Establishing comprehensive eye care with an ophthalmologist is increasingly important as the eyes begin to age. We know finding a doctor that you like and trust can be difficult at times. At Eyes of York we pride ourselves on a quality experience from start to finish. Our doctors and staff take the extra time, every time, to explain the findings of your exam, leaving you with a feeling of comfort and understanding. We look to build longstanding relationships with all our patients. Whether you are being referred to our practice for a procedure or an existing issue, looking for a second opinion, or you would like to make us your primary eye care provider, we are here for you every step of the way.
Eyes of York, in York, Pennsylvania, offers more than just surgical procedures like LASIK, SMILE, PRK and Cataract Surgery. We also work very closely with patients to detect, monitor, and treat many other eye diseases and conditions such as Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Retinal Detachments, Dry Eye and more. The education, experience, and technology offered at our practice will ensure the confidence you have made the right choice for your eye care needs.
Presbyopic Refractive Lensectomy, also known as PRELEX, can be offered to patients who have not yet developed cataracts but have lost their ability to focus up close. By replacing the natural lens of the eye with a premium lens, patients gain the ability to see distance, intermediate, and up close. Schedule a refractive consultation to see if you can benefit from the latest in visual lifestyle choices available at Eyes of York.
The ability to focus comes from the cornea and the lens of the eye. Refractive errors are vision problems that occur when the shape of the eye prevents you from focusing well. Causes of Refractive Errors could be due ot the length of the eye being too short or too long, aging of the natural lens, or the changing in the shape or condition of the cornea.
Also known myopia as near sightedness, is when light rays entering the eye come to their focus point in front of the retina. The anatomy of the eye is usually responsible with either the cornea being very steep or the eye being much longer than average. Myopia tends to be hereditary and eyes may continue to lengthen with age. However, most myopia will stabilize before 30 years of age. Also, if the lens thickens with aging, older patients can notice their vision changing with distances becoming more blurred and natural near vision improving. This condition also known as “second sight” is a precursor to cataract development.
Also known as farsightedness, is when light rays entering the eye come to their focus point behind the retina. The anatomy of the eye is usually responsible with either the cornea being very flat or the eye being much shorter than average. Objects in close proximity will appear blurred as well as those at a distance. Hyperopia is also hereditary and is common in babies and children. As the eye grows, the degree of hyperopia lessens.
Presbyopia is the natural loss of accommodation with aging. Accommodation is the ability of a perfectly focused young eye to have range with vision from distance to near. For example, if you can read a road sign you can also read the road map. As the lens of the eye ages it also hardens and is no longer able to flex and bend. When the lens becomes sufficiently hard, near focus is lost and reading glasses are required. The average age presbyopia begins to occur is 40 years.
Astigmatism a common eye defect, eps10ism is a visual distortion created by an oval shaped cornea or lens. Light rays entering the eye are split and come to focus at two different distinct points creating visual distortion for both distance and near vision. Like myopia and hyperopia, astigmatism is also hereditary.
Blepharitis is caused by stagnant meibomian glands and bacteria on the surface of the eyelids and lashes. The bacteria can cause chronic infection or inflammation of the meibomian glands. Symptoms of blepharitis include crusting of the eyelashes when waking, flaking of the skin around the eyes, itchy eyelids, red or swollen eyes, a gritty sensation, and/or tearing.
Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea is “cone-shaped” instead of round or dome-like. The irregular cornea will bend light in different directions, creating visual distortion. Keratoconus is a degenerative disorder where symptoms usually become noticeable in the late teens and early twenties. Initial treatments include hard contact lenses which help the cornea maintain a more round shape and bring light into better focus. Some cases of keratoconus progress rapidly for ten to twenty years before ceasing. If the condition progresses, the cornea thins and may require surgery. Common symptoms of keratoconus include blurred vision, light sensitivity, and glare.
A medical exam is performed in the same initial manner as a routine eye exam. The reasons for the visit such as symptoms, complaints, and the patient’s diagnoses dictate the level and purpose of the examination and whether the focus will be routine or medical. A patient that presents for a routine eye exam may be interested in new glasses or contacts and may have a diagnosis of myopia with no medical findings. However, the patient appearing for a medical exam may leave with a diagnosis of glaucoma or dry eyes. During a medical eye exam, the structure of the eye may be evaluated by checking for refractive errors, anterior abnormalities, and dilating the pupil. By dilating the pupil the physician is able to take a more detailed look at eye structures past the pupil such as the lens and the retina, evaluating for any possible disease, damage, or irregularities. Medical issues are evaluated more thoroughly with expanded elements as appropriate for the eye exam and possible additional testing for specific conditions.
The frequency of your medical eye exam should be determined by your physician based on your ocular condition and individual treatment plan. Regular follow-ups are crucial when monitoring existing or potentially new conditions concerning the eyes, as some signs and/or symptoms may not be reversible.
Certain diseases and conditions are more commonly known to require medical eye exams, such as glaucoma, diabetes, and macular degeneration. Other conditions that warrant medical eye exams include cataracts, iritis, hypertension, chronic blepharitis, high myopia, Thyroid disease, Sjogren’s disease, and Lupus. If you have any question regarding what does or does not qualify for a medical exam, contact our office for help.
At Eyes of York, every patient receives a customized treatment plan based on their individual needs. This plan is formulated after a detailed evaluation of ocular diseases and symptoms as well as overall patient health to determine treatment options and frequency of appointments.
Your exam will likely last 1-2 hours and may include dilation of your pupils.
The focusing of an image with the human eye is similar to the way a camera focuses a picture. Light rays enter the eye and are bent through both the cornea and lens. The pupil acts like a camera shutter and will open and close to regulate the amount of light that enters the visual system. Most of the bent light rays that enter the eye must come together to a single point on the retina for us to see an image perfectly. If the cornea and lens cannot achieve this together, then glasses or contact lenses are needed. The retina acts like the film in a camera and receives the imprint of the picture, sending it on to the brain for final processing. These several different parts of the eye work together to create the image in front of you. If any of these parts of the eye are not functioning correctly the images you are viewing will be impacted.
