You had excellent vision until the age of 30 - then you needed to use glasses for distance. You reached the age of 40 and found that you also needed bifocals for reading and distance. You and millions of Americans have most likely developed farsightedness (hyperopia). A new procedure, Conductive Keratoplasty (CK), is FDA approved as a safe, non-laser, non-cutting technique that can eliminate or eradicate your farsightedness.

Because of the flatness of the cornea, farsightedness is the most difficult disorder to treat with LASIK and the most likely to cause post-LASIK complications such as dry eyes, hazy vision, light sensitivity or poor quality of vision.

Until recently, only nearsighted patients have had many different procedures available to them that could be used to correct their vision problems, such as LASIK, RK and PRK. Now, one of the first non-laser procedures for farsightedness, CK (Conductive Keratoplasty), has been developed to address the symptoms and problems of the farsighted patient.

CK is one of the first procedures designed specifically for the millions of people with hyperopia. Instead of a scalpel or a laser, CK uses a probe as thin as a strand of human hair to release radio-frequency energy, treating your farsightedness without cutting or removing tissue. CK reshapes the cornea by using a controlled release of radio-frequency energy to shrink the corneal tissue, steepening the cornea and changing the way the eye focuses light. The radio-frequency energy is applied in a circular pattern, causing a peripheral constriction and a relative central lengthening of the eye.

As the first FDA approved method for treating hyperopia, CK is safer and less invasive than the LASIK procedure. It's quick! -- less than three minutes per eye, using a topical anesthetic. With minimal post-operative discomfort, return of vision is almost immediate.

Macular degeneration is the number-one cause of blindness in the United States. It occurs when the macula -- a part of the retina in the back of the eye that ensures that our vision is clear and sharp -- degrades or "degenerates," causing a progressive loss of vision.

The "dry" form of macular degeneration has no treatment, but the "wet" form may be helped by laser procedures if it is detected early. Because of this, and because vision lost to the disease is irrecoverable, regular eye exams are highly recommended. Certain vitamins and minerals may also aid in slowing or preventing vision loss.

Symptoms often associated with macular degeneration include:

• A gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly
• A gradual loss of color vision
• Distorted vision
• A dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision

For more information, please click www.savingvision.org

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BOTOX^® Cosmetic is commonly used to reduce or eliminate the appearance of facial wrinkles. It is injected under the skin into areas surrounding the eyes, forehead and mouth to smooth crow's feet, frown and worry lines, and lines on the neck. Made from a purified protein, BOTOX^® injections block nerve impulses, weakening muscles to relax wrinkles and give the face a rejuvenated look. BOTOX^® may also be useful for migraine headaches, excessive sweating, and eye and neck muscle spasms.

To learn more about BOTOX® Cosmetic, please click here »

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which intraocular pressure - that is, pressure inside the eye - is too high, causing vision loss and damaging the optic nerve. In a healthy eye, fluid is produced in the ciliary body, enters the eye, and then drains through tiny passages called the trabecular meshwork. In people with glaucoma, these passages become blocked and intraocular pressure rises.

Some cases of glaucoma can be treated with medications. For others, laser or traditional surgery is required to lower eye pressure. Common surgeries include:

• Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI) - For patients with narrow-angle glaucoma. A small hole is made in the iris to increase the angle between the iris and cornea and encourage fluid drainage.
• Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT) and Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) - For patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The trabecular passages are opened to increase fluid drainage. ALT is effective in about 75% of patients, and SLT may be repeated.
• Nd:YAG Laser Cyclophotocoagulation (YAG CP) - For patients with severe glaucoma damage who have not been helped with other surgeries. The ciliary body that produces intraocular fluid is destroyed.
• Filtering Microsurgery (Trabeculectomy) - For patients who have not been helped with laser surgery or medications. A new drainage passage is created by cutting a small hole in the sclera (the white part of the eye) and creating a collection pouch between the sclera and conjunctiva (the outer covering of the eye).
• Tube Shunt Surgery - May be recommended for patients with neovascular glaucoma, failed trabeculectomy, or susceptibilty to developing scar tissue. A thin, flexible tube (a shunt) with a silicone pouch is inserted in the eye to facilitate drainage.

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We perform a type of cataract surgery called phaco surgery which is minimally invasive - no need for sutures - and requires only topical (local) anesthesia with IV sedation. In phaco surgery, a tiny incision (3.2 mm or less) is made in the eye and a small ultrasonic probe is inserted. This probe breaks up, or emulsifies, the cloudy lens into tiny pieces and gently sucks, or aspirates, those pieces out of the eye.

After the cloudy lens has been removed, a new artificial lens is implanted in the eye. Flexible intraocular lenses (IOLs) can be inserted through the original surgical incision. Once moved in place inside the eye, the IOL unfolds to its proper shape.

The retina is the place in the back of the eye where light rays are focused and transmitted to the brain. It consists of layers of nerve fibers. If these layers separate, or detach, significant and swift vision loss can occur. Retinal detachment therefore requires immediate medical treatment. The exact procedure used varies depending on the patient's condition and the type of detachment suffered.

The most common form of retinal detachment occurs when fluid seeps through leaks in the retina's sensory layer. This is often caused by injury, eye surgery, or nearsightedness. More rarely, disease-related swelling or bleeding causes fluid to seep beneath all layers and push the entire retina away from the eye wall. Retinal detachment may also result from friction against vitreous or scar tissue, which occurs most frequently in patients with diabetes.

Signs of retinal detachment include light flashes and floaters, wavy or watery vision, the appearance of a veil or curtain obstructing vision, or a sudden drop in vision quality. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately. Early treatment is essential to maintain and restore vision quality.

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Dry eye is the term for when your eyes are insufficiently moisturized, either because they do not produce enough tears or because the tears have an improper chemical composition. It often occurs during the natural aging process, but it can also form as a result of eyelid or blinking problems, certain medications (antihistamines, oral contraceptives, antidepressants), climate (low humidity, wind, dust), injury, and various health problems (arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome).

In addition to being uncomfortable, dry eye can damage eye tissue, scar the cornea and impair vision. Dry eye is not preventable, but it can be controlled before harm is done to your eyes. Regular eye exams can detect dry eye early, even before symptoms become noticeable. Symptoms include:

• Irritated, scratchy, dry, uncomfortable or red eyes
• A burning sensation or feeling of something foreign in your eyes
• Blurred vision

Treatment for dry eye can take many forms. Non-surgical methods include blinking exercises, increasing humidity at home or work, and use of artificial tears or moisturizing ointment. If these methods fail, small plugs may be inserted in the corners of the eyes to limit tear drainage, or the drainage tubes in the eyes may be surgically closed.

Patients with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma. These and other serious conditions often develop without vision loss or pain, so significant damage may be done to the eyes by the time the patient notices any symptoms. For this reason it is very important for diabetic patients to have their eyes examined once a year. Diagnosing and treating eye disease early can prevent vision loss. It is also important to maintain a steady blood-sugar level, take prescribed medications, follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly and avoid smoking.

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