Although there is no cure for glaucoma, early diagnosis and proper medication can help control this condition. Glaucoma typically requires ongoing, long-term care. Keeping your eye pressure under control is very important. You must follow your treatment plan carefully to help control your eye pressure. This will help protect the optic nerve and prevent vision loss.

Glaucoma is typically treated with the use of medications that either help the fluid drain better, or decrease the amount of fluid made by the eye. In most cases, medication can safely control eye pressure for many years.

Surgery is another way to treat glaucoma. In general, any kind of surgery carries some risk, so your physician will discuss the risks and benefits with you. In cases of chronic glaucoma, surgery is usually considered when the maximum amount of medicine is not controlling your eye pressure, or when you cannot tolerate the side effects of the medicines.

There are several types of laser surgery used to treat glaucoma. The type of laser surgery will depend on the form of glaucoma you have, and its severity. Laser surgeries can be performed in our office or our surgery center.

If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, your ophthalmologist at JEA will monitor your condition on a regular basis and recommend the best treatment for you.

If the cornea - the clear, front window of the eye - is injured, it can cause the cornea to scatter or distort light, resulting in glare or blurred vision. The cornea reacts well to minor scratches and abrasions, but a deep scratch can cause tearing, blurred vision, and pain, so plan to visit Jackson Eye Associates if you experience a deep scratch to your eye.

Other cornea problems we treat include:

MICROBIAL INFECTIONS (KERATITIS)

When the cornea is damaged, such as after a foreign object has penetrated the tissue, bacteria or fungi can pass into the cornea, causing a deep infection and inflammation. This condition may cause severe pain, reduce visual clarity, produce a corneal discharge, and perhaps erode the cornea.

As a general rule, the deeper the corneal infection, the more severe the symptoms and complications. Those who wear contact lenses are particularly susceptible to microbial infections.

Visit JEA if you develop any type of eye infection. Minor corneal infections are commonly treated with anti-bacterial or anti-fungal eye drops. If the problem is more severe, you may receive more intensive antibiotic treatment to eliminate the infection and may need to take steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation. We will schedule follow-up visits for you until the infection has completely cleared.

CONJUNCTIVITIS ("PINK EYE")

"Pink eye" describes a variety of inflammatory and often contagious diseases of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the protective membrane that lines the eyelids and covers exposed areas of the sclera, or white of the eye. These diseases can be caused by viral or bacterial infections, environmental irritants, contact lens products, or drug allergies.

For the most part, pink eye tends to be painless and usually does not affect vision. The infection may come and go in most cases without requiring medical care. But for some forms of pink eye, such as epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, treatment will be needed. If treatment is delayed, the infection may worsen and cause corneal inflammation and a loss of vision. Depending on the type of pink eye that a person develops, treatment often consists of antibiotics and steroids. If your pink eye does not clear up within a few days schedule an appointment at JEA.

OCULAR HERPES

Herpes of the eye is a recurrent viral infection that affects an estimated 400,000 Americans with herpes. In about 12% of those with ocular herpes, both eyes are involved.

Ocular herpes produces a relatively painful sore on the surface of the cornea. Prompt treatment with anti-viral drugs helps to stop the herpes virus from multiplying and destroying epithelial cells. Delaying treatment can result in a more severe infection, called herpes simplex stromal keratitis, that is harder to treat and can scar the cornea, causing vision loss. It may also produce an infection of the inside of the eye.

For those who lose vision to ocular herpes, it usually results from recurrent attacks that lead to severe stromal keratitis. Studies indicate that after a person has had an initial outbreak of ocular herpes, he or she has better than a 50% chance of having a recurrence of the disease. If you develop ocular herpes, your physician at JEA will schedule routine check-ups to oversee your condition, because is an incurable problem that requires ongoing management to keep symptoms under control.

HERPES ZOSTER (SHINGLES)

This infection is produced by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox in many children. In some people, the varicella-zoster virus will reactivate at some time during their lives. When this occurs, the virus travels down long nerve fibers and infects some part of the body, producing a blistering rash (shingles), fever, and painful inflammations of the affected nerve fibers.

Varicella-zoster virus may travel to the head and neck, perhaps involving an eye, part of the nose, mouth, cheek, and forehead. These zoster-related corneal lesions will usually clear up on their own. But without early anti-viral treatment, a person runs the risk of the virus infecting cells deep within the tissue, causing inflammation and scarring of the cornea. The disease may also cause decreased corneal sensitivity. For many, this decreased sensitivity will be permanent, contact JEA if you think you have this condition.

Unlike herpes simplex I, the varicella-zoster virus does not usually flare up more than once in adults with normally functioning immune systems.

JEA often treats congenital eye problems in infants and children. Many problems can be corrected if caught and treated early, so bring your concerns to us about your child's eyesight. Some common problems include:

AMBLYOPIA

Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. It is sometimes called a lazy eye. Amblyopia is caused by any condition that affects normal use of the eyes and visual development. In many cases, the conditions associated with amblyopia may be inherited. Amblyopia is one of the most common causes of visual impairment in childhood and can affect approximately 2 to 3 out of every 100 children. The best time to correct this problem is during infancy or early childhood, so bring your baby to JEA if you notice your child's eye wandering inward or outward.

BLOCKED TEAR DUCT

Most children are actually born with a blocked tear duct; however, it usually resolves within the first two weeks of life. Since infants do not make tears for the first few weeks of life, this obstruction generally goes unnoticed, except in special circumstances.

If your baby shows unusual amounts of tears, matting around the eye, and chapped skin around the eye, these are the common symptoms of a blocked tear duct. Usually your physician will prescribe antibiotic ointment or drops, and massaging of the tear sac. This helps treat or prevent infection, which helps avoid potential scarring that can occur while waiting on the tear duct to open up.

Some children can develop a severe infection of the skin and soft tissue of the eyelids, or a serious collection of pus in the tear sac, which requires the intervention of an ophthalmologist. Fortunately, the serious infections are uncommon, allowing conservative observation of most children with this condition.

Most pediatric ophthalmologists like to give the blockage at least six months to clear up on its own. If the obstruction has not cleared by a year, the chances of spontaneous resolution are much less, and surgical intervention is usually offered. Surgery involves probing the tear duct or placing a temporary tube in the tear duct to hold it open. The decision to place a tube is dependent on how the probing goes. If the probing allows successful irrigation of the tear duct, then the tubing may not be necessary. However, if the tear duct cannot be irrigated at the time of surgery, the tube may be placed.

RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a retinal problem that affects premature infants. Between 16 weeks gestation and birth, retinal blood vessels begin to grow out from the optic nerve towards the peripheral retina. When a child is born prematurely (under 32 weeks gestation), the normal growth of these retinal blood vessels stops. Abnormal blood vessels can grow in the retina in areas that the normal blood vessels have not yet grown. This can cause serious vision problems or vision loss. A pediatric ophthalmologist or a retina specialist will usually want to see a premature infant shortly after birth.

In a normal 40-week pregnancy, the last 12 weeks are the most vital in the development of fetal eyes. Therefore, any child that is born prematurely is at a higher risk than a full term baby for other eye and vision problems. Regular eye examinations are recommended for all infants born under 32 weeks.

The ophthalmologists at Jackson Eye Associates are experienced in the treatment of muscular disorders like strabismus. Strabismus is a visual defect in which the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. One eye may look straight ahead, while the other eye turns inward, outward, upward, or downward. This eye turn may be constant or it may come and go.

Strabismus is a common condition among children, but it can occur later in life. The exact cause of strabismus is not fully understood. However, it is especially common among children with disorders that may affect the brain, such as:

• Cerebral palsy
• Down syndrome
• Hydrocephalus
• Brain tumors
• Prematurity

The vast majority of children with strabismus, however, have none of these problems. There are various surgical and non-surgical treatments for strabismus but early detection is the key to any successful treatment, so make an appointment for you or your child at the first sign of strabismus.

More than one million people suffer eye injuries each year in the United States. At JEA, we frequently treat patients who have suffered eye injuries in their homes or workplaces. Don't hesitate to contact our office if you have hurt your eye and are experiencing blurred vision or excessive pain or swelling. Many eye injuries can be avoided with some common-sense tips:

IN THE HOUSE

• Household products can seriously burn your eyes if used improperly.
• Make sure that all spray nozzles are directed away from you.
• Read instructions carefully before using cleaning fluids, detergents, ammonia or harsh chemicals. Wash your hands thoroughly after use.
• Use grease shields on frying pans to protect from splattering.
• Wear safety goggles to shield your eyes from fumes and splashes when using powerful chemicals.

IN THE GARDEN

• Always wear safety glasses when using garden tools or mowing.
• Pick up rocks, and sticks before going over them with your lawnmower.
• Avoid low-hanging branches.

AROUND CHILDREN

• Consider your child's age and responsibility level when you buy toys and games.
• Avoid projectile toys such as darts and pellet guns, which can hit the eye from a distance.
• Supervise children when they are playing with toys or games that could be dangerous.
• Teach children the correct way to handle items such as scissors and pencils.

SPORTS

Sports and recreational activities cause more than 32,000 eye injuries a year. If you or your children participate in sports, you should wear the appropriate protective eyewear. JEA Optical offers properly tested and certified eye and face protection that has been specifically designed for the sports you will be playing. Properly designed and fitted eyewear does not hinder performance and can reduce the risk of eye injuries by 90%. If you normally wear glasses, be sure that your frames are unbreakable and fitted with safety polycarbonate lenses for playing tennis, baseball, or basketball.

* Information provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a highly effective, nonsurgical procedure that can dramatically reduce your toughest wrinkle - the one between your brows - within seven days. The effects last for up to four months. This FDA-approved medication can also be used to treat certain eye disorders such as crossed eyes (strabismus) and uncontrolled blinking (blepharospasm), and to treat certain muscle spasms or movement disorders (cervical dystonia, torticollis).

Botulinum toxin relaxes muscle by blocking the release of a chemical called acetylcholine. It is a purified protein administered in a simple nonsurgical procedure that temporarily improves the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people aged 18 to 65. During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those stubborn lines between the brows.

There are a few possible side effects, including headache, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, temporary eyelid droop, and nausea. This is not a procedure you should take lightly; BOTOX should only be administered in a medical setting by a licensed physician. If you are interested in BOTOX, contact us at JEA and your doctor will discuss the procedure with you, including all the risks and benefits.

LATISSE® is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA for thin or inadequate eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker.

LATISSE® makes lash growth possible because of its active ingredient: bimatoprost. Although the precise mechanism of action is not known, research suggests that the growth of eyelashes occurs by increasing the percent of hairs in, and the duration of, the anagen (or growth) phase. Lashes can grow longer, thicker and darker because bimatoprost can also prolong this growth phase.

LATISSE® is FDA approved and effective. It's a once-a-day treatment you apply topically to the base of your upper eyelashes. Patients in a clinical trial saw results in as few as eight weeks with full results after 12 to 16 weeks.

LATISSE® was developed through years of research by Allergan, a pharmaceutical leader with over 60 years of expertise in prescription eye care products. The physicians at JEA can prescribe LATISSE® for you and explain the risks and benefits associated with the product.

If you have been diagnosed with cataracts, surgery may or may not be the best option for you. Our JEA surgeons are ready to discuss your diagnosis during your scheduled cataract consultation. Your physician will perform a full eye examination and discuss the best options for treatment. If your vision can be improved with cataract surgery, your physician may recommend this direction for treatment. The choice to have surgery is always yours.

PRIOR TO SURGERY

If you elect to proceed with cataract surgery, you will be fitted for your IOL, or Intraocular Lens, prior to your surgery. Recent advances in technology have given us new options for lenses, including those to correct distance vision and those that correct intermediate and distance vision simultaneously. Your doctor will help you determine which lenses are best for you.

DURING SURGERY

The entire cataract surgery usually takes less than 30 minutes. Your doctor will most likely perform a procedure known as phacoemulsification, the least invasive technique used today. This involves making small incision in the eye, inserting a thin probe to break up and remove the cloudy lens, and implanting a new lens. If you think you may be a candidate for cataract surgery, please contact our office for a consultation.

Once the decision has been made to have surgery for cataracts or astigmatism, you will need to decide which Intraocular Lens (IOL) is right for you. During surgery, your eye's cloudy natural lens will be replaced by an artificial Intraocular Lens or IOL. However, recent innovations have led to the development of a variety of IOL designs, each with their own unique features and advancements.

You and your doctor will work together to decide which type of IOL is best suited for you. While the characteristics of your eyes certainly play a critical role in lens selection, it's just as important to consider your lifestyle, and the role vision plays in the activities you enjoy.

JEA offers several types of IOLs. Premium versions include multifocal IOLs, such as ReZoom, TECNIS, and ReSTOR. We also utilize the new Toric IOL, that offers the latest technology to correct astigmatism. Your physician will go over features and benefits of each brand and help you decide which is the most beneficial for your needs.

MULTIFOCAL IOLS

REZOOM

The ReZoom multifocal IOL is one of the latest cataract lens technologies to receive FDA approval. Multifocal lenses are inserted into the capsular bag and replace the patient's natural lens. It allows patients to change focus from near to far, far to near, AND to intermediate without glasses or contacts. Traditional IOL lenses offered only one distance (far, near, or intermediate), making eyeglasses or contact lenses necessary in order to read, use the computer, or see far away.

The ReZoom lens allows cataract patients to have excellent vision at all distances, eliminating the need for glasses or contacts. It is so effective, that 93% of its patients never or seldom need to wear any glasses after their cataract surgery.

Until recently, monofocal IOLs were widely used to correct cataracts. These lenses provide only one point of focus usually distance. Vision correction with glasses was required for near and intermediate visual activities.

We now have options. The ReZoom Multifocal IOL is a second-generation multifocal lens with Balanced View Optic technology. It offers five uniquely proportioned visual zones that provide near, intermediate, and distance vision.

Each visual zone is designed to provide clear vision for different light conditions and focal distances. The ReZoom Multifocal IOL dramatically reduces the need for bifocals or trifocals. For most patients, multi-focal vision means you can see to read a menu (near), work on a computer (intermediate), and see the building across the street (distance).

Most people resume their normal activities within 24 hours. The first step is to determine if the ReZoom Multi-focal IOL is right for you with a complete eye examination. You will be given information about benefits, risks, complications, and costs. Be sure to have all your questions answered before consenting for surgery.

To learn more please email us at info@jacksoneye.com. Please specify that you are interested in learning about the ReZoom Multifocal IOL.

TECNIS

Designed to give patients back their youthful vision, the TECNIS Multifocal Lens provides patients with high-quality vision at any distance, and in any light condition — even in low light.

The advanced TECNIS Multifocal IOL is an implantable lens that restores vision after cataract surgery and corrects presbyopia (the need for reading glasses). It's the lens that 94% of patients would choose again. It delivers results superior to those of a standard multifocal lens and offers JEA patients an excellent chance to become free of glasses or contacts.

The advanced TECNIS Multifocal Lens enables you to see clearly at near, intermediate, and far distances without glasses in all light conditions. Immediately after surgery, some patients may notice rings around lights when driving at night. However, as the eye adjusts to the lens, the visual impression of rings may lessen or go away over time.

If you are diagnosed with cataracts and are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms, you may be a candidate for the TECNIS Multifocal Lens:

• Difficulty reading
• Difficulty seeing close objects
• Difficulty seeing to drive, especially at night
• Changing glasses prescriptions
• Needing bifocals

A recent Medicare ruling on lens implants allows beneficiaries to upgrade to the full range of vision and greater spectacle independence provided by the TECNIS Multifocal Lens. This means the traditional costs associated with cataract treatment are covered by Medicare, with patients having the option to pay additional charges associated with receiving a presbyopia-correcting lens such as the TECNIS Multifocal Lens.

Some private insurance companies are following Medicare's example and allowing patients to upgrade to the TECNIS Multifocal Lens. Please email us atinfo@jacksoneye.com, and we will explain the payment options that Jackson Eye Associates can offer, as well as give you more information about this specific product.

RESTOR

Until recently, life without reading glasses or bifocals wasn't an option for most cataract patients. You now have that option. The AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® IOL: An artificial lens that is implanted in the eye during cataract surgery to replace the eye's clouded crystalline lens. It is a unique technological innovation that can provide you with enhanced image quality and a full range of vision - near, far and everywhere in-between - for increased independence from reading glasses or bifocals!

As we perform daily activities such as reading, watching television or working at the computer, our eyes are constantly focusing on objects at varying distances - up close, far away and in-between. The ability to quickly change focus throughout our range of vision is called accommodation. Unfortunately, we begin to lose this ability as we grow older, gradually becoming more and more dependent on bifocals or reading glasses.

Thankfully, by combining the strengths of apodized diffractive and refractive technologies, the AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® IOL can now provide quality near, intermediate, and distance vision, and increased independence from reading glasses or bifocals. And now, with the addition of proven aspheric technology, the AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® IOL takes the advancements one step further, for a lens with enhanced image quality and clarity. The outer ring of the AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® IOL is a refractive region designed for excellent distance vision. This refractive area bends light as it passes through the lens, accurately focusing it on the retina.

Even healthy eyes still contain some imperfections, or "aberrations." Thankfully, with the addition of a proven aspheric optic, the AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® IOL can correct for these spherical aberrations, leading to enhanced clarity.

If you are interested in finding out more about this IOL, email us at info@jacksoneye.com for more information.

MONOFOCAL IOLS

TORIC IOL

Patients with astigmatism who want to have freedom from glasses for distance vision after cataract surgery can choose the Toric IOL, which can reduce the blurring and distortion caused by astigmatism.

The unique toric design offers astigmatism patients the opportunity for bilateral spectacle-independent distance vision. The AcrySof® single-piece platform ensures exceptional rotational stability, even for patients with lower levels of astigmatism.

The Toric IOL's proven aspheric technology reduces spherical and higher-order aberrations, or eye imperfections. It offers increased contrast sensitivity and improved functional vision in challenging environments. The proprietary chromophore filters blue light.

To learn more about the Toric IOL, email us at info@jacksoneye.com.

JEA offers blade-free iLASIK. This procedure is extremely high in patient satisfaction and has proven very effective in treating nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Make an appointment for a consultation with one of our ophthalmologists to find out if this procedure is right for you.

ILASIK

iLASIK revolutionizes LASIK - the world's most popular elective procedure - by making it the very first vision correction procedure ever to be fully tailored for the unique characteristics of your individual eyes. It uses the most advanced technology at every step, from your personal vision evaluation where we create an individualized 3-D map of your eyes; to a precise LASIK flap using a laser, not a blade; and finishing with one of the most precise, accurate forms of laser vision correction available today.

iLASIK marries two of the most medically advanced LASIK technologies into one procedure, offering a new generation of vision seekers the potential for 20/20 vision and superior safety through reduced flap complications. * ** It is fast, virtually painless, and one of safest elective procedures performed in the U.S.

PRIOR TO SURGERY

Your doctor may ask you to stop wearing contact lenses in the weeks leading up to your surgery, because contacts can adjust the shape of your natural cornea. You will also need to arrange for transportation home after your procedure. Your doctor may give you pain medicine that would make it unwise for you to drive, and the best thing for your eyes after surgery will be rest, so please find a family member or friend who can assist you in getting home.

DURING SURGERY

Your doctor will work on one eye at a time; beginning with numbing the first eye that will be operated on. A numbing drop will be placed in your eye, and a speculum will be used to hold your eyelid open. You may feel pressure on your eye and your vision will dim as a flap is cut in your cornea. The laser will be adjusted for your particular prescription. You will be asked to look at a target light for a short time. A laser light will then painlessly remove the tissue. You'll hear a steady clicking sound as the laser is operating. The higher your prescription, the more time the surgery will take. The surgeon has full control of the laser and can turn it off at any time.

AFTER SURGERY

After a brief period of rest, you will be released to go home with someone driving you. Your doctor will prescribe immediate rest for your eyes for the next several hours. Some people can return to work as soon as the next day, although it is recommended that you take one more day to rest your eyes. You should try not to rub your eyes for several days. You should avoid swimming, hot tubs, and eye makeup for a week to two weeks. Your doctor will give you other instructions for follow-up care.

* Davis, EA, Lindstrom RL. IntraLase vs. Microkeratome: Complications. “Early Experience with the 30 kHz IntraLase,” 2005. Presented at Ocular Surgery News; September 16-18, 2005; New York, NY.

** Schallhorn SC and Tanzer DJ. “Comparison of visual outcomes with femtosecond and mechanical microkeratomes for wavefront guided LASIK” Presented at the American Academy of Opthalmology annual meeting; November 13, 2006; Las Vegas, NV.

LASIK TESTIMONIALS

"Having LASIK surgery was the best thing that I have ever done for myself! It is so nice to wake up in the morning and be able to see. No more worrying about glasses and contacts! The results are absolutely amazing!"
  -Ginger Gober

"I had LASIK surgery with JEA over two years ago. I should have done it years ago. The results are excellent! To me LASIK surgery is a medical miracle. It is a life changing operation for someone like myself, who was totally incapacitated without my glasses or contacts. Thank you so much!"
  -Reed Hogan, MD

"I just made the smartest decision of my life! I had LASIK done with JEA. The reason I went to JEA in the first place was that I had already heard great things about the doctors and staff there. From the second I walked in the office, I was sold! The staff was super friendly, and the doctors were extremely knowledgeable. Every question I had was answered! I no longer have to worry about glasses or contacts. It's incredible!"
  -John Morris (Y101 DJ - Morris and Bender Showgram)

"Since receiving LASIK from JEA, I have found that objects are much clearer and sharper than they were with my contacts. My vision has drastically improved over the past year, and my eyes have never felt better. They aren't tired at the end of the day, like they were when I was wearing contacts. I would definitely recommend JEA and my doctor to all my family and friends!"
  -Kameron Palmer

"My experience with my doctor and my LASIK surgery make it very easy to recommends JEA to friends and family. The most exciting part of life after LASIK is not having to worry about my glasses or contacts for the first time in 30 years! From the first office visit, to the surgery, and post operative appointments, the entire process was professional and efficient. My doctor really cared about doing a great job, and he did!"
  -Dennis Rowlen, MD

"I live in Nashville, but came to JEA for my LASIK surgery because of all the wonderful things I heard about the JEA doctors. Being an avid outdoorsman who bikes, mountain climbs, hunts, and fishes, contacts and glasses were a constant bother. After my LASIK surgery, all that changed. I no longer worry about packing contacts and solution, and my vision is better than it ever was! JEA did a wonderful job, and I am thrilled with the results!"
  -Gunner Smith