Patient Education

Patient Education View

Acute Glaucoma
Body:

Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure in the eye becomes too high and can damage the nerve that transmits messages from the eye to the brain.

File Name:
After Cataract Surgery
Body:

After surgery you will need to use eye drops four times a day, usually for 1 month.

Age-related macular degeneration
Body:

As you get older a gradual change due to 'wear and tear' may develop called 'dry' age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Age-related macular degeneration 2
Body:

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a deterioration or breakdown of the eye's macula.

Amblyopia: What is Lazy Eye?
Body:

When one eye develops good vision while the other does not, the eye with the poorer vision is called amblyopic. Usually,only one eye is affected by amblyopia, but it is possible for both eyes to be "lazy." This condition is called bilateral amblyopia.

File Name:
Artificial eye and orbital implant
Body:

An orbital implant, which is a sphere made of plastic or coral, is placed into the space where the eye used to be.

Astigmatism
Body:

Astigmatism is an imperfection in the curvature of your cornea — the clear, round dome covering the eye's iris and pupil — or in the shape of the eye's lens. Normally, the cornea and lens are smooth and curved equally in all directions, helping to focus light rays sharply onto the retina at the back of your eye. However, if your cornea or lens isn't smooth and evenly curved, light rays aren't refracted properly. This is called a refractive error.

Avastin
Body:

Avastin® is the brand name for bevacizumab, a drug injected into the eye to slow vision loss in people who have “wet” age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

File Name:
Bacterial Keratitis
Body:

Bacterial keratitis is an infection of the cornea (the clear, round dome covering the eye's iris and pupil) that causes pain, reduced vision, light sensitivity and tearing or discharge from your eye. Resulting from infection from contact lens use or from injury to the eye, bacterial keratitis usually develops very quickly, and if left untreated, can cause blindness. The bacteria usually responsible for this type of keratitis infection are Staphylococcus Aureus and, for contact lens wearers, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.

Blepharitis
Body:

Blepharitis is the inflammation of the edges of the eyelids.

File Name:
Blepharitis
Body:

Blepharitis is a common and ongoing condition where the eyelids become inflamed (swollen), with oily particles and bacteria coating the eyelid margin near the base of the eyelashes. This annoying condition causes irritation, itchiness, redness, and stinging or burning of the eyes. While the underlying causes of blepharitis aren't completely understood, it can be associated with a bacterial eye infection, symptoms of dry eyes or certain types of skin conditions such as acne rosacea.

Blocked Tear Duct
Body:

A blocked tear duct is when the eye’s drainage system for tears is either partially or completely obstructed. Tears cannot drain normally, causing a watery, irritated or chronically infected eye.

Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO)
Body:

The retina—the layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye—is nourished by the flow of blood, which provides nutrients and oxygen that nerve cells need. When there is a blockage in the veins into the retina, retinal vein occlusion may occur.

Cataract Surgery
Body:

The eye is not removed from the socket during any type of eye surgery.

Cataract Surgery Preparation
Body:

Before the operation, the size and shape of your eye will be measured using a painless laser machine to find our how much focusing power the plastic lens will need to correct your vision.

Cataracts
Body:

When we look at something, light rays travel into our eye through the pupil and are focused through the lens onto the retina, a layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye. The lens must be clear in order to focus light properly onto the retina. If the lens has become cloudy, this is called a cataract.

Chalazia and Styes
Body:

A chalazion and a stye are both lumps in or along the edge of an eyelid. In some situations it may be difficult to distinguish between a chalazion and stye.

Chalazion or meibomian cyst
Body:

A chalazion or meibomian cyst is a painless lump in the eyelid that forms because the duct of an oily gland in the eyelid becomes blocked.

Chronic Glaucoma Treatment
Body:

To treat chronic glaucoma, the pressure in the eye needs to be lowered.

Conjunctivitis: What Is Pink Eye?
Body:

Conjunctivitis is the term used to describe swelling (inflammation) of the conjunctiva — the thin, filmy membrane that covers the inside of your eyelids and the white part of your eye (known as the sclera). Often this condition is called "pink eye."

File Name:
Contact Lenses and Hygiene
Body:

Soft contact lenses are easy to use and your eyes get used to them very quickly. Never clean contact lenses with tap water. Always use a sterile saline solution.

Contact Lenses: Usage
Body:

Instructions for placing and removing your contact lenses.

Corneal Abrasion
Body:

Corneal abrasion is a scratch or scrape on the cornea, the clear, round dome covering the eye's iris and pupil. By helping to focus light as it enters the eye, the cornea plays an important role in vision. When a corneal abrasion scars the cornea, it can affect vision.

Corneal Erosion
Body:

Corneal erosion affects the cornea, the clear dome covering the front of the eye. The cornea is composed of five layers. The outermost layer is the epithelium. When the epithelium does not stay attached correctly to the corneal tissue below, including the layer called the Bowman's layer or the basement membrane, this can cause a condition called corneal erosion. If the problem occurs repeatedly, it is called recurrent corneal erosion.

Corneal grafting
Body:

If the cornea becomes either clouded or cone-shaped (keratoconus) rather than spherical, you may need a corneal graph.

Corneal Ulcer
Body:

A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the cornea — the clear front window of the eye. The cornea covers the iris (the colored portion of the eye) and the round pupil, much like a watch crystal covers the face of a watch.

Dacryocystorhinostomy
Body:

Watery eyes can be a result of blocked tear ducts.

Diabetic retinopathy
Body:

If you have diabetes, blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye, can become leaky or blocked.

Diabetic Retinopathy
Body:

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease, occurs when blood vessels in the retina change. Sometimes these vessels swell and leak fluid or even close off completely. In other cases, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina.

Diabetic retinopathy (Retinopatía Diabética), Spanish
Body:

La retinopatía diabética, la enfermedad ocular diabética más común, ocurre cuando hay cambios en los vasos sanguíneos en la retina.
A veces, estos vasos pueden hincharse y dejar escapar fluidos, o inclusive taparse completamente.

Drusen
Body:

Drusen are yellow deposits under the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Drusen are made up of lipids, a fatty
protein.

File Name:
Dry Eye
Body:

When you blink, a film of tears spreads over the eye, making the surface of the eye smooth and clear. Without this tear film, good vision would not be possible.

File Name:
Dry Eyes
Body:

If your eyes are dry, they will feel sore, gritty or as if they are burning.

File Name:
Examining the eye
Body:

An ophthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in treating eyes.

Eye Allergies
Body:

Eye allergies, called allergic conjunctivitis, are a common condition that occurs when the eyes react to something that irritates them (called an allergen).

File Name:
Eye Allergies 2
Body:

Eye allergies, called allergic conjunctivitis, are a common condition that occurs when the eyes react to something that
irritates them (called an allergen).

Eyelid Spasm and Twitching Eyelids
Body:

Eyelid spasm, or twitching (which is also called blepharospasm), is an abnormal, involuntary blinking or movement of the eyelids. The blinking can happen every few seconds and may even be strong enough to make your eyelid shut entirely before reopening.

Floaters and Flashes
Body:

You may sometimes see small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision. These are called floaters. You can often see them when looking at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky.

Fluorescian angiography and optical coherence tomography
Body:

In fluorescein angiography, a set of special photographs are taken to look at the blood supply in the retina.

Fuchs’ Dystrophy
Body:

Fuchs' dystrophy is a progressive disease affecting the part of the eye called the cornea, the clear, round dome covering the eye's iris and pupil. By helping to focus light as it enters the eye, the cornea plays an important role in vision.

File Name:
Glaucoma
Body:

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the eye’s optic nerve. The optic nerve is connected to the retina — a layer of light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye — and is made up of many nerve fibers, like an electric cable is made up of many wires. It is the optic nerve that sends signals from your retina to your brain, where these signals are interpreted as the images you see.

Graves’ Disease
Body:

Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).The gland produces hormones that regulate your body’s metabolism (the process by which the body transforms food into energy).

File Name:
Herpes Keratitis
Body:

Herpes keratitis is a viral infection of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two major types of the virus. Type I is the most common and primarily infects the face, causing the familiar "cold sore" or "fever blister." Type II is the sexually transmitted form of herpes, infecting the genitals.

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Body:

The virus varicella zoster causes two distinct diseases. The primary infection causes chicken pox, a generally harmless childhood illness. After chicken pox ends, the virus remains in the body, where it can remain inactive (dormant) for decades. As a result of age, illness or medical treatments, the virus can become reactivated. This second encounter is called herpes zoster, or more commonly, shingles, and is characterized by a painful rash.

Herpes Zoster (Shingles) 2
Body:

The virus varicella zoster causes two distinct diseases. The primary infection causes chicken pox, a generally harmless childhood illness. After chicken pox ends, the virus remains in the body, where it can remain inactive (dormant) for decades. As a result of age, illness or medical treatments, the virus can become reactivated. This second encounter is called herpes zoster, or more commonly, shingles, and is characterized by a painful rash.

Juvenile Macular Degeneration
Body:

Juvenile macular degeneration is a series of inherited eye disorders that affects children and young adults. Juvenile macular degeneration is different from age-related macular degeneration, which occurs as part of the body’s natural aging process. Juvenile macular degeneration is sometimes called macular dystrophy.

Laser treatment after cataract surgery
Body:

Your vision may gradually blur months or even years after successful cataract surgery.

Local anaesthesia for eye surgery
Body:

Most eye operations are done under local anaesthesia, by injection or with eye drops only.

Lower eyelid abnormalities
Body:

Your lower eyelid may stretch as you get older and either curl inwards or droop outwards away from your eye.

Macular Edema
Body:

Macular edema is swelling or thickening of the eye's macula, the part of your eye responsible for detailed, central vision.

Macular Hole
Body:

A macular hole is a small break in the macula, the part of your eye responsible for detailed, central vision.

Macular Pucker
Body:

A macular pucker (also called an epiretinal membrane) is a layer of scar tissue that grows on the surface of the retina, particularly the macula, which is the part of your eye responsible for detailed, central vision.

Microvascular Cranial Nerve Palsy
Body:

Microvascular cranial nerve palsy (MCNP) is a neurological condition involving the small blood vessels that affects the muscles that move the eyes. With MCNP, there is a blockage of blood flow to the nerves between the brain stem and muscles within the eye socket, as well as other nerves that affect visual function.

Myasthenia Gravis
Body:

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes muscles to weaken and tire easily.

Ocular Hypertension
Body:

Ocular hypertension is when the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure or IOP) is higher than normal.

Optical Coherence Tomography
Body:

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to take cross-section pictures of your retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye.

Pigment Dispersion Syndrome
Body:

Pigment dispersion syndrome is a condition in which increased amounts of pigment, the material that gives your iris its color, circulate in other parts of the eye. The tiny granules of pigment can clog your eye’s drainage system, causing eye pressure problems.

Pinguecula and a Pterygium
Body:

Pterygium (pronounced tur-IJ-ee-um) and pinguecula (pronounced pin- GWEK-yoo-la) are growths on the cornea (the clear front window of the eye) and the conjunctiva — the thin, filmy membrane that covers the white part of your eye (sclera). Both growths are noncancerous and are fairly common.

Ptosis
Body:

Ptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid. The lid may droop only slightly, or it may cover the pupil entirely. In some cases, ptosis can restrict and even block normal vision. It can be present in children as well as adults and may be treated with surgery.

File Name:
Red Eye: Conjunctivitis
Body:

Conjunctivitis is an infection of the conjunctiva, the thin transparent layer covering the white of your eye from the insides of your eyelids.

Red Eye: Ulcers, Blood Vessels, and Iritis
Body:

If you have any red eye with pain, blurring of vision, or discomfort in bright light, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Refractive laser surgery
Body:

Refractive laser surgery can reshape the cornea to correct its focusing power.

Retinal Detachment
Body:

The retina does not work when it is detached and vision becomes blurry.A retinal detachment is a very serious problem that almost always causes blindness unless it is treated with detached retina surgery.

Retinal Detachment Surgery
Body:

Vitreous jelly in the eye cavity can pull away from the retina as you grow older.

Scleritis
Body:

Scleritis is a painful inflammation (swelling) of the white part of the eye, which is also known as the sclera. The tough, fibrous tissues of the sclera form a protective outer layer for the eye and make up 83 percent of the eye’s surface.

Strabismus
Body:

Strabismus is a visual problem in which the eyes are not aligned properly and point in different directions. One eye may look straight ahead, while the other eye turns inward, outward, upward, or downward. The eye turn may be consistent, or it may come and go. Which eye is straight (and which is misaligned) may switch or alternate.

Strokes and Conjunctional Heamorrhage
Body:

A three year follow up on a study of patient risk of strokes who also had conjunctional hemorrhage.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Body:

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is similar to an ordinary bruise on the skin — it's like a bruise of the eye. It usually appears as a single, concentrated spot of red, or many scattered red splotches, on the white of the eye. The redness is blood under the conjunctiva, a clear membrane that covers the white of the eye (called the sclera) and the inner eyelids.

Tests for chronic glaucoma
Body:

An overview of various tests for chronic glaucoma.

The eye and eyelid
Body:

An overview summarizing the functions of the eye and how it processes imagery.

Thyroid Eye Disease
Body:

Thyroid Eye Disease usually occurs if you have an overactive thyroid gland, but can occur in people with a normal or under-active thyroid gland.

Upper lid ptosis in adults
Body:

Upper lid ptosis means that your eyelids are drooping. This usually occurs with age.

Using Eye Drops and Ointment
Body:

Instructions for the proper applications of eye drops and ointment.

Uveitis
Body:

Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, which is made up of the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Together, these form the middle layer of the eye between the retina and the sclera (white of the eye).

Uveitis 2
Body:

Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, which is made up of the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Together, these form the middle layer of the eye between the retina and the sclera (white of the eye).

File Name:
Vitamin A Deficiency
Body:

Vitamin A is found in many foods, including leafy green vegetables, orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin), eggs, and cantaloupes. A lack of access to a balanced diet with enough vitamin A can lead to vitamin A deficiency.

Watery Eyes in Adults
Body:

A summary of various conditions in adults that can lead to watery eyes.

Watery Eyes in Infants
Body:

A summary of conditions and treatments for water eyes in infants.

What Is a Stroke Affecting the Eye
Body:

Most people know that high blood pressure and other vascular diseases pose risks to overall health, but many may not know that high blood pressure can affect vision by damaging the arteries in the eye.