What is Botox?

Every week in practice a new evolution comes to me. This week I was stunned by the number of patients that have came in for Botox treatment without really understanding what it is that Botox does or what Botox can do.

Interestingly enough Botox has been available since approximately 1980 for treatment of strabismus or crossed eyes in children. (Read More)

In a recent article in 2009 Ahmed K, et al wrote “increasingly there is a demand for professional accountability through re-certification because of concerns about professional negligence and increased awareness of medical errors. The authors described the process of re-certification in different geographical regions and discussed the role of current who was used to re-certify cardiovascular specialist and in particular how their use can contribute to the requirements of patient care.” (Read More)

I can’t see up close- Presbyopia
Presbyopia will affect every person. No one can escape it but, don’t despair just yet. It usually affects people above 40. It is the result of the aging of the lens which makes it more rigid and unable to flex or focus on objects that are up close. As a result, people experience blurred near vision when reading, working at the computer or otherwise doing near work.
Presbyopia cannot be prevented but it can be treated. Almost half of all Americans are age 40 and older. All of these people are experiencing or about to experience presbyopia. Presbyopia is a refractive error and your ophthalmologist can help you find the treatment that best fits your needs.
Symptoms and Signs
In the initial stages, presbyopia forces the individual to hold things further away when reading. The affected individual may also need additional lightning to be able to read. When the person reads for a long period of time, they may feel strain, pain or feel fatigued.
Common symptoms of presbyopia are:
• Difficulty reading fine print, particularly in low light conditions
• Eyestrain when reading for long periods
• Blurred near vision
• Difficulty transitioning between viewing distances from close to far
• The feeling that your arms have become "too short" to hold reading material at a comfortable distance (Read More)

Having LASIK is an exciting and important decision that can offer you a level of newfound freedom and the ability to live your life in a whole new way with less dependence on glasses and contacts! With Eye Physicians of Long Beach, that dream can become your reality. Your consultation is the first step toward achieving the freedom from glasses or contacts you are looking for. (Read More)

Why put off to tomorrow what you can do today? Regain your youthful vision now, so you can enjoy it that much longer.
Cataract surgery has an excellent track record and is highly successful. When vision deteriorates, and any of one’s daily activities begin to suffer, it may be time to consider surgery. The benefits outweigh the risks when the decision is guided by your surgeon. And regaining youthful vision sooner, rather than later, is the biggest benefit of them all. (Read More)

Graves' disease and the associated eye changes (thyroid related eye disease-TED) can be frustrating for affected patients. The eye symptoms usually occur around the same time as the onset of the thyroid dysfunction. Many patients with thyroid abnormalities will only be affected mildly by the eye disease. Approximately 5% of the patients with TED will have severe disease that can cause vision loss and blindness. Although the incidence of eye disease associated with thyroid dysfunction is higher and more severe in smokers, there is no way to predict which patients will be affected. (Read More)

Several articles have recently been published that support the conclusion that, in the year 2011, you are better off with all laser LASIK than with LASIK using a microkeratome. 1-4 Both procedures are relatively safe and very successful but all laser LASIK offers the safest, most precise treatment of hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism. (Read More)

It’s that time of the year again! Time for outdoor fun in the sun. It’s summertime! As we head outside to enjoy the warm weather and the sun’s rays, we must also remember to protect ourselves from too much of a good thing. Sun protection of the skin with sunscreen, hats and umbrellas are part of the summer routine, but we can’t forget to protect our eyes.
The sun’s rays are ultraviolet (UV) which can be dangerous to our eyes. Just as too much UV light can damage our skin, our eyes also have an outer ‘skin’ called the conjunctiva, that can be suffer from long term exposure to UV rays. Thickening of the layer of the ‘white’ area of the eye produces a pinguecula. In some cases the thickened conjunctiva can grow onto the more central ‘colored’ part of the eye, the cornea. This is called a pterygium. With extensive growth toward the pupil, vision can become blurred.
Accelerated growth of a cataract, the clouding of the lens of the eye, can also be associated with UV exposure. Macular degeneration has also been linked to UV rays. (Read More)

Today is my one month anniversary working at Eye Physicians of Long Beach and I would like to offer up some thoughts. After working at the Doheny Eye Institute for almost a decade the thought of making a job change was absolutely terrifying to me. I want to to take this opportunity to thank Drs. Martinez and Donovan for inviting me to join the family at EPLB. I especially want to thank all the staff at EPLB for making my transition so smooth and painless. I truly could not have done this without all of you. (Read More)