Eye Care Services FAQ

What is strabismus?

Strabismus, or crossed eyes, is the term for when a person cannot align both eyes on an object at the same time. Strabismus can be constant or intermittent (i.e. due to stress or illness). The condition may manifest at first as double vision. Eventually, the brain begins to ignore, or suppress, information from the weaker eye. If left untreated, strabismus can lead to visual impairment, loss of binocular vision, and blindness in the weaker eye.

Can adults be treated?

Strabismus affects about 5% of children, and treatment is recommended before the age of six for the most effective results. However, adults can be treated too.

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What are the advantages of blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)?

By removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids, blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes, giving a more youthful appearance. The procedure is also done to remove puffy bags under the eyes. It is typically a cosmetic procedure but can also improve vision by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient's field of vision.

Because blepharoplasty cannot be used to raise the eyebrows or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow's feet or dark circles under the eyes, the procedure is often combined with others such as a facelift and BOTOX® treatments.

Will I have visible scars?

Incisions are made along the eyelids in inconspicuous places (in the creases of the upper lids, and just below the lashes on the lower lids) to minimize scar visibility. If no skin needs to be removed during surgery, the surgeon will likely perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, where the incision is made inside the lower eyelid and there are no visible scars.

How soon after surgery can I wear my contact lenses?

Contact lenses may not be worn for two weeks. Glasses may be worn immediately.

Give your eyes a natural, refreshed and more youthful look! In May 2003, renowned plastic surgeon Daniel Ebroon, M.D. joined Miramar. He had been an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Northwestern University for five years, where he taught 25 doctors the very specialized skill of cosmetic eyelid plastic surgery (performed to remove excess skin on the eyelids and to remove puffy "bags" under the eyes). He is one of approximately 400 trained eyelid plastic surgeons in the world. Dr. Ebroon is now a faculty member at the UCLA Medical School and the Jules Stein Eye Institute.

Dr. Ebroon performs plastic surgery to revitalize aging, puffy and tired-looking eyes, and to correct droopy eyelids, under-eye bags and wrinkles around the eyes. He also performs forehead and brow lifts to raise the eyebrows and reduce forehead wrinkles. In addition, he specializes in eyelid cancer, broken bones around the eyes, tearing disorders, thyroid eye disease, and other eyelid disorders.

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What can a browlift do for me?

Browlifts can revitalize drooping or lined foreheads by tightening skin and muscles above the eyes, smoothing wrinkles and raising the eyebrows, helping you to look less angry, sad or tired.

The procedure is often combined with other operations such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and facelifts to improve the look of the eyes and other areas of the face.

What's the difference between traditional and endoscopic methods?

The main difference lies in the type of incision made. In a traditional browlift the surgeon makes a coronal (headphone-shaped) incision behind the hairline, stretching between the ears and across the top of the forehead. In a minimally invasive endoscopic browlift the surgeon makes three to five short incisions (less than an inch long) behind the hairline. The endoscope -- a slim instrument with a camera on the end -- is placed in one incision so the surgeon can see beneath the skin, while he or she lifts the skin and adjusts muscles through the other incisions.

When can I return to work?

Many patients return to work or school in 7-10 days or less.

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What if I don't like the results?

Results will fade after a few months.

How frequently can/should I have injections?

BOTOX® can be used every 3-4 months, depending on how the muscles respond.

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Why should I have an eye exam?

Regular eye exams test for the development and progression of refractive errors and help your optometrist provide a proper prescription if eyeglasses or contact lenses are needed. Exams are also an invaluable tool in the early detection of eye disease.

What are myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism?

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.

What can glasses and contact lenses do for me?

Over 140 million people in the U.S. wear eyeglasses, and over 30 million wear contact lenses. Glasses and contact lenses improve vision by adjusting the way the eyes bend and focus light. 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.

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Children should have their first eye exam at about age two, although it's never to early to test a child's vision and eye health. Comprehensive eye exams are essential in the diagnosis and treatment of vision problems, injury and disease. Early detection allows for treatment to begin before the child experiences difficulty in school due to poor vision, or before any permanent damage has been done to the eye(s). Exams test visual acuity, eye tracking, and focusing skills, and detect problems such as near- and far-sightedness, amblyopia, crossed eyes, dyslexia, and color blindness.

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What is macular degeneration?

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.

Does macular degeneration have any symptoms?

Yes. They include:

• A gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly
• A gradual loss of color vision
• Distorted vision
• A dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision

Can macular degeneration be treated?

The "dry" form of macular degeneration has no treatment, but the "wet" form may be helped by laser procedures if it is detected early. Certain vitamins and minerals may also aid in slowing or preventing vision loss.

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What is dry eye?

"Dry eye" is the term for when your eyes are insufficiently moisturized, either because they do not produce enough tears or because the tears have an improper chemical composition. It often occurs during the natural aging process, but it can also form as a result of eyelid or blinking problems, certain medications, climate, injury, and various health problems.

Symptoms include:

• Irritated, scratchy, dry, uncomfortable or red eyes
• A burning sensation or feeling of something foreign in your eyes
• Blurred vision

In addition to being uncomfortable, dry eye can damage eye tissue, scar the cornea and impair vision. Dry eye is not preventable, but it can be controlled before harm is done to your eyes.

How is dry eye treated?

Treatment for dry eye can take many forms. Non-surgical methods include blinking exercises, increasing humidity at home or work, and use of artificial tears or moisturizing ointment. If these methods fail, small plugs may be inserted in the corners of the eyes to limit tear drainage, or the drainage tubes in the eyes may be surgically closed.

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What are vascular occlusions?

A retinal vein occlusion occurs when an artery supplying blood to the eye hardens or swells and presses on a nearby vein, making it difficult for blood to leave the eye. The restricted circulation leads to high pressure in the eye, which can in turn cause swelling, bleeding, growth of abnormal blood vessels, and partial or total vision loss.

Vascular occlusions do not cause a change in physical appearance, and they can occur with no pain or noticeable loss of vision. For these reasons, it is important to have routine eye exams and also to check one's own vision by closing one eye at a time.

Can vascular occlusions be treated?

There is no cure for vascular occlusions, but they can be treated. Emphasis is placed on risk management, treatment of symptoms and prevention of further vision loss. It is critical to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other health conditions that increase the risk of vascular hardening, narrowing and blood clotting.

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