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WHY UV EYE SAFETY IS SO IMPORTANT
Posted on July 12, 2024
SCEI Optometrist, Dr. Pratima Gautam, answers questions regarding UV safety and why it's so important to protect your eyes. What are UV rays and why do we need to protect our eyes from them? Ultraviolet radiation energy is the band of electromagnetic radiation extending from roughly 400 nm to 200 nm produced by the sun. The main source of UV in the environment is from the sun. Sun exposure is the primary risk factor for skin cancer. UV Hazard: Skin. Skin cancers: Melanoma Basal cell carcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma Are there different types of UV rays? There are 3 UV subtypes UV-A UV-B - associated with develop... Continue Reading

DR. ROHIT VARMA BECOMES ESTEEMED MEMBER OF JOURNAL OF GLAUCOMA'S EDITORIAL BOARD
Posted on July 20, 2023
Dr. Rohit Varma, Chief Medical Officer of CHA HPMC and Founding Director of Southern California Eye Institute, has recently been appointed to the Editorial Board of the prestigious Journal of Glaucoma. Dr. Varma’s new role on the board signifies his wealth of experience and dedication to advancing glaucoma research and treatment. We interviewed Dr. Varma to le... Continue Reading

GLAUCOMA SURGERY: MINIMALLY INVASIVE GLAUCOMA SURGERY
Posted on April 5, 2023
Many glaucoma experts, including Dr. Rohit Varma, founder of the Southern California Eye Institute, have devoted many years to developing advanced glaucoma treatments that use new technologies. These treatments are designed and thoroughly tested to work better at reducing internal eye pressure and to make recovery faster, easier, and safer for patients. “Minimally invasive” means that the glaucoma surgeons cut less eye tissue with scalpels so and less healing is needed. Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is possible because the surgeon’s tools have be... Continue Reading

GLAUCOMA SURGERY: ENDOSCOPIC CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION (ECP)
Posted on March 8, 2023
In previous blogs, we discussed glaucoma surgery done by directing a laser beam of light through the front of the eye to treat open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma. Endoscopic glaucoma surgery allows surgeons to work from inside the eye to more precisely aim and power the laser beam. You may have heard of endoscopic surgery to repair knees or for a colonoscopy to check for colon cancer. These procedures are done through an endoscope, a tube inserted into the body that allows surgeons to see inside to do examinations and operations. For glaucoma laser surgery, the... Continue Reading

GLAUCOMA SURGERY: LASER PERIPHERAL IRIDOTOMY (LPI)
Posted on February 15, 2023
Glaucoma surgeons often use laser peripheral iridotomy (ear-id-dot-toe-me) or LPI to treat eye pressure symptoms from closed-angle glaucoma. In closed-angle glaucoma, the angle between the iris (colored part of the eye) and cornea (the clear covering over the eye) is too small or closed off. This lack of space for fluid drainage increases internal eye pressure that can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss or blindness. LPI is used to slow vision loss or, if detected early, to prevent damage before it occurs. During LPI, the glaucoma surgeon aims a laser beam along ... Continue Reading

GLAUCOMA SURGERY: SELECTIVE LASER TRABECULOPLASTY (SLT)
Posted on January 31, 2023
Glaucoma laser surgery is usually the next step if you can’t use eye drops, or the glaucoma medication prescribed by your glaucoma specialist doesn’t lower your inner eye pressure to a safe level. Glaucoma surgeons often use a laser to treat eye pressure symptoms. It can be done during a visit to a laser-equipped eye clinic. To decrease inner eye pressure, the surgeon uses a laser beam to make a tiny hole in your eye to allow fluid to drain. This procedure is called a selective laser trabeculoplasty (tra-BEK-you-l... Continue Reading

GLAUCOMA SURGERY: TRABECULECTOMY
Posted on January 24, 2023
Trabeculectomy (tra-BEK-you-lek-toe-me) is a common type of glaucoma surgery that reduces eye pressure symptoms. Your glaucoma surgeon may recommend it for treating open-angle glaucoma, closed-angle glaucoma, and other forms of the disease. In a trabeculectomy, a tiny portion of spongy tissue (trabecular network) is removed to allow extra eye fluid to filter out. The fluid gathers under the eyelid and forms a tiny blister (or bleb) that empties as the body absorbs the fluid into the bloodstream. After surgery, patients do not feel the blister and it is not noticeable ... Continue Reading

GLAUCOMA DRAINAGE TUBE SURGERY
Posted on January 10, 2023
In this type of glaucoma surgery, a tiny tube shunt is placed in your eye to drain away extra fluid. Less fluid means lower internal eye pressure. When pressure is reduced, the damage to the optic nerve can be slowed or stopped to preserve your eyesight. A glaucoma tube shunt is a flexible tube that drains fluid from inside the eye into a curved plate placed outside the eyeball under the eyelid. The fluid collects in the plate (called a reservoir or bleb) and is then absorbed by the body. Some tube shunts have valves that control the flow of fluid. The glaucoma surgeon places the tu... Continue Reading

GLAUCOMA TREATMENTS
Posted on January 3, 2023
Glaucoma medications are often used to lower inner eye pressure. Your glaucoma specialist may recommend eyedrops that are only available by prescription. These work by helping your eye drainage canals drain more fluid or by reducing the amount of fluid made by your eyes. The types of glaucoma eyedrops are listed in the chart below. Glaucoma at a Glance: Prescription Eyedrops Your glaucoma specialist may prescribe any of these medications to help control your glaucoma. It is very important to follow the directions for how to use the eye drops and when to take them. Type o... Continue Reading

GLAUCOMA SCREENING
Posted on November 14, 2022
The best way to protect yourself from glaucoma and vision loss is yearly eye examinations, especially if you are age 50 and older. During your exam, glaucoma screening can be done in your eye doctor’s office. Your eye doctor will look for signs of glaucoma by examining your eyes and optic nerves, measuring your inner eye pressure, and giving you a basic field of vision test. Depending on the results, your eye doctor may refer you to a glaucoma specialist. Glaucoma specialists use advanced procedures and equipment to further understand your glaucoma sympto... Continue Reading

OPEN-ANGLE AND ANGLE-CLOSURE GLAUCOMA. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
Posted on October 28, 2022
The three most common types of glaucoma are open-angle, and narrow-angle, and angle-closure, which are the same condition at different stages. All of them: cause damage to the optic nerve because of high inner eye pressure may be found through glaucoma testing during an eye exam may require medical treatment from a glaucoma specialist can be treated and managed with medicines and surgery Open-Angle Glaucoma The name open-angle glaucoma means it is not from any problem with the normal angle between the cornea and iris in your eye. Ninety percent or ... Continue Reading

TYPES OF GLAUCOMA
Posted on October 14, 2022
Normally, fluids drain from your eyes through tiny canals. If these canals become clogged or blocked, fluid drains too slowly and inner-eye pressure goes up. The pressure damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss or blindness. This can occur in one or both eyes. The word “glaucoma” is used to describe the different eye problems that drive up inner eye pressure and cause damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma screening allows specialists to catch the disease early and treat it, so vision can be saved. Glaucoma experts can reopen the canals with medications or glaucoma surger... Continue Reading

GLAUCOMA RISK FACTORS
Posted on October 7, 2022
In our last blog, we talked about glaucoma symptoms and glaucoma testing to help you see if you may have glaucoma and if so, share what you can do to protect your eyesight. If you don’t have signs of glaucoma, or wonder why you, a relative, or friend developed glaucoma symptoms, we gathered some information for you. Everything we share here is based on published research by glaucoma experts. Glaucoma risk factors are often based on your age, family history, health, and heritage. Compared to the general population, your odds of developing glaucoma... Continue Reading

INTRODUCTION TO GLAUCOMA
Posted on September 29, 2022
What Is Glaucoma? No doubt you want to learn more about glaucoma because it may be affecting you or someone you know or love. This is a great place to start. Glaucoma is the name given to several eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve and cause loss of vision. Most often this damage is caused by high pressure inside the eye. Much has been written about glaucoma, and understanding it all can be confusing. To protect and preserve eyesight, the most important things to learn first are the signs of glaucoma and the basics of... Continue Reading

VISION BENEFITS OF EATING HEALTHY
Posted on April 19, 2021
SCEI's Director of Optometric Services, Dr. Ora Esfahani, answers questions regarding the vision benefits of eating healthy! We’ve long heard that we need to eat carrots to protect our eyes. How much truth is there to this? How does that process work? You’ve heard it because carrots are a great source of vitamin A (converted from beta-carotene once ingested), which is necessary to maintain vision and ocular health. Although vitamin A deficiency may lead to blindness in extreme cases, in mos... Continue Reading

TIPS FOR MAINTAINING GOOD EYE HEALTH
Posted on April 4, 2021
SCEI's Founding Director, Dr. Rohit Varma, shares some tips for maintaining good eye health. What types of preventative measures can people take to protect their eyes from damage or from loss of vision? There are many things we can do to maintain our eyes healthy. The most important one is to get our eyes checked regularly by an ophthalmologist. Regular vision screening for refractive error and early eye disease may reduce or prevent individuals from experiencing unnecessary vision... Continue Reading

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SLEEPING IN YOUR CONTACT LENSES
Posted on December 7, 2020
SCEI's Director of Optometric Services, Dr. Ora Esfahani, answers questions regarding the consequences of sleeping in your contact lenses. 1. Can you nap in your contact lenses? Napping for a prolonged time period is not recommended while wearing contact lenses, unless you've been prescribed a brand that is approved for overnight wear. A short (20-minute or so) nap should be okay with your contacts, but the best practice is taking them out and storing them in contact lens so... Continue Reading

JAMES CAMP BIDS ADIEU TO CORRECTIVE LENSES AFTER PREMIUM CATARACT SURGERY AT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EYE INSTITUTE
Posted on August 27, 2020
After Lasik surgery in 2005, James Camp, 69, didn’t notice any problem with his eyesight until recently when he found himself struggling to read advertisements on the television. Camp started wearing glasses at the age of seven and later switched to contact lenses in high school. “After noticing my vision problem, I decided to visit the same local eye clinic where I got my Lasik surgery done. Upon visit... Continue Reading

WHY THE UNITED STATES IS LAGGING IN MEDICAL INNOVATION
Posted on March 5, 2020
Dry eye is a condition in which a person doesn't have enough quality tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing clear vision. Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem, particularly in older adults. As of recently and with widespread computer and smartphone usage, Dry Eye Disease is being diagnosed across a younger population as well as more mature adults. People with dry eyes may experience irritat... Continue Reading

HOW THIS SIMPLE CANCER TEST COULD SAVE LIVES
Posted on January 6, 2020
While glaucoma is a leading cause of preventable blindness around the world, medical professionals still do not know how the most common forms of the disease develop. Glaucoma is a progressive condition that causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve, which transmits visual signals to the brain. The condition involves abnormally high pressure of intraocular fluids inside the eye, which can compress the nerves of each eye and lead to vision loss. While this mechanism is relatively well underst... Continue Reading

THIS IS HOW NANOTECHNOLOGY IS LEADING TO ADVANCES IN CANCER RESEARCH
Posted on December 2, 2019
Technology is helping ophthalmologists diagnose and treat a range of different conditions, from diabetic retinopathy to glaucoma. One technology that shows promise for both diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma is optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA). This imaging technique provides a visualization of blood flow within the retina to give a clearer picture of the effects of glaucoma on ganglion cells. The destruction of these cells leads to permanent blindness. Accurate Visualizing of Bl... Continue Reading

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BRAIN INITIATIVE
Posted on October 23, 2019
Glaucoma is typically associated with older adulthood. However, according to the Genetics Home Reference, published by the United States National Library of Medicine, heredity can increase the risk of developing glaucoma at younger ages. In some cases, congenital structural problems in the eye can become obvious during a infant’s first year. These problems may be due to genetic abnormalities, which also affect other parts of the body. In the case of infants and young children, the disease is re... Continue Reading

THIS IS THE FUTURE OF COMMON DISEASE TREATMENT
Posted on October 21, 2019
According to a June 2019 article published in Forbes Magazine under the sponsorship of the Forbes Technology Council, the artificial intelligence-supported healthcare sector projections for 2025 are nearly $200 billion. Today’s AI-assisted healthcare developments largely center on improving results for patients at lower costs while aligning the interests of physicians, investors and other industry stakeholders. Here are a few of the leading developments that detail current and potential ways in ... Continue Reading

THREE WAYS SMARTPHONES MAY BE THE HEALTH TOOL OF THE FUTURE
Posted on August 29, 2019
A cataract is a clouding of the lens that results in a loss of vision. The chance of developing a cataract increases once a person is 40 year old. Below are some commonly asked questions and answers about cataracts: At what age do people commonly develop cataracts? Although, it is sometimes thought that cataracts are a problem that mostly affect older adults, the reality is they can often affect younger adults as well. Adults can devel... Continue Reading

BRAIN-BASED TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE
Posted on July 1, 2019
In the eyes of many Americans, the Fourth of July is a day for parades, barbecues and, of course, fireworks. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's most recent report showed that fireworks caused eight deaths and nearly 13,000 injuries in 2017. Two-thirds of the fireworks injuries treated in emergency rooms happened between mid-June and m... Continue Reading

RECENT INNOVATIONS IN GLAUCOMA MEDICATION
Posted on November 6, 2018
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, and it affects approximately 3 million people in the United States. The term refers to a group of conditions in which damage to the optic nerve from intraocular pressure, inflammation, trauma or reduced blood flow causes significant restriction of vision or total loss of sight. At the moment, glaucoma treatment focuses on relievin... Continue Reading

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE COST OF GLAUCOMA TREATMENT
Posted on October 30, 2018
Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness worldwide, and its prevalence is increasing. Because glaucoma is a serious and chronic condition, it is important for patients to have access to reliable care that is effective over the long term. Left untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness. It is an expensive condition in terms of direct monetary costs as well as indirect costs in the... Continue Reading

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CHILDHOOD GLAUCOMA
Posted on October 23, 2018
While glaucoma typically affects older adults, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) states that the disease can occur at any age — even in babies and children. Relatively few children develop glaucoma, with the congenital form of the disease occurring in about one out of every 10,000 births. Approximately one in every 10 cases of pediatric glaucoma... Continue Reading

HOW 63 RAISED-DOT CHARACTERS CHANGED THE WORLD FOR THE BLIND
Posted on October 5, 2018
In the town of Coupvray, just outside Paris, Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809. His birth would change the course of how blind people everywhere would be educated. Learning to live without sight Braille, a small, sickly son of a harness maker, lost his eyesight as a child due to a horrific accident. At age 3, Braille was playing in his father’s workshop when an awl he was handli... Continue Reading

THIS IS HOW THREE COMPANIES ARE CHANGING THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR
Posted on October 4, 2018
In terms of advancing the medical field, the most valuable work is being conducted by research scientists, educators and physicians employed at large scale nonprofit organizations, universities with a deep commitment to innovation and even smaller private foundations. These groups influence the growth of Convergence in Healthcare and also have a strong influence on innovation in the medi... Continue Reading

SEVEN ESSENTIAL FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT SPORTS-RELATED EYE INJURIES
Posted on September 28, 2018
1. Sobering statistics According to a 2014 article on the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)’s website, approximately 42,000 annual emergency medical visits are due to sports-related eye injuries. The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, joins the AAO in pointing out that every 13 minutes, an emergency room physician in the US treats someone ... Continue Reading

BRAIN-BASED TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE
Posted on September 27, 2018
The brain’s natural complexity is the primary reason it is difficult to study. Experts contend the largest challenge facing neurosciences is that the basics of the discipline remain largely unknown. Fortunately, academics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and other prominent US universities suggest the Convergence in Healthcare movement may hold the key to helping medi... Continue Reading

FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT DIABETES AND EYE DISEASE
Posted on September 21, 2018
Diabetes can significantly affect your eyesight and the health of your eyes. According to the World Health Organization, diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness and visual impairment among adults around the world. The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, states diabetes often leads to or exacerbates retinopathy, macular edema, glaucoma and ... Continue Reading

THREE WAYS SMARTPHONES MAY BE THE HEALTH TOOL OF THE FUTURE
Posted on September 20, 2018
Since the mid-1970s, the world has been in a state of technology-driven development known as the Information (or Digital) Age, generally characterized by the development of innovative tools to allow people to transmit increasingly large amounts of data and information at faster rates. The Internet is often singled out as the most defining element of the time. Today, computer engineering ... Continue Reading

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AMBLYOPIA
Posted on September 13, 2018
Amblyopia is decreased sight in one or both eyes due to abnormal development of vision in infancy or childhood. The condition cannot be corrected with prescription lenses. Ophthalmologists estimate that between 2 and 3 percent of all Americans experience amblyopia,. The condition is typically first noticed during infancy and the preschool years. Here are a few basic facts about amblyopi... Continue Reading

PIONEERING CATARACT SURGERY ADVANCES
Posted on September 6, 2018
In 1949, Sir Harold Ridley, an English ophthalmologist, performed the world’s first successful artificial intraocular lens (IOL) transplant surgery on a patient with cataracts. When he died in 2001, the Daily Telegraph obituary told of the ophthalmic surgeon’s perseverance to revolutionize cataract surgery and his undeterred work toward his goal. Today, the IOL procedure is commonl... Continue Reading

FOUR WAYS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS TRANSFORMING OPHTHALMOLOGY
Posted on August 30, 2018
In August 2018, the journal Nature Medicine published a paper describing exciting new research on applications of artificial intelligence (AI) to eye care. The research was conducted by staff members of Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and UCL, a subsidiary of Google’s DeepMind. The researchers used deep learning to develop an algorithm-focused software program. The program was able to... Continue Reading

THIS IS HOW THREE COMPANIES ARE CHANGING THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR
Posted on August 23, 2018
In 2016, a white paper "Convergence: The Future of Health" was published by faculty members from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to draw attention to the value and importance of the Convergence in Healthcare movement. In the 73-page report, Convergence in Healthcare is defined as an integrative approach to scientific research that incorporates concepts from the life and p... Continue Reading

RECENT INNOVATIONS IN GLAUCOMA MEDICATION
Posted on August 21, 2018
In the report "Convergence: The Future of Health," academics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and other top U.S. universities collaborated to outline the potential impact of the Convergence in Healthcare movement. In this white paper, Convergence in Healthcare is defined as the intersection of the life sciences, physical sciences, chemistry, mathematics, computing an... Continue Reading

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE COST OF GLAUCOMA TREATMENT
Posted on August 16, 2018
Based on data collected by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a part of the National Institutes of Health, an American’s lifetime risk of developing cancer at any site in the body is almost 40 percent. The NCI estimates that in 2018, more than 1.7 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and more than 600,000 people will lose their lives to the disease. With these... Continue Reading

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BRAIN INITIATIVE
Posted on July 3, 2018
In the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-sponsored report "Convergence: The Future of Health," American academic leaders outlined the forthcoming impact of the Convergence in Healthcare revolution on the United States healthcare industry. Best defined as an intersectional approach to research between members of the life science, physical science, mathematics, computing and chemistry ... Continue Reading

THIS IS THE FUTURE OF COMMON DISEASE TREATMENT
Posted on June 7, 2018
According to a growing number of scientists and academics, the third revolution in life sciences is taking shape in the form of Convergence in Healthcare, a movement that calls for the integration of the mathematics, engineering, computing, physical sciences and life sciences disciplines. Convergence in Healthcare seeks to combine the work of experts from these fields to produce more coh... Continue Reading

12 KEY COMPONENTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATION
Posted on May 31, 2018
Ophthalmologists check the health and general condition of patients’ eyes and conduct diagnostic tests to determine whether any disease is present. Early detection and treatment give the patient the best possible chance to overcome eye problems and diseases and retain clear, healthy sight. Depending upon a patient’s circumstances, age and particular concerns, an ophthalmologist may condu... Continue Reading

HERE IS THE ANSWER TO THE RISING COST OF U.S. HEALTHCARE
Posted on May 29, 2018
To say the modern American healthcare system is the subject of disagreement and debate is an understatement. When contemplating this subject, many people focus on the partisan disagreements between lawmakers in Washington, D.C. However, maybe the biggest problem with U.S. healthcare lies in a single, simple truth: healthcare in the United States grows more expensive for Americans every y... Continue Reading

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