A cataract is a vision impairment resulting from a cloudiness of the lens in the eye that prevents light from being focused clearly. Most people have some clouding of their lenses by age 60.

Surgery is the only treatment option for cataracts and is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the United States. During surgery, your cloudy lens is removed and an intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted and becomes a permanent part of your eye. Columbia Eye Clinic offers the latest advancements in lens implants and surgical procedure options to create a custom experience for every cataract patient.

There are many fantastic IOL options to correct nearsightedness, fiarsghtedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia–age-related inability to focus at near distances—that can reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses, even if you have had them for most of your life. Your surgeon will recommend a lens during your consultation visit based on your particular visual needs, including your hobbies, activities, lifestyle, and pre-existing eye conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration.

Patients who choose a monofocal IOL may need glasses for some or all distances. Monofocal IOLs are set to provide your best uncorrected vision at one focal point. Many people who choose a monofocal IOL have it set it for distance vision and use reading glasses for near activities. On the other hand, a person whose IOLs are set to correct near vision would need glasses to see distant objects clearly.

Monofocal IOLs can also be set for monovision, which is distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other eye. If you are considering monovision, your ophthalmologist may suggest trying this technique with contact lenses first to see how well you can adapt. If you require crisp, detailed vision, monovision may not be the best approach for you.

Multifocal IOLs utilize advanced technology and offer a series of focal zones or rings built into the IOL. Depending on where light focuses through the zones, you may be able to see distance, intermediate and near objects clearly. The ability to read and perform other tasks without glasses varies from person to person but it is generally best when multifocal IOLs are placed in both eyes.

Astigmatism is an imperfection in the curvature of your cornea. Laser cataract surgery enables the physician to correct certain amounts of regular astigmatism to reduce your need for glasses. Astigmatism correcting IOLs can also be used to help decrease the dependence upon glasses. Monofocal IOLs that correct astigmatism allow you to see without glasses at one distance. With this option, you may still rely on glasses for some activities. Some multifocal IOLs can also correct astigmatism.

Most insurance, including Medicare, cover the traditional procedure after deductibles and copays/coinsurances are met.  You may pay out of pocket for laser cataract surgery and for a premium lens.

Contact us at (803) 779-3070 to schedule an appointment for a cataract consultation at any of our four conveniently located offices.

The post Will I need glasses after cataract surgery? appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Years ago if you had cataract surgery, the natural cloudy lens was removed and there was nothing to replace it. People had to wear very thick eyeglasses or special contact lenses to be able to see clearly after cataract surgery. Now, we have a replacement for the eye’s natural lenses called intraocular lenses (IOLs). There are several types of lens implants available to help reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses.

So why do some people still require glasses after their surgery while others do not? There are many factors that determine if you will continue to wear full time glasses, part time glasses such as reading glasses, or none at all. These factors include the overall health of the eye, the type of surgery you select (traditional or laser), the amount of astigmatism,  your current eyeglass prescription, and your visual needs.

Although traditional cataract surgery is very effective and successful, when considering your surgical options, laser cataract surgery can offer a host of benefits over traditional procedures and can help you experience the best possible long-term vision. Laser surgery allows the surgeon to perform certain key steps within cataract surgery with a laser rather than a hand-held blade.

The benefits of laser surgery include:

• The laser provides an extremely detailed 3-D image of the eye. Since each eye is different with regards to its structures, the surgeon can use the measurements the laser provides to plan your surgery much more precisely.
• The laser enables better centering of the intraocular lens which is a significant factor in determining final visual outcomes.
• The laser enables the physician to simultaneously correct certain amounts of regular astigmatism to reduce your need for glasses.

Patients who have traditional or laser cataract surgery with a monofocal IOL may need glasses for some or all distances. Monofocal IOLs have been used for several decades and are set to provide your best uncorrected vision at one focal point. Many people who choose a monofocal IOL have it set it for distance vision and use reading glasses for near activities. On the other hand, a person whose IOLs are set to correct near vision would need glasses to see distant objects clearly.

Monofocal IOLs can also be set for monovision, which is distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other eye. If you are considering monovision, your ophthalmologist may suggest trying this technique with contact lenses first to see how well you can adapt. If you require crisp, detailed vision, monovision may not be the best approach for you.

Astigmatism is an imperfection in the curvature of your cornea. Laser cataract surgery enables the physician to correct certain amounts of regular astigmatism to reduce your need for glasses. Astigmatism correcting IOLs can also be used to help decrease the dependence upon glasses. These IOLs are monofocal IOLs that correct astigmatism so you can see without glasses at one distance.  You may still rely on glasses for some activities.

Multifocal IOLs utilize advanced technology and offer a series of focal zones or rings built into the IOL. Depending on where light focuses through the zones, you may be able to see distance, intermediate and near objects clearly. The ability to read and perform other tasks without glasses varies from person to person but it is generally best when multifocal IOLs are placed in both eyes.

Regardless of the type of lens you select, you may still need to rely on glasses some of the time, but if correctly selected, your IOLs can greatly reduce your dependence on glasses. Discuss your options with your ophthalmologist to determine the IOL that best suits your vision needs and lifestyle.

The post Will I need glasses after cataract surgery? appeared first on Columbia Eye.

All three Columbia Eye Clinic locations have returned to a normal appointment schedule after several weeks of focusing care on patients with urgent and emergent needs to comply with American Academy of Ophthalmology recommendations and guidelines in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Read our latest update to learn more about how we are protecting our patients and staff from the Coronavirus.

Our physicians urge patients not to skip comprehensive eye exams because of Coronavirus. Comprehensive eye exams detect hidden signs of eye disease that could result in significant vision loss or blindness if not treated early and expose other serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even cancer.

Even if you think you have perfect vision, an annual eye exam can be one of the best things you can do for your overall health and wellness. Comprehensive eye exams check for serious vision-threatening eye problems such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetic eye disease. In the early stages, diabetic eye disease and glaucoma have no discernible symptoms. People typically only recognize something is wrong after they have sustained permanent vision loss from these diseases, and by that time, preventing additional vision loss can be very difficult. Only a comprehensive eye exam can detect signs of the diseases so treatment can begin early enough to prevent vision loss.

To maintain a lifetime of healthy vision, adults should have a comprehensive eye exam at least every two years. Adults over 60 should have annual exams.

“At risk” adults should have more frequent exams. Risk factors include:

• a family history of eye disease (glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.)
• diabetes or high blood pressure
• a visually demanding occupation or one that may pose hazards to the eyes
• taking prescription or non-prescription drugs that may have visual or eye-related side effects
• previous eye injuries or eye surgery (including cataract surgery)

Routine eye exams are just as important after LASIK as they were before the procedure. LASIK does not increase your risk of eye disease, but it does not decrease your risk either. Since LASIK alters the shape and thickness of the cornea, it is also important to monitor the health of the front surface of the eye.

A comprehensive eye exam is relatively simple and comfortable and should not take more than 45 to 90 minutes. The exam will include checks on the following:

• Your medical history. First, your doctor will ask you for an assessment of your vision and your overall health. Your family’s medical history, whether you wear corrective lenses or whether you are on any medication will also be of interest to your doctor.
• Your visual acuity. This is the part of an eye exam people are probably most familiar with. Your will read a standardized eye chart to determine how well you see at various distances. The test is performed on one eye at a time by covering the eye not being tested.
• Your pupils. Your doctor may evaluate how your pupils respond to light by shining a bright beam of light through your pupils. Common pupillary reaction to this stimulus is to constrict (become smaller). If your pupils respond by dilating (widening) or there is a lack of response either way, this may indicate an underlying problem.
• Your side vision. Loss of side vision is a symptom of many disease processes. Because you may lose side vision without knowing it, this test can identify eye problems that you aren’t even aware of.
• Your eye movement. This test, called ocular motility, evaluates the movement of your eyes. Your doctor will want to ensure proper eye alignment and ocular muscle function. Common tests measure the eyes and their ability to move quickly in all directions and slowly track objects.
• Your prescription for corrective lenses. You will be seated and asked to view an eye chart through a device called a phoroptor, which contains different lenses. The phoroptor can help determine the best eyeglass or contact lens prescription to correct any refractive error you may have, such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness or age-related blurry near vision.
• Your eye pressure. This test, called tonometry, measures the pressure within your eye (intraocular eye pressure, or IOP). Elevated IOP is a sign of glaucoma. The test may involve a quick puff of air onto the eye, or gently applying a pressure-sensitive tip near or against your eye. Your doctor may use numbing drops for this test for your comfort.
• The front part of your eye. A type of microscope called a slit lamp is used to illuminate the front part of the eye, including the eyelids, cornea, iris and lens. This can reveal whether you are developing cataracts or have any scars or scratches on your cornea.
• Your retina and optic nerve. Your doctor will put drops in your eye to dilate, or widen, your eye. This will allow him or her to thoroughly examine your retina and optic nerve, located at the back of your eye, for signs of damage from disease. Your eyes might be temporarily sensitive to light for a few hours after they are dilated.

Your doctor may suggest additional testing to further examine your eye using specialized imaging techniques such as OCT, topography or fundus photos. These tests can be crucial in diagnosing a disease in its early stages and allow your doctor to detect abnormalities in the back of the eye, on the eye’s surface or inside the eye.

Bring a list of any prescription or non-prescription medications you are currently taking or that you took on a regular basis in the past. Include vitamins, herbs and other non-traditional remedies you may use. Also note the dosages you take for each medicine or other substance, and how long you have been taking them.

If you currently wear corrective lenses, bring all pairs of eyeglasses you wear routinely. If you wear contacts that were prescribed elsewhere, bring a copy of your most recent contact lens prescription.

If you are interested in specialty services such as contact lens fitting or laser vison correction surgery (LASIK) evaluation, be sure to mention this — both when you schedule your exam and when you check in on exam day.

Contact us at (803) 779-3070 to schedule an appointment for routine eye care at any of our three convenient locations.

The post Don’t Skip Your Comprehensive Eye Exam Because of Coronavirus! appeared first on Columbia Eye.

So why do some people still require glasses after their surgery while others do not? There are many factors that determine if you will continue to wear full time glasses, part time glasses such as reading glasses, or none at all. These factors include the overall health of the eye, the amount of astigmatism,  your current eyeglass prescription, and your visual needs.

Patients who have cataract surgery with a monofocal IOL may need glasses for some or all distances. Monofocal IOLs have been used for several decades and are set to provide your best uncorrected vision at one focal point. Many people who choose a monofocal IOL have it set it for distance vision and use reading glasses for near activities. On the other hand, a person whose IOLs are set to correct near vision would need glasses to see distant objects clearly.

Monofocal IOLs can also be set for monovision, which is distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other eye. If you are considering monovision, your ophthalmologist may suggest trying this technique with contact lenses first to see how well you can adapt. If you require crisp, detailed vision, monovision may not be the best approach for you.

Astigmatism is an imperfection in the curvature of your cornea. Astigmatism correcting IOLs can also be used to help decrease the dependence upon glasses. These IOLs are monofocal IOLs that correct astigmatism so you can see without glasses at one distance.  You may still rely on glasses for some activities.

Multifocal IOLs utilize advanced technology and offer a series of focal zones or rings built into the IOL. Depending on where light focuses through the zones, you may be able to see distance, intermediate and near objects clearly. The ability to read and perform other tasks without glasses varies from person to person but it is generally best when multifocal IOLs are placed in both eyes.

Columbia Eye Clinic offers a host of the latest advancements in lens implants and surgical procedure options to create a custom experience for every cataract patient. Although traditional cataract surgery is very effective and successful, when considering your surgical options, laser cataract surgery can offer a host of benefits over traditional procedures and can help you experience the best possible long-term vision.

Regardless of the type procedure and lens you select, you may still need to rely on glasses some of the time, but if correctly selected, your IOLs can greatly reduce your dependence on glasses. Contact us to schedule an appointment to discuss your options with your ophthalmologist to determine the cataract procedure and IOL that best suits your vision needs and lifestyle.

The post Will I need glasses after cataract surgery? appeared first on Columbia Eye.

If you are suffering from symptoms of seasonal allergies, here are some tips to help ease your misery during the spring allergy season.

• Avoid going outdoors as much as possible when pollen counts are high and when wind blows pollens around.
• Wear sunglasses or eyeglasses when you are outdoors to help protect your eyes from pollen.
• Keep the windows in your home and car closed and use air conditioning. Consider purchasing an air purifier for your home and an allergen-trapping filter for your heating/cooling system.
• Take off your jacket, hat and shoes when you enter the house to avoid bringing pollen inside.
• Shower before bed to rinse away pollen from your hair and skin.
• Don’t rub itchy eyes! Eye rubbing releases more histamine and makes your allergy symptoms worse.
• Cut back on your contact lens wear. The surface of contact lenses can attract and accumulate airborne allergens.

If you still need relief from your season allergy symptoms, you may find an over-the-counter remedy effective.

Artificial tears help relieve eye allergies temporarily by washing allergens from the eye. They also relieve itchiness, redness, irritation and redness caused by allergies. If your eye allergy symptoms are relatively mild, over-the-counter eye drops may work well for you and be less expensive than prescription eye drops or other medication.

Over-the-counter decongestant eye drops (with or without antihistamines) can help reduce redness in the eyes from allergies. If the decongestant eye drops you choose include an antihistamine, they can relieve itchiness as well. Decongestant eye drops should not be used for more than two to three days. Longer-term use can increase your irritating symptoms.

Oral antihistamines may be somewhat helpful in relieving itchy eyes, but they can make eyes dry and even worsen eye allergy symptoms.

If over-the-counter remedies do not relieve your allergy symptoms, ask your eye doctor about prescribing a stronger prescription medication.

The post Spring Allergy Relief for Your Eyes appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Macular Degeneration, also called age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a deterioration of the macula, the central area of the retina that
controls the sharpness of your vision. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss among people over 50 years old.

The disease typically is marked by slow, painless loss of central vision, although in rare cases, vision loss can be sudden. Signs of vision loss from AMD include shadowy, wavy or blurred vision. Although peripheral vision will still be normal, because the deteriorating macula is responsible for fine details, AMD will impact your ability to read, recognize faces, drive, watch television, and use a computer.

Your ophthalmologist can detect early signs of macular degeneration before symptoms occur, highlighting the importance of regular eye exams. In the early to intermediate stages of AMD, you will not experience vision loss, but your doctor can diagnose the condition by the presence of yellow protein deposits beneath your retina, called drusen, as well as pigment changes in the retina. A testing tool called an Amsler grid may also be used to identify problem spots in your field of vision that may not otherwise be obvious and indicate a need for further testing. AMD is diagnosed as either “dry” or “wet”. The dry form is more common, accounting for about 80% of people diagnosed. In this form of the disease, aging and thinning of macular tissues, depositing of pigment in the macula, or both, result in the slow loss of central vision. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for dry AMD however, your ophthalmologist can advise if you may benefit from taking daily vitamin and mineral supplements.

Wet AMD is a less common progression of dry AMD to a more damaging form of the disease. Wet AMD is when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak blood and other fluid causing scarring that results in irreversible blind spots in central vision. Vision loss is accelerated at this stage of the disease. There are medications administered by a very slender needle that can help treat wet AMD by reducing the number of abnormal blood vessels in the retina as well as slow leaking from blood vessels. Laser surgery may also be used to treat AMD in some patients.

How Can I Protect Myself from AMD?
The best way to protect your eyes from developing AMD is to:
• eat a healthy diet,
• exercise and
• wear sunglasses with UV protection.

Risk Factors for AMD:

• diet high in saturated fat
• overweight
• smoking cigarettes
• over 50 years old
• family history of AMD
• Caucasian (white)
• heart disease
• high cholesterol

Use the grid once a day, every day.

When used correctly, the Amsler grid can show problem spots in your field of vision.
1. Wearing the glasses you normally use to read, hold the grid 12 to 15 inches away from your face in good light.
2. Cover one eye.
3. Look directly at the center dot with your uncovered eye and keep your eye focused on it.
4. While looking directly at the center dot, notice in your side vision if all grid lines look straight or if any lines or areas look blurry, wavy, dark or blank.
5. Follow the same steps with the other eye.

Amsler grid courtesy of aao.org.

The post Macular Degeneration the Leading Cause of Vision Loss in Older Adults appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Hazy vision after cataract surgery can occur when the thin membrane that surrounds the intraocular lens implant becomes clouded by unwanted cell growth. This condition is called posterior capsule opacification or PCO.

PCO can be treated in your doctor’s office with a procedure called a YAG laser capsulotomy. The YAG procedure takes just a few minutes and does not cause any discomfort during or after the procedure. The effected eye will be dilated with drops before the procedure. The YAG laser will be used to make an opening in the cloudy membrane.

You may resume your normal activities immediately. Aside from possibly experiencing some floaters for up to a few weeks after the procedure, most patients experience improved vision within a day. Only one treatment to remove the cloudy membrane is required to permanently resolve hazy vision caused by PCO.

The post YAG Laser Procedure After Cataract Surgery appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Nearly everyone, even those who have never had vision problems before, begin to experience blurry near vision around age 40. Each eye contains a lens, much like a camera lens, positioned right behind the pupil, that is elastic and attached to muscles so that its shape can be controlled. When one is young the changing shape of the lens allows one to focus from distance to near and back. As one ages the lens gradually loses elasticity and cannot continue to focus adequately on near objects. This process, called presbyopia, is natural and most adults struggle to find the best way to “work around” this problem.

If presbyopia is your only vision deficit, reading glasses are probably all you need.

If you have other vision problems, there are many corrective options available. Bifocals have a prescription for distance in the top and near vision in the bottom. Trifocals have areas for distance, mid-range and near vision. Progressive lenses work like bifocals and trifocals but the prescription changes gradually from the top to bottom.

If you prefer to wear contact lenses, one option is monovision, wearing a near vision lens in one eye and a distance vision lens in the other eye. It does take some adjustment to train your brain to see using monovision and some people find they are unable to accurately judge speed and distance. A multifocal contact lens with rings or zones set at different powers is another option. Your eyes will select the right focus for near, intermediate and distance vision, however some people find their vision is less sharp than with a monofocal lens. You may find that a contact lens to correct distance vision plus reading glasses for close-up work is the best option.

Currently, there is no perfect surgical option for completely reversing presbyopia, though researchers continue to explore refractive procedures and even medications.

Candidates for cataract surgery can opt for monovision or multifocal lens replacements much like the corrective contact lens options described above.

Presbyopia progresses over time, so regular eye exams are important to keep you seeing your best.

The post Corrective Options for Age-Related Blurry Near Vision (Presbyopia) appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Benign eyelid fasciculations are involuntary, usually brief, repetitive contractions of part of the circular muscle that surrounds the eye (Orbicularis oculis muscle) that are not associated with any disease. While the contractions are annoying, they are not typically described as painful, do not involve or spread to other areas of the face, and are not associated with loss of vision. If the contractions are in the superficial layers of the muscle, they can be visible on the skin surface. If they involve deeper layers, they can be felt by the patient, but the eyelid twitching is not visible. The spasms, though individually brief, can repeat many times over the course of several days or even persist for several weeks. They then typically resolved abruptly without any treatment, sometimes only to reappear a few weeks later in a slightly different location around the eye.

The spasms bother some patients more than others, but reassurance is the only treatment usually needed. Fortunately, the spasms eventually vanish as mysteriously as they began, much to the relief of the weary patient. Experts and researchers do not know why the circular muscle surrounding the eye seems to be prone to these involuntary contractions and are not certain of the underlying cause of benign eyelid fasciculations, but all agree that they are not harmful.

If you are worried that your eyelid twitching might be an indicator of another more threatening eye lid disorder or need some reassurance, an ophthalmologist can determine if the spasms are benign eyelid fasciculations or one of the other more serious eye movement disorders. These more serious conditions are authentic movement disorders, may have an underlying cause and do not usually resolve spontaneously without treatment. Treatment of these more serious conditions usually involves administration of Botox injections.

Next month, the blog will explore the various uses and administration of Botox.

The post Eyelid twitching–are spasms an indicator of a more serious condition? appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Digital eye strain or fatigue, most commonly felt after two or more hours in front of a digital screen, has become a reality as we increase our dependence on technology in our work and personal lives. Biofinity Energys contact lenses employ breakthrough technology in the construction of the lens to minimize strain on the eye muscles as the wearer moves their eye from on-screen to off-screen and back. We have a tendency to blink less when we use digital devices, disrupting our body’s natural way of keeping our eyes moist. Biofinity Energys lenses also retain moisture better than standard contact lenses, increasing hydration, breathability, and lens softness. The lenses also have a special rounded edge, increasing the length of comfortable wear time by reducing resistance
between the lens and the inside of the eyelids.

Biofinity Energys contact lenses are designed for all-day wear, helping people’s eyes better adapt so they can seamlessly and continuously shift focus between digital devices and offline activities. The lenses are designed to be replaced monthly and require similar care and handling as other soft contact lenses.

Ask your doctor if Biofinity Energys contact lenses can be a sight for sore eyes for your digital lifestyle.

The post New Contact Lenses May Offer Remedy for Digital Eye Strain appeared first on Columbia Eye.