Oklahoma Eye Institute - Lawton Location

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataracts are more common after the age of 60, but can occur at any age. The cloudy vision can make it difficult to see road signs clearly and cause significant glare symptoms from bright lights. Most cataracts develop very slowly and initially do not affect the vision. As the cataract grows denser the vision will decrease as a result. The cataract can be removed with a simple, 10-15 minute procedure in which the cataract is taken out and replaced with a lens implant. Depending on the implant used, cataract surgery can reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses! Dr. Kamran Massoumi is Oklahoma Eye Institutes premiere cataract surgeon. Dr. Massoumi has performed thousands of cataract surgeries for the patients of Western Oklahoma. Dr. Massoumi’s expertise and extensive experience, combined with state-of-the-art equipment provide our patients with the best possible surgical outcomes. EQUIPMENT At the intitial cataract consultation several measurements are taken to calculate the intraocular lens (IOL) implant. This implant will replace the cataract once it is removed. The two most important measurements used in IOL power calculation are the curvature of the front of the eye (keratometry) and the length of the eye (a scan biometry).

DEFINITION Glaucoma is a disease in which the nerve that transfers information from the eye to the brain (optic nerve) becomes damaged. This damage results in irreversible vision loss. Since the vision loss occurs initially in the peripheral vision, the disease is unnoticed by patients until its later stages. Glaucoma is often, but not always, a result of high eye pressure. A family history of glaucoma increases one’s risk for the disease. DIAGNOSIS The first signs of glaucoma are often increased eye pressure and changes in the appearance of the optic nerve. Once glaucoma is suspected, additional testing will be done to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma. This means the drainage canal of the eye (the angle) is open and the fluid in the eye draining properly. Open-angle glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve and vision loss slowly over a long period of time. Closed-angle glaucoma occurs when the angle is closed, causing the eye pressure to increase rapidly. This form of glaucoma is an emergency and can cause vision loss in a short period of time. The diagnosis and management of glaucoma can be complex and requires both a trained eye care professional and the correct technology. The doctors at OEI offer years of glaucoma management experience as well as the humphrey visual field and Zeiss Cirrus OCT to provide the best care to our glaucoma patients. If you are over the age of 40 and have a family history of glaucoma, you should have a yearly dilated eye exam by an eye care professional. TREATMENT The treatment for all forms of glaucoma is centered on lowering the eye pressure. For open-angle glaucoma, this can be done with eye drops or simple procedures. OEI is proud to offer a non-invasive, in-office laser procedure that can reduce or sometimes eliminate the need for drops called the SLT. For patients with mild to moderate glaucoma, the SLT laser is a safe and effective way to lower the pressure of the eye. Another option for patients with mild to moderate glaucoma is called the istent. The istent is the smallest approved FDA implantable device and is used in conjunction with cataract surgery.

DEFINITION Blepharochilasis or dermatochilasis is a sagging of the eyelid skin. This is caused by excess skin and fat underneath the skin pulling the eyelids downward. In some cases, the drooping upper eyelids can block the vision. This can be corrected with an eyelid procedure called a blepharoplasty. DIAGNOSIS The blepharoplasty procedure is only covered by insurance if it is considered “medically necessary”. If a patient has symptoms of restricted superior vision, the procedure is generally medically necessary. PROCEDURE During the procedure, excess fat and skin is trimmed away from the eyelids. Small sutures are removed in 7-10 days after the procedure. Swelling and bruising around the eye lids is expected and typically resolves within a month. If you are unsure if you qualify for the blepharoplasty procedure, call Oklahoma Eye Institute today to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors.

With the dry, dusty and windy weather, dry eye is a common complication for many residents of Western Oklahoma. The prevalence of dry eye or dry eye syndrome increases with age. It is estimated that 1.68 million men over the age of 50 and 3.2 million women over the age of 50 in the US struggle with dry eye syndrome. Dry eye symptoms also increase with activities such as driving, computer work, and playing video games. OEI is committed to having the latest in dry eye evaluation and treatment options. We are proud to offer the only FDA approved in-office treatment for dry eye, the Lipiflow ®. DEFINITION Dry eye is caused by poor tear production or poor tear consistency. A number of factors can contribute to dry eye, including environmental, medications, diet, and systemic disease. Symptoms of dry eye often include burning, stinging, watering, or feeling like something is in the eye. Dry eye syndrome can also cause fluctuating vision. You may be more at risk for dry eye syndrome if you have a thyroid condition, a vitamin-A deficiency, Parkinson's or Sjorgen's disease, or if you are a woman going through menopause. DIAGNOSIS OEI offers the latest in dry eye diagnostic technology with the Lipiview II ®. This instrument measures numerous important contributing factors in dry eye disease, including blink rate, quality of blink, and tear oil layer thickness. The Lipiview allows our doctors to take a picture of the glands inside the eyelid that contribute to tear production. During the lipiview evaluation, the doctor will also assess how the tear glands in your eyelid are functioning. A number of tests can assist in the diagnosis and measuring the severity of dry eye syndrome. The Tear Lab ® measures tear osmolarity, which is the salt content of tears. A higher osmolarity often correlates with a poor tear film. The tear break-up time measures the amount of time it takes for the tears to evaporate from the surface of the eye after a blink. For this test, yellow dye is placed in the eye to stain the tears. A blue light is shined on the eye to watch the tears and the doctor times how long it takes for the evaporation to occur. Anything under 10 seconds can indicate dry eye. The eye lids should also be inspected in patients that dry eye is suspected. Glands in the eye lid that help produce the oil layer of the tear film can become clogged, resulting in a poor tear film. The cornea should also be evaluated for areas of dryness. TREATMENT Punctal plugs are microscopic plugs that can be placed in the tear drainage canal to help with dry eyes. The plugs slow the tears from draining from the eye, which helps to keep the natural tears on the eye longer and the eye stays better lubricated. Punctal plugs are made of different materials including collagen, silicone, and hydrogel. Some plugs are temporary and dissolve in weeks to months, while others are permanent but can be removed if needed. Our Oklahoma Eye Institute doctors decide on the best material and size plug for each individual eye. The punctal plug is a quick and painless in-office procedure that is often covered by insurance. Other treatment options include Restasis, the only prescription eye drop for dry eye. Oklahoma Eye Institute also offer Oasis tears ®, and artificial tear eye drop sold exclusively by eye professionals.

Macular degeneration is a disease which affects a small area of the retina known as the macula. The macula is the central area of the retina that allows us to see the fine detail of whatever we look at directly. Macular degeneration occurs when the macula is damaged. "WET" VS. "DRY" Most often, macular degeneration is accompanied by the formation of yellow deposits called "drusen" under the macula, which dry out or thin the macula. This is called "dry" macular degeneration. In less common cases, abnormal blood vessels develop under the macula and leak fluid. This is called "wet" macular degeneration. CAUSES A number of uncontrollable factors contribute to macular degeneration, including age, sex, eye color, farsightedness, and race. Risk factors you can control include smoking, high blood pressure, exposure to harmful sunlight, and diet. Every year millions of dollars of research are spent on studying how to best treat and/or prevent macular degeneration. This research is undated almost continuously. Dr. Rainey is committed to staying current with these studies so that we may best serve you with the latest information and treatments. SYMPTOMS It is difficult for patients to detect dry macular degeneration in its early stages. The most common symptom is blurred vision. Wet macular degeneration progresses much faster when it occurs. Symptoms include blurred vision and distortion or a dark spot in central vision. Both forms of macular degeneration can cause severe visual impairment. TREATMENT Currently, there is no cure for macular degeneration. For patients with moderate to severe macular degeneration, a diet including antioxidants, smoking cessation, UV protection, and AREDs eye vitamins is recommended. Oklahoma Eye Institute proudly offers Tozal AREDs vitamins. Wet Macular degeneration is treatable with an injection that decreases swelling at the macula.This injection is most often done by a retinal specialist.Oklahoma Eye Institute has teamed with Retinal Vitreous Center of Oklahoma to bring a retina specialist in to Western Oklahoma on a monthly basis. Oklahoma Eye Institute offers the latest in imaging technology to be diagnose and manage macular degeneration.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition associated with diabetes. High levels of blood sugar can damage tiny blood vessels in the eye, causing poor circulation. This can cause small leaks in the vessels, and swelling of the retinal nerve layer. Eventually new vessels, which are very fragile, may form to replace the damaged vessels. The new vessels can burst, creating a hemorrhage, and resulting in blurred vision or even blindness. SYMPTOMS Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include: Blurred or darkened vision Sudden loss of vision RISK FACTORS & TREATMENT It is critical for all diabetic patients to have a thorough eye health examination at least every year. When diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed early, medical management, including laser treatment and other surgeries, can be more effective in preserving vision. In addition to diabetic retinopathy, diabetic patients also have a higher risk of developing cataracts at a younger age, and of having glaucoma. If you have diabetes, make sure you control your blood sugar level. This will reduce your risk of getting diabetic eye disease and other complications involving the heart, kidneys, and other organs. Oklahoma Eye Institute offers the most advanced imaging technology to better diagnose diabetic eye disease.