Blog
Southern California Eye Consultants at the Cataract and Glaucoma Institute of Orange County
Our mission is to combine compassionate service with cutting-edge treatments to protect, preserve, and enhance your vision. Stay informed with biweekly articles covering essential topics in eye health—including cataracts, glaucoma, and the latest advances in surgical eye care. Whether you’re preparing for a procedure or simply want to learn more about your eyes, our blog is here to support your journey to better vision.
Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery – iSTENT and Cypass
Glaucoma is a condition caused by increased pressure in the eye that can lead to optic nerve damage and ultimately blindness. Typically, fluid in the eye, also known as aqueous humor, drains out of the eye via a mesh-like channel. In glaucoma, this channel becomes blocked which increases the fluid levels and pressure in the eye. It’s unknown why this channel becomes blocked but hereditary links have been found, with parents passing this to children. Other known causes are trauma to the eye, chemical damage, severe eye infections, or blocked blood vessels in the eye. What are the symptoms? ...
Cataract Surgery with Toric and Multifocal Lenses
Multifocal and toric lenses are commonly used artificial lenses that can help patients with cataracts who have both nearsightedness and farsightedness or astigmatism. What are cataracts? Cataracts are a common eye problem that can cause blurry or double vision, challenges with differentiating colors, or make it difficult to see at night. Typically, light passes through a clear lens where it is focused, allowing the retina to receive a clear image. A cataract causes proteins to build up on the lens, making it cloudy, leading to a blurry image. Many times cataracts develop due to aging; however, other risk factors ...
Diabetes & Glaucoma
Diabetes, like many medical conditions, can impact eye health and lead to multiple eye problems including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Having diabetes nearly doubles the risk of developing open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma. The condition occurs when the fluids in the eye don’t drain properly causing eye pressure to build. This increased intraocular pressure eventually damages the optic nerve, causing vision loss. Glaucoma is a slowly progressive disease and symptoms typically don’t occur in the early stages. The first sign of glaucoma is often loss of peripheral (side) vision. Without treatment, vision loss continues to ...
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a term to describe the breakdown of the macula, a small area in the center back of the retina. This deterioration causes severe vision problems and interferes with the eye’s ability to distinguish precise details making it difficult to drive, read or perform other tasks requiring fine vision. There are two forms of macular degeneration, dry and wet. The overwhelming majority of individuals who suffer from macular degeneration have the atrophic or dry form. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is common form of dry macular degeneration that occurs as the eye ages. AMD is linked to family ...
What is LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK is an acronym for laser in situ keratomileusis, a surgical procedure designed to correct imperfections of the cornea that distort vision. It has become a popular solution for adults who are tired of wearing eyeglasses or contacts. Here’s how LASIK works: The shape of the cornea influences refraction. Refraction is the way light bends and focuses to create an image on the retina. Imperfections, called refractive errors, cause myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea or lens that causes blurring). By reshaping the cornea, it’s possible to correct refractive errors and improve vision. During the LASIK ...
The Importance of Annual Eye Exams
Changes in vision are often what draw adults to schedule an appointment with their ophthalmologist, but even those with good vision can benefit from a yearly eye examination. An annual eye exam is about more than testing visual acuity, it is an opportunity for your ophthalmologist to evaluate eye muscle movement, determine how well your eyes work together and how well your pupils react to light and objects. Depending on your health history and any vision symptoms you may be experiencing, your ophthalmologist may perform additional tests during a routine eye exam as well. A comprehensive eye exam includes ...