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For the majority of people recovering from cataract surgery, a regimen of eye drops are prescribed in order to prevent infections in the eye.
For three to four weeks, those patients need to apply two or three different drops, three or four times a day. On top of the inconvenience of having to remember to regularly administer these drops, the prescriptions can cost hundreds of dollars.
Dr. Jason Ahee and his colleagues at Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at the Zion Eye Institute are working to change that standard of care, not just for their own patients but, they hope, for everyone recovering from cataract surgery.
“I had been looking at the preliminary research on intraocular antibiotic injections,” Ahee said. “It’s not a new thing to give medication injections into and around the eyeball but it’s almost surprising to think that we haven’t thought of doing this sooner for cataract surgery.”
The technique involves injecting antibiotic medicine into the eye during the cataract operation, during which surgeons remove the patient’s clouded lens and replace it with a new one. While dropless cataract surgery has been offered in the past, this new technique involves injecting the antibiotic, not all the way into the center of the eye, but just into the area between the cornea and the lens.
After reading about the potential benefits of dropless cataract surgery and talking about the idea with other doctors at conferences and other meetings, Ahee pitched the idea to his fellow surgeons at Dixie Ophthalmic.
“As a group, we talked about it, thought about it, and we thought this could be a really be a beneficial thing for our patients. This could help them in every way,” Ahee said. “So we developed our own protocol where we can deliver the antibiotic directly to the eye during the cataract surgery so the patient doesn’t have to take any eye drops at all.”
The surgeons at Dixie Ophthalmic began using the technique on a limited basis late last year, but their success with the technique and the outcomes they were seeing led them to increase their use of the dropless surgery.
“We started out slow,” Ahee said. “We were just doing a handful of cases to get more comfortable with the technique but, at this stage, we’re doing everybody dropless. We’ve been doing everybody dropless since the beginning of the year.”
Since they began using the new technique, doctors at Dixie Ophthalmic have now performed the dropless surgery more than 1,500 times.
Mesquite resident Gene Gruenig had cataract surgery at Dixie Ophthalmic in June and was one of the patients who benefited from the use of this new technique.
“There was nothing to it,” Gruenig said. “When you get your surgery, you’re all done. You don’t have to mess with (drops), which is great.”
Gruenig has had cataract surgery once before, about six years ago, in Billings, Montana, and he wasn’t a fan of the eye drops.
“It was no good,” Gruenig said. “I’m claustrophobic, so anything that gets around my eyes, I don’t like. And the drops, there’s one or two of them that are fairly expensive. They’re just a pain. It was just a lot more convenient with the dropless.”
An added bonus for patients is the dropless surgery comes at no out-of-pocket expense.
“The surgery center absorbs the cost,” Ahee said. “We believe so strongly in this technique that we’re okay with that, it’s worth it to get the safety and the better results.”
With cataract surgery listed as the most common surgery performed in the United States, the potential to save a great number of people the inconvenience and cost of having to use eye drops after the procedure could add up to significant savings of time and money. “About half of Americans over the age of 80 will develop a cataract,” said Zachary Cox, the associate administrator at Dixie Ophthalmic. “It’s not a question of ‘if,’ it’s a question of ‘when.’”
Ahee said they’re so pleased with the success they’re seeing, he hopes to publish the results so other surgeons can benefit from the use of the technique.
“This seems to be a really big deal,” he said. “Not every doctor is going to adopt this type of technique right away, but we’re hoping, if we can publish some data, when they see how beneficial this is, I would hope they would look at it and feel more comfortable. This works. Not just theoretically, it’s actually working in the real world.”
For his part, Gruenig said he couldn’t be happier with his results.
“Everything is a lot brighter, it makes quite a bit of difference,” he said. “That cataract is just a cloud over your eye and this just clears everything up. I think people would be plumb happy with the dropless.”
Follow Jud Burkett on Twitter and Instagram @judburkett. Email him at [email protected] or call him at 435-674-6262.
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]]>The post Laser treatment for eye floaters comes to St. George appeared first on Zion Eye Institute.
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The annoying but relatively harmless eye floaters many people experience can now be a thing of the past thanks to a new laser procedure being performed in Southern Utah.
The Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at Zion Eye Institute has taken the initiative to start treatment on patients who are dealing with the obstructions in their vision.
Vitreolysis, also known as floater laser treatment, is a non-invasive method of using nanosecond pulses of laser light to evaporate the vitreous opacities, or floaters, and sever the vitreous strands.
Those in their 60s and 70s are the best candidates for the procedure though floaters are common occurrences for both males and females, according to Zion Eye Institute Ophthalmologist Jayson Edwards.
“Somebody who has gone through that process where the vitreous, that jelly-like substance, has peeled off the retina and it’s more central within the center of the eye, are better candidates,” Edwards said. “You can do it before or after cataract surgery though those who have already had surgery are easier to do because there’s less of a risk.”
Specialists at the institute have been performing the procedure since the beginning of the year with the three main doctors performing about 10 to 12 procedures each.
Edwards said they have probably had about 30 to 40 patients since they first started the procedure.
The treatment has been around for several years and Edwards has seen it become popularized in states such as California and cities like Las Vegas. He said he believes the institute is the first place to offer the treatment in Washington County.
Before the laser treatment was available, floaters were only able to be removed through an invasive eye surgery to remove the vitreous gel, where the floaters are found.
The vitreous gel is 99 percent water and one percent solid elements. It’s those solid elements that coalesce and form condensations that cause floaters in a person’s line of vision, Edwards said.
“Anytime you’re inside the eye the risk is higher,” Edwards said in regards to the surgery.
The newly-available laser surgery takes between 10 to 30 minutes per session with some patients needing to return for multiple sessions if all the floaters cannot be removed.
Most patients have their insurance cover the laser procedure if they plan to have it performed at Zion Eye Institute. If someone does decide to make a cash payment for vitreolysis, it will cost them $820, Edwards said.
Once the procedure is finished, most patients will find their vision slightly blurry but will have their eyesight back to normal within a few hours.
Floaters that have been vaporized will not return though new floaters can form in different areas of the eye.
“Just about everybody is going to develop these; it’s part of the aging process and the whole degeneration of that jelly-like substance, the vitreous, that occurs to all of us,” Edwards said. “It’s just a part of being human and getting older, some develop worse, some develop hardly at all, some have floaters but don’t see them.”
Follow Nichole Osinski on Twitter, @nrosinski, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/osinskireporter. Call her at 435-674-6231.
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]]>The post NEW TECH: Implanting telescopes into eyes appeared first on Zion Eye Institute.
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Give it a try, right now, focus your eyes off to the side of the paper or the computer, don’t look directly at the words, and try to read. It’s challenging, if not impossible.
More than 15 million Americans dealing with age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, don’t have to imagine what it’s like, they live with the reality of losing the center of their vision every day.
Until recently, once this condition reached its end-stage, there was no way to correct this form of blindness. There were no drugs, no surgeries, no glasses that could give those dealing with this condition any form of relief.
However, in 2010, the Food And Drug Administration gave approval to a radical new treatment for end-stage AMD that involves the implantation of a tiny telescope into the eye.
“It’s similar to cataract surgery, but it’s more involved than cataract surgery,” said Dr. Jayson Edwards, the surgeon at Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at Zion Eye Institute who was the first to perform the surgery here in St. George earlier this summer. “The main difference is the incision size is quite a bit bigger because it’s a bigger implant.”
There is a long list of criteria a patient must fit in order to be eligible of the implant: they must be over the age of 65; they can’t have had any previous cataract surgeries and must still have their natural lenses in their eyes; the degeneration of their vision must have stabilized; and they must be able to pass a series of cognitive and vision tests.
“They call it end-stage because it’s as bad as you can get,” said Dr. Jason Ahee, the executive director of the Zion Eye Institute. “These are not very common. The majority of patients who are identified for possible implant don’t make it through the complete selection process. It’s pretty rigorous criteria.”
But for those who pass the pre-screening, the device can have an enormous impact on their lives.
“Things that we take for granted that are impossible if you had both eyes with a blind spot in the middle — if we can get them to even be able to play solitaire on their computer for example, that’s a big deal for these people,” said Ahee. “It’s important to have realistic expectations. If you lost your driver’s license because you’re legally blind, it’s not going to get you your license back, but gaining three to four lines on the eye chart, (being able to do) daily tasks like reading, watching TV, cooking, paying bills — some of these smaller tasks — can make a big difference to people.”
General Ophthalmologist Jason A. Ahee, M.D. and Surgeon Jayson Edwards, M.D. discuss the process of surgically implanting a telescope into the eyes of patients with macular degeneration Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. (Photo: Chris Caldwell / The Spectrum & Daily News)
“It’s not going to give you 20/20 vision, but if we can help people gain a little bit of independence, that’s what we’re trying to find,” said Edwards.
The miniature telescope, once placed inside the eye, magnifies the patient’s vision by a factor of about 2.5 times.
“The telescope magnifies what you’re looking and it reduces the impact of the blind spot,” said Ahee. “It magnifies what you’re looking at so you can see it around the blind spot. The blind spot is still there, there’s just not as much of an impact because it’s only blocking out a part of the image.”
Once the device is implanted, there is a learning curve when it comes to using the telescope. “They have to go through occupational therapy; they give them exercises to do; they have to go home and practice. From a surgical standpoint, (recovery) only takes a couple of weeks, but it will take several weeks to several months to fully recover and to use the technology,” said Ahee.
“Just like when you look through binoculars or a telescope, you lose that peripheral vision,” said Edwards. “But you still have your other eye; the two eyes helps each other out. They train their brain to see with one eye.
So far, the team at Zion Eye Institute has only had one patient undergo the procedure, but they are hoping to be able to help more patients with AMD in the very near future.
“The first one we did went pretty well, we were happy with the outcome,” Ahee said. “From a clinical standpoint, she’s doing really good, her vision has improved with the implant, and she seems to be happy about it. We hope she’ll improve even more with her (occupational therapy) sessions.”
While the having the tiny telescope implanted is costly, Ahee says the procedure is now covered by Medicare.
“It’s a nice feather in our cap,” Ahee said. “We’re the biggest and best facility in St. George, so it’s up to us to do these more advanced technologies. It took awhile, but it’s definitely worth it. The fact that they can make a telescope that fits inside of your eyeball, the technology is pretty neat. We’re hoping that it helps out a lot of people.”
Follow Jud Burkett on Twitter and Instagram @judburkett. Email him at [email protected] or call him at 435-674-6262.
Get more info here about the Implantable Miniature Telescope
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]]>The post New therapy helps fight corneal disease appeared first on Zion Eye Institute.
]]>As keratoconus progresses, the shape of the cornea gradually changes from a symmetrically round shape into an irregularly shaped cone. The cornea begins to thin and bulge outward. Tiny fibers within the cornea that hold the shape become weaker, allowing this distortion to progress, and the vision to worsen.
This degenerative eye disease typically starts in young patients in their 20s and can be inherited. As the cornea is largely responsible for correctly focusing light into the eye, this progressive change in keratoconus patients causes the cornea to become distorted, resulting in significant loss of vision. Traditional treatment ranges from rigid contact lenses for mild disease, to surgical transplantation of the cornea in advanced disease.
Now a new non-surgical technology known as Corneal Crosslinking offers hope for better treatment.
Jayson Edwards, M.D., of the Zion Eye Institute in St. George, is the leading expert on corneal disease and surgery in southern Utah. He is the only fellowship-trained corneal specialist between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
“Until recently, treatments (for keratoconus) consisted of methods to help maintain adequate vision while the disease continued to progress,” Edwards said. “None of these therapies are able to stop the progression of the disease. Corneal Crosslinking is a new, advanced technology that provides the first and only treatment aimed at stabilizing the underlying weakness of the cornea and stopping the progression of keratoconus.”
First introduced in 1998 in Germany, Corneal Crosslinking has been extensively researched and studied. Since 2006 it has been widely used and accepted in more than 400 clinical centers in Europe. It was first brought to the United States in 2008 and is currently in FDA Clinical Trials.
It is now being offered in a small number of clinical centers in the United States including the Zion Eye Institute, which was was recently recognized as one of the top 50 eye surgery centers in the nation.
Corneal Crosslinking utilizes an eye drop containing riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and an ultraviolet light source applied to the cornea over an approximately 30-minute period. This increases the molecular bonds between collagen fibers in the cornea, thereby increasing the rigidity and mechanical strength of the corneal tissue. This additional strength stabilizes the cornea allowing it to maintain a more normal shape and resist progressive degeneration.
After Corneal Crosslinking, many patients are able to maintain good vision with contact lenses or glasses and avoid developing advanced disease which could lead to corneal transplantation. This new treatment may also be beneficial for patients suffering from other forms of corneal instability, such as after laser vision correction with LASIK or PRK, or corneal dystrophies and other degenerative corneal changes.
Dr. Edwards is the only Fellowship trained Cornea Specialist in St. George, Mesquite and Cedar City. This technology is being offered exclusively at Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at Zion Eye Institute. For information, call 435-656-2020.
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]]>The post New Corneal Transplant Procedure Now Available In St. George appeared first on Zion Eye Institute.
]]>The clear protective layer of the front of the eye, the cornea, is responsible for focusing light entering the eye and producing a sharp image on the retina. Like the lens of a camera focusing light on the film, the cornea focuses light on the retina. The shape and clarity of the cornea is immensely important for precise vision. A cloudy or irregularly shaped cornea can cause vision to be impaired. A poorly functioning cornea may need to be totally or partially replaced by a corneal transplant procedure.
A traditional corneal transplant consists of replacing the full thickness of the cornea with healthy donor tissue and had been actively performed for more than 50 years. Though visual outcomes are generally very good, the large 360 degree wound is weak and there is risk that it may rupture. A new procedure, called DSAEK (pronounced dē’ sek; descemets stipping automated endothelial keratoplasty) is a partial thickness corneal transplant that replaces only the inner layer of the cornea. In patients where only this layer of the cornea is defective, DSAEK offers several advantages over traditional full thickness transplants, including smaller incisions, minimal stitches and faster recovery time.
The innermost layer of the cornea consists of only a single layer of cells called the endothelium. These cells acts like water pumps, pumping out excess water from the cornea to keep it from swelling. Many people, through age, trauma, or genetics have damage to this cell layer, resulting in fluid accumulating in the cornea. The damaged areas are called corneal guttata and can progress to a stage called Fuchs corneal dystrophy. Symptoms include hazy vision in the morning that clears throughout the day, glare, difficulty reading, and poor vision in low light conditions.
DSAEK aims to replace only this inner layer of the cornea. It is performed as an outpatient procedure under topical anesthesia. A small incision is made to gain access to the inner layer of the cornea. This damaged endothelial tissue is removed and a new layer of tissue is inserted into the eye. A few stitches are used to close the wound, and the new tissue is centered and held in place with an air bubble. This bubble holds the new layer against the existing layers of cornea. The patient is then sent home to lie comfortably on their back. The air bubble only remains in the eye for a short period of time and is absorbed over a couple of days.
Most patients notice visual improvement within the first few weeks after the surgery. Full recovery usually takes place over the next three to four months.
Jayson Edwards,MD is the only fellowship trained cornea specialist in southern Utah. Dr. Edwards completed his Corneal Fellowship at Tulane University in Louisiana and is now in private practice with the Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at Zion Eye Institute in St. George. He specializes in diseases affecting the cornea,including keratoconus,corneal dystrophies,infections and ocular surface reconstruction. He performs corneal transplants,DSAEK surgery,LASIK,cataract surgery and other complicated surgeries involving the front of the eye. For more information call 435-656-2020 or visit www.dixieos.org
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]]>The post Dr. Edwards Offers Advanced Cataract and Corneal Eye Surgeries in St. George and Cedar City appeared first on Zion Eye Institute.
]]>The clear protective layer of the front of the eye, the cornea, is responsible for focusing light entering the eye and producing a sharp image on the retina. Like the lens of a camera focusing light on the film, the cornea focuses light on the retina. The shape and clarity of the cornea is immensely important for precise vision. A cloudy or irregularly shaped cornea can cause vision to be impaired. A poorly functioning cornea may need to be totally or partially replaced by a corneal transplant procedure.
A traditional corneal transplant consists of replacing the full thickness of the cornea with healthy donor tissue and had been actively performed for more than 50 years. Though visual outcomes are generally very good, the large 360 degree wound is weak and there is risk that it may rupture. A new procedure, called DSAEK (pronounced dē’ sek; descemets stipping automated endothelial keratoplasty) is a partial thickness corneal transplant that replaces only the inner layer of the cornea. In patients where only this layer of the cornea is defective, DSAEK offers several advantages over traditional full thickness transplants, including smaller incisions, minimal stitches and faster recovery time.
The innermost layer of the cornea consists of only a single layer of cells called the endothelium. These cells acts like water pumps, pumping out excess water from the cornea to keep it from swelling. Many people, through age, trauma, or genetics have damage to this cell layer, resulting in fluid accumulating in the cornea. The damaged areas are called corneal guttata and can progress to a stage called Fuchs corneal dystrophy. Symptoms include hazy vision in the morning that clears throughout the day, glare, difficulty reading, and poor vision in low light conditions.
DSAEK aims to replace only this inner layer of the cornea. It is performed as an outpatient procedure under topical anesthesia. A small incision is made to gain access to the inner layer of the cornea. This damaged endothelial tissue is removed and a new layer of tissue is inserted into the eye. A few stitches are used to close the wound, and the new tissue is centered and held in place with an air bubble. This bubble holds the new layer against the existing layers of cornea. The patient is then sent home to lie comfortably on their back. The air bubble only remains in the eye for a short period of time and is absorbed over a couple of days.
Most patients notice visual improvement within the first few weeks after the surgery. Full recovery usually takes place over the next three to four months.
Jayson Edwards,MD is the only fellowship trained cornea specialist in southern Utah. Dr. Edwards completed his Corneal Fellowship at Tulane University in Louisiana and is now in private practice with the Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at Zion Eye Institute in St. George. He specializes in diseases affecting the cornea,including keratoconus,corneal dystrophies,infections and ocular surface reconstruction. He performs corneal transplants,DSAEK surgery,LASIK,cataract surgery and other complicated surgeries involving the front of the eye. For more information call 435-656-2020 or visit www.dixieos.org
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]]>The post Zion Eye Institute Receives National Recognition appeared first on Zion Eye Institute.
]]>Becker’s ASC Review released the “50 Ophthalmology-Driven ASCs to Know” list for 2013. The list is comprised of ophthalmology-driven ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that include advanced procedures and perform a high volume of eye surgery cases annually.
The Zion Eye Institute is the largest and most comprehensive eye surgery center in southern Utah. They have 8 eye surgeons that cover every specialty in eye surgery, including LASIK, cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, cornea surgery, cosmetic eyelid/reconstructive surgery, retina surgery, and pediatric surgery. The surgical facility houses the most advanced equipment and state-of-the-art technology available, including the only on-site laser in southern Utah for laser vision correction surgery. Together, their team of specialists can treat even the most complex eye surgeries, and patients come from hundreds of miles for the specialized care provided by the Zion Eye Institute.
All the surgery centers on this list have been providing eye-specific care to their communities for a decade or more. They include routine and advanced procedures, and several engage in charity care and community service activities. Additionally, many centers include ophthalmologists doing cutting-edge research and have received recognition for the quality of care they provide.
This list was devised after public solicitation for recommendations by our editorial team and developed by internal research. Members of the list do not pay and cannot pay to appear on the list.
Jason Ahee, M.D., ophthalmologist, is the executive director of the Zion Eye Institute. “We are extremely proud to be on this list. It’s a great tribute to our surgeons and our staff to be recognized for the outstanding care and service that we continually strive to provide for our patients,” said Dr. Ahee.
Becker’s ASC Review is a Chicago-based publication focused on providing the most relevant business and legal news and analysis for ambulatory surgery center owners, operators, administrators and decision-makers. The publication includes electronic newsletters, online content and bi-monthly print publications sent to ASC leaders across the country.
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]]>The post Dr. Edwards Offers Advanced Corneal Eye Surgeries In St. George appeared first on Zion Eye Institute.
]]>Changes in the shape of the cornea can come in many different varieties, one of the most common being a condition called keratoconus. Generally starting in young people in their 20s, this disease causes a progressive weakening of the cornea over 10-20 years. Keratoconus gradually transforms the shape of the cornea from a symmetrically round shape to a cone shape, as well as causing it to thin. This severely affects the eye’s ability to produce a clearly focused image. Early treatment may consist of simply correcting with glasses, though as the disease progresses, specialized rigid gas permeable contact lenses may be needed. Oftentimes, this thinning and protrusion of the cornea becomes extreme, and may necessitate a corneal transplant. A transplant is the replacement of diseased tissue with healthy tissue. The cornea is one of the most common and most successful tissues to be transplanted.
Other conditions that affect the cornea may arise from a problem with only a single layer of the cornea. The cornea is made up of five layers, with the innermost layer consisting of only a single layer of cells called the endothelium. These cells acts like water pumps, pumping out excess water from the cornea to keep it from swelling. Many people, through age, trauma, or genetics have damage to this cell layer, resulting in fluid accumulating in the cornea. The damaged areas are called corneal guttata and can progress to a stage called Fuchs corneal dystrophy. Symptoms include hazy vision in the morning that clears throughout the day, glare, difficulty reading, and poor vision in low light conditions. Surgical intervention is often needed to improve vision, and in the past consisted of a full thickness corneal transplant. However, a new technique of corneal transplantation called DSAEK (pronounced dē’ sek; Descemets’ Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty) has been in use for the past several years. Instead of the entire cornea being transplanted, only the diseased layer of cells are removed and replaced. The rest of the cornea is left intact, allowing for a much faster recovery and improved outcome.
The cornea can lose transparency due to many different problems. Corneal infections and trauma may lead to scarring, and hereditary corneal dystrophies (a condition where cloudy material builds up in the cornea) may affect the ability of light to pass into the eye. Early detection and treatment may help preserve vision, though surgical options may be needed to improve vision lost from a cloudy cornea.
Jayson Edwards, MD is the only fellowship trained cornea specialist in southern Utah. Dr. Edwards completed his Corneal Fellowship at Tulane University in Louisiana and is now in private practice with the Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at Zion Eye Institute in St. George. He specializes in diseases affecting the cornea, including keratoconus, corneal dystrophies, infections and ocular surface reconstruction. He performs corneal transplants, DSAEK surgery, LASIK, cataract surgery and other complicated surgeries involving the front of the eye. For more information call 435-656-2020 or visit www.dixieos.org
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]]>The post New Eye Care Office Opening In Cedar City! appeared first on Zion Eye Institute.
]]>Now, with offices in Cedar City, St. George and Mesquite, there is always an Eye Specialist near by.
Now accepting new patients! Call today
(list these services) LASIK starting at $1495 per eye, New Laser Cataract surgery, Corneal surgery, Glaucoma surgery, Cosmetic/Reconstructive Eyelid surgery, Complete Medical Eye Exams
Plan to attend our open house and meet the doctors on Thursday August 29th.
We are pleased to welcome Jayson Edwards, M.D. to the Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at Zion Eye Institute. Dr. Edwards is the only fellowship-trained Cornea Specialist in southern Utah. He specializes in diseases and surgery of the cornea and ocular surface, including corneal transplant surgery, keratoconus, corneal dystrophies, and custom LASIK.
The addition of Dr. Edwards to our group of specialists marks a milestone for our practice and for eye care in southern Utah because we now have a fellowship-trained specialist for every field of eye surgery, making the Zion Eye Institute the first and only fully comprehensive eye surgery center in southern Utah. As a team, our group of highly experienced specialists can handle even the most complex eye surgeries, so there is no need to drive to Salt Lake City or Las Vegas for specialized eye care. We have the most advanced technologies and state-of-the-art equipment available, so all of your eye care needs can be taken care of right here in St. George by the Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists at Zion Eye Institute.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists,1791 E. 280 N., St. George, or call 435-656-2020.
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]]>The post New Laser Treatment For Glaucoma Now Available In St. George… Can Help Eliminate The Need For Eye Drops appeared first on Zion Eye Institute.
]]>Glaucoma is a condition of the eye that slowly causes damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that connects the eyeball to the brain, and can lead to blindness. In fact, glaucoma is the third leading cause of blindness in the world. It is estimated that 2.5 million Americans have glaucoma, but because there are no symptoms, many people don’t know they have it. It is important to get regular eye exams to check for glaucoma, especially if you have any risk factors, including family history of glaucoma, age over 45, diabetes, high blood pressure, and African-American or Hispanic heritage.
Glaucoma is usually associated with higher than normal eye pressure, and the treatment of glaucoma is aimed at lowering eye pressure. Most commonly, when someone is diagnosed with glaucoma, they are prescribed eye drops to take for the rest of their lives to help control the eye pressure and prevent vision loss. Often, patients need to take multiple drops and these eye drops can be expensive, difficult to take, or irritating to the eye.
This new laser treatment is called Endocyclophotocoagulation, or ECP. It can be easily performed in just a few minutes and is covered by medical insurance. It involves using a miniature endoscopic camera placed inside the eye to view the area that produces the fluid inside the eye. This area is then directly treated with a laser which decreases the production of fluid in the eye, and leads to decreased eye pressure. Several studies have shown that after treatment, most patients reduced or even eliminated the need to take eye drops.
“We are excited to add this state-of-the-art technology to our glaucoma surgical service in St. George,” said Dr. Ahee. “There are many glaucoma patients here that may otherwise need to travel to Salt Lake City or Las Vegas for glaucoma surgeries, but now we can perform all of these procedures here at the Zion Eye Institute, which is much more convenient for patients.”
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Dixie Ophthalmic Specialists, 1791 E. 280 N., St. George , or call 435-656-2020.
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