Eyecare Advances

Glaucoma

People who have glaucoma often rely on a traditional eye drop regimen for treatment. Although drops can be effective, many patients may have difficulty putting the drops in effectively and remembering to do them as frequently as prescribed. Also, many prescriptions come with monthly co-payments for refills which can be quite expensive.

There are two alternatives that may allow some patients to eliminate or decrease their dependency on drops – Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) and a newly launched pharmaceutical product, Durysta. SLT is a painless laser treatment that is indicated as a primary treatment for glaucoma. It works for an average of five years and can be repeated if needed. Durysta is a biodegradable implant that provides a sustained release of medication inside the eye. Glaucoma patients should ask their eye doctor for more information.

Cataract

Cataracts are a normal aging process for the natural lens inside the eye. As we age, the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, which can cause many symptoms including blurred vision, glare and halos, difficulty with night-time driving, and fading or yellowing of colors.

Eventually eyeglasses will no longer effectively increase vision function, and surgery is needed to restore vision. Cataract surgery involves removing the cataract and inserting a replacement lens. Traditional cataract surgery lenses are called monofocal lenses, which provide good distance vision but require eyeglasses for near and sometimes intermediate vision.

However, as a treatment advancement, multifocal lens implants are able to provide good distance and near vision and decrease the dependency on glasses.

Dry Eye

Dry eyes can cause symptoms including burning and stinging, pain, irritation, grittiness, scratchiness, sensitivity to cold air or wind, redness, watering/tearing, and blurred vision. Treatment usually hinges on artificial tear drops, but there are many exciting new treatments available for patients with dry eyes. Punctal plugs can be painlessly inserted during a regular office visit. They are designed to allow a patient’s own tears work more effectively to moisturize the surface of the eye. Another treatment for dry eyes is the use of amniotic membrane grafts. These grafts have anti-inflammatory properties and can be very helpful in the treatment of many different eye diseases, including severe dry eye disease. There are also many new and exciting treatments, including both medications and devices, currently in clinical trials. Ask your eye doctor if you may be a good candidate to be involved in a clinical trial.