Do you have questions about eye care?  Get your questions answered by Kansas City’s Leaders in Eye Care. 

Below, you will find links to frequently asked questions covering cataracts, dry eyes, LASIK and more.  Simply choose a topic from the list below to see the Question (Q) and Answer (A).  To submit a question to our eye doctors, use the Quick Contact box on the left side of the screen.

• Cataract
• Child with Reading Problems
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Droopy Eyelid
• Dry Eyes
• Floaters
• Glaucoma
• LASIK
• Macular Degeneration
• Pink Eye
• Secondary Cataract

Q.)  What is a cataract?

A.)  A cataract is a loss of transparency, or clouding, of the normally clear lens of the eye. As one ages, chemical changes occur in the lens that make it less transparent. The loss of transparency may be so mild that vision is hardly affected or so severe that no shapes or movements are seen, only light and dark. When the lens gets cloudy enough to obstruct vision to any significant degree, it is called a cataract. Glasses or contact lenses cannot sharpen your vision if a cataract is present. 

To learn more about cataract surgery, click here. 

Q.)  My child has trouble reading.  What should I do?

A.)  When children have difficulty reading, poor vision may be the cause.  Healthy vision is a critical part of learning for any child.  Eyes that function properly should:

• work together as a team
• move accurately across the page
• rapidly shift from one object to another 
• focus at proper distances
• change focus quickly
• work together with the hands (hand-eye coordination)
• be aware of surrounding objects while looking straight ahead (peripheral vision)

Screenings alone cannot detect the full range of problems that your child may be having.  Comprehensive exams are the best way to rule out any medical or vision problems.  To find out when your child should have an eye exam, click here. 


Q.) What is diabetic retinopathy?

A.)  Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by changes in the blood vessels of the eye. If you have diabetes, your body does not use and store sugar properly. High blood sugar levels create changes in the veins, arteries and capillaries that carry blood throughout the body. This includes the tiny blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive nerve layer that lines the back of the eye.

For more information on diabetic eye care, click here. 

Q.)  My doctor told me that I have Ptosis.  What does this mean?

A.)  Ptosis is the medical term for drooping of the upper eyelid, or rising of the lower eyelid.  The degree of ptosis may vary; the lid may droop only slightly or it may cover the entire pupil, restricting your vision.  Ptosis can be treated with minor surgery to restore the lid to its proper state.

For childhood ptosis, treatment usually involves surgery to tighten the levator muscle, responsible for lifting the eyelid. In severe ptosis, when the levator muscle is extremely weak, the lid can be attached or suspended from under the eyebrow causing the forehead muscles to do the lifting. Children with ptosis symptoms should be examined annually by an ophthalmologist for amblyopia, refractive disorders, and other associated conditions.

Q.)  I have been told that I have dry eyes, but my eyes water all the time.  Can you help me understand?

A.)  There are many factors that contribute to dry eye, including arid conditions, changes in your body and age.  Dry eye is one of the most common reasons that people visit their eye doctor.  Symptoms include red, scratchy, itchy, burning, irritated eyes, and even a foreign body sensation (the feeling that something is in your eye).    

The tear is a very complex fluid, which is secreted by surrounding glands in the eye.  The surface of the eye is protected by the tear film, responsible for lubricating and shielding the eye from harmful bacteria, allergens, and other infecting substances.  With dry eye, the tear film evaporates more quickly than normal and provides less protection and lubrication for the eye.  As a cautionary reflex, the eye overproduces tears to compensate for the dryness. 

Dry eyes are a common problem affecting people of all ages.  However, after the age of 40, age becomes a more significant factor because our bodies begin to secrete even less tears.  By the time we reach our 70s or 80s, the tear film is watery and is no longer an effective barrier against scratching of the eyes or bacterial invasion.  

There are several treatments for dry eye, including artificial tears, prescription medication, and in some cases, punctal plugs. 

Q.)  I have recently been told that I have Floaters.  What does that mean?

A.)  Small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision as you look at a blank wall or a clear blue sky are known as floaters. Most people have some floaters but do not notice them until they become numerous or more prominent.

In most cases, floaters are part of the natural aging process. Floaters look like cobwebs, squiggly lines or floating bugs, and appear to be in front of the eye, but are actually floating inside. As we get older, the vitreous, the clear gel-like substance that fills the inside of the eye, tends to shrink slightly and detach from the retina, forming clumps within the eye.

Q.)  What is glaucoma?
 
A.)  Glaucoma is a condition associated with elevated pressure inside the eye, which can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss.  Approximately 2.5 million Americans have glaucoma, but half may be unaware that they have a potentially blinding disease.  In the beginning stages of glaucoma, there may be little to no symptoms, but as the disease progresses, vision gradually worsens.  Symptoms may include: 

• Blurred vision
• Presence of halos around lights
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Difficulty focusing on objects

Although glaucoma cannot be cured, early detection and treatment can usually preserve vision.  For more on glaucoma, click here. 

Q.)  My neighbor had LASIK and loves it.  I’ve heard of it but don’t really know what it is.

A.)  Until recently, if you were one of the millions of people with a refractive error, eyeglasses and contact lenses were the only options for correcting vision.  But with the arrival of refractive surgery, some people with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism (a cornea with unequal curves), may now have their vision improved through surgery.

Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, is a refractive procedure that uses an automated blade and a laser to permanently reshape the cornea.  The reshaped cornea helps focus light directly onto the retina to produce clearer vision.

For more detailed information about LASIK surgery, click here. 

Q.)  What is macular degeneration and can I do anything to help prevent it?

A.)  Macular degeneration is damage or breakdown of the macula, the small part of the retina responsible for central vision.  It affects both near and far vision and can make some activities, like threading a needle or reading, difficult or impossible.  Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe visual loss in people over the age of 65.

There is a growing interest in the relationship between diet and health and its affects on macular degeneration.  Good nutrition depends on a healthy mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.  To learn more about macular degeneration, click here.

Q.)  My child has been told she has pink eye.  What does that mean?

A.)  Pink eye, commonly known as conjunctivitis, is the inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the clear-like covering of the eyeball and eyelid.  The eye appears pink or red because the conjunctiva becomes irritated and causes the blood vessels to dilate or become larger. 

Pink eye is often caused by a bacterial or a viral infection.  For a bacterial infection, your eye doctor may prescribe a topical treatment, such as eye drops or ointment, to help clear the infection.  With a viral infection, just as with any other virus, symptoms may take 7-10 days and will clear up on its own. 

Conjunctivitis can be infectious and contagious.  If you have pink eye, use these hints to help prevent spreading the condition:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Replace your eye cosmetics
• Avoid rubbing your eyes and/or reusing things to wipe your eyes
• Carry hand sanitizer for use in public places
• Clean your contact lenses properly

Q.)  What is a secondary cataract?

A.)  Of all the patients undergoing cataract surgery every year, a significant percent will develop a secondary cataract.  A secondary cataract is not a cataract at all, but rather it is a clouding of the remaining posterior capsular bag, which originally held the natural lens.  This clouding can decrease vision just like the original cataract that was removed.  Hence the name is “secondary cataract”.

To restore vision, an opening must be made in this cloudy membrane.  Using a YAG laser, it is now possible to perform this procedure in the office without actually inserting an instrument into the eye.