Ophthalmology Services

A general eye exam usually includes an assessment of visual acuity, a refraction to determine an appropriate glasses or contact lens prescription if necessary, eye muscle motility and visual field evaluation, measurement of the intraocular pressure, and an assessment of all parts of the eye including eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior chamber, iris, lens, vitreous, and retina. A yearly general eye exam should include dilation–administering eye drops to enlarge the pupil and allow the doctor to examine the retina and the optic nerve.

Optometrists are great for assessing vision and evaluating glasses and contact lenses. However, when it comes to evaluating the anatomy and physiology of the eye, you should be seen an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor with a medical degree). The specialists at Menlo Park Ophthalmology take the time to make sure you are seeing your best by assessing your vision, ensuring your current glasses or contact lenses are optimal, and examining all parts of the eye to make sure you continue to see your best.

Cataracts develop gradually in all people. Most individuals who have cataracts are older than age 50, and around 50% of all people develop a cataract by the time they reach age 65. Although cataracts are extremely rare in children, it is possible for infants to have congenital cataracts.

Not always. Eye doctors usually recommend that patients wait until the cataract is interfering with vision, especially when the cataract is still very small. The patient should be monitored on a regular basis to determine when the cataract needs to be removed.

While all types of surgery carry some level of risk, cataract surgery is widely considered to be safe. It is the most-performed surgery in the U.S. today. Selecting an experienced eye surgeon is very important. The ophthalmologists at Menlo Park Ophthalmology Medical Group have the skill needed to perform cataract surgery safely and with excellent results.

In cataract surgery, the surgeon creates a tiny incision, through which surgery is performed to remove the cloudy lens of the eye. It is usually broken up into fragments for easier removal. To replace the lens, a special prosthetic implant known as an intraocular lens (IOL) is placed inside the eye. Advanced technology IOLs, which can correct for astigmatism and presbyopia, reduce dependence on glasses after surgery.

There are several ways that dry eye can be addressed medically. One method of treatment is the stimulation of new tears. This typically involves topical application of eye drops or ointment. It may take several months for the eyes to respond to this type of treatment, and it is usually necessary to keep using the topical drops long term. In some cases, dry eye is treated with antibiotics or with an antibiotic and steroid combination ointment or drops. Less commonly, antibiotics may be taken orally.

The simplest treatment for dry eye is the replacement of tears using eye drops until the eyes resume sufficient tear secretion on their own. This is usually best for people who have only a short-term issue with dry eye. As long as dry eye is diagnosed and treated promptly, patients can avoid having serious complications like corneal scarring.

Aging, long periods of reading and computer work, prolonged use of contact lenses, eye surgery, systemic disorders, medications, and exposure to very dry environments are risk factors for dry eye.

Dry macular degeneration is the most common kind of macular degeneration and accounts for approximately 85%-90% of all cases. In dry macular degeneration, metabolic waste products accumulate beneath and around the retina. This buildup causes blurry vision or spotty vision. Dry macular degeneration sometimes turns into wet macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration is the more severe form of macular degeneration. It is often preceded by dry macular degeneration. This type of macular degeneration develops when the retina starts to deteriorate. New blood vessels develop in the area, but the blood vessels are highly delicate. This frequently causes the leaking of fluid and blood, which in turn causes the macula to scar severely and may result in loss of vision. Wet macular degeneration accounts for a large majority of all cases of legal blindness today.

Possible symptoms of macular degeneration include blurry spots in the middle of the field of vision, distortions causing straight lines to look wavy, and distortion of any kind in straight-ahead vision.

The treatment for macular degeneration depends on the specific type of macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration has no specific treatments, but there may be ways to delay the progression of the disease before it becomes wet macular degeneration. This includes oral vitamins and antioxidants such as lutein. In wet macular degeneration medications can be injected to stop the progression of the disease and help preserve the vision.