Dr. Wong's office is equipped with the latest technology in diagnostic and examination equipment. This allows us to provide our patients with the most thorough, comprehensive eye examinations available. We thoroughly check the internal and external health of your eyes including tests for cataracts and glaucoma. Dr. Wong also checks for the presence of corneal disorders and will examine the retina to ensure proper health and continued good vision.
Patients with myopia, or nearsightedness, have steep curvature in one or both corneas; they can focus on nearby objects, but distant objects appear blurry. For hyperopic or farsighted patients, shallow corneal curvature causes nearby objects to appear blurry while objects in the distance are clear. Astigmatism causes objects that are close or at a distance to appear blurry or doubled. Most people have some degree of astigmatism, which often occurs in combination with myopia or hyperopia.
Glasses and contact lenses correct these refractive errors. Prescriptions are measured for each eye so patients can enjoy optimal vision clarity, usually 20/20. Eyewear may be used for certain activities, such as reading for hyperopic patients and driving or watching television for myopic patients, or may be worn at all times.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the United States. A simple painless eye exam can detect the disease. With early detection and treatment, glaucoma can usually be controlled and blindness prevented.
To detect glaucoma, your physician will test your visual acuity, visual field, dilate your pupils and test the pressure in your eye. Regular and complete eye exams help to monitor the changes in your eyesight and will help to determine whether you may develop glaucoma.
Treatment to control glaucoma include medications in the form of either eye drops or pills, laser surgery and conventional surgery.
ECP is a new technique that reduces the amount of fluid (aqueous humor) produced in the eye and thus lowers pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure or IOP). This can help patients suffering from glaucoma, a disease where excess fluid puts pressure on the optic nerve and damages vision.
During an ECP procedure, the ophthalmologist inserts a tiny probe with a fiberoptic light at the tip into the part of the eye that produces fluid, known as the ciliary body or ciliary process. Laser energy then damages some of these cells so they stop producing fluid. The result is a lower, healthier pressure within the eye. Many patients who undergo ECP no longer need eyedrops or other glaucoma medications after treatment.
ECP may be performed at the same time as phacoemulsification (cataract) surgery for patients who suffer from both cataracts and glaucoma. Recent studies show that patients who undergo the combined ECP/phaco need fewer glaucoma medications over the long term.
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is an advanced laser system that targets specific cells of the eye -- those containing melanin, a natural pigment. Using a special wavelength and energy, the SLT targets these specific cells, leaving the surrounding tissue intact, and improves the flow of fluid in the eye, thereby lowering your eye pressure.
Your eye pressure may drop as quickly as a day or more after having the SLT procedure. You may be treated with anti-inflammatory eye drops that will be continued after the procedure. There are no incidences of allergy or systemic side effects with SLT. The SLT treatment does not cause pain.
The SLT procedure is reimbursed by Medicare and many other insurance providers, which minimizes your out-of-pocket expenses.
For more information on SLT, please visit www.glaucomaslt.com
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Patients with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma. These and other serious conditions often develop without vision loss or pain, so significant damage may be done to the eyes by the time the patient notices any symptoms. For this reason it is very important for diabetic patients to have their eyes examined once a year. The eye is examined through a dilated pupil, and our ophthalmologists look for signs of developing problems in the eye’s structures and blood vessels. Diagnosing and treating eye disease early can prevent vision loss. It is also important to maintain a steady blood-sugar level, take prescribed medications, follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly and avoid smoking.
Macular degeneration is the number-one cause of blindness in the United States. It occurs when the macula -- a part of the retina in the back of the eye that ensures that our vision is clear and sharp -- degrades or “degenerates,” causing a progressive loss of vision.
The “dry” form of macular degeneration has no treatment, but the “wet” form may be helped by laser procedures if it is detected early. Because of this, and because vision lost to the disease is irrecoverable, regular eye exams are highly recommended. Certain vitamins and minerals may also aid in slowing or preventing vision loss.
Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. It is sometimes called "lazy eye." When one eye develops good vision while the other does not, the eye with poorer vision is called amblyopic. Usually, only one eye is affected by amblyopia, but it is possible for both eyes to be "lazy."
Amblyopia is detected by finding a difference in vision between the two eyes or poor vision in both eyes. Since it is difficult to measure vision in young children, your ophthalmologist often estimates visual acuity by watching how well a baby follows objects with one eye when the other eye is covered.
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