Contact Lens Dry Eyes & Having LASIK

Fairfield County Connecticut LASIK Surgeon & Corneal Specialist Leslie Doctor, M.D. cited some important information about contact lenses and dry eyes for contact lens wearers considering having LASIK. “Dry eyes can be a very real problem for both rigid and soft contact lens wearers. Researchers reporting in the Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice demonstrated that both rigid and soft contact lenses negatively impacted the tear film surface quality. This research is important to keep in mind when contact lens wearers present for LASIK consultations since the evaluation of the tear film quality and quantity is a critical consideration of determining the patient’s candidacy for any type of Laser Vision Correction-but especially for LASIK surgery,” commented Dr. Doctor. “Given that a significant number of our patients electing to have LASIK today are indeed contact lens wearers and that dry eye is probably the most common side effect of LASIK that we see with our patients, we need to be aware that some of the pre LASIK tear film abnormalities that we find are actually due to their contact lens wear and that with a sufficient amount of time without contact lens wear many contact lens wearers who want LASIK will recover a normal tear film surface quality and be able to proceed with Laser Vision Correction,” noted Dr. Doctor.

Contact lens patients considering LASIK or any type of Laser Eye Surgery for vision correction are encouraged to find the best LASIK Surgeons in their area and have a thorough evaluation, examination and consultation in order to find out if they are good candidates. 

If you or someone you know has a question about LASIK, contact lenses, dry eyes or would like to schedule a Free LASIK Consultation please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

.

Cataract Risk: Smokers Beware!

“Smokers should beware of the increased risk of cataracts as we now see a relationship between smoking and risk of cataracts,” noted Cataract Surgeon Leslie Doctor, M.D. a Connecticut eye surgeon with Fairfield County offices in Norwalk, Westport & Wilton, Connecticut. “Most patients I speak to today are well aware of the vascular risks of smoking and they may even know that smokers are also at increased risk of glaucoma and age related macular degeneration among smokers. What may be news to smokers is that they are also at increased risk of cataracts,” stated Dr. Leslie Doctor.

Patients who are current smokers or who have any history of smoking are at increased risk of getting a cataract according to researchers reporting in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. The researchers found that the overall current literature suggests that smoking was associated with increased risk of age related cataract, especially nuclear cataract and to some extent posterior sub capsular cataract. They further recommended that additional efforts should be made to confirm these findings and clarify the underlying biological mechanisms. A healthy lifestyle and diet are meaningful ways of maintaining eye health and vision-whether lowering your risk of cataracts, keeping the tiny blood vessels in the eye functioning properly or minimizing the associated risks of glaucoma-it’s important to avoid smoking as a lifestyle choice.

If you or someone you know feels they are at risk for cataract development, is a smoker or has a question about cataracts, cataract surgery or lens implants please feel free to schedule an eye exam by calling Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

.

Eye Exams with Glaucoma Screenings

Connecticut eye doctor Leslie Doctor, M.D. reviewed what you should know about glaucoma eye exams and screenings. “Early detection, diagnosis and treatment are the keys to preventing vision loss from glaucoma. This is why proper glaucoma eye exams and screenings are so important-especially is any family member has a history of high eye pressure or a diagnosis of glaucoma,” commented Dr. Doctor, a Fairfield County Ophthalmologist with offices in Norwalk, Wilton & Westport, CT. 

Eye exams for glaucoma should begin by checking your visual acuity with and without your eyeglasses or contact lenses. Then, the tonometry test should be performed. This is a method of measuring your Intraocular Pressure (IOP) and gives the eye doctors the first piece of important information in determining whether you might have glaucoma. Ophthalmoscopy is another examination procedure used to detect and diagnose glaucoma. Ophthalmoscopy is a method of carefully examining the inside of the eye-especially the optic nerve-in order to detect glaucoma. It is necessary to have some eye drops placed in your eyes in order to dilate your pupils so that the doctors can make a clear and direct observation of the optic nerve. 

If either the Intraocular Pressure (IOP) is elevated or the optic nerve appears unusual, additional tests will be necessary in order to complete the glaucoma examination. These may include Visual Field Perimetry, Gonioscopy, Optic Nerve Computer Imaging and Pachymetry. Should you need any of these tests we explain them fully to you and answer your questions so that you understand how they allow us to diagnose glaucoma.

If you are under 40 years of age and do not have any family history of glaucoma or ocular hypertension-and have no other glaucoma risk factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes or being of African-American or Hispanic descent, then having a glaucoma eye examination every two years should be sufficient. If you have any glaucoma risk factors, a family history or are over 40-especially if you are of African-American or Hispanic descent, then a glaucoma eye exam each year is recommended.

If you or someone you know has questions about glaucoma or needs a glaucoma eye exam, please feel free to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

.

Surgeon on Recovery after Cataract Surgery

Cataract Surgeon Leslie Doctor, M.D. reassured patients with information about what to expect regarding recovery from cataract surgery. “As a corneal specialist as well as a cataract surgeon, I typically perform cataract removal and lens implants using a very tiny incision, with no needles and usually only eye drops for anesthesia-all on an outpatient basis at the Wilton Surgery Center,” explained Dr. Doctor. “For the vast majority of my patients the postoperative course is very comfortable and pretty unremarkable. Most of my patients comment that they don't require pain medications and at most have a slight foreign body feeling from the incision which usually clears in a few hours. The vision the next day can range from being excellent or at times a bit cloudy, depending on the amount of residual swelling in the cornea. Patients with mild cataracts generally have very little swelling. Very dense cataracts require more energy and effort to remove, and this can produce more swelling in the cornea. This swelling usually clears quickly and most patients see quite well in a few days,” Dr. Doctor further explained. “Depending on the type of lens implant my patients choose, there may be a little adaptation. For example, if you have had a near vision presbyopia correcting multifocal lens implant there may be re-learning of how to see far and near. Most patients adapt pretty quickly.”

If you or someone you know has questions about cataract, cataract surgery, lens implants or the recovery from any type of eye surgery please feel free to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

.

Cataract Surgeon on Hip Fracture

“What does cataract surgery have to do with preventing hip fractures?,” asked Connecticut Cataract Surgeon Leslie Doctor, M.D. “What we know from recent studies is that cataract surgery may offer patients with cataracts a distinct advantage in preventing hip fractures according to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,” stated Dr. Leslie Doctor, M.D. a Corneal Specialist & Cataract Surgeon with offices in Fairfield County, CT.

When looking at the risk of hip fracture among more than 1 million people on Medicare aged 65 with cataracts, researchers found people who had cataract surgery had a 16% lower risk of hip fracture one year after the procedure. Visual impairment from cataracts-whether from blurry vision, glare, halos or decreased contrast-is a known risk factor for falls. Thus when we improve vision for patients with cataracts, their mobility is typically improved as well as their confidence and the safety with which they navigate. A hip or pelvis fracture is the sentinel event that leads to a progressive decline in quality of life and usually signifies increased mortality and morbidity.

Accidental falls and the resulting bone fractures are a major cause of disability and death among the elderly. “The key here is that there is a demonstrated need for timely cataract surgery for seniors in order to manage the risk of challenged mobility with resulting fractures. We are quite fortunate-and it is really rewarding-to be able to provide cataract patients with modern patient friendly cataract surgery on an outpatient basis that utilizes tiny incisions, eye drops for anesthesia and a quick visual recovery,” summarized Dr. Doctor.

 If you or someone you know has questions about cataract, cataract surgery, lens implants or hip fracture prevention please feel free to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

.

Doctor & Associates Welcomes Claudia Castiblanco, M.D.

Leslie Doctor M.D. and the staff at Doctor & Associates welcome Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis specialist, Claudia Castiblanco, M.D. to our practice. Dr. Leslie Doctor commented, "We are thrilled to have Dr. Castiblanco with us to see routine eye exams as well as patients with cataracts, needing cataract surgery and lens implants, medical laser and surgical treatment of glaucoma and the diagnosis and treatment of retina disease such as age related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic eye disease and retinopathy.

In addition, her training and experience brings our community access to care for complex eye conditions including treatment and management of infectious or auto-immune related uveitis, scleritis, ocular complications of HIV/AIDS, and pre and post operative management of all types of patients with uveitis."

 Dr. Castiblanco earned her medical degree at Yale University School of Medicine followed by an internship at Greenwich Hospital. She then completed her residency in ophthalmology at Yale University School of Medicine and then attended a Fellowship in Uveitis at Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

.