Eye Care Institute

You probably know people who have had cataract surgery. Did you know that we all eventually develop cataracts and that they are one of the leading causes of visual impairment? A cataract is a cloudiness of the lens inside your eye. It develops as a normal part of the aging process, usually beginning in your fifties and slowly progresses with time. Most commonly, cataracts cause overall blurriness that persists throughout the day. Glare, halos, and even one-eyed double vision can also be associated symptoms. Patients with cataracts may notice that colors appear more dull or that they need more light to read. cataractview-300x240 To learn more about our services click on the links below: About Cataracts Laser Cataract Surgery YAG Laser IOLs Monofocal IOL Lifestyle Lens Implant Options What Causes Cataracts? Symptoms Of Cataracts Catarcts typically result in: Blurred vision Inability to see in dim light Seeing halos around lights Vision loss To combat these symptoms many individuals look to surgery, this is where the Eye Care Institute can help you get your vision back! We discuss cataract surgery with patients when their best-corrected vision is not adequate for their needs and the cataract is the primary reason for their visual loss. For example, cataract surgery is considered when an individual has difficulty with driving, reading, or other activities of daily life. It is performed as an elective (non-emergency) procedure. Understanding Cataract Laser Surgery In laser cataract surgery, an advanced femtosecond laser replaces for the following steps in your cataract surgery: The corneal incision The anterior capsulotomy Lens and cataract fragmentation Use of a laser can improve the precision, accuracy, and reproducibility of each of these steps, potentially reducing risks and improving visual outcomes of cataract surgery. The surgeons at ECI are thrilled to be able to offer advanced femtosecond laser cataract surgery with laser guided astigmatism management and quicker vision. We perform microincisional cataract surgery that is done under topical anesthesia and does not require the use of stitches in most cases. After the bulk of the natural lens is removed, an intraocular lens implant is implanted. We have excellent results in selecting the proper power of lens implant for each patient to provide them with optimal post-op vision Understanding IOLs Intraocular lens (IOL) is a lens implanted in the eye as part of cataract surgery. These are implanted during cataract surgery after the cloudy eye’s natural lens (colloquially called a cataract) has been removed. Our patients often desire freedom from glasses and contact lenses for all of their activities. Newly developed technologies over the years have moved us all closer to that goal. Advances in laser cataract surgery with implantable intraocular lenses (IOLs) have greatly improved the quality of life of our patients. Causes Of Cataracts Cataracts often develop due to aging or when an injury occurs to the tissue that makes up your eye’s lens. There are several types of cataracts, but all of them are essentially a clouding of the lens of the eye, scattering light that enters the retina, thereby reducing overall visibility.

What Is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve — this is the part of the eye that transmits the images we see to the brain. The optic nerve is made up of many fibers, like an electric cable with numerous wires. When damage to these nerve fibers occurs, blind spots can develop. These usually go undetected until there is significant damage to the optic nerve. If the entire nerve is destroyed, the result is blindness. Early detection by your ophthalmologist is an important way to prevent optic nerve damage and blindness. The doctors at Eye Care Institute in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, CA specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, especially for older people. However, loss of sight from this disease can often be prevented with early treatment. Glaucoma Causes Glaucoma is frequently caused by high eye pressure. A clear liquid called aqueous humor circulates inside the front portion of the eye. To maintain a healthy level of pressure within the eye, a small amount of this fluid is produced constantly while an equal amount flows out of the eye through a microscopic drainage system. Because the eye is a closed structure, if the drainage area for the aqueous humor—called the drainage angle—is blocked, the excess fluid cannot flow out of the eye. Fluid pressure within the eye increases, pushing against the optic nerve and causing damage. Glaucoma Prevention As a rule, damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. Eye drops, laser surgery, and surgery in the operating room are used to lower eye pressure and help prevent further damage. Periodic examinations are very important to prevent vision loss. Because the disease can progress without your knowledge, adjustments to your treatment may be necessary from time to time.

The cornea is the clear dome-shaped front surface of the eye. Most of the refractive and focusing power of the eye is in the interface between the cornea and the air. A corneal transplant is sometimes necessary when the corneal tissue becomes damaged due to injury, infection, or disease. Corneal transplants are the most common type of transplants done in the world with a success rate well over 90%. What Is A Corneal Transplant? - During a corneal transplant, damaged tissue is replaced with healthy donor tissue obtained from a local eye bank. Traditionally, a penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) would be the type of corneal transplant required to treat many corneal problems. Here at ECI, we also employ various advanced surgical techniques to improve visual outcomes and shorten recovery time. Laser Corneal Procedures Increasingly, the cornea has been the focus of advanced laser and surgical procedures to correct vision for those with medical ocular problems as well as those requesting a reduction in the need for glasses. Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK), Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), and Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) are examples of these new advances in surgical procedures. Why Choose Eye Care Institute? Nina Ni, MD is the corneal and external disease specialists at ECI, and Dr. Ni heads the surgical practice. In America, there is generally no shortage of corneas due to the excellent eye banks around the country. Eye banks are now supplying increasingly sophisticated pre-cut tissue for treating problems with either the front of the cornea or the posterior part of the cornea. Conditions Most Likely To Require A Corneal Transplant - Since the cornea is the foremost part of the eye, the cornea is often a target for injury. The following conditions are a partial list of traumatic corneal problems that might require eventual corneal transplant surgeries: Foreign bodies in the visual axis Chemical injuries Penetrating injuries, such as industrial accidents Corneal lacerations from blunt trauma Corneal drying from injuries that prevent the eyelids from closing Traditional and new types of corneal transplants are often needed for the following medical conditions: Corneal endothelial dystrophy Bacterial and viral corneal infections Persistent corneal swelling after cataract surgery Recovery From A Corneal Transplant The cornea has remarkable healing properties and copes very well with minor injuries or abrasions. Deeper scratches or injuries can result in scarring. When this occurs in the visual axis, the vision may be affected, even to the point of blindness. Corneas with partial thickness scars can be treated with traditional penetrating corneal transplants or, in some cases, with deep lamellar or partial corneal transplant. The deep anterior lamellar transplants (DALK) have a quicker recovery. Patients with either scarring from keratoconus or have become unable to wear contacts to correct their keratoconus are often suitable for this meticulous and technically challenging type of corneal transplant.

Eye Care Institute is proud to provide outstanding laser services for vision correction. Dr. Rich has performed laser vision correction since 1996. They have been the surgeons at Pacific Laser Eye Center in Santa Rosa since its inception in 2001. Approximately 80 local eye care professionals refer their patients to our surgeons at the center where we perform both LASIK and ASA (Advanced Surface Ablation) procedures. Who Can Benefit From Laser Vision Correction? - Laser vision correction has dramatically evolved in the last fifteen years. The procedure was originally limited to only treating nearsightedness when it was first performed in the United States. Today, we are able to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism with laser vision correction. Upper age limits are no longer a factor. People over the age of 18 can have laser vision correction, and many people 50, 60, 70 or 80 years and older are finding freedom from wearing glasses or contact lenses to correct their distance vision. Even patients who have had previous cataract surgery can often benefit from these procedures. What Is Laser Vision Correction? - Laser vision correction uses a computer-controlled laser to precisely reshape the cornea (the front surface of the eye) so that light will focus properly on the retina (the back of the eye). Laser Assisted in-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and Advanced Surface Ablation are types of Laser Vision Correction.

Do I Need An Eye Exam? Are you ready for your next eye exam? Our Santa Rosa and Petaluma locations offer thorough eye exams to ensure your eyes stay healthy. Regular eye exams for children and adults are an important part of annual health checkup routines, so we invite you to contact our offices today to schedule your consultation. If you’re an adult, a regular eye exam can ensure that your eyeglass prescription stays current and that you don’t have any early signs of disease that should be addressed. Children should have regular eye exams to ensure their vision is developing normally, their eyes are healthy, and to rule out vision conditions such as myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), which, if left undetected, can lead some children to fall behind in their school or reading abilities What To Expect During Your Eye Care Exam - Comprehensive eye examinations are about much more than simply determining a prescription for eyeglasses. During these exams, our ophthalmologists will look at an array of health factors to rule out the possibility of developing eye conditions, ocular diseases, or other problems. Additionally, other benefits of regular examination include: making sure both eyes are working in tandem catching vision degradation early identifying health problems in other areas of the body that may be symptomatic in the eyes Come Prepared – If you wear contacts or glasses, bring them with you to your eye appointment. Before your examination, write down a list of any allergies or health conditions you have along with any supplements and medications you use. Also, list any questions you have about your eye health so you won’t forget to ask them while at your appointment. Understand that most insurance policies typically don’t provide coverage for eye care. If you do get a diagnosis, you may be eligible for some coverage. During Your Visit – Upon your arrival, you will be asked to fill out new patient forms prior to your examination. Next, you’ll be led to an exam room where you will meet the doctor. The type of eye exam you will receive may vary, but there are general guidelines for what you can expect during your appointment. Your doctor will inquire about your general health and if you have a family history of any eye diseases. Next, he will assess your ability to see close and far away. You will be asked to read from a chart of letters. Other facets of your vision may also be tested, like your peripheral vision and color perception. The Eye Exam – In order to check all the different parts of your eye, your pupils will need to be dilated, which is done by administering special eye drops. Keep in mind that these drops will make your eyes very sensitive for a couple of hours, so be sure to bring sunglasses or have a friend drive you home. Additional tests may also be done depending on your current situation. Vision screenings are also an essential aspect of regular eye health examinations in children and adults. These determine whether your sight could be improved by glasses or contact lenses. These screenings will likely include your eye doctor asking you to read from a chart. Your doctor will use your results to conduct a further investigation into the overall acuity of your vision. During your eye exam at Eye Care Institute, our ophthalmologist will ask you to share any concerns you have about your vision, ask about any problems you’ve been experiencing, and discuss any history of eye problems in your own life or that of your family. The eye exam appointment itself should take somewhere between a half hour and an hour, and it will include a vision test as well as a comprehensive examination. Depending on your health history, this examination may include an eye muscle movement test, an external pupil exam, a cover test, and other tests. It’s important to note that a comprehensive eye exam can only be performed by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. General physicians, school healthcare officials, and pediatricians may perform vision screenings in their offices, but may miss the relevant vision problems an ophthalmologist can detect. Benefits Of An Eye Examination In Santa Rosa And Petaluma CA To ensure a healthy lifestyle a comprehensive eye exam should be performed once a year. Children should have regular tests to ensure that their vision is normal and potential issues can be detected as early as possible. Older adults are at higher risk for eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular Even in younger, healthy adults should receive regular eye examinations. Serious medical conditions, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure, can be detected, allowing for earlier treatment.