Allergic Conjunctivitis
Allergies affecting the eye are fairly common, especially when the weather is warm and dry and pollen is abundant.
Symptoms of Eye Allergies
Eye allergy symptoms do not usually require medical attention, but they can be bothersome. Antihistamine and mast cell stabilizing eye drops or sometimes topical steroids, rain and cooler weather can effectively reduce these symptoms: Read more…
Infectious Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
The conjunctiva is the protective membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the white of the eyes (the sclera). When it becomes irritated due to a bacterial, chlamydial or viral infections, you have a highly contagious condition called infectious conjunctivitis or pink eye. Read more…
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a common, often persistent inflammation of the eyelid. It is often underdiagnosed and a source of discomfort for patients. It may begin in early childhood and continue through life or develop at a later age. The condition is more common in people who have: Read more…
- Oily skin
- Dandruff
- Dry eyes
- Rosacea
Corneal Infections
Corneal infections can be the product of keratitis, or the inflammation of the cornea. In general, the deeper the corneal infection, the worse the symptoms and complications will be. If left untreated, corneal infections can lead to scarring which may damage the cornea enough to require a corneal transplant. Read more...
Dry Eye
In order to maintain eye health, your eyes must continually produce and drain tears. Tears keep the eyes lubricated, help heal wounds and protect against eye infection.
Having dry eye means your eyes will produce insufficient or poor quality tears, making it difficult or impossible to keep the eye surface lubricated and comfortable. Read more…
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Herpes-Zoster is produced by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, this virus is still in your central nervous system and can reactivate later in life, especially if you are over age 80 and if you have a weakened immune system. Read more…
Pterygium
A pterygium is a visible pinkish, triangular-shaped tissue that begins on the conjunctiva and grows onto the cornea, but it does not typically cover the entire pupil of the eye. This lesion can continue to grow slowly throughout a person’s life, or it can stop growing on its own. Read more…
Corneal Dystrophies
A corneal dystrophy is a condition in which one or more parts of the cornea lose their normal clarity due to a build-up of cloudy material. There are over 20 corneal dystrophies, with the most common including:
- Antrior Basement Membrane Dystrophy
- Corneal stromal dystophies (macular, granular or lattice)
- Fuchs’ Dystrophy
Anterior Basement Membrane Dystrophy
Anterior basement membrane dystrophy is also called epithelial basement membrane dystrophy and map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy. It appears when the epithelium basement membrane develops abnormally so the epithelial cells cannot adhere to it. This causes erosion of the epithelial layer, causing it to rise and expose a gap between that layer and the rest of the cornea. Read more…
Fuchs’ Dystrophy
Fuchs’ dystrophy is a slowly progressing disease that occurs when endothelial cells gradually deteriorate. The endothelial is responsible for pumping water out of the stroma, and when these cells are lost, this process becomes less efficient and fluid can build up. Read more…
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a progressive thinning of the cornea that causes the cornea to bulge outward and take on a cone-likeshape. The abnormal shape changes the cornea’s refractive power, producing mild-to-severe distortion (astigmatism) and blurriness (nearsightedness) of vision. It usually affects both eyes. In severe cases the cornea can become scarred, seriously impairing vision. Read more…