Ironically, eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and conditions caused by diabetes and high blood pressure usually present with no visual symptoms in the early stages. Overtime, though, they can cause permanent damage to our eyes. A comprehensive eye examination checks the internal and external health of your eyes, checks for disease and does a refractive visual analysis to see if a change to your prescription is necessary. For children, a regular eye exam can help determine if the eyes are developing properly. If there is a problem that goes untreated it can lead to learning disorders and vision loss. Protect yourself and your family by making regular preventative eye exams, an important part of your routine health care!
- Cataract Co-Management
- Lasik Co-Management
- Glaucoma Management
- Dry Eye Disease
- Foreign Body Removal
- Treatment of Eye Infections
- Eye Muscle Treatment
- Macular Degeneration
At Price Eye Care, we specialize in the treatment and management of blepharitis.
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids. It is a common ocular surface disease and often the underlying cause of dry eye. Redness, swelling, styes, cysts, and flaky crusts at the eyelid margin characterize it. Symptoms include scratchy, swollen, tender, and irritated eyes. Blepharitis can be caused by various bacteria and be chronic or acute in presentation. People with skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, and eczema are more prone to have blepharitis flare ups.
Dr. Price Kowaleski will diagnose the specific type and level of blepharitis during an eye exam. Treatment options are abundant and include over the counter remedies, prescription eye drops, and ointments. The newest treatment is called BlephEx™. Blepharitis, in some cases, requires ongoing treatment along with eyelid hygiene to maintain eye comfort and appearance.
Price Eye Care offers BlephEx™ which is the first and only clinician treatment for blepharitis. Over 30% of all patients suffer from some type of blepharitis symptoms. BlephEx™ is a new, in-office procedure that allows Dr. Price Kowaleski to take an active role in treating blepharitis, as well as reducing meibomian gland dysfunction and inflammatory eye disease. BlephEx™ reduces scurf and bacterial debris, the main causes of inflammatory lid disease, and improves the overall health of the eyelid. The BlephEx™ treatment is well tolerated and only takes a few minutes to perform.
A cataract is a clouding of the internal lens of the eye. As the lens becomes cloudier, vision becomes blurry and distorted. Decreasing eyesight clarity, ghosting, and glare problems are common symptoms of a cataract condition.
Risk factors for developing cataracts are:
- Aging
- Diabetes
- Medications
- Eye trauma and Surgeries
- Smoking
- Unprotected excessive sunlight exposure
Most people will have a slight cataract in one or both eyes by age 60. Most cataracts progress slowly over 5-15 years. Doctors are most concerned with how cataracts may impair a person’s driving eyesight skills for safety concerns. Dr. Price Kowaleski recommends an annual eye exam for patients over age 60 to measure eyesight and evaluate overall eye health too. Remarkable new cataract surgeries are used to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a lens implant that is calculated to provide precise vision. Dr. Price Kowaleski works closely with excellent surgeons in our area to assure you the best care.
Conjunctivitis can be either an irritation or an infection of the membrane that covers the white of the eye and the inside lining of the eyelid. It has become commonly known as “red eye” or “pink eye” due to the significant blood vessel inflammation that can occur. Allergies and other irritants like air pollution, eye make-up, and contact lenses cause irritation conjunctivitis. Infection conjunctivitis has two categories – viral and bacterial. The viral type usually accompanies a cold, fever, sore throat, or flu and is characterized by eye redness and a watery discharge. The bacterial type presents with eye redness, a mucus like discharge, and is usually caused by staph or strep bacteria.
Dr. Price Kowaleski is best trained and equipped to make the correct diagnosis of the type of conjunctivitis. Treatments for most cases of conjunctivitis include prescription eye drops and eye hygiene methods. In some cases, conjunctivitis can progress to more serious eye condition and vision damage so professional evaluation is important.
Diabetic retinopathy is the result of diabetes weakening effects on the blood vessels within the lining of the inner eye called the retina. Bleeding and the growth of fragile new blood vessels in the retina will destroy eyesight. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in adults in the USA. Vision symptoms are usually rare in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy however intermittent blur and seeing spots in the vision can be warning signs.
Risk factors for diabetic retinopathy are:
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Hypertension
- Smoking
- Being diabetic for 10+ years
Annual eye exams are strongly recommended for all diabetic patients. Dr. Price Kowaleski will use various exam methods and instrumentation to diagnose diabetic retinopathy. She will often use retinal photography or an OCT scan to detect retinal blood vessel problems and to monitor changes from exam to exam. Treatments for diabetic retinopathy, including new ophthalmic medications or sometimes laser eye surgery to cauterize blood vessels that leak blood into the retina, can be very successful. Early diagnosis is certainly the key. Let us help you prevent any loss of vision from diabetes.
Dry eye is often an eye condition known as keratitis sicca. Ironically, patients with dry eye often have a wet watery eye. They may also experience stinging, burning, and a scratchy feeling. Vision can be subsequently blurred when flare-ups occur. The most common cause of dry eye is a change in the tear chemistry of the eye. Two types of tears are produced – lubricating tears are the type which keep eyes moist and comfortable, while reflex tears are the type which are produced secondarily when a person is emotional or in pain. Dry eye is a complex disease that Dr. Price Kowaleski is constantly learning about as new treatments and knowledge comes about. Dry eye is often a result in the deficiency of the lubricating tear type or an increase in evaporation which then triggers the reflex tears to be secreted but this tear type is poor in moisturizing qualities. Glands located in the eyelids are constantly producing tears. Much of what Dr. Price Kowaleski will recommend for treatment has to do with hygiene, heat, inflammation, and tears. See her for a medical evaluation for dry eye.
Risk factors for dry eye are:
- Women over 40
- Low humidity conditions
- Medications
- Eyelid problems
- Rosacea
- Contact lens use
Dr. Price Kowaleski will use a microscope to examine the tear film on the eye. Special eyedrop dyes are used to help her to detect dry spots, measure tear quality, evaporation, and volume then make a diagnosis. Treatment of dry eye includes certain over-the-counter eye drops, eyelid hygiene methods, prescription eye drops Restasis and Xiidra. The risk of an eye infection and loss of vision are greater when a dry eye condition is not properly managed. Let Price Eye Care help you treat and manage your Dry Eye condition.
Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the optic nerve becomes damaged which then results in blindness. Once thought to be only a high eye pressure problem, glaucoma is now known to be a more complex condition. New medical research has found that some people’s optic nerves are more vulnerable to an abnormal pressure gradient within the eye. When this occurs, the optic nerve tissue slowly dies and vision is damaged.
Open angle glaucoma, the most common form, has no symptoms until a substantial amount of peripheral vision is lost.
Risk factors for glaucoma are:
- Aging
- African ancestry
- Family history
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Certain anatomical eye features
An adult eye exam includes an eye pressure measurement called tonometry as well as an evaluation of the optic nerve. An eye doctor may become suspicious of glaucoma during this exam and order special tests to help in making the diagnosis of glaucoma. Treatments for glaucoma include various categories of prescription eyedrops that affect the eye pressure gradient. Eye surgery is also utilized when other glaucoma treatments fail to control the vision loss.
Macular degeneration is an eye disease, which causes central vision loss usually after age 50. The macula is the center portion of the retina and is referred to as the 20/20 eyesight area. When this macula area becomes compromised the vision becomes very distorted. There are two types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. Eye doctors use various examination methods and instrumentation to examine the macula to make a diagnosis.
Risk factors for glaucoma are:
- Aging
- African ancestry
- Family history
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Certain anatomical eye features
An adult eye exam includes an eye pressure measurement called tonometry as well as an evaluation of the optic nerve. An eye doctor may become suspicious of glaucoma during this exam and order special tests to help in making the diagnosis of glaucoma. Treatments for glaucoma include various categories of prescription eyedrops that affect the eye pressure gradient. Eye surgery is also utilized when other glaucoma treatments fail to control the vision loss.
Retinal tears and detachments are conditions where the inner lining of the eye called the retina is damaged or torn. A retinal tear or hole describes a small break in this lining whereas a retinal detachment describes a much larger separation of the retina tissues. Aging, eye trauma, eye surgery, or being nearsighted may increase your risk of retinal tears or detachments.
Symptoms of these retinal conditions are:
- Seeing flashes and/or floaters
- Seeing a curtain or veil drop over the vision
- Seeing a smudged area of vision
- Sudden blurry vision
- Seeing an area of dark vision
An eye exam is very important when these symptoms occur as permanent eyesight loss may occur if the retina problem is not treated in a timely manner. Various new methods of retinal surgery are used successfully to preserve eyesight but timely treatment is required.