My Eyes Itch: Do I Have Ocular Allergies?
It is that time of year again when the mild weather invites us to spend our time outside, but Mother Nature may have something else in mind: allergies. Allergy season arrives earlier in Phoenix than in other cities thanks to our mild climate. Based on a recent study by Quest Diagnostics, which examined the ragweed sensitization rate in different parts of the country, Phoenix now ranks among the country’s worst cities for allergies. Those affected by allergies know the symptoms all too well. In addition to a stuffy, itchy nose and sneezing,...
read more“Changing Lives Every Day” in the Philippines
”Changing Lives Every Day” doesn’t only apply to patients here in Arizona. On February 8, 2013, BDPEC’s William Schiff, OD, Amber Gearhart, RN-Director of Nursing, and surgical technician Sarah Walczak, joined forces with Stephen Hwang, MD, and Robert Brems, MD, to traverse the globe all the way to the Phillipines. The group was part of the Phoenix Filipino-American Lions Club and the Lions Vision Center of Arizona’s trip to help patients in Anogon, Rizal Philippines. After 16 arduous hours of travel time,...
read moreElevation and Retina Surgery: What’s the Connection?
Among the many characteristics that make our state of Arizona unique is its variety of land elevations. For example, Yuma in the southwest sits only 163 ft. above sea level. Elevation in the Phoenix valley averages 1,000 ft. above sea level, and height above sea level in our mountain regions, which include Flagstaff and Show Low, can soar to over 7,000 ft. While this variety of land elevations gives us our beautiful landscapes and a choice between valley and mountain living, it also poses a potential risk of which anyone undergoing retina...
read moreDiagnosing Glaucoma: Conclusions
What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma represents a number of disease states all of which are defined by death of optic nerve cells. The most common cause of optic nerve cell death is elevated eye pressure. However, nearly 25% of patients diagnosed with glaucoma do not show evidence of elevated eye pressure. How do you test for Glaucoma? Accurately diagnosing glaucoma involves measurement of eye pressure on numerous days, at various times during the day. Additionally, the optic nerve must be imaged with standard photography or more recently developed...
read moreDiagnosing Glaucoma
Simply measuring eye pressure does not guarantee a correct diagnosis of glaucoma. As we have stated, glaucoma is defined as damage to the optic nerve. Damage to the optic nerve initially leads to loss of peripheral vision. If the disease is allowed to progress, patients ultimately suffer loss of central vision. In general, damage to the optic does not cause “blurry” vision. Patients with advanced glaucoma may still be able to read the smallest letters on the eye chart. A patient’s ability to read the eye chart tells us very little about...
read moreCommon Risk Factors for Glaucoma
What are the most common risk factors for glaucoma? RACE: African Americans are at least 4 times more likely to develop glaucoma than caucasians. DIABETES: Diabetics are more likely than non-diabetics to develop glaucoma. MYOPIA: Nearsighted people are more likely to develop glaucoma. AGE: People older than 65 are more likely than those under 65 to develop glaucoma. FAMILY HISTORY: Having a 1st or 2nd degree relatives are at greater risk for developing glaucoma. CENTRAL CORNEAL THICKNESS: Individuals with thinner than average central corneas...
read moreUnderstand Glaucoma
To understand glaucoma, we must think of the eye as a sink. The eye has a faucet and a drain. This faucet produces a clear, water-like fluid called aqueous humor. Aqueous humor is necessary to keep the eye formed and nourished. The aqueous fluid is similar in appearance and consistency to cerebrospinal (spinal) fluid. In healthy eyes, the drain removes the aqueous fluid at the same rate it is produced. In eyes with glaucoma, the drain becomes “clogged” and fluid cannot leave the eye as fast as it is produced. The fluid accumulates in the...
read moreChanging Peoples Lives … in India!
On November 26th, 2012, a team from Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center left for Baligeria, India in hopes to bring vision back to over 250 tribal people from West Bengal and Odisha areas by performing free cataract surgeries. “It was all-in-all an amazing experience. Although I was born in the US, my family background is from India and so when an opportunity presented itself to perform a mission there I was eager to go. I have visited India for family several times, but I have never gone for a medical mission and also I had never been to the...
read moreWhat is Glaucoma?
What is glaucoma? Glaucoma is a treatable disease. However, it has no cure. Glaucoma is defined as “damage” to optic nerve cells. In a majority of cases, this optic nerve damage is caused by elevated intraocular pressure (pressure within the eye.) It is important to note, that nearly 20% of individuals with glaucoma do not demonstrate elevated pressures. These patients have what is known as either Low Tension Glaucoma or Normal Tension Glaucoma. These are both names for a condition that results in optic nerve damage in the absence of...
read moreOculoplastic Surgeons: Explained
What are Oculoplastic Surgeons? Most people know what a “Plastic Surgeon” is, and assume that all plastic surgeons are trained to perform the same surgeries. While both general “Plastic Surgeons” and “Oculoplastic Surgeons” are trained to perform surgery on the skin, muscles, and bones of the human body, Oculoplastic Surgeons focus their expertise on the face, and more specifically, the upper face. After completing medical school, Oculoplastic Surgeons are trained, and become Board Certified as...
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