Patient Education

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Floaters & Flashes
• Retinal Detachment & Torn Retina
• Dry Eyes
• Blepharoplasty

• Diabetic Eye Needs
• Pediatric Eye Needs
• Age Related Macular Degeneration
• Eye Allergies FAQ
• Contact Lens Patient Education
• Eye Care Product Recall Information

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye.  The lens is suspended inside the eye behind the pupil and normally is clear.  It focuses light rays from an object on the retina which contains cells that send the image to the brain.  When the lens becomes cloudy with a cataract the light rays are no longer sharply focused and the image is blurred.  This can also produce more glare from lights.  Cataracts develop to some degree as part of aging.  Their development can also be influenced by genes, certain diseases, excessive sun exposure, certain medications, and heavy smoking.

In early cataract development vision can sometimes be improved by simply changing glasses.  Eventually this no longer helps, and then the cataract must be surgically removed.  This is done by removing the cloudy portion of the lens and replacing it with a clear intraocular lens (IOL).  Measurements are made in the office prior to surgery to determine the power and type of IOL.  Cataract surgery is done as an outpatient procedure under a local anesthetic along with mild sedation by an anesthetist.  Eye drops are used prior to surgery and during the healing phase. Recovery is usually quick with minimal restrictions on activity and usually only mild discomfort.  If there are no other problems that limit vision, significant improvement in vision usually can be expected.  As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur that could cause loss of vision, although fortunately these have become uncommon. 

If glasses are needed they are fit a few weeks after surgery.

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What is an eye allergy?

Many people experience eye irritation caused by common things in the environment such as pollen, dust, or ragweed. These substances are called allergens, and they can cause symptoms such as itching and redness of the eyes, or swollen, puffy eyelids. An ocular (eye) allergy can happen suddenly or some time after you come in contact with the allergen. Your doctor may refer to your ocular allergy by its medical name, allergic conjunctivitis.

What is the difference between seasonal and perennial allergies?

Seasonal allergies are usually caused by ragweed or pollen, which comes from grasses, trees, and flowering plants. The symptoms are worse when the amount of pollen in the air (often called the pollen count) is high. This usually happens during the spring, late summer, and autumn months.

Perennial allergies occur year-round because the allergens that cause the symptoms are always present. Some common household allergens that cause perennial eye allergies include dust mites, mold, pet hair, and pet dander (tiny bits of scaly skin regularly shed by pets).

What happens when allergens affect the eyes?

When your eyes come in contact with something your body considers foreign—such as pollen, ragweed, or pet dander—special cells in your eyes go on alert. These cells, called mast cells, then release various chemical substances. This is actually a protective mechanism. However, for some people, it can cause eye allergy symptoms.

What are the signs and symptoms of eye allergies?

An Itching is the symptom that allergy sufferers most often complain about. However, other common reactions such as swollen, puffy eyelids, redness, a burning sensation, and watery eyes can also be bothersome. Your eyes may also feel dry or gritty. Some people find that allergies make their eyes sensitive to light.

Besides being annoying and painful, eye allergies can be inconvenient. When your eye allergies flare up, you may have a hard time concentrating or you may feel tired. Reading or driving a car may be difficult because your ability to see clearly is diminished. Many people are also concerned about the effect that ocular allergy symptoms can have on their appearance.

How can I prevent my eye allergies?

The best way to manage your eye allergies is the to control the source of the allergen.  This means reducing or eliminating contact with the allergens that irritate your eyes. Here's what you can do:

• Wash your hands, face, and hair frequently to keep them free of allergens, and keep hands and fingers away from your eyes.
• Use air filters and make sure your home is vacuumed regularly.
• Avoid or reduce outdoor activities when the pollen counts are high.
• Close windows and doors to help keep allergens out.
• Eliminate sources of mold around your house.
• If you have itchy eyes or swollen, puffy eyelids, try to avoid touching or rubbing them as this may worsen your symptoms.

What should I do if I suspect that I have eye allergies?

Be sure to see your eye care specialist. He or she will likely prescribe a prescription eye drop for you to use to relieve the itching, redness, and lid swelling of your ocular allergies.

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What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease that causes damage to the function of the optic nerve.  The optic nerve carries the image of what you see from the retina in the back of the eye to the brain.  If the optic nerve is damaged it can result in blind spots in your field of vision and can lead to total blindness if not detected and treated.

The cause of this damage is primarily due to a malfunction of the fluid pressure regulating mechanism in the eye.  A clear fluid called aqueous is produced by small cells inside the eye and absorbed continuously by leaving through a small ring of tissue which acts like a microscopic filter.  In glaucoma this mechanism does not function properly and fluid pressure builds up causing damage to optic nerve fibers.

There are two main types of glaucoma.  Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma is the most common type where the microfilter doesn't adequately drain fluid away and which produces no symptoms in the early stage.  Closed-Angle Glaucoma is the other type where the filter drain is completely blocked.  In the latter, there is a rapid rise in pressure with pain in the eye, blurred vision and halos, headache, and sometimes nausea and vomiting.

Treatment for Chronic Simple Glaucoma consists of eyedrops, and sometimes laser treatments.  In some cases, when control is not adequate by these means, a surgical procedure is necessary to create an alternate drainage pathway.  In Closed-Angle Glaucoma treatment with a laser is done to regain access to the normal drainage channels.

Risk factors for glaucoma include age, heredity, high degrees of farsightedness or nearsightedness, African or Spanish ancestry, certain types of eye injury, and certain systemic health problems.  The best way to detect glaucoma is to have regular eye examinations.  Early detection is very important in preventing vision loss.

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What are floaters and flashes?

You may develop small spots, lines, circles or cobwebs in your vision. They move with eye movement. They are seen most clearly against a fully light or fully dark background. These spots are called floaters. Some are dark in appearance but others may be translucent. They are actually small clumps of cells suspended in the vitreous, the gel which fills the back two-thirds of the eye.

Flashes often appear as a camera flash or a lightening strike in the vision. They may or may not be associated with floaters.

What causes them?

As we age the vitreous gel shrinks and often pulls away from the back wall of the eye. This may create a posterior vitreous detachment and floaters and flashes often develop as part of this process. A posterior vitreous detachment is more common in patients who are nearsighted, who have undergone eye surgery including laser surgery, or who have had inflammation in their eye. Symptoms of a migraine headache can have a similar presentation, particularly with flashing lights like a kaleidoscope, in the vision.

Is this serious?

A posterior vitreous detachment can create a tear in the retina. This is serious because a torn retina can in turn lead to a retinal detachment which is a sight-threatening condition. Because of this, if you notice symptoms including a new floater(s) or flashes of light, please contact our office. One of our doctors will perform a dilated exam to fully evaluate your retina.

Is there a treatment for floaters?

Should a retinal tear or detachment develop, this can be treated with laser or surgery. Floaters themselves are harmless and do not require treatment.

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Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue. If one imagines the eye as a camera, the retina is the film in the camera. With a retinal detachment, the "film" peels away from the back of the camera causing a blurry picture. If left untreated, severe visual loss can occur. Signs and symptoms of a retinal detachment include light flashes, "watery" vision, a curtain over the vision, floaters, and a sudden decrease in vision.

The diagnosis of retinal detachment is made after a thorough examination of the patient's retina through a dilated pupil with an indirect ophthalmoscope. If a retinal detachment is detected, it may be treated with laser, cryotherapy (a freezing procedure), or surgery depending on the type, severity, and location of the detachment.

Early detection is key in successful retinal detachment treatment. High risk groups include highly near-sighted people and diabetics. The doctors at the Edina Eye Clinic are experts in detecting retinal detachments and will refer you to a retinologist immediately for treatment.

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What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a common problem that is due to an inadequate amount or inadequate quality of tear layer lubricating the eye surface.  The baseline amount of tear production tends to decline with age, and the tear composition also can be altered by many things.  In women after menopause dry eye symptoms are frequently noticed.  Systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, thyroid disease, Sjogrens syndrome, and asthma may be factors in dry eye.  Local inflammatory disease that affect the eyelid and eye surface can also lead to dry eyes.  Some medications can contribute including antihistamines, antidepressants, some blood pressure medications and hormone therapy.

Symptoms typically include burning, stinging, a gritty feeling, redness, and strings of sticky mucus that can interfere with clarity of vision.  In very severe cases the corneal surface begins to break down and an even ulcerate.

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What is Blepharoplasty (Eyelift)?

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct drooping upper eyelids. It does not remove crow’s feet. This procedure is not purely cosmetic because drooping eyelids often interfere with peripheral vision. They may also cause “tired” eyes and aggravate dry eye symptoms.

Is it covered by insurance?

If a significant decrease in the superior field of vision is felt to be due to the drooping eyelids, insurance companies will consider coverage of this procedure. Documentation via photography and peripheral vision testing must be performed preoperatively. This testing is done in our office following a doctor’s recommendation.

Who should have this surgery?

Patients who are experiencing eye irritation and decreased peripheral vision should let their eye doctor know of these symptoms. If an examination points to the drooping eyelids as a cause, the doctor will recommend the appropriate tests and subsequent surgery. Medical conditions such as hypo and hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, and diabetes may affect this condition. Patients on blood-thinners including medications such as coumadin, plavix, aspirin, and ibuprofen should discuss this with their doctor preoperatively.

What does the surgery involve?

Blepharoplasty is done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia and sedation keeping the patient very comfortable. An incision will be made in the natural crease of the eyelid, excess tissue removed, and the incision will be closed with tiny absorbable sutures. Post-operative medication is typically limited to an antibiotic ointment. There is not typically post-operative pain, but bruising and swelling around the eyes may occur. As the eyelids heal, the incisions gradually fade with changes occurring for a full year after surgery.

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What are Diabetic Eye Needs?

If you are a diabetic, yearly eye exams with an ophthalmologist are vital to avoiding diabetic eye problems such as retinopathy (bleeding and swelling of the retina), retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness from ages 20 to 74. However, when diabetic people are able to achieve tight control of their blood glucose levels, a significant reduction in diabetic complications is observed. If diabetic retinopathy is discovered on your examination at the Edina Eye Clinic, treatment may include observation, laser, or surgery depending upon the severity of the retinopathy. Your options will be discussed with you in detail at the conclusion of your eye examination.

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What are Pediatric Eye Needs?

At the Edina Eye Clinic, we understand that children are not merely little adults and that eye exams can be a stressful experience for little ones. We will show the patience and compassion to achieve a quality ocular examination. The eye problems that can affect a child are quite different from the common problems seen in the adult population.

For example, strabismus is an ocular misalignment caused by a need for eyeglasses or by a lack of coordination of the control of the muscles which move the eyes. Strabismus is commonly called "crossed eyes" or "wandering eyes". Strabismus is treated with a combination of eyeglasses, patching, and/or surgery to attempt to restore binocular vision and avoid "lazy eye", or amblyopia. Amblyopia is reduced vision not correctable by glasses or contacts.

The medical doctors at the Edina Eye Clinic are also trained to detect childhood conditions such as oculocutaneous albinism (lack of ocular pigment causing visual loss), orbital tumors, congenital cataracts, cranial nerve palsies, and ocular tumors. In many of these cases, the child will be referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist.

Children are regularly screened by their pediatricians for ocular problems and will refer to the ophthalmologist as necessary. However, if there is a family history of pediatric eye problems, the child should be examined by an ophthalmologist.

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