Battling Vision

Astigmatism is a common eye problem in which a person’s cornea or lens has an irregular shape. These problems are known as Corneal astigmatism and Lenticular astigmatism respectively.

The cornea is a clear layer that completely covers the part of the eye that has color. Ideally, the shape of the cornea is round, like a tennis ball. The cornea’s job is to bend rays of light that enter the eye so that these light rays can be better focused on the lens enabling the retina to produce a clear image.

When the cornea has a more oval shape, like that of a football, light cannot focus properly. Instead of one focus point, as is what happens when the cornea is properly shaped, the misshapen cornea focuses light onto two areas of the retina. That is what results in blurred vision and/or the appearance of doubled vision. More →

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More than 60 million individuals around the world have cataract. Cataract is the #1 cause of blindness but fortunately, cataract is highly treatable with cataract surgery.

What is Cataract?

Over time the eye’s lens, which is transparent in a healthy eye, starts to become cloudy or opaque. As individuals age, protein levels in the eye begin to decrease which is why there is no way to effectively prevent cataract from developing. Other factors can cause cataract such as head injury and certain diseases, but their appearance is primarily due to age.

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What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is a common eye problem. In fact, it is estimated that more than 10 million people in the United States alone suffer from dry eye syndrome. A person who has dry eye syndrome generally has a problem with the quantity or quality of the tear film which is responsible for properly lubricating the eyes.

The production of tears is an amazingly complex process. A tear actually consists of 3 separate layers and each layer has a purpose. There is a mucous layer, which coats the eye and acts somewhat like an adhesive. In the middle of a tear is an aqueous layer and it’s responsible for delivering nutrients and oxygen to the cornea. Consisting primarily of water, this layer also has a bit of salt, which is why tears taste salty. The outer layer of the tear, the lipid, is oily and its job is to seal in the moisture so it does not evaporate. Tiny glands surrounding the eyes produce the ingredients needed for the various layers of tear, and excess tear fluids drain into tiny ducts. More →

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