Chalazion
Chalazia ("small pimples" in Greek) are cysts, or fluid-filled sacs, on the edge of the eyelid. Small glands in the eyelids called meibomian glands normally secrete a thick, fatty fluid called sebum into the hair follicles of the eyelashes. When these glands become chronically inflamed, chalazia - also called meibomian cysts - form.
Dr. Goodman usually treats chalazia by prescribing antibiotic eye drops and warm compresses. He may also drain a firm cyst by pressing on it to release the sebum trapped inside or treat it surgically if necessary.
Glaucoma
Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. It occurs when the pressure inside the eye rises, damaging the optic nerve and causing vision loss. The condition often develops over many years without causing pain or other noticeable symptoms - so you may not experience vision loss until the disease has progressed.
Symptoms that you could be developing glaucoma include blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, halo effects around lights, and painful or reddened eyes. People at high risk include those who are over the age of 40, diabetic, near-sighted, African-American, or who have a family history of glaucoma.
Your Goodman Eye Cener physician will test your visual acuity and visual field as well as the pressure in your eye. Regular eye exams help to monitor the changes in your eyesight and to determine whether you may develop glaucoma.
Once diagnosed, glaucoma can be controlled. Treatments to lower pressure in the eye include non-surgical methods such as prescription eye drops and medications, laser therapy, and surgery.
More information about glaucoma >>>
Ptosis
Ptosis is a condition in which the eyelid droops. It is caused by a weakness or separation of muscles deep within the eyelid. Ptosis does not involve excess skin or tissue in the eyelid (a condition called dermatochalasis). It is usually a result of aging, but some people develop ptosis after eye surgery or an injury, and some children are born with the condition.
A brief surgical procedure can eliminate the drooping. Many young patients with mild to moderate ptosis do not need surgery early in life. Patients who are also suffering from excess skin may choose to undergo blepharoplasty at the same time as ptosis repair. Children with ptosis should be examined regularly to check for other vision problems including amblyopia ("lazy eye"), refractive errors and muscular diseases.
Medical
Eye Care
Services
Medical Eye Care from Goodman Eye Center
The surgeons at the Goodman Eye Center are Board Certified Ophthalmologists, trained to treat a wide range of eye diseases and disorders. Through years of extensive training and experience, our doctors are prepared to offer you the most advanced care for your eye care needs. Some of the areas of treatment include:
A brief description of each of these conditions is listed below.
Angle Closure Glaucoma
Our eyes are filled with a fluid (the aqueous) that is produced in the ciliary body and drains through the trabecular meshwork. In a healthy eye, the rates of fluid production and drainage are equal, and pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure, or IOP) remains stable. In patients with glaucoma, fluid is produced faster than it drains and/or the internal drainage channels are defective, and subsequently there is high pressure in the eye. This can cause vision loss and eventually blindness.
Approximately 1 in 10 glaucoma patients have acute angle closure glaucoma. This type of glaucoma occurs when the trabecular meshwork becomes blocked. Patients experience a sudden rise in intraocular pressure that frequently causes blurred vision, severe pain, colored halos, reddened eyes, and nausea or vomiting. Immediate treatment is critical.
Treatment involves making an incision in the iris to restore the proper flow of aqueous fluid (an iridectomy or iridotomy) or creating a new, clear channel in the sclera (the white part of the eye) for the fluid to travel through (a trabeculectomy). Patients are often given medications in addition to these procedures to ensure that the glaucoma is kept under control.
More information about glaucoma >>>
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes by removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the eyelids.
It may be performed for cosmetic reasons or to improve sight by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient's field of vision. The procedure is usually performed in our office with local anesthesia in as little as 45 minutes.
More information about blephoroplasty >>>
Cataract
We perform a minimally invasive, no-stitch cataract surgery called phacoemulsification ("phaco") surgery. First, the eye is numbed with anesthesia. Then a tiny incision is made in the eye to make room for a small ultrasonic probe. This probe breaks up, or emulsifies, the cloudy lens into tiny pieces and gently sucks, or aspirates, those pieces out of the eye.
After the cloudy lens has been removed, a new artificial lens is implanted in the eye. With the recent advance of foldable IOLs (intraocular lenses), artificial lenses can be implanted through the same small incision from the phaco procedure. Once moved in place inside the eye, the IOL unfolds to its proper shape.