Pink Eye
   Also know as conjunctivitis, is when the clear, thin membrane of the eye becomes infected. This can be triggered by an allergic reaction, a virus, or bacteria. The most common and obvious form of this is a red or pink eye. Your eye may be itchy or hurt. Abnormal discharge, excessive watering, and in severe cases a green discharge. The best way to treat pink eye is avoidance. Be sure to wash your hands frequently. Do not share eye care products, makeup, washcloths, or even pillowcases with others. The best bet to avoid re-infection is to discard or wash all of the above immediately after the infection has been cleared. It is vital to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Dry Eye Syndrome
  Dry Eye Syndrome is actually a collection of symptoms that make up an eye condition that stem from an imbalance in the quantity or the quality of tears. These symptoms include dry, red, gritty and even watery eyes. Often dry eye sufferers report the feeling of something foreign within the eye or eye strain.

  Causes
    • The moisture level in the eye is maintained by the balance of tear production and tear loss through drainage and evaporation. When this balance is not sustained, dry spots appear on the eye's surface and cause irritation.

    • As odd as it sounds, many dry eye sufferers experience "wet eye" due to the tear glands over-producing watery, or reflex tears to compensate for a lack of a balanced tear film.

    • Dry Eye Syndrome, if left untreated can damage tissue and possibly scar the cornea of the eye, leading to irreversible, sight threatening conditions.

   Getting Treatment 
      Dry Eye Syndrome is an ongoing condition that can be treated through proper care and management. Please refer to our Dry Eye Center for Excellence for further information.




Astigmatism
   Astigmatism is when light rays entering the eye do not all meet at the same point (similar to a frayed string). This then results in blurred or distorted vision. The typical cause of this condition is an abnormally shaped cornea. Occasionally astigmatism exists in the lens of the eye. This condition can be corrected by a cylindrical (toric) eyeglass or contact lens. Astigmatism is usually hereditary. There are many people who are born with an oblong cornea. This may get worse over time. Astigmatism can also be caused from an eye injury that scarred the cornea. Refractive surgery may help certain types and severe astigmatisms. Discuss all of your options with your doctor.

Glaucoma
   Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness throughout the world affecting millions of people. It is a disease of the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the pathway that carries the images we see to the brain. If left untreated, the disease can destroy the optic nerve leading to loss of vision. We detect glaucoma using specialized tests. One of those tests being the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph Test (HRT). This is a system that combines a laser scanning camera and specialized software that evaluates the optic nerve. The HRT may diagnose glaucoma years before symptoms become apparent to the patient. The HRT gives measurements of size, depth and shape of the optic nerve and is especially useful at detecting small changes over time. Other important tests include the Humphrey's Visual Field Test (HVF). The HVF test detects early periphial visual field loss. There are some factors that increase a person’s risk. Those include increasing age, African-American Heritage, high blood pressure, family history, diabetes, nearsightedness, long-term steroid treatment and injury or trauma to the eye. Let our doctors know if you think you may at risk. We will take the proper steps and precautions to help you.