Eye Conditions We Treat

Presbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes' ability to focus on nearby objects. It's a natural, often annoying part of aging that typically becomes noticeable in your early to mid-40s and continues to worsen until around age 65.

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a bright red patch on the white of the eye caused by a small blood vessel breaking beneath the clear conjunctiva. Despite its alarming appearance, it is usually harmless and painless. Common causes include straining, coughing, sneezing, heavy lifting, or minor eye trauma. The blood typically absorbs on its own within 1-2 weeks without treatment.

A pinguecula is a yellowish, raised growth on the conjunctiva, typically appearing on the side of the eye closest to the nose. It consists of protein, fat, and calcium deposits, often caused by chronic sun exposure, wind, and dry conditions. While usually harmless, it can become inflamed (pingueculitis) and may grow into a pterygium if untreated.

A corneal abrasion is a scratch or scrape on the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. It can be caused by fingernails, contact lenses, foreign objects, or rubbing the eyes. Corneal abrasions are painful but typically heal within 24-72 hours with proper treatment. Prompt care prevents infection and complications.

Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition where the cornea thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. This abnormal shape deflects light as it enters the eye, causing distorted vision. The condition typically begins in the teens or early 20s and may progress for 10-20 years before stabilizing.

Eye twitching, medically known as myokymia, is an involuntary, repetitive spasm of the eyelid muscles. Most commonly affecting the lower eyelid, these twitches are usually harmless and resolve on their own. While occasionally annoying, they rarely indicate a serious neurological condition. Common triggers include stress, fatigue, caffeine, eye strain, and dry eyes.

A clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and are the principal cause of blindness in the world. Acquired cataracts develop from aging, medical conditions like diabetes, eye trauma, or long-term steroid use.

A clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and are the principal cause of blindness in the world. They typically develop from aging, medical conditions like diabetes, eye trauma, or long-term steroid use.

A common binocular vision problem where the eyes have difficulty turning inward together to focus on a near object. This can lead to significant eye strain, headaches, and difficulty with reading and other near tasks.

A condition where the ciliary muscle of the eye, which controls focusing, goes into a state of spasm. This 'locks' the eye's focus at a near point, making it difficult or impossible to see distant objects clearly. It often results from prolonged, intensive near work.

A rare, serious disorder of the skin and mucous membranes. It's usually a reaction to a medication or an infection. SJS causes severe inflammation and blistering. Ocular involvement is common and can be severe, leading to chronic dry eye, corneal scarring, and blindness.

A lack of vitamin A in the diet can lead to a range of ocular problems, collectively known as xerophthalmia ('dry eye'). It is a major cause of preventable blindness in children worldwide. It affects the cornea and retina.

A group of inherited disorders that results in little or no production of the pigment melanin. This affects the color of the skin, hair, and eyes. Lack of pigment in the eye leads to several vision problems.

A rare inherited disorder that causes too much copper to accumulate in your vital organs, primarily the liver and brain. A characteristic sign of Wilson disease is the Kayser-Fleischer ring, a rusty-brown ring of copper deposits around the edge of the cornea.

A condition where the eye's natural lens is displaced from its normal position, either partially (subluxed) or completely (dislocated). This is caused by weakness or breakage of the zonules, the small fibers that hold the lens in place. It can be caused by trauma or systemic genetic syndromes like Marfan syndrome.

A condition of abnormally low intraocular pressure (IOP), typically defined as an IOP persistently below 6 mmHg. Chronic hypotony can lead to vision loss from various complications, including swelling of the cornea and macula (hypotony maculopathy).

A condition where an eye has no light perception and is chronically painful. This is an end-stage result of various severe eye diseases, such as end-stage glaucoma, chronic inflammation, or severe trauma.

A group of congenital, hereditary neuro-oculo-cutaneous syndromes. These disorders are characterized by the growth of hamartomas (benign tumors) in the brain, skin, and eyes. Key examples include Neurofibromatosis, Tuberous Sclerosis, Sturge-Weber, and Von Hippel-Lindau.

Photophobia is an abnormal sensitivity to light that causes discomfort or pain when exposed to bright lights or sunlight. It is not a disease itself but a symptom of various conditions including migraines, dry eye, corneal problems, uveitis, or meningitis. Treatment focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying cause while managing symptoms.

Eye pain can range from a dull ache to sharp, stabbing sensations and may originate from the eye surface, deep within the eye, or surrounding structures. Common causes include dry eye, corneal abrasion, glaucoma, uveitis, optic neuritis, sinusitis, and migraines. The nature, location, and associated symptoms help determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.

Anisocoria is a condition where the pupils are unequal in size. While mild anisocoria (less than 1mm difference) can be normal and present in up to 20% of the population (physiologic anisocoria), significant or sudden onset pupil inequality may indicate serious conditions including Horner syndrome, third nerve palsy, or increased intracranial pressure. New anisocoria requires urgent evaluation.

Periorbital cellulitis (preseptal cellulitis) is an infection of the eyelid and skin around the eye, occurring in front of the orbital septum. It is commonly caused by bacteria following an insect bite, skin injury, sinusitis, or stye. While less serious than orbital cellulitis, it requires prompt antibiotic treatment to prevent spread to the deeper orbital tissues.

Myopia (nearsightedness) is a common vision condition in which you can see objects near to you clearly, but objects farther away are blurry. It occurs when the shape of your eye causes light rays to bend incorrectly, focusing images in front of your retina instead of on your retina. Myopia control options available for children to slow progression.

Hyperopia (farsightedness) is a common vision condition in which you can see distant objects clearly, but objects nearby may be blurry. It occurs when your eyeball is too short or your cornea isn't curved enough, causing light to focus behind your retina instead of on it.

Astigmatism is a common vision condition caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. Instead of being round, the cornea is oval-shaped, causing light to focus on multiple points rather than one. This results in blurred or distorted vision at all distances.

Anisometropia is a condition where the two eyes have unequal refractive power, meaning one eye may be nearsighted while the other is farsighted, or one eye has significantly more refractive error than the other.

An accumulation of fluid in the suprachoroidal space (between the choroid and the sclera). This can happen spontaneously but is most often a complication of eye surgery. A large effusion can cause the choroid to detach, leading to severe vision loss and pain.

A condition characterized by abnormal, branching networks of blood vessels with grape-like (polypoidal) tips in the choroid. It is a variant of wet AMD and can cause sudden vision loss due to bleeding or fluid leakage under the retina.

A focal outpouching or swelling of a retinal artery. These can leak fluid or blood into the retina, causing macular edema or hemorrhage, which can affect vision. They are most common in older women with high blood pressure.

A small, full-thickness defect in the center of the retina (the macula). It is usually caused by age-related vitreous traction on the macula. It causes a blind spot or distortion in the central vision.

A thin, scar-like tissue that forms over the surface of the macula. As this membrane contracts, it can cause the retina to wrinkle or 'pucker,' leading to distorted and blurred central vision.

A group of inherited genetic disorders that affect the retina's ability to respond to light. It causes a slow but progressive loss of vision, starting with night blindness and loss of peripheral vision, eventually leading to 'tunnel vision' and sometimes total blindness.

A broad category of genetic diseases that cause progressive degeneration of the retina and/or choroid. This group includes conditions like choroideremia, gyrate atrophy, and various pattern dystrophies, each with unique features and inheritance patterns.

A group of inherited retinal disorders that affect the cone cells, which are responsible for central and color vision. This leads to a progressive decline in visual acuity, severe light sensitivity, and loss of color vision.

The most common form of inherited juvenile macular degeneration. It's an autosomal recessive condition that causes progressive central vision loss from the death of photoreceptor cells in the macula. It typically starts in childhood or adolescence.

An inherited retinal dystrophy characterized by the formation of a yellow, egg yolk-like lesion in the macula. While vision can be good for many years, it can eventually lead to central vision loss when the lesion breaks up or if choroidal neovascularization develops.

Retinal damage that can occur from long-term use of the medications chloroquine (Aralen) and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), which are used to treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The toxicity can cause irreversible central vision loss.

A condition characterized by the presence of small, shiny, refractile deposits within the retina. This can be caused by certain medications (e.g., tamoxifen, canthaxanthin), metabolic diseases (e.g., Bietti's crystalline dystrophy), or be idiopathic.

A congenital defect of the optic nerve head, appearing as a small, gray-white depression. While often stable, optic pits are associated with a risk of fluid from the vitreous cavity seeping under the retina, causing a serous macular detachment.

Damage to the retina, particularly the macula, from looking directly at the sun (sun gazing). This photochemical damage can cause a permanent small blind spot in the central vision.

A choroidal nevus is a common, benign, pigmented lesion in the choroid, similar to a mole on the skin. While most are harmless, there is a very small risk that they can transform into a malignant melanoma.

The most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. It is a cancerous tumor arising from the pigment cells (melanocytes) of the choroid. It can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, most commonly the liver.

The most common form of AMD, characterized by the presence of drusen (yellow deposits) under the retina and thinning of the macula (atrophy). It leads to a slow, progressive decline in central vision.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in people over 50. It damages the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. There are two main types: Dry AMD (more common, slower progression) and Wet AMD (less common, but more severe and rapid).

Yellow eyes, or icterus, occur when the white part of the eye (sclera) turns yellow due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood. This yellowing is often a sign of jaundice, which can indicate liver disease, bile duct problems, or blood disorders. Yellow eyes require prompt medical evaluation as they may signal serious underlying health conditions that need treatment.

Inflammation of the front part of the eye, including the iris (iritis) and ciliary body (iridocyclitis). It can be associated with systemic diseases (like ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis) or be idiopathic. It causes pain, light sensitivity, and blurred vision.

Inflammation of the vitreous (the gel in the middle of the eye) and the peripheral retina (the pars plana). It's often idiopathic and typically affects children and young adults. It can lead to complications like macular edema and cataract.

Inflammation of the back part of the eye, including the retina (retinitis) and choroid (choroiditis). This is the least common but most serious form of uveitis as it can cause significant damage to the retina and optic nerve, leading to permanent vision loss.

The most common cause of infectious posterior uveitis. It's caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Infection is often congenital and can reactivate later in life, causing a focal area of retinitis, often with overlying vitreous inflammation ('headlight in the fog').

A systemic inflammatory disease that can affect almost any organ, including the eyes. Ocular involvement is common and can manifest as anterior, intermediate, or posterior uveitis. It is known for forming granulomas (clumps of inflammatory cells).

A rare, chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in blood vessels throughout the body. Ocular involvement is common and can be severe, causing a recurrent, occlusive vasculitis that can lead to rapid and irreversible vision loss.

A rare but devastating viral infection of the retina, most often caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) or varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It causes rapid death (necrosis) of retinal tissue and has a high risk of leading to retinal detachment.

A viral infection of the retina caused by Cytomegalovirus (CMV). It almost exclusively occurs in severely immunocompromised individuals, such as those with untreated AIDS or organ transplant recipients. It causes progressive destruction of the retina.

A rare systemic disorder that affects pigmented tissues in the body, including the eyes, ears, skin, and meninges (lining of the brain). It causes a severe bilateral uveitis with serous retinal detachments.

A sexually transmitted infection that can affect any part of the eye and mimic almost any other inflammatory eye condition. It is known as 'The Great Imitator.' Ocular syphilis can cause uveitis, optic neuritis, and retinal vasculitis.

A severe bacterial or fungal infection inside the eye, which is a rare but dreaded complication of intraocular surgery (most commonly cataract surgery). It requires immediate medical attention to save vision.

A severe infection inside the eye that occurs after a penetrating eye injury. The injury introduces microorganisms into the sterile environment of the eye, leading to a rapid and destructive infection.

A rare but severe intraocular infection that occurs when bacteria from another part of the body travel through the bloodstream and seed the eye. It is most common in debilitated or septic patients, IV drug users, or those with endocarditis.

An intraocular fungal infection caused by Candida species, which spreads to the eye through the bloodstream (endogenous). It is seen in hospitalized patients, IV drug users, and those with indwelling catheters.

A rare, bilateral diffuse granulomatous uveitis that occurs after a penetrating trauma or surgery to one eye (the 'exciting' eye). The body's immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy, uninjured eye (the 'sympathizing' eye).