and cells that can restore corneal clarity and improve vision.
What is DSEK (Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty)?
DSEK is a form of endothelial keratoplasty in which the inner layer, Descemet’s membrane, is removed and the replaced with donor tissue from 20% of the inner cornea. Compared with a PK, the healing time is shorter, there is a smaller incision, less chance for astigmatism, and there is a lower chance that your body will reject the tissue.
What is DMEK (Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty)?
In DMEK, another form of endothelial keratoplasty, the Descemet’s membrane, is removed and the replaced with donor tissue Descemet’s membrane. In DMEK, compared with DSEK, the tissue is thinner and can be more difficult to transplant, but in DMEK the recovery is faster and the vision may be better.
What are the reasons for needing endothelial keratoplasty?
EK is needed if the cells on the inner cornea, or endothelium, stop working. This can occur after previous eye surgery, previous failed graft or inherited conditions such as Fuch’s dystrophy and Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome.
What can be expected after an endothelial cornea transplant?
The eye may feel irritated with mild to moderate pain for the first few days. The patient may be instructed to lie on his or her back for the first few days to help the graft remain in position. The vision will improve gradually over the first few weeks. The initial visit will be the first day after surgery and then scheduled accordingly. The eye will be monitored closely for vision, pressure, signs of infection, graft healing, signs of graft detachment, and signs of graft rejection.
What is a full thickness transplant?
A full thickness transplant is also called a penetrating keratoplasty or PK, which all the layers of the cornea are replaced. The cornea is sewn into place. The healing time is longer for PK, often a year or longer. With a PK compared with an EK, there is a higher risk that your body can reject the transplant tissue. ‘
Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder that impairs the body’s ability to produce or use insulin effectively to regulate blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, over time elevated blood sugar levels can cause damage throughout the body with many complications to one’s health and overall wellbeing.
The term “diabetic eye disease” refers to a group of conditions that potentially threaten the eyesight of people with diabetes. This group of conditions includes diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema (DME), cataracts and glaucoma.
Early detection is critical for the prevention of vision loss from diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetes, seeing an eye doctor for a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year and more often as recommended is strongly advised.
In addition to scheduling a comprehensive dilated eye exam and taking care to control your blood sugar levels, it’s essential that you pay close attention to any changes in your vision. Contact our office right away if you notice any sudden fluctuations or if your vision becomes spotty, blurry or hazy.
What is dry eye syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome is a common problem that can range in severity from mild to severe. This is caused by a disruption of the tear layer that normally coats the surface of the eye. Symptoms include:
What causes dry eye syndrome?
Causes include:
What tests can look for dry eye syndrome?
Tests can be done in the office including looking at eye sensation, tear layer stability, damage to the surface of the eye, tear production, and eye inflammation. A blood test can also be performed to look at autoimmune associated dry eye and Sjogren’s syndrome.
What is the management for dry eye syndrome?
Depending on the case, different treatments for dry eye syndrome are used including:
Eye Physicians of Orange County PC, announced the introduction of a new laser that performs Laser Vitreolysis; a highly effective treatment for treating vitreous opacities - commonly referred to as floaters. As many as 70% of all people will experience floaters in their lifetime. While they are only a nuisance for many people, in a significant amount of patients they can have serious quality of life issues, often disrupting a patients ability to read, drive and otherwise function normally.
This minimally invasive, in-office procedure can provide much-needed relief from the symptoms associated with floaters; which are known to bother many people as they approach middle age.
Vitreous Opacities or ‘Floaters’ are pieces of debris that float in the eye’s vitreous humor (the jelly-like substance in the main chamber of the eye). This debris casts shadows onto the retina (the light-sensitive tissue layer at the back of the eye) and can often create a visual disturbance that can interfere with daily activities such as reading, using a computer or driving.
The procedure to treat floaters uses a specially designed YAG laser to vaporize the vitreous strands. During the procedure, the laser emits short (3 nanosecond) bursts of energy. This laser energy does not simply break the vitreous strands into smaller pieces, but rather converts the collagen and hyaluronin molecules within the floater into a gas, which is then resorbed into the eye.
Recent studies have demonstrated a low complicated rate for Laser Vitreolysis. Most patients will experience an almost immediate improvement in visual function and are able to return to normal day-to-day activities directly following the procedure.
“Typically, many of my patients describe floaters as ‘strands’ or ‘blobs’ obstructing their line of vision which can significantly affect their day-to-day activities. Patients may have been told that they should just learn to live with their floaters or if they are particularly severe or troubling, they should consider a surgical intervention. We are so pleased to be able to offer these patients a non-surgical; minimally invasive procedure that offers the potential to deliver a notable improvement in functional vision.”
“Since commencing this treatment in my practice, I have come to appreciate the negative effect that floaters can have on a patient’s quality of life. To date, the overwhelming response from my patients has been that floaters pose a major hindrance in their daily lives. As clinicians we believe we must embrace the growing need to manage floaters – we can no longer diminish the impact that they can have on a patient’s quality of life.”
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is when damage occurs to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. Most often fluid builds up in the front of the eye, causing pressure that damages the optic nerve. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in people over 60 years old. Damage from glaucoma can be prevented if treated early.
What are some types of the glaucoma?
There are two main types of glaucoma:
1. Primary open angle glaucoma
This is the most common type of glaucoma. The drain of the eye does not work effectively, and fluid builds up in the eye. This causes pressure on the optic nerve and damage to the nerve. Often the pressure builds gradually and people do not symptoms, until there is significant loss of peripheral vision.
In some people, the optic nerve is sensitive to a normal pressure and glaucoma develops even when the pressure is normal. In these cases other tests can be performed to determine if there is optic nerve damage. Routine exams are necessary to diagnose and prevent glaucoma.
2. Angle-closure glaucoma
This occurs when the iris is close to the drainage angle of the eye. When the iris suddenly closes off the drain, the pressure in eye increases rapidly and an “angle closure attack” occurs. This is an eye emergency as sudden and permanent vision loss can occur.
These are signs of an angle closure attack:
Some people can develop chronic angle closure, in which the angle gradually closes of. As this happens slowly, they may not have symptoms until there is significant damage.
What are risk factors of glaucoma?
Risk factors for glaucoma include intraocular pressure (IOP), older age, race, higher prescription, thinner cornea, and family history.
What are symptoms of glaucoma?
Frequently people do not have symptoms from glaucoma, especially if it develops gradually. When the disease becomes advanced, symptoms include loss of peripheral vision, blurry vision, difficulty seeing from one eye.
What is the management for glaucoma?
Damage from glaucoma is not reversible, so it is important to prevent damage before it occurs. Management for glaucoma is targeting at reducing the pressure in the eye with medication eye drops, laser treatments and glaucoma surgery.
Hypertension can affect different parts of the eye including the retina, blood vessels, and the optic nerve. The high blood pressure damages the blood vessels, which can lead to breaks in the blood vessels, bleeding, and leakage of fluid. The optic nerve can also develop bleeding and swelling. This is diagnosed by eye examination. The main treatment is focused on reducing the blood pressure.
Taking your child for a comprehensive eye exam at an early age, and maintaining regularly scheduled eye care checkups as they are growing up, is the best way to ensure that your child’s vision development reaches its full potential and to make certain that your child acquires the visual skills needed to fully participate in all activities.
According to guidelines established by the American Optometric Association a child should receive an eye exam at the ages of 6 months, 3 years, before kindergarten, and then once every two years. However, in the presence of certain risk factors or diagnosed vision issues, more frequent exams may be recommended. Children who are wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses should be checked annually.
The members of our professional team are skilled and experienced providers of comprehensive vision care for children and do their best to make sure that your child’s eyes are strong and healthy as they grow. Our specialized pediatric eye care services include child friendly and age appropriate exams to assess visual acuity, eye tracking, and focusing skills, as well as to detect problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, lazy eye (amblyopia), crossed eyes, dyslexia, a color blindness, disease or medical conditions. Depending upon the findings of your child’s eye exam visit, eyeglasses, vision therapy, or additional procedures may be recommended.
Keratoconus is an eye condition in which the shape of the cornea becomes distorted. The cornea is a clear structure that covers the front of the eye and does 85% of the focusing of the light as it passes through the eye. In a healthy eye, the cornea curves like a dome. In an eye with keratoconus, the center of the cornea slowly thins and bulges so that it sags and has a cone shape distorting vision.
Symptoms include:
The primary treatment options for keratoconus are contact lenses and surgery. In the very early stages of keratoconus, vision problems can be corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses. As keratoconus progresses, special gas permeable contact lenses may be necessary. Advanced keratoconus may require surgery. There are new treatments for this condition being introduced all the time and by speaking with an expert you are sure to get the best care.
What is laser vision correction?
Laser vison correction is a method of correcting the vision for myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. The treatment is applied to the cornea on the surface of the eye. In people who are nearsighted or myopic, the treatment reduces the curvature of the cornea that is too steep, and this brings images in focus on the retina. In people who are farsighted or hyperopic, the treatment results in a steeper cornea to increase the eye’s focusing power. In astigmatism, the treatment smooths the cornea to make it more regular. Refractive surgery can be a good option in people who:
The most common methods of refractive surgery include LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) and surface ablation or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy). LASIK involves creating a flap, applying laser to the cornea and then replacing the flap. Surface ablation involves removing the surface layer, applying the laser to the cornea and the often placing a contact lens to help the surface heal. If you are considering refractive surgery, you and your ophthalmologist can discuss the best treatment to suit your vision needs and your lifestyle.
What are the alternatives to refractive surgery?
Alternatives to laser refractive surgery include wearing glasses or contacts, other cornea surgery to correct the vision or placing an intraocular lens to correct the vision.
The high success rate of LASIK and laser vision correction can be attributed to the advanced technology available today as well as the thorough evaluation process by which candidates are selected for the procedure.
Please call the office to make an appointment for a laser vision correction consultation.
Macular degeneration is a progressive disease that affects the cells in the back part of your eye, which allows you to visualize objects that are straight ahead. Over time it damages your capacity for sharp, central vision. With macular degeneration, it becomes increasingly more difficult to perform daily tasks such as reading or writing as well as recognizing faces or colors. Among the early signs of vision loss from macular degeneration, are shadowy areas in your central vision and unusually fuzzy or distorted vision. While individuals with advanced cases of macular degeneration are considered legally blind as the result of a profound loss of central vision, their peripheral vision, which is less clear than central vision, is retained. Most people do not experience vision loss in the early stage of age-related macular degeneration and the progression can be slow and painless.
An eye doctor can often detect early signs of macular degeneration before any symptoms are experienced. If signs of the condition are found, additional tests to verify the diagnosis may be ordered. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, treatment to manage the condition and to slow the progression will be prescribed.
According to the National Eye Institute, over two million adults in the United States have age-related macular degeneration with that number expected to double within the next thirty years. While one defense against age-related vision loss is a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle, regular comprehensive eye exams are essential in order to protect the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision.
What is a pterygium?
Pterygium is a growth of tissue extending from the conjunctiva overlying the white of the eye onto the cornea. It has been associated with UV exposure. Risk factors include UV radiation, dry climate, and spending time outdoors.
What are symptoms of pterygium?
Pterygium can cause an increased redness to the surface of the eye, irritation, tearing, or sensation of dryness. As the pterygium grows, it can astigmatism and obstruction of vision.
What is the management for pterygium?
Pterygium can be initially managed with eye drops and ointments to reduce discomfort and redness. If symptoms persist, surgical excision with conjunctival graft can be performed. Some people are prone to recurrence of pterygium, which can be more aggressive.
