Prosthetic Contact Lenses

Prosthetic contact lenses are prescribed to mask flaws and improve the appearance of an eye disfigured from a birth defect, trauma, or eye disease.

If certain structures of the injured or disfigured eye also fail to function properly, special prosthetic lenses can be designed to block excess light from reaching the back of the eye to reduce glare and increase comfort.

Your eye care practitioner can match prosthetic contact lenses to the appearance of a healthy eye by using a pre-made trial set or by ordering custom-painted contact lenses.

Like regular contact lenses, prosthetic contacts can be made of gas permeable or soft lens materials. And most prosthetic lenses can be cleaned and disinfected using the same multipurpose contact lens solutions recommended for conventional soft or gas permeable lenses.

Custom prosthetic lenses can be made in a wide variety of lens powers to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism, or they can be produced without corrective power to simply provide a more natural appearance to a blind or disfigured eye.

Eye Conditions That May Benefit From Prosthetic Contact Lenses

Many injuries, conditions and infections can lead to disfigurement of an eye and make an individual feel self-conscious about his or her appearance. Prosthetic lenses can be specially designed to match the appearance of the unaffected eye as closely as possible and make the disfigured eye less conspicuous.

Disfiguring conditions frequently treated with prosthetic contact lenses include incomplete formation of the pupil (aniridia), lack of pigment or color in the eye (albinism) and damage to the cornea from trauma.

People with albinism or other eye conditions creating light sensitivity (photophobia) can benefit from prosthetic lenses that reduce the amount of light entering the eye. Prosthetic lenses also are sometimes used to eliminate double vision (diplopia) caused by certain eye conditions.

Special prosthetic colored contact lenses sometimes are used to improve vision in cases of childhood amblyopia. Two identical-appearing colored contacts are worn, but one lens has an opaque pupil painted on it to block (occlude) light from entering the eye. This lens is worn on the eye with normal sight, forcing greater use of the amblyopic eye to improve vision development in the affected eye.

Occlusion therapy with prosthetic contact lenses can be more effective for treating amblyopia than the use of an eye patch, which children often resist or remove due to embarrassment. But amblyopia treatment with contacts is more expensive due to the cost of the prosthetic lenses.

How Prosthetic Contact Lenses Are Prescribed

The first step in being fit with prosthetic contact lenses is to have a comprehensive eye exam. During this exam, your optometrist or ophthalmologist will thoroughly examine your eyes to rule out conditions that might interfere with successful prosthetic contact lens wear.

The second step is to undergo a contact lens fitting. In addition to performing the steps in a normal contact lens exam and fitting, your eye doctor may also take close-up photographs of your eyes. These color photos are sent to the prosthetic contact lens manufacturer to help the company create a prosthetic lens that matches your natural eye color and appearance as closely as possible.

Some eye doctors who specialize in contacts for hard-to-fit eyes also may have fitting sets of sample prosthetic lenses on hand so you can get an immediate idea of how effectively the lenses can restore a natural appearance to your affected eye(s).

July 15, 2021

How to Maintain Your Eyeglasses

Though many of us wear glasses, very few of us realize the maintenance they actually need to keep our vision clear. Maintaining your eyewear isn’t difficult, but it does require special care. Read some of our tips for taking care of your eyeglasses

Tips for Maintaining Your Glasses

Avoid Chemical Contact

Your glasses can be very fragile depending on how they were made. Some lenses have films on them to provide UV protection, scratch or shatter resistance, or even to enhance your prescription. These films are the most fragile part of your glasses, and they can easily be destroyed by contact with certain abrasive chemicals.

While it’s obvious that you shouldn’t scrub your glasses with, say, bathroom cleaner, it’s much less obvious that everyday things we put on our skin, like lotions and sunscreen, can be nearly as bad for our sensitive glasses as the bathroom cleaner we all know we should never use.

These products can contain mild abrasives that do not harm (and sometimes can even help!) our skin but may harm the film on our glasses, especially with exposure over time.

Wash Your Hands

The only way to be certain that you are avoiding any chemical contact with your glasses is to wash your hands before handling them. Lotions and sunscreens are just two of the many things we can have on our hands; often our hands have all sorts of random things on them that we don’t notice or can’t see.

A simple hand washing before you handle your glasses can help to keep the abrasives from getting onto your lenses and can help keep everything clean.

Rinse Your Lenses

While you’re at the sink, run your glasses under a gentle stream of warm water. This will help to carefully remove any loose dirt or other debris that could scratch the lenses when you wipe your lenses.

If you were to omit this step, you might end up scratching your lenses with invisible debris. While the damage might not be visible immediately, it will degrade your lenses more quickly.

Use a Lens Cloth

Once your hands are clean and you’ve run your glasses under warm water, you can wipe the lenses off to remove any leftover oils and grime. Back away from that T-shirt and put down the paper towels! You should only use a cloth specially designed for lenses. Your local Eyeglass World will sell these as either lens cloths or microfiber cloths. Using a material that was not intended to clean glasses can and will do more damage than the little bits of dirt you’re trying to remove.

Use a Cleaning Solution

Usually, a simple rinse and wipe is enough to get your frames back to top condition. However, there are always cases where we end up with grime that just won’t come off easily.

In these cases, you should only use a cleaning solution that you get from your optometrist. These cleaners are specially formulated to be very gentle on your glasses, whereas cleaners that might work on other forms of glass could be harsh and cause damage.

Store Them Correctly

Remember, when you’ve cleaned your eyeglasses, you need to be sure to store them properly to avoid having them collect more dirt, causing you to have to repeat the process more often than necessary.

Use the case your eyewear came in to store them. Hard cases generally provide more protection than soft cases. Even though they tend to be bulkier – they’re the safer choice.

If you have any questions, stop by any of our branches

July 12, 2021

Leading causes of broken eyeglasses

After years of working with patients and their broken glasses, my experience has been:

Glasses were sat on (usually when put down on a bed while dressing/undressing), or stepped on.
Glasses were damaged during a sports or recreational activity.
Glasses were “altered” by a family pet…almost always a dog.
Glasses were destroyed by a young child. Could be the child’s or the parent’s glasses.
Glasses were damaged in luggage, backpack,etc.
Glasses were damaged by owner while attempting to do a repair at home.
Glasses were damaged by “unknown entity.” Were found destroyed on nightstand upon wakening. “They must have been defective.”

Please note that I am not counting loose or missing screws, broken nylon cords for rimless. missing nose pads or temple tips. Those parts are easily fixed and do not constitute damage. Also, home repairs using super glue, toothpicks, standard solder, epoxy resin, acetone, etc. will elevate a low level repair to the need for frame replacement, and will void manufacturers warranties.

February 3, 2021

Bandage Contact Lenses

The Case for Bandage Soft Contact Lenses

A primer on the use of these therapeutic lenses to serve and protect the corneas of our patients.

By Susan Gromacki, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O.

The concept of a protective eye bandage originated in the first century A.D., when Celsus reportedly applied a honey-soaked linen to the site of a pterygium removal to prevent symblepharon development.^1,2 Bandage soft contact lenses were first used in the 1970s following the development of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) by Otto Wichterle.² With the recent advances in material technology, today’s bandage contact lenses provide the same benefits as their predecessors—but with enhanced convenience, improved healing and increased corneal health.

Bandage Lens Basics
By definition, a bandage contact lens protects the cornea. Many different lens types can be utilized to accomplish this goal (see tables 1 and 2); however, because of their high oxygen permeability and FDA approval for extended wear, silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses are currently most practitioners’ first choice.

Bandage lenses protect the cornea not only from potential exterior sources of injury, but also from a patient’s own eyelids. The shearing effect created by the lids during the blink can inhibit re-epithelialization and cause pain. Use of a bandage lens facilitates corneal healing in a pain-free environment.

Depending on the patient’s ocular condition, he or she may wear their therapeutic lenses for a period of days to years. They may be utilized for daily or extended wear (see table 2). Because there is generally an underlying disease process precipitating the need for a therapeutic lens, extra caution must be taken to clean and disinfect the lens after wear, keeping in mind that silicone hydrogel lenses tend to deposit lipids more readily than HEMA lenses (see image 1). That said, the addition of a digital rubbing step is necessary for lenses that are used more than once.

It is critical to perform frequent follow-ups for bandage contact lens patients. One reason is that a bandage lens fit, by design, demonstrates less movement than a traditional soft lens fit. The theory is to provide increased patient comfort while preventing the healing epithelial cells from sloughing off due to any mechanical trauma of the lens itself.³ In addition, it is important for the practitioner to be vigilant regarding the detection of signs of microbial keratitis. The compromised cornea—especially when wearing lenses in an extended wear modality—is at particular risk for infection.⁴

Indications
Bandage contact lenses are indicated for many different reasons, including: protecting the eyes, increasing comfort, facilitating healing and sealing wound leaks. We’ll explore these indications, and others, in more detail in the following paragraphs.

• Protection. Corneal protection is needed in the case of several conditions, including: entropion, trichiasis, tarsal scars, recurrent corneal erosion, post-surgical ptosis and surgical sutures or exposed suture knots.

Recurrent erosions are a typical sequella of epithelial basement membrane (basal lamina) trauma or are secondary to anterior basement membrane dystrophy, anterior basement membrane degeneration or stromal dystrophy. A bandage contact lens is the second line of treatment, after hyperosmotic drops and/or ointment fail.^2,5 An added benefit is the enhanced vision provided by the smooth refracting surface of the contact lens, as opposed to an irregular anterior corneal surface.5 Hypertonic saline drops should continue to be utilized concurrently with the lenses.

• Pain relief. The mitigation of corneal pain is another important indication for therapeutic contact lenses. The conditions most in need of this therapy include bullous keratopathy; epithelial erosion and abrasion; filamentary keratitis; and postoperative penetrating keratoplasty.

In bullous keratopathy, endothelial failure results in corneal edema, which in turn creates epithelial blisters that rupture, causing pain, foreign body sensation, and photophobia. A bandage contact lens reinforces the damaged tissues and protects the nerve endings from the abrasive actions of the eyelids. Patients who are awaiting a conjunctival flap or cornea transplant may be fitted with therapeutic lenses for up to 30 days at a time.²
Until recently, pressure patching was the standard of care for treating large epithelial abrasions (see figure 2). With this treatment, the caveat was to refrain from patching contact lens wearers or injuries caused by presumed vegetative matter or false fingernails. The utilization of a bandage contact lens provides protection and healing for all three of these conditions, and it has now supplanted patching as the standard of care. The authors of the Wills Eye Manual caution, however, that prophylactic topical antibiotics should be used concurrently and that daily follow-up care is mandatory.⁶

The other advantage of bandage contact lenses over patching is the ability to continue to install topical ophthalmic medications. This is particularly important after a corneal abrasion, erosion, or corneal refractive surgery, which necessitate the frequent installation of antibiotics and/or artificial tears. Some reports caution against the installation of cycloplegic agents (which reduce the pain associated with a corneal abrasion/erosion or after corneal refractive surgery) in bandage CL wearers. The dilating drops can cause the bandage lenses to dry out and become less comfortable, especially overnight, with the end result a potentially decreased healing response.⁷ On the other hand, bandage contact lenses can be utilized—by design—as vehicles for drug delivery, but the exact way to ensure a consistent dosage is still under investigation.

• Healing. The use of bandage contact lenses to facilitate healing is particularly necessary for the following conditions: chronic epithelial defects, corneal ulcer, neurotrophic keratitis, neuroparalytic keratitis, chemical burns and basement membrane disease.

They also enhance healing following corneal surgery, particularly refractive surgery. They protect the cornea from exposure or from the irritation caused by rubbing the eye as the corneal wounds are healing. Therapeutic bandage contact lenses are a mainstay after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) procedures, in which the removal of the epithelium leaves an open wound that takes about one week to heal (see figure 3). They are also valuable for the following procedures: laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK), Epi-LASIK, penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK), lamellar grafts and corneal flaps.

• Sealing. The lenses also may aid in sealing leaky wounds. Serving as a splint or sealant, the lenses can be beneficial after cataract, penetrating keratoplasty or glaucoma filtering surgery.

• Maintenance of corneal hydration. The role of bandage contact lenses in dry eye is controversial. For patients who need to continually instill lubricating drops into their eyes, particularly after refractive surgery, the benefits of using a bandage lens can be great. Other patients who benefit are those who have significant lagophthalmos and subsequent corneal exposure. However, contact lenses are generally contraindicated for dry eye.⁷

• Structural stability and protection in piggyback lens fitting. Many patients benefit from the utilization of a soft and rigid lens concurrently. The rigid lens provides crisp vision, particularly for irregular corneas, and the soft bandage lens protects the cornea, preventing irritation and abrasions. Examples include elevation differences in the host/graft junction, keratoconus and in the presence of scar tissue.

Contraindications

Each clinician must assess his patient’s condition carefully to determine whether a bandage contact lens is warranted. Interestingly, many of the conditions that require bandage contact lenses (dry eye, infection, inflammation, etc.) contraindicate lens wear in general. In addition, therapeutic contact lenses should not be used in patients who are unwilling or unable to comply with the necessary treatment and follow-up.

Dr. Gromacki is a diplomate in the Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies Section of the American Academy of Optometry. She is Chief Research Optometrist at Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, New York.

1. Arrington GE. A history of ophthalmology. MD Publishers, New York, New York, 1959.
2. Weiner BM. Therapeutic bandage lenses. In: Silbert JA, ed. Anterior Segment Complications of Contact Lens Wear. Churchill Livingstone, New York, New York, 1994; 455-471.
3. Aquavella JV. Chronic corneal edema. Am J Ophthalmol 1973;(76):201-207.
4. Thoft RA, Mobilia EF. Complications with therapeutic extended wear soft contact lenses. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 1981;(21):197.
5. Chan WE, Weissman BA. Therapeutic contact lenses. In: Bennett ES, Weismann BA, (eds). Clinical Contact Lens Practice, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: New York, New York, 2005: 619-628.
6. Ehlers JP and Shah CP, eds. The Wills Eye Manual Fifth Edition, Wolters Kluwer Health, New York, New York, 2008:15-16.
7. Russell GE. Bandage lenses: new opportunities in practice. Contact Lens Spectrum. 2004(6).
8. Tyler Thompson TT. Tyler’s Quarterly 2011;28(3):32-52.
9. White P. 2011 Contact Lenses and Solutions Summary. In: Contact Lens Spectrum (suppl) 2011;27(7):14.

December 1, 2020

Glare Reducing Lenses: Understanding Their Uses

There are two main types of glare reducing lenses for eyewear: lenses with an anti-reflective coating and polarized lenses. Both help to prevent glare in their own way. Glare reducing lenses can improve vision clarity, help people see better while driving at night, reduce annoying glare from water or other horizontal surfaces, and eliminate noticeable reflections on a lens itself.

What is glare?

Glare is caused by light bouncing off of a reflective surface. When talking about eyewear, people are most likely referring to lens glare or environmental glare. Lens glare is caused by the reflection of light off the surface of a lens. Whether it belongs to a camera, telescope, binoculars, or even just glasses, all lenses have some level of reflection with the lowest amount of reflection being less than 0.1%. Eyeglass lenses without a glare-reducing coating typically allow around 90% of light to pass through, depending on the lens material. The other 10% of the light reflects off the surfaces of the lens. The glare caused by this 10% reduces vision clarity, causes people to see halos around headlights and street lamps at night, and creates bright, almost white reflections on the lens itself.

Environmental glare is caused by light waves reflecting off of flat surfaces like water or the highway. It becomes focused and travels in a uniform direction parallel to that surface, creating a bright and intense reflection that we call glare. This type of glare affects everyone, regardless of whether or not they wear glasses.

Outline, in Black

How do glare reducing lenses work?

While it may be impossible to eliminate 100% of the glare on glasses lens, technology has helped to get the number as close to 0 as possible. While both anti-reflective coatings and polarized lenses help to reduce glare, the technology behind these two is quite different. An anti-reflective coating (also known as AR or anti-glare coating) actually encourages more light to pass through a lens. When more light passes through, less light reflected off its surfaces, and thus, less glare.

Polarized lenses, on the other hand, reduce glare by absorbing light waves from a certain orientation. Most polarized lenses for eyewear are oriented to absorb horizontal light waves reflected off of flat surfaces like a lake or the snow-covered ground.

When it comes to eyewear, AR coatings are applied both eyeglass lenses and sunglass lenses. Anti-glare coating is applied to both sides of a lens to prevent light from reflecting off the back of the lens as well. Polarized lenses are typically used for sunglasses since the nature of its glare reducing technology is to block light instead of letting more through.

The benefits of glare reducing lenses

Many people question whether or not it’s worth it to get glare reducing lenses. The short answer is: while not everyone may need sunglasses with polarized lenses, lenses with an anti-reflective coating will vastly improve the quality of life for a glasses wearer.

Lens glare is a major source of eye strain since it reduces vision clarity, forcing your eyes to work harder to focus. People who work with computers are especially susceptible to this type of eye strain since illuminated screens act as a direct and constant source of glare on lenses. Adding AR coating to your lenses significantly lessens this glare, helps you see more clearly, and reduces eye strain caused by computer screens.

Glares called “halos” can be seen around the headlights of cars and street lamps. These halosare a great source of discomfort and distraction for glasses wearers who drive at night. They reduce visibility and make nighttime driving difficult. Anti-glare coating prevents these halos and helps to make driving at night safer for glasses wearers.

If you’re someone who is both literally and figuratively in the spotlight a lot, anti-reflective coating is a must. Glare caused by bright lights reflecting off a lens can be distracting. It also obscures your eyes, making it harder for people to find direct eye contact with you. So if you have a client- or customer-facing job, make sure to consider getting glare reducing glasses.

Finally, if you’re someone who spends a lot of time out on the water or working in the snow, you’re well aware of how much glare can reduce visibility and make it a literal pain to be outside. The tint on sunglasses with polarized lenses helps to reduce that all around brightness, while the polarization helps to save your eyes from blinding glare.

So for the best comfort while wearing glasses or sunglasses, consider glare reducing lenses. Not only will they help you see better, but they’ll also help you get the most out of life. At EyeBuyDirect, you can find affordable glare reducing lenses for any of our great styles.

Coined from eyebuydirect.com

August 22, 2020

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that damages your eye‘s optic nerve. It gets worse over time. It’s often linked to a buildup of pressure inside your eye. Glaucoma tends to run in families. You usually don’t get it until later in life.

The increased pressure in your eye, called intraocular pressure, can damage your optic nerve, which sends images to your brain. If the damage worsens, glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss or even total blindness within a few years.

Most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain. Visit your eye doctor regularly so they can diagnose and treat glaucoma before you have long-term vision loss.

If you lose vision, it can’t be brought back. But lowering eye pressure can help you keep the sight you have. Most people with glaucoma who follow their treatment plan and have regular eye exams are able to keep their vision.

Glaucoma Causes

The fluid inside your eye, called aqueous humor, usually flows out of your eye through a mesh-like channel. If this channel gets blocked, the liquid builds up. Sometimes, experts don’t know what causes this blockage. But it can be inherited, meaning it’s passed from parents to children.

Less-common causes of glaucoma include a blunt or chemical injury to your eye, severe eye infection, blocked blood vessels inside your eye, and inflammatory conditions. It’s rare, but eye surgery to correct another condition can sometimes bring it on. It usually affects both eyes, but it may be worse in one than the other.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

Glaucoma Risk Factors

It mostly affects adults over 40, but young adults, children, and even infants can have it. African Americans tend to get it more often, when they’re younger, and with more vision loss.

You’re more likely to get it if you:

Are of African American, Irish, Russian, Japanese, Hispanic, Inuit, or Scandinavian descent
Are over 40
Have a family history of glaucoma
Have poor vision
Have diabetes
Take certain steroid medications such as prednisone
Have had an injury to your eye or eyes
Have corneas that are thinner than usual
Have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or sickle cell anemia
Have high eye pressure
Are nearsighted or farsighted

Types of Glaucoma

There are two main kinds:

Open-angle glaucoma. This is the most common type. Your doctor may also call it wide-angle glaucoma. The drain structure in your eye (called the trabecular meshwork) looks fine, but fluid doesn’t flow out like it should.

Angle-closure glaucoma. This is more common in Asia. You may also hear it called acute or chronic angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma. Your eye doesn’t drain like it should because the drain space between your iris and cornea becomes too narrow. This can cause a sudden buildup of pressure in your eye. It’s also linked to farsightedness and cataracts, a clouding of the lens inside your eye.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

Less common types of glaucoma include:

Secondary glaucoma. This is when another condition, like cataracts or diabetes, causes added pressure in your eye.

Normal-tension glaucoma. This is when you have blind spots in your vision or your optic nerve is damaged even though your eye pressure is within the average range. Some experts say it’s a form of open-angle glaucoma.

Pigmentary glaucoma. With this form, tiny bits of pigment from your iris, the colored part of your eye, get into the fluid inside your eye and clog the drainage canals.

Glaucoma Symptoms

Most people with open-angle glaucoma don’t have symptoms. If symptoms do develop, it’s usually late in the disease. That’s why glaucoma is often called the “sneak thief of vision.” The main sign is usually a loss of side, or peripheral, vision.

Symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma usually come on faster and are more obvious. Damage can happen quickly. If you have any of these symptoms, get medical care right away:

Seeing halos around lights
Vision loss
Redness in your eye
Eye that looks hazy (particularly in infants)
Upset stomach or vomiting
Eye pain

CONTINUE READING BELOW

Glaucoma Diagnosis

Glaucoma tests are painless and don’t take long. Your eye doctor will test your vision. They’ll use drops to widen (dilate) your pupils and examine your eyes.

They’ll check your optic nerve for signs of glaucoma. They may take photographs so they can spot changes at your next visit. They’ll do a test called tonometry to check your eye pressure. They may also do a visual field test to see if you’ve lost peripheral vision.

Glaucoma Treatment

Your doctor may use prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser surgery, or microsurgery to lower pressure in your eye.

Eye drops. These either lower the creation of fluid in your eye or increase its flow out, lowering eye pressure. Side effects include allergies, redness, stinging, blurred vision, and irritated eyes. Some glaucoma drugs may affect your heart and lungs. Be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications you’re taking or are allergic to.

Oral medication. Your doctor might also prescribe medication for you to take by mouth, such as a beta-blocker or a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. These drugs can improve drainage or slow the creation of fluid in your eye.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

Laser surgery. This procedure can slightly raise the flow of fluid from your eye if you have open-angle glaucoma. It can stop fluid blockage if you have angle-closure glaucoma. Procedures include:

Trabeculoplasty. This opens the drainage area.
Iridotomy. This makes a tiny hole in your iris to let fluid flow more freely.
Cyclophotocoagulation. This treats areas of the middle layer of your eye to lower fluid production.

Microsurgery. In a procedure called a trabeculectomy, your doctor creates a new channel to drain the fluid and ease eye pressure. This form of surgery may need to be done more than once. Your doctor might implant a tube to help drain fluid. This surgery can cause temporary or permanent vision loss, as well as bleeding or infection.

Open-angle glaucoma is most often treated with combinations of eye drops, laser trabeculoplasty, and microsurgery. Doctors tend to start with medications, but early laser surgery or microsurgery could work better for some people.

Infant or congenital glaucoma — meaning you are born with it — is usually treated with surgery because the cause is a problem with your drainage system.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

Glaucoma Prevention

You can’t prevent glaucoma. But if you find it early, you can lower your risk of eye damage. These steps may help protect your vision:

Have regular eye exams. The sooner your doctor spots the signs of glaucoma, the sooner you can start treatment. If you’re over age 40 and have a family history of the disease, get a complete eye exam from an eye doctor every 1 to 2 years. If you have health problems like diabetes or are at risk of other eye diseases, you may need to go more often.
Learn your family history. Ask your relatives whether any of them have been diagnosed with glaucoma.
Follow your doctor’s instructions. If they find that you have high eye pressure, they might give you eye drops to prevent glaucoma.
Exercise. Moderate activity like walking or jogging at least three times a week might help lower eye pressure.
Protect your eyes. Use protective eyewear when playing sports or working on home improvement projects

About Us

Our Mission

To Be the Region’s Leading Eye Care Provider, Delivering the Most Advanced, Specialized Eye Care Services in a Compassionate, Patient-Centered Approach.

July 29, 2020

Buy freshlook contact lenses at N2000/pair with 120ml solution, storage case and picker within in Ajuwon Giwa Okearo Alagbole Akute

Buy Freshlook coloured contact lenses @ N2000/pair with 120ml solution and storage case and picker.
– Available quantity: 10, 000 pairs
– available colours: All freshlook colours…including all new unique colours
– Expiry Date: January 2024
– Made in USA
– Supply ability: 50, 000 pairs/ month
– Delivery coverage: Nigeria and West Africa
– Free pre-contact lens fitting examination and tutorial
– To order between 1 pair and 2000 pairs, call +2347030000001
– To order above 2000 pairs, call: +19093663551

July 25, 2020

Corneal layers and corneal transplant -Eye care perspective

What are the different layers of the cornea?

The cornea is the clear front wall of the eye, similar to a watch crystal. Functionally, the cornea has 3 main layers. All layers are clear and must be so to focus light properly.

The outer 10% of the cornea, the epithelium, is the protective skin layer that has sensation. It tells you to blink when your eyes are dry or if you get something in it. The epithelium protects the stroma from infection, scarring, drying out, and other potential harm. Just like the outer layer of your skin, the corneal epithelium sheds and regenerates itself every week. The new cells are grown by corneal epithelial stem cells. Therefore, an eye with an area of bad or opaque epithelium that blocks vision likely does not need a transplant to remove to opacity. Instead of the opacity typically only needs to be removed so that new healthy and clear epithelium can grow in (superficial keratectomy or SK). All other corneal layers do not regenerate and would need to be replaced or transplanted if removed.

The middle layer, the stroma, is the tough structural portion that makes up about 85% of the cornea thickness. The stroma is covered on the outside by the epithelium and on the inside by Descemet’s membrane.

The inner layer of the cornea, Descemet’s membrane, makes up 3 to 5% of its thickness. It is a thin Saran wrap-like membrane that has a single layer of extremely important endothelial cells living on its inner surface. The cornea needs oxygen and nutrients delivered to it, but it does not have blood flow like other parts of the body since blood vessels would make it opaque. The cornea is nourished by a clear fluid called aqueous humor. Aqueous inside the eye is made by arteries and is drained by veins. Descemet’s membrane limits the rate that aqueous humor can flow into the cornea. The endothelial cells pump out “used” aqueous humor so that it does not build up in the cornea which would otherwise make it opaque.

Corneal Layer Diagram

Is it possible to remove and/or transplant just one layer of the cornea?

Yes. We can explain the different types of cornea transplantation using the analogy of a wall. Think of the stroma as the drywall and bricks, Descemet’s membrane and endothelium as the wallpaper, and the epithelium as the temporary protective layers of clear coat that the owner must paint on the bricks from time to time.

Not that long ago, the only available surgery was a full thickness cornea transplant or penetrating keratoplasty (PK). With PK, all of the corneal layers are transplanted, and new epithelial cells grow over the new cornea in time. The entire wall is knocked out with a hammer, and a new wall and all its layers are brought in. The owner provides a new layer of clear coat over time. A prosthetic corneal transplant (keratoprosthesis (KPro) is an artificial full-thickness corneal transplant.

Selective keratoplasty surgeries are a huge advance over PK in that they allow us to replace just the portion of the cornea that is diseased.

Selective Keratoplasty Diagram

- Superficial keratectomy (SK) and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) remove the epithelium (and possibly some superficial stroma with PTK) so that new healthier epithelium can grow in. The corneal epithelium is the only layer of the cornea that regenerates. So, SK and PTK aren’t true transplants. They are like removing some imperfections in the layer of clear coat on the outside of the house so that the owner can lay down new clear coat. Conversely, an epithelial stem cell transplant is necessary when the owner’s can of clear coat runs out or goes bad. It becomes necessary to give the owner a new supply of clear coat, which involves transplanting in a special area of a donor cornea.

- Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) transplants all stroma but leaves the host’s healthy Descemet’s membrane and endothelium behind to allow less risk of rejection or less risk from blunt trauma. The entire wall is changed out, but the host’s own delicate wallpaper is left behind.

Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) replace Descemet’s membrane and endothelium without removing the host’s stroma. DMEK is more selective than DSAEK. Both DMEK and DSAEK remove old Descemet’s membrane and endothelium. DMEK adds a new Descemet’s membrane and endothelium only. DSAEK also adds a new Descemet’s membrane and endothelium but with an additional layer of donor stroma. Using the wallpaper analogy, in both DMEK and DSAEK the old wallpaper is removed. With DMEK, only new wallpaper is inserted. With DSAEK, a new piece of drywall that has new wallpaper on it is inserted on top of the old drywall.

Why do we need different types of transplants? Why not just do PK for everyone

PK has many limitations regarding vision, astigmatism, recovery time, rejection rate, and other risks. All types of selective transplants improve the outcomes when compared to PK. DMEK especially has many other benefits compared to DSAEK and PK. For example, performing PK for purely endothelial disease is outdated. It would be like knocking down the wall and bringing in a whole new wall when the only thing needed is new wallpaper!

Cornea Transplant Procedures Diagram

Do I need to go on systemic immunosuppressive medications for a corneal transplant?

Not for most types of corneal transplants. Epithelial stem cell transplants are an exception. When someone gets a kidney or a heart transplant, they need to go on strong medications that make the immune system less aggressive and less likely to attack the transplant. These medications have some potentially significant side effects.

Because there are no blood vessels in the cornea, it is generally invisible to the immune system. Thus for corneal transplants, with the exception of epithelial stem cell transplants, we only need anti-inflammatory eye drops to prevent an immune system attack or rejection. Most patients get down to one drop a day after several few months.

Rarely, patients with aggressive immune systems require stronger systemic medications to prevent rejection. Even with aggressive immune systems, rejection is still very rare with DMEK and is more commonly seen with DSAEK, DALK, or PK. PK has the highest risk of rejection.

After a corneal transplant, do I have to take any precautions if I ever receive a vaccination?

There is some data to suggest that the increase in the immune system activity after vaccination, including the flu and shingles vaccines, may put the graft at a slightly increased risk for a rejection episode. To combat this, we typically recommend that if you were down to just one steroid drop a day, immediately following a vaccine you should increase the steroid drops to four times a day for one week, then two times a day for one week, and then go back to just one daily. If you have previously been told that you cannot take steroid drops due to pressure problems or other issues, ask your cornea surgeon for advice before getting a vaccine. transplant.

How long will my transplant last?

Traditional full thickness corneal transplants (PK) last about 20 years. Cell count studies show that, with the passage of time, transplants still lose endothelial cells gradually just like any other cornea, but usually at a faster rate. When the endothelial cell counts fall low enough, the transplant becomes opaque and fails. Since DMEK and DSAEK are relatively new, it is not possible to say how long they will last; however, preliminary data is encouraging, especially for DMEK. There is variation between transplants, but early data suggest some transplants can even last one’s lifetime. Either way, the replacement of a transplant is possible.

Dr. Tenkman is studying variables that may reveal which donors have cells that are more resistant to death and also surgical techniques that are minimally harmful to endothelial cells. Many surgeons suggest it is normal to lose 30 to 50% of the donor’s endothelial cells during surgery. We have some early data suggesting less than 10% cell loss from surgery when selecting a specific subset of donors.

Does a rejection episode mean that I will lose my cornea transplant?

No. If untreated, a rejection episode can cause significant damage. But usually, the episode stops with an increase in anti-inflammatory eye drops. Patients are instructed to RSVP: come see us if they develop Redness, Sensitivity to light, Vision reduction, or Pain. It’s key to see us right away for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Will I need glasses after my transplant? Could laser vision correction be done to reduce any postoperative need for glasses?

Whether or not you need glasses after your transplant depends on many factors. DMEK transplants reduce glasses dependence the most often. DSAEK is less predictable. DALK and PK can both frequently cause high astigmatism that needs glasses or even hard contacts to attain good vision.

Some patients are candidates for ASA (advanced surface ablation) to minimize their dependence on glasses or contacts after corneal transplant surgery. ASA is a laser vision correction procedure similar to LASIK. Whether or not ASA could be done to reduce dependence on glasses or contacts after surgery depends on several factors and is taken on a case by case basis.

What are the costs and risks of a cornea transplant?

Corneal transplant tissue is donated, but still typically costs $3,700 or more. The fees go to the eye banks that must harvest the corneas, screen for possible diseases that could be transferred to the patient, transport, and process the corneas, and deliver them to the surgery center… all within just a few days. The cost of receiving a transplant includes not just the tissue, but the surgery center, surgeon, and anesthesia fees. Fortunately, these costs are less at an outpatient surgery center and are typically covered by Medicare and private insurance, although patients may be responsible for deductibles and co-payments. Generally, DMEK and DSAEK can be performed in an outpatient surgery center whereas DALK and PK more often have to be done at a hospital. Having surgery at a hospital can increase costs several-fold.

The risk of infection from a corneal transplantation procedure is about the same as following a routine blood transfusion. The risk of receiving a disease from a transplant is very low.

Other risks include primary graft failure, rejection, graft dislocation, cataract formation, glaucoma, infection, irregular astigmatism, double vision, bleeding, iris damage, vitreous prolapse, and cystoid macular edema. Most of these complications are quite rare but are theoretically possible with all types of eye surgery. Patients using steroid drops, which all corneal transplants require, have to be followed for the development of increased pressure. High eye pressure usually gives no symptoms, so follow up is crucial to allow the doctor to treat as necessary with medication or procedures. Patients are usually seen every 3 to 6 months for life depending on the strength of steroid used.

In our hands, the overall success rate for a DMEK or DSAEK graft attaching and working well is about 99%. Should the transplant fail due to rejection or otherwise, it would need to be repeated.

Because the time to heal is longer for DALK and PK, and because they involve more risk, the odds of a DALK or PK failing to restore vision is more significant than for DMEK or DSAEK. DALK and PK have several additional risks.

DALK, and more so PK, have a higher risk of bleeding during surgery while the patient’s own cornea is removed and the eye is depressurized. Although not common, such bleeding can do significant damage to the eye.
DALK, and more so PK, also have a significant risk of rejection. Higher doses of steroid drops may be necessary in here to prevent or treat rejection, which can increase the risk of increased eye pressure (glaucoma).
DALK and PK involve a 360-degree corneal incision. Such large corneal wounds don’t heal with full strength and are at risk to split open with moderate blunt trauma (ie if a patient fell and hit their face in the shower). If the wound were to split open, it could lead to loss of the eye.
DALK and PK require about 16 sutures. These sutures are not removed for many months or even over a year. The sutures are buried in a manner so they cause no pain to the patient. However, they commonly become loose and can cause a foreign body or sandy sensation. More significantly, a loose suture is a risk for infection (corneal ulcer). Corneal ulcers can be more serious in the setting of a corneal transplant because the immune system in the area is suppressed by steroid eye drops.
DALK and PK commonly heal with large amounts of astigmatism. The normally spherical corneal surface becomes like an irregularly shaped egg. Since the smooth corneal shape largely determines focus, an irregular cornea causes blurred vision. Corneal astigmatism is measured in diopters. In routine patients who have not had had a corneal transplant, we consider 1 diopter mild astigmatism, 2 diopters moderate astigmatism, and 3 diopters high astigmatism. DALK and PK average about 4 to 5 diopters of astigmatism. A common range is 2 to 10 diopters of astigmatism. Regarding astigmatism risk, there are controllable and uncontrollable causes. The surgeon can try to sew the graft as evenly as possible to reduce risk of severe astigmatism; however, the surgeon cannot control the natural tension lines in the cornea or how symmetrically the tension lines will balance as the wound heals. Severe or irregular astigmatism cannot be corrected with glasses. Special hard contact lenses are often necessary. On average, one-third of all DALK and PK patients need hard contact to see their best due to astigmatism. Therefore, at Bennett & Bloom, we never perform DALK or PK for keratoconus patients to try to get out of contact lenses. The patient could go through all the added cost and risk of surgery only to end up where they started… or worse. DALK and PK are reserved for severe disease that cannot be fixed by contact lens wear

For corneal transplant at Bennet & Bloom Eye center in the USA or for medical tourism in the USA, contact Eyeupdate Clinic & Optical Supplies, 01 Ajuwon junction, Off Elliot bus stop, Iju Ishagah, Lagos.Tel: +2347030000001, +19093663551

July 25, 2020

Muscles, Nerves, and Blood Vessels in the Human Eye

By David Terfera, Shereen Jegtvig

Muscles enable you to move your eyes. Ocular nerves allow you to interpret what you see and blood vessels keep your eyes oxygenated. Six muscles, collectively called the extraocular muscles, move the eyeball. A seventh muscle moves the eyelid and is also found in the orbit.

The muscles of the human eye

The following muscles help your eyes move around.

Muscles, Nerves, and Blood Vessels in the Human Eye

By David Terfera, Shereen Jegtvig

The muscles of the human eye

The following muscles help your eyes move around.

Levator palpebrae superioris: Originates on the sphenoid bone above the optic canal. It inserts into the superior tarsis and skin of the eyelid. It’s innervated by the oculomotor nerve and elevates the superior eyelid.
Superior oblique: Originates on the sphenoid bone and inserts into the sclera deep to the superior rectus muscle. It’s innervated by the trochlear nerve and abducts, depresses, and medially rotates the eyeball.
Inferior oblique: Originates on the anterior part of the orbital floor and inserts onto the sclera deep to the lateral rectus muscle. It’s innervated by the oculomotor nerve and abducts, elevates, and laterally rotates the eyeball.
Superior rectus: Originates on the common tendinous ring and inserts into the sclera behind the corneoscleral junction. It’s innervated by the oculomotor nerve, and it elevates, adducts, and medially rotates the eyeball.
Inferior rectus: Originates on the common tendinous ring and inserts into the sclera behind the corneoscleral junction. It’s innervated by the oculomotor nerve and depresses, adducts, and laterally rotates the eyeball.
Medial rectus: Originates on the common tendinous ring and inserts into the sclera behind the corneoscleral junction, this muscle is innervated by the oculomotor nerve and adducts the eyeball.
Lateral rectus: Originates on the common tendinous ring and inserts into the sclera behind the corneoscleral junction. It’s innervated by the abducent nerve and abducts the eyeball.

The nerves of the eye

The eyes are served by the following cranial nerves and their branches:

Optic nerve (CN II): Sensory nerve that transmits impulses from the retina to the brain
- Oculomotor nerve (CN III), trochlear nerve (CN IV), and abducent nerve (CN VI): Enter the orbital space through the superior orbital fissure to innervate the extraocular muscles.
- Ophthalmic nerve (part of the trigeminal nerve, CN V): This nerve has three branches:
  - The lacrimal nerve runs to the lacrimal gland and gives off branches to the conjunctiva and skin of the superior eyelid.
  - The frontal nerve enters through the superior orbital fissure and provides sensory innervation to the superior eyelid, scalp, and forehead.
  - The nasociliary nerve is the sensory nerve to the eyeball. It also has branches that serve the orbit and other parts of the face. One of its branches, the infratrochlear nerve, supplies the eyelids, conjunctiva, and lacrimal sac.
- Ciliary ganglion: This group of postsynaptic parasympathetic nerve cell bodies is associated with the oculomotor nerve and ophthalmic nerve (CN V1). Presynaptic parasympathetic fibers from the oculomotor nerve synapse on the cell bodies of postsynaptic parasympathetic neurons in the ciliary ganglion.
  
  Short ciliary nerves emerge from the ciliary ganglion and enter the eye. The short ciliary nerves contain postsynaptic parasympathetic fibers from the ciliary ganglion, afferent fibers of the nasociliary nerve, and postsynaptic sympathetic fibers from the internal carotid plexus. Postsynaptic parasympathetic fibers innervate the ciliary muscle and sphincter pupillae muscle. Afferent fibers convey sensory impulses from the iris and cornea. Postsynaptic sympathetic fibers innervate the dilator pupillae muscle.
  
  The long ciliary nerves contain afferent and postsynaptic sympathetic fibers from the nasociliary nerve. Long ciliary nerves bypass the ciliary ganglion and run to the iris, cornea, and dilator pupillae muscle.
The blood vessels

Blood flow to the orbit (and beyond) comes from branches of the internal carotid artery, chiefly via the ophthalmic artery and its branches:
- Ophthalmic artery: Branches from the internal carotid artery and passes through the optic canal into the orbital cavity
- Central artery of the retina: Runs from the ophthalmic artery to the eyeball alongside the optic nerve; it branches at the optic disc and supplies the retina
- Supraorbital artery: Starts at the ophthalmic artery and exits the orbit at the supraorbital notch to supply the forehead and scalp
- Supratrochlear artery: Runs from the ophthalmic artery to the forehead and scalp
- Lacrimal artery: Runs from the ophthalmic artery along the lateral rectus muscle to supply the lacrimal gland, conjunctiva, and the eyelids
- Dorsal nasal artery: Branches from the ophthalmic artery and runs along the nose to supply it with blood
- Short posterior ciliary arteries: Branch from the ophthalmic artery and pierce the sclera at the edge of the optic nerve; they supply the choroid and the rods and cones of the retina
- Long posterior ciliary arteries: Branch from the ophthalmic artery and pierce the sclera to supply the ciliary body and iris
- Posterior ethmoidal artery: Leaves the ophthalmic artery to supply blood to ethmoidal cells
- Anterior ethmoidal artery: Runs from the ophthalmic artery to supply ethmoidal cells, frontal sinus, nasal cavity, and skin over the nose
- Anterior ciliary artery: Runs from the muscular branches of the ophthalmic artery through the sclera near the rectus muscles and forms an arterial network in the iris and ciliary body
- Infraorbital artery: Runs from the maxillary artery along the infraorbital groove and out to the face
Blood is returned from the orbits via the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins, which pass through the superior orbital fissure into the cavernous sinus. The central vein of the retina may join an ophthalmic vein or enter the cavernous sinus directly. Vorticose veins drain the vascular layer of the eyeball, and the scleral venous sinus encircles the anterior chamber of the eyeball.

Eye Conditions That May Benefit From Prosthetic Contact Lenses

How Prosthetic Contact Lenses Are Prescribed

Tips for Maintaining Your Glasses

Avoid Chemical Contact

Wash Your Hands

Rinse Your Lenses

Use a Lens Cloth

Use a Cleaning Solution

Store Them Correctly

The Case for Bandage Soft Contact Lenses

A primer on the use of these therapeutic lenses to serve and protect the corneas of our patients.

Glare Reducing Lenses: Understanding Their Uses

What is glare?

How do glare reducing lenses work?

The benefits of glare reducing lenses

Glaucoma Causes

Glaucoma Risk Factors

Types of Glaucoma

Glaucoma Symptoms

Glaucoma Diagnosis

Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma Prevention

Our Mission

What are the different layers of the cornea?

Is it possible to remove and/or transplant just one layer of the cornea?

Why do we need different types of transplants? Why not just do PK for everyone

Do I need to go on systemic immunosuppressive medications for a corneal transplant?

After a corneal transplant, do I have to take any precautions if I ever receive a vaccination?

How long will my transplant last?

Does a rejection episode mean that I will lose my cornea transplant?

Will I need glasses after my transplant? Could laser vision correction be done to reduce any postoperative need for glasses?

What are the costs and risks of a cornea transplant?

The muscles of the human eye

Muscles, Nerves, and Blood Vessels in the Human Eye

The muscles of the human eye

The nerves of the eye

The blood vessels