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One of the leading causes of blindness in the United States, glaucoma occurs when the pressure inside the eye rises high enough to damage the optic nerve. Glaucoma often develops over many years without causing pain - so you may not experience vision loss until the disease has progressed. Glaucoma cannot be prevented, and vision lost to it cannot be restored. For these reasons, regular eye exams and early detection are critical.
 The high eye pressure associated with glaucoma is caused by blockages in the eye's fluid drains. No one knows yet why the blockages form.
Symptoms are occasionally present and should be taken as warning signs that glaucoma may be developing; these include blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, halo effects around lights and painful or reddened eyes. People at the greatest risk include those who are over the age of 40, diabetic, near-sighted, African-American, or who have a family history of glaucoma.
Once diagnosed, glaucoma can be controlled. Treatments to lower pressure in the eye include non-surgical methods such as prescription eye drops and medications, laser therapy, and surgery.
With a clear normal lens, the images are focused clearly on the retina. Vision is clear. With a cataract, the lens is cloudy, causing the image to become blurred and yellowed. Vision is hazy and colors become faded.
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1. A very small incision is made in the side of the cornea. Such an incision promotes
fast and more comfortable recovery. |
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2. The back of the lens is opened and a special ultrasonic probe (phacoemulsifier) removes the cloudy lens. |
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3. A small foldable artificial lens is inserted through the small incision to replace the cataract lens. |
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4. The final replacement lens is put in place. It is not required to suture the small "No Stitch" incision. |
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At Rosenbaum Eye & Laser, we use advanced technology to help reduce your dependence on glasses following cataract surgery. We were the first office in the region to offer multifocal implants, toric implants to reduce astigmatism, and now the first FDA approved accommodating implant, the Crystalens.
The cornea is the clear covering on the front of the eye which bends, or refracts, light rays that focus on the retina in the back of the eye. A certain shape or curvature is required in order for light to focus exactly on the retina, rather than partly in front of it (nearsightedness) or behind it (farsightedness). An improperly curved cornea may be corrected surgically or non-invasively to reduce or eliminate the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. A thorough eye examination and consultation are necessary before a treatment decision can be made.
Corneal transplantation (keratoplasty) is recommended when curvature is too severe to be  treated with other methods, or when extensive damage has occurred due to disease, infection or injury. Common problems that require transplantation are:
- Pseudophakic Corneal Decompensation
- Keratoconus
- Corneal Dystrophies
- Scaring From Corneal Ulceration
- Traumatic Injury
- Chemical (alkali) Burn
- Herpes Simplex Keratopathy
Transplantation involves replacing the damaged cornea with a healthy one from a donor (usually through an eye bank). Keratoplasty is a low-risk procedure - it is the most common type of transplant surgery and has the highest success rate.
During the procedure, a circular incision is made in the cornea. A disc of tissue is removed and replaced with healthy tissue; these discs may be thin (lamellar keratoplasty) or the depth of the entire cornea (penetrating keratoplasty, the technique used in almost all corneal transplants). Local or general anesthesia may be used. The entire procedure lasts only 30-90 minutes.
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| 1. The white arrow shows the opaque, damaged cornea. |
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2. The round shaped portion of damaged cornea is removed. |
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3. A donor button of clear cornea is replaced. |
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