Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the United States.  A simple painless eye exam can detect the disease. With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can usually be controlled and blindness prevented.

Glaucoma can affect anyone from newborn infants to the elderly.  It has been estimated that up to 3 million Americans have glaucoma.  At least half of those people do not know they have it because glaucoma usually has no symptoms. People who are at a greater risk for glaucoma usually have the following conditions:

To detect glaucoma, your physician will test your visual acuity, visual field, dilate your pupils and test the pressure in your eye.  Regular and complete eye exams help to monitor the changes in your eyesight and will help to determine whether you may develop glaucoma. 

Treatment to control glaucoma include medications in the form of either eyedrops or pills, laser surgery and conventional surgery.

For more information about glaucoma, please click here .

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Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is an advanced laser system that improves the flow of fluid in the eye, lowering eye pressure for patients with glaucoma.

Using a focused, narrow wavelength, SLT targets specific cells of the eye -- those containing melanin, a natural pigment -- leaving surrounding cells intact. The procedure is painless and has no side effects, although patients are given anti-inflammatory eye drops before and after treatment. Eye pressure may drop as quickly as a day after the procedure. 

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Dry Eye Treatments - Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs are a treatment option for patients suffering from dry eye that has not been relieved by drops or ointments. Punctal plugs are placed in the opening of the tear ducts in the eyelids (called "puncta") to block tear drainage and keep the eyes moist. Implantation should reduce the need for artificial tear drops and increase the patient's overall comfort.

Implantation takes only a few seconds in Dr. Newman's office. In some cases, before implantation, collagen is temporarily placed in the eye to predict the effectiveness of punctal plugs.

For more information about dry eyes, please click here.

For information on Nature's Tears_® EyeMist_® , please click here.

For information on vitamin supplements for dry eyes, please click here.

Today, there is an FDA-approved prescription eye drop called RESTASIS® Ophthalmic Emulsion. For more information on Restasis® go to www.restasis.com.

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Refractive Lens Exchange

Refractive lens exchange, also called clear lens extraction, replaces the natural lens with a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) in patients wishing to correct high farsightedness, high nearsightedness or presbyopia without undergoing a corneal modification procedure such as LASIK.  Patients can choose from a wide range of IOLs in order to achieve the best possible vision for their individual eyes. 

The refractive lens exchange procedure is the same as that used in cataract surgery; the only difference is that refractive lens exchange is performed to achieve refractive correction rather than cataract removal. Refractive lens exchange involves a rapid recovery and offers patients dramatic improvement in vision quality.

After surgery, patients enjoy clearer vision and greater focusing power almost immediately. Many eliminate or significantly reduce their dependence on glasses or contact lenses, and vision remains stable over time.  This procedure also prevents the patient from developing cataracts in the future.

You may be a candidate for clear lens extraction if you:

Although refractive lens exchange is considered safe for most patients, there are certain risks associated with any kind of procedure.  You can discuss these risks, along with the benefits of this procedure, before deciding whether or not it is right for you. 

Refractive Lens Exchange Testimonial

I used to wear glasses with a +6.50 on one eye – remarkably with the lens implants done on both eyes, that Dr. Newman did on me I now have 20/20 vision with no side effects.   I would like to thank the staff because they have been so caring and wonderful to me.  Dr. Newman is like personal family to me. Thank you so much za	I needed to regain my 20/20 vision in an eye that had RK in 1993. Since it was now 2010, my eyesight had deteriorated. Dr. Newman suggested I was a good candidate for PRK. The results were above what I expected. I currently have 20/20 in the operated eye. K.W. Scottsdale AZ

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