Microscopic Stents Help Lower Eye Pressure in Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and its prevalence will continue to increase as our population ages. For most patients, the initial treatment for glaucoma will begin with eye drops or laser treatment, or even both. Patients often have a difficult time adhering to a schedule of single or even multiple doses of eye drops and thus find an initial laser treatment beneficial. Sometimes even with eye drops and laser treatment for glaucoma it is not possible to lower the intraocular pressure enough to reduce the risk of vision loss. For these patients there has been the next step of complex incisional glaucoma surgery. Recent advances in Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) using microscopic stents has been shown to provide excellent results for many glaucoma patients. Reports in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery of patients who had iStent-a tiny titanium stent-implanted through a microscopic incision, had excellent pressure lowering and even were able to reduce their need for eye drops! The data shared was from a long term 5 year clinical study and offers great promise for glaucoma patients.

The best way to prevent vision loss from glaucoma is by having regular eye exams and glaucoma testing as recommended by your eye doctor. If you or someone you know is concerned about their glaucoma risk please be sure to schedule an eye exam at Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1003 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354

Glaucoma Risk in Migraine Sufferers

Did you know that if you suffer from migraines you are at greater risk for developing glaucoma? There are many risk factors that can influence the likelihood that you will develop glaucoma. These include factors such as high pressure in the eye, called intraocular pressure or IOP, your family history-especially if your siblings have glaucoma, smoking, sleep apnea, diabetes and other vascular diseases, race-as patients of African-American heritage and Hispanic backgrounds are at greater risk and even the age of onset of menopause. Recently, researchers reported on a study where they found that patients who suffered from migraines had 1.68 times the risk of the average patient for developing glaucoma. When you visit us for your routine eye exam please share whether you have ever experienced a migraine and whether you currently have even an occasional migraine headache.

If you or someone you know suffers from migraine headaches it is important to have regular eye exams with glaucoma testing as migraines increase the risk of glaucoma! Schedule an eye exam at Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1003 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354

Window Washing & Cataract Surgery?

“I went to see Dr. Buck for a yearly checkup. I had been noticing lately that everything seemed foggy almost like I was looking through a dirty window.  I just thought I was getting old.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Dr. Buck could help me.  He said that my cataracts were ready to come out and I scheduled surgery.  Within a month I was able to have the procedure done.  My husband and I go to Florida every year in January so I am glad I came in when I did.  The surgery itself was very quick and I was so excited to see how clear everything was.  It was like I had the windows washed!”

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants please call at Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.

Oral Health Can Affect the Retina

Did you know that not taking care of your teeth and gums can increase your risk of blood vessel damage in the retina? Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the gums that results from bacterial buildup and the surface and between your teeth. It is easily prevented with through oral hygiene such as brushing your teeth and flossing properly to avoid accumulation of bacteria on your teeth and gums. If left untreated it can result in loosening or even loss of teeth. But, a study in the Journal of Periodontology found that there was an association between periodontitis and the health of the retinal blood vessels in terms of their narrowing and constriction in a similar manner as results from hypertension and vascular and inflammatory diseases. The researchers speculated that over time this could lead to “leaky blood vessels” and indicate that  periodontitis might lead to increased risk for other diseases.

To learn more about tooth and gum disease such as periodontitis ask your dentist. If you have periodontitis and have not had a regular eye exam please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.

LASIK Cost-Priceless!

“Lasik was the best decision I ever made!  I work in a powder coating factory and I am surrounded by dust constantly and my glasses get coated daily with a fine powder.  I was so tired of having to clean off my glasses hourly.  My neighbor had Lasik done with Dr. Buck about five years ago and had nothing but nice things to say about him and his experience so I thought why not.  The process was a breeze and I was back to work within no time.  I still wear safety glasses at my job but it is no-where nearly as annoying as it used to be. The convenience of not wearing glasses is priceless!!!!!!!”

If you or some you know is tired of the hassle of glasses or contact lenses for seeing at distance and would like to find out if LASIK might be a good vision correction option, please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1003 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46534.

Lipid Lowering Medication Can Help Diabetic Retinopathy

Did you know that medications used to treat high cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood can help diabetic retinopathy? In two clinical studies, the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study and the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study, the medications Fenofibrate (TriCor, Lipofen, Triglide, Trilipix) and Statins (Lipitor, Crestor, Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor) have been found, to reduce the signs of blood vessel disease in the retina from diabetic retinopathy but also to actually reduce the need for certain treatments for diabetic retinopathy.  We are hoping that additional research becomes available that helps us help patients with diabetes avoid the sight threatening complications of this terribly common disease.

If you or someone you know has diabetes please be sure to have regular eye exams in order to avoid the potentially blinding vision loss from this disease. Schedule an eye exam at Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.

Google Artificial Intelligence Can Help Diabetic Eye Exams

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) more than 29 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and are therefore at risk for diabetic retinopathy and its associated vision loss and potential blinding complications. All diabetics should have regular eye exams with thorough retina exams. The task of diabetic eye exams is enormous and soon will be assisted by Google Artificial Intelligence disease detecting software. Researchers, reporting in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology showed that by using Google software to analyze images and then having retina specialists provide input to refine the algorithms,  it allowed the computer software disease detection software to become roughly as effective at the retina specialists. This technique of using machine learning “neural networks” to refine disease detection is hopefully able to bring even more effective early detection and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy to those at risk.

If you or someone you know has diabetes please be sure to have regular eye exams as early detection, diagnosis and treatment are the keys to preventing vision loss from diabetes. Schedule a diabetic eye exam at Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.