A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye which can result in decreased vision, glare at night, and halos around light. We are born with this lens being clear, and it helps to focus images clearly. 

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Cataracts are a normal part of getting older although they can occur earlier in people who have diabetes, smoke, and/or have had excessive exposure to sunlight. 

Cataract surgery is currently the only treatment for cataracts. There are no eyedrops or pills that can get rid of a cataract. 

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Cataract surgery involves making a small incision through the cornea, making a hole in the front of the lens capsule (bag) and removing the lens in little pieces with a phacoemulsification handpiece. A new, plastic, acrylic or silicone lens is then placed in the lens capsule. While a femtosecond laser can be used to assist in this surgery with increased precision and help correct astigmatism for improved vision, there is still a manual component to all cataract surgeries.

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There are different types of lenses that you can have inserted into your eye:

• Monofocal (standard) lenses allow for you to see up close or far away more clearly without glasses–not both. 

• Toric lenses correct astigmatism which are necessary to be glasses free at a given distance if you have significant corneal astigmatism 

• Multifocal (ex Panoptix) lenses allow for you to see up close AND far away without glasses. Some people experiencing glare at night, halos around lights, and decreased contrast sensitivity with these lenses. These lenses are the best option to be "glasses free" after cataract surgery

• Extended depth of focus (EDOF, ex Vivity) lenses provide a larger range of clarity without glasses but may require reading glasses for near work. These lenses tend to have less glare, halos, and decreased contrast sensitivity than multifocal lenses.

• Light Adjustable Lenses (LALs) are the only lenses that can be adjusted after your cataract surgery. These lenses are fine-tuned after surgery with a series of light treatments to ensure that you have the visual outcome that you want without glasses after surgery.

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Picking the correct lens for your eye requires precise measurements to achieve the best vision outcome for you. While Dr. Fliney's clinic has state-of-the-art machines for these measurements, intraoperative aberrometry (ORA®) takes measurements of the eye during surgery after the cataract is removed to more precisely choose the best strength of intraocular lens to achieve the best visual outcome.

Glaucoma is a progressive disease of the nerve that connects the eye to the brain (optic nerve) that is characterized by a decrease in visual field (peripheral vision). It is a "sneaky" disease because patients can have significant loss of peripheral vision from glaucoma before noticing it, and once this vision is lost, it will not come back. 

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The main way to prevent the progression of glaucoma is to decrease the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure or IOP). This can be achieved with eyedrops, injectable medication, laser treatments, and surgery. Glaucoma surgery has recently been an area of much innovation. A new class of surgeries has been created and is called Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS).

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MIGS procedures are less invasive than traditional glaucoma surgeries, meaning that they require less manipulation of eye tissues. This helps reduce the risk of complications and decreases healing time while still offering the benefit of decreasing intraocular pressure. 

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Dr. Fliney is experienced in using all the latest MIGS devices and offers the following procedures: 

• iStent®

• Hydrus® microstent

• Kahook Dual Blade® Goniotomy 

• Omni® Surgical System for Canaloplasty and Goniotomy

• Xen Gel Implant ®

The more birthdays we have, the more our upper eyelid skin and eyebrows can lose their form and move downward. This can lead to skin getting in the the way of vision, heaviness of the upper eyelids making it difficult to open your eyes fully, and/or a cosmetic effect that you may want changed. Sometimes there can also be brow asymmetry from a Bell's palsy (Facial nerve palsy). 

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A common and effective treatment for excess eyelid skin (dermatochalasis) is a surgical procedure called a blepharoplasty. This procedure involves removing excess upper eyelid skin symmetrically and then suturing the skin closed. This creates a thin scar that hides well in the eyelid crease. 

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For eyebrows that have moved downward (brow ptosis), Dr. Fliney offers both external (direct) brow lifts and internal browpexy. These procedures are helpful for raising the eyebrows which can greatly improve peripheral vision. 

When is the last time that you had an eye exam? It's recommended to get annual dilated eye exams to screen for eye conditions that you may not know that you have.

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Comprehensive eye exams can include checking vision with a glasses script, contact lens fitting, slit lamp examination with a dilated eye exam, and additional testing as needed such as: fundus photography (pictures of the inside of the eye), optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the optic nerve or retina, visual field testing, topography (measuring the curvature of the cornea), and ultrasound. 

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Dr. Fliney provides routine eye exams, and he screens for and treats various eye diseases. These diseases include: dry eye, ocular allergies, styes, lid skin lesions, recurrent corneal erosions, keratoconus, inflammation of the eye (uveitis), glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, macular degeneration, and more. 

Dr. Fliney is dedicated to answering all of his patients' questions to help them make informed decisions about their care. Schedule an appointment today, and he would be happy to provide you with more information.