The comprehensive eye care services available at the Zimm Cataract & Laser Center give our patients throughout the greater Erie area a wide range of services. We have the experience and the technology to make sure you get what you need. While we specialize in cataract surgery and LASIK, our eye care services range from simple eye exams to glaucoma surgery. So why wait? Schedule an appointment with us today!
Blepharitis is a common eyelid inflammation. It has two basic forms:
• Anterior blepharitis, which affects the outside front of the eyelid where eyelashes are attached.
• Posterior blepharitis, linked to the dysfunction of the glands within the eyelid’s that secrete oils to help lubricate the eyes.
In either case, a regimen of eyelid hygiene is the cornerstone of treatment to support this issue. We’ll discuss the best way to address and correct these symptoms.
A Chalazion is an eyelid cyst or lump, of either the upper or lower eyelid which is caused by inflammation from a gland of the lid. It can be soft and fluid filled or firmer.
A chalazion may also be referred to as a meibomian cyst, tarsal cyst or conjuntival granuloma. What causes this issue is material secreted from the gland through a narrow opening becomes clogged from either the hardening of the sebaceous liquid near the opening or the additional narrowing of the opening itself.
When this occurs, the gland will have a backup of the secreting material causing swelling.
Diabetic Retinopathy is caused by damaged small blood vessels throughout the body which leads to reduced flow to the eye. This is one of a number of issues stemming from Diabetes.
Symptoms may include blurred, double or distorted vision or difficulty with reading, floaters or spots in your vision. Partial or total loss of vision, or a shadow across your vision field. Pain, pressure or constant redness of your eyes.
Our goal at Zimm Cataract & Laser Center in Erie, PA is proper diagnosis and treatment early on to prevent vision loss and further complications.
Eye Floaters, Flashes and Spots can be annoying.
Eye floaters are tiny spots, specs, flecks and cobwebs that drift aimlessly around in your field of vision. These floaters and spots are very common and pose no cause for alarm. Floaters and spots typically appear when pieces of the eye’s gel like vitreous break loose within the inner back portion of your eye.
Flashes can occur if the retina is tugged, torn or detached from the back of your eye.
Let us examine and review your individual concern to see which course of action is required.
Glaucoma is a condition of the eye whereby some damage has occurred to the optic nerve as a result of elevated fluid pressure. If left untreated, it may progress and cause permanent vision loss. All ages are at risk for glaucoma - from babies to senior citizens.
Glaucoma is associated with a gradual loss of peripheral vision. It is often accompanied by higher than normal fluid pressures in the eye which results in damage to the optic nerve. This damage is seen on the eye exam as an enlargement of the normal depression in the center of the optic nerve - the optic cup. However, approximately 30% of patients who have glaucoma do not have elevated fluid pressures in their eyes, yet they do have enlargement of their optic cups or other signs of glaucoma.
Enlargement of the optic cup is referred to as optic cupping, and when it is seen on an eye exam, it is one of the main reasons patients are tested for glaucoma. However, there are also many patients who were born with an enlarged cup that do not have glaucoma at all. This is referred to as physiologic cupping. It becomes important to distinguish whether this optic cupping is important and signifies glaucoma or if it just happens to be a result of normal development.
Most patients do not have any symptoms from having glaucoma initially, until they undergo extensive damage to the optic nerve fibers and begin to experience loss of their peripheral visual field. By the time this starts to occur, the glaucoma usually has advanced to a late stage of the disease. Preventing this from occurring is the goal of good glaucoma management. There is a small group of patients who will experience some symptoms of headache and fullness when their pressure reaches a higher level, but the majority of patients will never have any symptoms until the pressure reaches the mid to upper 30mm.
Macular Degeneration is a medical condition that usually affects older adults and can result in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field caused by damage to the retina. It occurs in both wet and dry forms. It is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults (50 years and older). The dry form is a result of atrophy of the retinal pigment layer below the retina which causes vision loss through the loss of photoreceptors (rods and cones) in the central part of the eye.
The wet form is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth which leads to blood and protein leakage below the macula which if left untreated will result in rapid vision loss. A thorough eye examination is necessary to determine if this condition exists and what treatment options are available.
A Retinal Detachment is the separation of the retina from its attachments to the underlying tissue within the eye. Most retinal detachments are a result of a retinal break, hole or tear.
The majority of retinal breaks are not the result of injury, but can be. Retinal tears are often accompanied by bleeding if a retinal blood vessel is included in the tear. This condition is not uncommon with aging, however only a small percentage of aging related separations occur.
If you are experiencing an onset of flashing lights and floaters, this may be the initial symptom of a retinal detachment or tear. Let us do a thorough examination to determine if this condition is present.
A Subconjunctival Hemorrhage is blood that is located between the conjunctiva (clear tissue that covers the white of the eye or sclera) and the underlying sclera.
Your conjunctiva contains nerves and many small blood vessels. These blood vessels are fragile and their walls can break easily. A subconjunctival hemorrhage appears as a bright red or dark patch on the sclera. This can be a spontaneous event caused by sneezing, coughing, straining/vomiting, heavy weight training, eye rubbing or even inserting contact lenses.
They can also be non-spontaneous as a result from eye infections, trauma to the head or eye.
We’ll do a thorough examination to determine the cause and discuss future prevention.
Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea (the middle layer of your eye that consists of the iris, ciliary body and choroid).
It can be caused by eye injury and inflammatory diseases, toxic exposure, such as pesticides and chemicals used in manufacturing processes. There are several types of uveitis, which are anterior, intermediate, posterior and diffuse. Cases can be chronic, producing numerous possible complications.
We’ll examine your eyes to determine the cause and suggest treatment options.
Ophthalmologist serving the people of Erie and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Contact Zimm Cataract & Laser Center at 814-453-4575 today to set up your consultation.
Jan Marini is an internationally recognized skin care authority with more than three decades of experience!
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Dr. Zimm performs a wide variety of comprehensive eye exams for diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, eyelid disorders etc.
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