Category Archives: Blog

7 Signs Cataract Surgery Is Near

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7 Signs Cataract Surgery Is Near

Cataracts are one the leading causes of vision loss in the U.S.  By age 65 most people have some degree of cataract development.  But cataract surgery is an easy pain free procedure!

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is the gradual clouding of the natural lens inside your eye, which allows less light to pass through the eye, causing blurred vision.  Cataracts form naturally as we ate and most people will start to notice clouding in the lens as early as 40 years of age!  But not to worry cataract surgery is one of the most common ophthalmic procedures performed with more than 4 million procedures done per year in the U.S.

How will I know if I have Cataracts?

One of the most frequently asked questions of Dr. Kilpatrick is, “How will I know when it is time for cataract surgery?“  We have put together a list of 7 signs that cataract surgery is near.

1. Vision is not clear even when wearing your best prescription eyewear.

2. Uncomfortable glare, especially at night.

3. Blurred vision.  Example: reading news ticker on the bottom of the TV screen.

4. Trouble reading up close.

5. Color vision is affected.  Blues and purple appear too dark.  Whites appear creamy or beige.  This tends to happen slowly, which might make it hard to notice until after surgery is performed.

6. Needing more light than usual to read.

7. Near sightedness increasing quickly, causing frequent eyeglass changes.

To diagnose cataracts you will need to have a cataract evaluation, in which Dr. Kilpatrick will perform a few standard tests to determine if cataracts are present.  Early cases of cataracts may be treated with stronger eyeglasses, brighter lighting at home and magnifying reading lenses.  This can improve your vision but will not directly treat cataracts.  If your cataracts are significantly impairing your vision then it may be time for cataract surgery. For more information about Cataracts click here!

Call 480-994-1872 to schedule your free Cataract Consultation! Our knowledgable team will go over everything you need to know about Cataract Surgery and all of your options!

5 Cataract Facts and Myths

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5 Cataract Facts and Myths

5 Cataract facts and myths. Though cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss worldwide, myths persist about their cause and treatment. Cataracts affect nearly 22 million Americans aged 40 and older. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have cataracts, according to the National Eye Institute.

cataract facts

“Cataracts are not preventable, but they are treatable,” said Richard P. Mills, MD, “and the best way to ensure vision stays healthy for a lifetime is to schedule a visit with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. In fact, more than 90 percent of the people who have cataract surgery regain useful vision.”

Separating Cataract Fact from Fiction

Cataracts are a natural result of aging. As the eye’s lens, which sits behind the pupil, grows older, its cells die and accumulate, turning the lens yellowed and cloudy. The result is blurred vision and “fuzzy” images. Eye injuries, certain medications and diseases such as diabetes are also known to cause cataracts. In the early stages, stronger lighting and eyeglasses may lessen vision problems caused by cataracts. But at a certain point, cataract surgery—the most frequently performed operation in the United States—may be necessary to improve vision.

 

Five Common Cataract facts and myths to Dispel

MYTH 1: Eye drops can prevent or dissolve cataracts.

FACT: No. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drops that cure or delay cataracts. Some products claim they can prevent cataracts, but cataract formation is a natural part of the eye’s aging process. Other products claim they can “dissolve” cataracts. But since cataracts are not a “substance,” there is nothing for the drops to dissolve.

 

MYTH 2: Close-up tasks like reading or sewing make cataracts worse.

FACT: No. Cataracts are not caused by how people use their eyes. However, cataracts likely become more noticeable during close work. One sign of a cataract is the need for more light to do the same activities well.

 

MYTH 3: Cataracts are reversible.

FACT: No. The lens naturally clouds as it ages. This process is unavoidable. However, its progress can be slowed by quitting smoking, eating a balanced diet and wearing sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection.

 

MYTH 4: Cataract surgery is dangerous, and recovery takes months.

FACT: No. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most highly perfected surgical procedures in medicine, with a 95 per cent success rate. Of course, as with any surgery, risks do exist and should be discussed with a doctor before the procedure. Patients will need to avoid dunking their eye under swimming pool water for up to two weeks after the procedure, as well as refrain from rubbing or pressing the eye. Normal activities may be resumed the day after surgery. Cataract patients often notice vision improvement immediately following surgery, and others will notice more gradual improvement for a few months afterward.

 

MYTH 5: Cataracts “grow back.”

FACT: No. Cataracts develop as the lens’ cells die and accumulate; they are not a “growth” that sits on top of the eye. Patients often develop a different, secondary cataract, though. If the membrane that holds the new lens implant becomes cloudy, vision can be compromised. But this can easily be treated with laser surgery, a painless, 2-minute procedure.

These 5 Cataract facts and myths are the most popular questions and concerns patients may have.  For more information about cataracts and cataract surgery please call our office at 480-994-1872 to make an appointment!

 

 

This article modified and reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart® program (www.geteyesmart.org).

How does cataract surgery work?

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How does cataract surgery work?

Cataracts have been known to be one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States, and by the age of 65 90% of all Americans will develop a degree of cataracts. A cataract is the gradual clouding of the lens inside your eye, which causes vision impairment or vision loss. But the good news is cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures performed. This simple and pain free procedure takes very little time and the success rate is very high!

At Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons, we have over 40 years of experience in cataract surgery. Dr. Kilpatrick is one of only a handful of ophthalmologist in Phoenix performing both femtosecond laser surgery for cataracts and using the OptiPlus ORA to refine the implant lens measurement and positioning. Dr. Kilpatrick has performed thousands of Cataract surgeries through out the years and has helped all of his patients with improved vision!

If cataract surgery is recommended, the 20-minute procedure will take place in a state of the art out-patient eye surgical center. Topical anesthetic drops will be used to numb the eye. Then the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a new intraocular lens. From start to finish the patient will be at the surgery center approximately 2 hours. 

After the surgery is performed patients will go back to their normal lifestyle. There is no need for an eye patch and there will be only minor restrictions in physical activity for a few days (no swimming). Patients often return to work the next day. Most of our patients will have no or minimal pain after the surgery is performed. If a patient does experience any discomfort, Dr. Kilpatrick recommends taking an over the counter pain reliever such Tylenol.

Take a look at this short video that better explains the surgical process!

All of us will develop Cataracts as we age so make an appointment now to discuss your options! To make an appointment or schedule cataract surgery call our office at 480-994-1872 to make an appointment with Dennis Kilpatrick, MD.

Ophthalmologists Say Work Related Eye Injuries Can be Avoided

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Ophthalmologists Say Work Related Eye Injuries Can be Avoided

On-the-job safety goes well beyond avoiding slips, falls, and heavy lifting. Caring for your eyes should be a high priority and part of an overall workplace wellness routine. This is important because each day, about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain work related eye injuries that requires medical treatment[1]. However, 90 percent of these accidents can be avoided by wearing eye protection[2]. As part of an ongoing effort to stress the importance of workplace eye wellness, Scottsdale Eye Physicians and Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, during the month of March, is encouraging the public to do right by their eyes and wear appropriate eye protection.

Caring for your eyes on the job should not be limited to those who do physical labor. People who spend long hours working on a computer can experience eye discomfort and work related eye injuries. Focusing on small font type for hours on end can cause eye strain, fatigue, and headaches. Staring at screens for long periods can also leave eyes parched and red, causing eyes to become dry from lack of blinking. This happens frequently as computer screens or other digital displays reduce a person’s blink rate by as much as 50 percent[5].

The Academy provides tips to help avoid work related eye injuries:

  • Wear protective eyewear: Ensure that your eye protection is appropriate for the type of hazard that may be present in your workplace, such flying debris, falling objects, chemicals, intense light, and heat. Your eyewear must be American National Standards Institute ANSI-approved and OSHA compliant. You must use special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shield or helmet if you are near hazardous radiation welding, chemicals, lasers or fiber optics.
  • Position your computer 25 inches away: If you are working on a desktop computer, try placing the monitor at an arm’s length away from your face. You may need to adjust the font size to appear larger at that distance.
  • Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Eye strain and dry eye occur after long, continuous periods of viewing digital screens up close. To help alleviate this, take a break every 20 minutes by looking at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Looking at a distance allows your eyes to relax and return to a regular rate of blinking again. Normally, people blink about 14 times a minute[6] and with every blink, your eyes are lubricated with fluid that contains moisturizing elements, including oil.
  • Reduce glare on your smartphone and digital screen: While many new phones and digital devices have glass screens with excellent picture quality, they also produce a strong glare that can aggravate the eyes. If you use a glass screen device, adjust the low light filter setting to lower screen brightness or use a matte filter to reduce eye strain.
  • Adjust environmental lighting at your work: If your computer screen is brighter than your office surroundings, your eyes need to work harder to see. You can reduce eye strain by adjusting the lighting in your surroundings.

 

“It takes only a few seconds to protect yourself from eye related issues that can cause vision problems,” said Brenda Pagán-Durán, M.D., a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “I can’t stress enough the importance of incorporating eye wellness into your daily routine; whether it’s simply adjusting the setting on your computer monitor, or wearing appropriate protection to avoid serious eye injury. This is truly an ounce of prevention that can safeguard your vision.”

Taking care of your vision is important and having your eyes examined frequently is the first step in preventive care!  Call our office at 480-994-1872 to make an appointment or visit or online at www.scottsdaleeye.com/appointment 

 

[1] https://nei.nih.gov/sites/default/files/health-pdfs/HVMPreventingInjuries_Tagged.pdf

[2] http://www.ishn.com/articles/103615-of-workplace-eye-injuries-could-be-lessened-or-prevented-with-safety-eyewear-use

[3] https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/eyefaceprotection

[4] http://www.ishn.com/articles/98066-workplace-eye-injuries-by-the-numbers

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21275516

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17099391

 

Simple Adjustments to Your Desk Can Help Eye Fatigue

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Simple Adjustments to Your Desk Can Help Eye Fatigue

Ergonomics for the Eyes: Simple Adjustments to Your Office Environment Can Help Reduce Eye Fatigue

Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons, PC and the American Academy of Ophthalmology offer tips for avoiding dry, strained eyes during Workplace Eye Wellness Month in March! These simple tips can significantly help eye fatigue!

We have all heard that ergonomic desks are good for backs and necks, but they are also important for the health and comfort of the eyes. In support of Workplace Eye Wellness Month in March, Scottsdale Eye and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are offering tips to desk workers everywhere whose eyes may need relief from too much screen time.

Many people who spend long hours reading or working on a computer for their jobs experience eye discomfort. Focusing on tiny type for hours on end can cause eye strain, fatigue and headaches. Staring at screens for long periods can also leave eyes parched, red and gritty-feeling.

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Macular Degeneration. What You Need to Know

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Macular Degeneration. What You Need to Know

Macular Degeneration, often referred to as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina. The retina’s central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye. It controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail. Macular degeneration is diagnosed as either dry or wet. Wet Macular Degeneration refers to growth of new blood vessels in the macula, where they are not supposed to be. The dry form of Macular Degeneration is more common than the wet AMD. Eighty five to ninety percent of patients are diagnosed with dry AMD. Macular Degeneration by itself will not lead to total blindness. In almost all cases, some vision remains and few Macular Degeneration patients experience total visual loss

Signs and Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

In its early stages, the condition may not have symptoms and may be unrecognized by the patient until it progresses or affects both eyes.

Symptoms include:

  • Dark, blurry areas in the center of vision
  • Diminished or changed color perception
  • Distorted vision in which straight lines appears wavy or blank.
Macular Degeneration Vision

Causes and Risk Factors

  • Aging: Approximately 10% of patients 66 to 74 years of age will have findings of Macular Degeneration. The prevalence increases to 30% in patients 75 to 85 years of age.
  • Smoking: Research shows that smoking doubles the risk of AMD.
  • Race: AMD is more common among Caucasians than among African-Americans or Hispanics/Latinos.
  • Genetics & Family history: The lifetime risk of developing late-stage Macular Degeneration is 50% for people who have a relative with the condition, versus 12% for people who do not have relatives with the condition.

How is it detected:

AMD can be detected in a routine eye exam. Your doctor may also ask you to look at an Amsler grid, a pattern of straight lines that resemble a checkerboard. See how an Amsler grid works by taking a Macular Degeneration Test.

Management

No surgical treatment is available for this condition; however, there are very effective treatments available for “wet” macular degeneration. The National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health perform a large study, called AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study), found benefits with some vitamin supplements along with high doses of antioxidants. The follow up study, AREDS2, showed that the antioxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin also have benefits. These combinations of supplements have been suggested by the National Eye Institute to slow progression of the disease, click here for more info on these supplements!

Although much progress has been made recently in Macular Degeneration treatment and research, there is still no cure for this disease. Change your lifestyle now, quit smoking, wear UV filtered sunglasses, start taking the proper supplements and schedule your annual eye exam with one of our physicians today!

References:
“What is Macular Degeneration?” Web Blog Post. American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
“Adult Macular Degeneration.” Web Blog Post. Macular Degeneration Foundation.
“The Amsler Grid.” Web Blog Post. Macular Degeneration Partnership. 2015
“Facts about Age-Related Macular Degeneration”. Web Blog Post. National Eye Institute. July 2013.

How Diabetes Affects Your Eyes

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How Diabetes Affects Your Eyes

Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce and/or use insulin in amounts sufficient to control blood sugar levels.

People with any type of diabetes can develop hyperglycemia, which is an excess of blood sugar, or serum glucose.

Although glucose is a vital source of energy for the body’s cells, a chronic elevation of serum glucose causes damage throughout the body, including the small blood vessels in the eyes.

As a result, if you have diabetes you run the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, in which damage occurs to the delicate blood vessels inside the retina lining at the back of the eye.

You are also at increased risk for developing cataracts (clouding of the normally clear lens in the eye), or glaucoma (a disease that results in damage to the optic nerve).

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease, is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. The vessel walls thicken as they absorb excess sugar. This narrows the opening in the middle of the vessel so it can’t flow as much blood, oxygen, and nutrients needed for the eye tissues.

Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the earliest stage of diabetic retinopathy. With this condition, damaged blood vessels in the retina begin to leak extra fluid and small amounts of blood into the eye. Sometimes, deposits of cholesterol or other fats from the blood may leak into the retina.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) occurs when abnormal new blood vessels begin to sprout on the surface of the retina or optic nerve.

The new blood vessels are very fragile and sometimes break, leading to blindness. The new vessels are also often accompanied by scar tissue that may cause the retina to wrinkle or detach.

The good news is that tight control of the blood sugar level in diabetics can often reverse the damage and restore vision. There are several other treatments that can also help.

This article reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart® program (www.geteyesmart.org).

Aging: Did You Know That It Affects Your Eyes Too?

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Aging: Did You Know That It Affects Your Eyes Too?

Ophthalmologists Encourage Making Your Eyes Part of a Healthy Aging Strategy

In observance of Healthy Aging Month, Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons joins the American Academy of Ophthalmology in emphasizing the importance of having regular eye exams to maintain healthy eyes and vision.

aging eye

According to a national survey released by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, nearly two out of three American adults report having eye or vision problems as a result to aging. A significant percentage of them, however, fail to seek medical attention in the form of regular, sight-saving eye exams.

Some of the more common age-related eye diseases include age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

With early detection and treatment vision loss can be prevented[1]. Ophthalmologists recommend a dilated comprehensive eye exam as the best way to prevent these conditions from becoming debilitating.

U.S. Adults Do Not Get Eye Exams as Often as They Should!
The survey results emphasize a need for more education about the importance of medical eye exams.

Survey results show that most adults are unaware and uneducated on the importance of medical eye exams.

Results showed that over 64 percent of adults had at least one or more of the following issues with their eyes or vision:

  • difficulty seeing at night;
  • blurry vision;
  • reading up close;
  • flashes of light;
  • red, watery eyes; and,
  • double vision.

Despite experiencing some level of impairment, only 13 percent admitted they had been seen by an ophthalmologist.

When Do I Need An Eye Exams?
The Academy recommends that a healthy adult get a baseline eye exam at age 40, even if they have no history of eye problems or eye disease.

Those who have chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, may require more frequent exams.

If you are in need of a comprehensive eye exam call 480-994-1872 or click here to make an appointment online! Don’t wait save your eyesight may be counting on it!

[1] https://nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes/aging_eye

 

What You Need to Know about Glaucoma

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What You Need to Know about Glaucoma

What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma occurs when there is damage to the optic nerve, usually from high intraocular pressure (fluid pressure) and it results in visual field loss. Glaucoma is called the “sneak thief of sight” because patients may not notice any change in vision until significant loss has occurred, which is why regular monitoring is essential. When caught early, it is easily treatable.

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Presbyopia, breaking down the problems associated with the aging eye

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Presbyopia, breaking down the problems associated with the aging eye

presbyopia

Presbyopia is an age-related eye condition that makes it more difficult to see up close.

 

When we are young, the lens in our eyes is soft and flexible and changes easily, allowing you to focus on objects both close up and far away. After the age of 40, and as we continue to age, the lens becomes more stiff, which makes it difficult to change shape and focus on objects that are close up.

 

Causes & symptoms of Presbyopia

 

Unlike nearsightedness and farsightedness, presbyopia is caused by the aging of the eye. It is generally believed that, as we age, changes in the lens protein make up trigger the lens to become less flexible. This is why it is common for people over the age of 40 to hold reading material farther away in order to see it more clearly. Other symptoms include eyestrain, headaches, or feeling tired after doing up close work.

 

Diagnosing and treating Presbyopia

 

A routine eye exam performed by your doctor will diagnose and determine the degree of presbyopia. Once diagnosed, reading glasses are the most common and simplest ways to correct presbyopia. If you wear contact lenses, your doctor can prescribe reading glasses that can be worn with your regular contacts. Eyeglasses with bifocal or progressive lenses are another common method of correcting presbyopia. There are other simple methods of correcting presbyopia, such as multifocal contact lenses, or monovision, which is using two different contact lenses, one for distance and one for close up vision.

 

If you would like more information about presbyopia or wish to make an appointment, please call our office, 480 994-1872 or visit our website at ScottsdaleEye.com. We also carry a large selection of reading glasses in our optical boutique, which is conveniently located in our office.

 

Source: GetEyeSmart.org