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Regular eye exams are an invaluable tool in maintaining healthy eyes by detecting and preventing disease. Some diseases develop slowly without causing pain or vision loss. Early detection of any problems can reduce the risk of further harm and allow for a choice of treatment options. Part of your exam includes the following procedures: slit lamp examination, Dilated eye exam, Refraction for glasses & contact lenses and Glaucoma pressure testing as well as a series of computerized tests to determine the health of your eyes.
Laser Vision Correction, or Refractive Surgery, is used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism by reshaping the cornea, or clear front part of the eye, so that light traveling through it is properly focused onto the retina. Laser Vision Correction is currently one of the most frequently performed elective procedures. It is a highly effective outpatient procedure that is suitable for most prescriptions, to improve vision and eliminate or reduce the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. The most common types of refractive surgery are PRK (PhotoRefractive Keratotomy) and LASIK (Laser-Assisted-In-Situ Keratomileusis). The laser, which delivers a cool pulse beam of ultra-violet light, is used on the surface of the cornea in PRK and underneath the corneal surface in LASIK. The usual healing time is a few days for most patients. Patients are placed on eye drops, to promote comfort and reduce swelling. Dr. Younger will recommend which procedure, either PRK or LASIK, is best for you based on your screening eye exam, topography (corneal map), the thickness of your cornea, and your individual visual requirements. The advantages of each type of procedure will be discussed at your pre-operative visit. Most qualify for Laser Vision Correction. However, there are certain people who are less than ideal candidates, such as those under age 21, patients with other eye diseases and patients with very large pupils, thin corneas, or untreated dry eyes.
A cataract is caused by the clouding of the lens in the eye. As the cataracts progress, eyeglasses prescriptions change frequently and, daily visual function becomes impaired. Cataract surgery involves the removal of the cloudy lens and the implantation of an artificial lens. The current technique for cataract surgery is called phacoemulsification (ultrasound) through a small incision. Since a self-sealing small incision is used, it does not require suture closure, thus the term "no stitch cataract surgery." The entire process is completed in less than ½ hour and is performed under local anesthesia. Dr. Younger is board-certified and fellowship-trained and is specifically skilled in removing cataracts, and is also experienced in the recognition and treatment of complications of cataract surgery. After surgery with traditional monofocal lenses, most patients experience very good vision far away. However, most people receiving these standard lenses still require reading glasses or bifocals to have a full range of vision.
Almost all degrees of astigmatism can be corrected with properly prescribed eyeglasses or contact lenses. For a person with only a slight degree of astigmatism, corrective lenses may not be needed at all, as long as other conditions such as nearsightedness or farsightedness are not present. If the astigmatism is moderate to high, however, corrective lenses are probably needed. For astigmatism, we offer special corrective lenses called toric lenses. Toric lenses have greater light bending power in one direction than the other. After performing various tests, your eye doctor will determine the ideal toric lens prescription for your astigmatism.
At Orange Coast Eye Center, we are proud to offer new technology intraocular lenses (IOLs) that are designed to reduce or eliminate your dependence on reading glasses, bifocals or trifocals. The difference from standard lenses is that with our more advanced technology, most will not be dependent on spectacles after surgery. We understand that your vision connects you to your world in so many ways and if you choose a new technology IOL, there is much better chance that you will be able to see in the distance and at near without glasses after surgery.
Dr. Younger is experienced with ReSTOR and Tecnis multifocal IOLs, and with the Crystalens accommodating IOL. These lenses have been shown in clinical studies, and in our daily practice, to greatly reduce dependence on glasses or bifocals at near, intermediate and distance vision in patients who have undergone cataract surgery. The multifocal IOL design gives the ability to focus light correctly on the retina for images at various distances without mechanical movement of the lens. The accommodating IOL is the only approved accommodative intraocular lens to restore focusing power to the eye with the unique ability to focus on objects at varying distances using the eye's natural muscle. Our goal is to provide a full range of vision from near to far and everything in between without corrective lenses. Also, for patients with low to very high amounts of astigmatism, Toric IOLs are used to correct the vision. Dr. Younger will discuss whether theses lenses would be appropriate for your lifestyle.
Dr. Younger is a cornea specialist trained to manage cornea and external disease problems, such as Fuchs' Corneal Dystrophy, using advanced surgical techniques. Surgeries performed by Dr. Younger include DSEK partial corneal transplants (descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty), Full Corneal Transplants, Pterygium Surgery and IOL exchange or repositioning.
In partial corneal transplants (descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty, or DSEK), Dr. Younger removes the diseased back surface of the cornea through a small incision. The donor cornea is prepared by a specialized eye bank to in order to separate the healthy back layer, which is inserted into the front part of the eye. An air bubble is then placed and pushes the donor tissue up against the back surface of the patient's cornea. The eye's natural pumping mechanism will attach the donor cornea as the air absorbs. DSEK is an advance in corneal transplantation that provides a better surgical option with less healing time, less astigmatism and less risk of rejection. Corneal transplant procedures may restore vision to otherwise blind eyes in some cases, and, of all tissue transplants, the most successful is a corneal transplant. The entire cornea is replaced in conditions such as scarring and keratoconus. In full corneal transplants (penetrating keratoplasty, or PKP), the diseased, or scarred, cornea is removed using a corneal trephine, creating a “bed†for the donor cornea, which is gently attached into place with ultra-fine sutures.
In the United States, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people under the age of 65. Diabetes can cause devastating eye diseases which require laser or surgery. Macular degeneration is caused by a breakdown of the macula, which is the central portion of the retina. Comprehensive yearly eye examinations are important in detecting macular degeneration as the symptoms of the disease often go unnoticed. Early detection of macular degeneration may prevent further vision loss, since treatment is often most effective when started early. We will perform a comprehensive eye exam using advanced ophthalmic equipment that includes a complete examination of your retina, color photos and advanced OCT imaging of the retina. Afterwards, we will discuss your treatment options; if needed, patients can see our Board-certified retina specialist in office.
