Ophthalmologists

• Glaucoma
  Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United States, especially in the elderly population. Loss of sight can be preventable, however, if treatment is received early enough. Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the cable that takes the signals from the eye to the brain. The retina is the nerve layer in the back of the eye which is like the film in a camera. It “sees” the picture and converts it to electrical signals that are carried in “wires” called axons. These axon “wires” are then arranged in the optic nerve cable going to the brain. Glaucoma is damage to these axon wires, causing blind spots to develop. This damage is usually slow and painless and people often don”t realize how much these blind areas have progressed until much damage has occurred. Early detection and treatment are the keys to preventing optic nerve damage and blindness from glaucoma.
• Ophthalmology
  Member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, Texas Ophthalmology Association, Texas Medical Association and American Medical Association
• Macular Degeneration
  Macular degeneration is damage or breakdown of the macula. The macula is a small area (about the size of this letter “O”) at the back of the eye the allows us to see fine details clearly. When the macula doesn”t function well, we experience blurriness or darkness in the center of our vision. Macular degeneration affects both distance and close vision and can make reading difficult or impossible.
• Laser Eye Surgery
  It is very rare for anyone to have a perfectly smooth cornea without measurable peaks and valleys. These can be shown on a corneal topographic map like the one below and to the left. The areas of similar color should be perfectly circular, but as you can see, there are undulations and differences. This cornea would actually be considered to be quite regular, most are not this regular. Current LASIK surgery flattens the cornea, but any irregularities that were present before surgery will be present after surgery.
• Cataracts
  A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens inside of the eye. It’s like having a frosted or dirty window. There are many misconceptions about a cataract.
• Cataract Surgery
  When people reach middle age, the vitreous gel will shrink. Oftentimes this gel will pull away from the back wall of the eye, which is called a posterior vitreous detachment. It is a common cause of new floaters. Posterior vitreous detachment is more common in people who: Are nearsighted; Have undergone cataract surgery; Have had YAG laser surgery after their cataract surgery; Have had inflammation inside of their eye; Have had head trauma (such as a car accident). Demonstration of a posterior vitreous detachment Having a posterior vitreous detachment in and of itself is not particularly dangerous, but sometimes as the vitreous is pulling away from the back of the eye, it can tear the retina. A torn retina is a serious problem, since many of these retinal tears will go on to become retinal detachments. A large horseshoe tear of the retina You should call your ophthalmologist if you see the following: New floaters, especially if you are over the age of 45; You see sudden flashes of light; The loss of side vision, like someone is drawing a “curtain” across your vision. If you notice loss of your side vision, you should contact your ophthalmologist immediately!
• Eye Exam
  If you see new floaters, your ophthalmologist should be contacted to make sure that you don”t have any retinal tears or detachments. Floaters themselves can be quite annoying, especially when reading. You can try moving your eyes up and down to move the floaters out of the way. While some floaters may remain in your vision, many will fade over time and become less bothersome. You should still have an eye examination if you notice new floaters, even if you have had some floaters for years.

Internists

• Internal Medicine

Endocrinologist

• Diabetes Care

Radiologist

• Ultrasound
  Over 1.4 million people have cataract surgery each year in the United States, 95% of them without complications. Here at North Dallas Eye Associates we use only the most up-to-date surgical techniques. Almost all cases are done with a minimum of intravenous anesthesia for safety, and eyedrops to numb your eye. This is very effective, and all that is necessary to make surgery essentially painless. The cloudy cataract lens is removed with a machine that uses ultrasound energy to break it up into pieces which are then vacuumed out. Although it is a common misconception, lasers are not used to remove cataracts. A permanent lens implant is then placed into the eye, so that you can see without thick “coke-bottle” glasses. After surgery, approximately 20% of people have a clouding of the natural capsule membrane that supports the lens implant. Laser surgery can be used to open this cloudy capsule, restoring clear vision. After cataract surgery, you will use drops for a few weeks, but otherwise you can soon return to your normal activities. Cataract surgery is a highly successful procedure, with improved vision in 95% of patients. It is surgery, and therefore it is possible for complications to occur, some severe enough to limit vision. It is important to discuss all options with your ophthalmologist before deciding if cataract surgery is appropriate for you.

Plastic Surgeons

• Eyelid Surgery