Jason Randall Smith, OD,MS

The answer to your question totally depends upon why is your eye red and what is the cause of the red eye? Most commonly, there are several types of red eye/conjunctivitis problems including viral, bacterial, and allergic and they are all treated differently. There are internal eye problems such as iritis which can cause red eyes. Scratched corneas can cause red eyes, ingrown eyelashes can cause red eyes, foreign bodies can cause red eyes, styes and pingueculas can cause red eyes, and a need for a corrective prescription can lead to having red eyes. I would see an eye doctor to have your red eye fully evaluated. Good luck and best wishes.

Cataract surgery is not risky, but with any type of surgery, there are always risks that should, and will be minimized in order to have a good outcome. Cataract surgery is being done routinely for patients whose vision has become cloudy, decreased, or risky, as in driving or doing things we like to do. Certainly, age, health care problems, medications, and other eye problems must be considered when good outcomes are expected. You will be provided all of the risks, costs, benefits, outcomes, and necessary follow-up care instructions prior to surgery. You will be instructed as to what eye drops you will be required to use before and after surgery and all of the required follow-up appointments. You will be asked to sign an "informed consent" form where you will be aware and educated as to all of the above and you agree to have the surgery. You will need someone to accompany you to your appointments and please have a written list of all of your questions and concerns that should be answered by your surgeon or their staff prior to the surgery dates. Good luck and best wishes.

YES, glasses for myopia are totally safe, always. You have myopia because what you are looking at in the distance is blurry because things are focusing in front of your retina (the film of your eye-camera). Lenses will refocus what you are looking at onto the retina so that things should be clear. Things will be clear for a period of time, possibly years until a prescription change may be needed. This is normal for the eyes to change and will depend upon your amount of myopia, general health, medications you are taking, and your age.
Concerning eye glass lenses, lenses that are made of a specific plastic called polycarbonate are impact-resistant. They can scratch but should never shatter.
Transition lenses will provide you with some sun protection where the lenses change color to grey or brown providing you with comfort and protection. And do not forget sunglasses if you spend time outside as the weather gets warmer. UV rays can affect the eyes as well as the skin surrounding our eyes.
Eye glass frames can bend or break unless you specifically order an impact-resistant frame which can be required for certain risky jobs. Be sure to consult with your optician or eye doctor in order to determine what is best suited for your needs personally, professionally, and recreationally. Good luck and best wishes.

Your ophthalmologist and their staff will provide you all of the information concerning the "do's" and "do not's" before and after your surgery is completed. Follow all directions precisely and keep every post-op appointment. Your eye drops that you will use must also be followed exactly as prescribed concerning how many times a day to use them, how many drops to use, and how long these drops should be used for. The 3 primary eye drops may include an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory drop which can be included as an antibiotic-steroid drop, and artificial tears may also be prescribed. If you have glaucoma or your eye pressures went up during or after the surgery, glaucoma eye drops may also be prescribed. Please be sure to know exactly what you should do and ask your eye doctor and staff any and all questions in order to have a successful outcome. Good luck and best wishes.

The answer to this question will depend upon what type of glaucoma you have, and there are many types. If you have narrow angle glaucoma, the pressure can be lowered by having an iridotomy done (laser eye surgery) which should reduce your eye pressure. Sometimes cataract surgery can also increase the narrow angle to a wider angle also reducing your eye pressure. There are many types of open angle glaucoma and eye drops can be used to reduce your eye pressure. Please remember that new drops are coming onto the market frequently and a combination of 2 or more drops may be needed in order to get you to a safe pressure. Also, you should know that glaucoma is not a short-term problem. You will need to be followed for the rest of your life. And your optic nerves must be monitored by having dilated eye exams, having visual field tests, getting 3-6 month eye pressure checks, and visual acuity check-ups.
Good luck and best wishes.

It is possible that a conjunctivitis "MAY" clear up on its own. BUT, there are several common types of conjunctivitis. And if you do have "red eyes" is it from a conjunctivitis or from something else affecting the eyes? As an example, a scratched cornea can cause red eyes. And there are internal eye problems that can cause red eyes. And depending upon which problem you may have, that will determine if drops are required or if it may clear up on its own. Bacterial conjunctivitis requires an antibiotic or an antibiotic-steroid drop. If you are sick with a virus, this viral conjunctivitis may require artificial tears, over-the-counter, and the use of cold compresses. An allergic conjunctivitis will require determining what you are allergic to (pollen, dander, dogs, cats, etc.), and the use of antihistamine drops or vasoconstrictor drops will help in this treatment. I would strongly suggest, to be on the safe side, to make an appointment with your family doctor, an eye doctor, or go to an emergency center. Good luck and best wishes.

Every refractive surgeon/ophthalmologist will have a specific set of written instructions for you to follow after your LASIK surgery including which prescription eye drops to use, how often to use them daily, and for how long to use them for. An antibiotic drop is provided to prevent post-op infections. A steroid is prescribed in order to reduce inflammation. You will also be using artificial tears for a longer period of time in order to lubricate the cornea and to reduce corneal dryness. Your eye doctor will know your eyes the best and will determine exactly which drops will be used. If you have any questions, please consult with them to be exact about every detail that you are concerned about. Good luck and best wishes.

There are several options that can surgically correct astigmatism. What would be best for you would depend upon your age, how much astigmatism is present, is there any other associated nearsightedness or farsightedness, do you have any other corneal or eye problems, is your general health OK, and what are your short-term and long-term expectations? This should all be discussed with an ophthalmologist/refractive surgeon who will provide you with all of your options including costs, risks, and benefits. Laser vision correction including LASIK or PRK may be an option. And yes, cataract surgery can be another option. Limbal relaxing incision surgery may be another alternative for you. Once your doctor has all of your information as well as the results of your eye examination, your options should be much more precise. Good luck and best wishes.

Cataract surgery is done when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy or distorted to the point that your safety is at risk and your corrected vision becomes limited. The lens is replaced with an IOL- intra-ocular lens that should provide you with much clearer vision. If cataracts are present in both eyes, then one eye is done first, then the other eye is done at another time in the future. Cataract surgery is very safe and successful. There are standard cataract surgeries and also cataract surgery using a laser. When the laser is used, there is an additional cost that is not covered by insurance. Also, the type of IOL (an intra-ocular lens) that is used will depend upon your personal and professional visual requirements. The "high end" IOLS will not be covered by insurance. The standard IOLS should be covered by insurance. I would discuss all of your concerns with your ophthalmologist/refractive surgeon so that you are fully aware of all costs, co-pays, risks, and benefits. Good luck and best wishes.

Yes, farsighted LASIK can be done but there are a few factors that need to be considered. You must be at least 18 years of age, have had a stable, consistent prescription, and have no other corneal problems or other eye problems that will limit the success of having LASIK being done. You can hope to achieve 20/40 corrected vision which is certainly OK to function and to drive. But, if you are hoping for perfect, long-term 20/20 vision, I would discuss this and all of your concerns with your ophthalmologist/refractive surgeon. Good luck and best wishes.

A full, thorough eye exam can last from one to one and a half hours. The eye exam should include a refraction which checks your prescription, eye pressure check, internal and external microscope evaluation, visual acuity testing, visual field testing, pupil check, color vision tests, and dilation. Please find out if your eyes will be dilated because this can add at least 1/2 hour while waiting for the dilating eye drops to work. And you should also bring a driver because your vision will be blurry after dilation as well as being light sensitive (bring sunglasses to wear after the exam). A contact lens exam with fittings should also include instruction and lesson time which is sometimes scheduled after an initial eye exam. Please check with your eye doctor in order to know exactly what will be done as well as how the manage and handle their own specific exam schedules. Good luck and best wishes.

A dilated eye exam is part of an eye exam. Dilating eye drops are placed into each eye in order for the iris not to constrict when a bright light is shined into the eye. The dilated eye exam allows the eye doctor to fully view the full anatomy of the retina, optic nerve, lens, angle, and vitreous. When a light is shined into the eyes, the iris and the pupil constrict (get smaller), making the viewing area much smaller. The dilating drops prevent the pupil from constricting. These drops can last from 1 -3 hours making your eyes blurry and light sensitive. So, bring a driver and bring sunglasses. Good luck and best wishes.

If your "pink eye" is actually a conjunctivitis, there are several types of conjunctivitis including allergic, viral, and bacterial. If you have an illness or a virus, once a virus clears up, hopefully the conjunctivitis will pass, also. If you have an allergy to pollen, dander, dust, or pets, removing the allergen should also limit the conjunctivitis. If you have a bacterial conjunctivitis, a prescribed antibiotic or antibiotic-steroid would be necessary to eliminate the infection. Viral conjunctivitis can be treated with over-the-counter artificial tears. Cleaning the eyelids with a warm, soft washcloth will remove any debris that accumulates on the eyelids or eyelashes. Anti-allergy drops are available to treat an allergic conjunctivitis along with artificial tears and using cold compresses. If you are not sure of the problem, please see an eye doctor or your family doctor. A scratched cornea can create a red eye and there are several internal eye problems that can also create a red eye. And if it is actually a conjunctivitis, please do not share towels or washcloths and change your pillow cases daily. Good luck and best wishes.

Under most circumstances, most LASIK patients can see perfectly within 24 hours of their procedure, while some may need to rest for two to five days. Your ophthalmologist/refractive surgeon will provide you with an appropriate time frame as to what you should and should not do after the surgery as well as how long it will be to return to work or a normal post-op schedule. This will obviously depend upon your outcome which should be excellent. And they will also advise you as to when you need to return for your follow-up visits. Please discuss any concerns that you have with your surgeon because they know your eyes and your health history. Good luck and best wishes.

With any type of surgery, there are always risks. From my research, complications are rare, although some problems can occur. These include eye pain or discomfort, hazy, foggy or blurry vision, scratchiness, dryness and other symptoms of dry eye, glare, halos (rings) or starbursts around lights, double vision, decreased ability to see in low light, light sensitivity, and small pink or red patches of blood on the white of the eye that go away over time. Many of these side effects are temporary, but some can be permanent. I would discuss all of your concerns with your refractive surgeon/ophthalmologist and find out all of the costs, risks, benefits, and how many complications he or she has seen and what they have done to resolve the problem. As my Father, an optometrist once said as he taught me well, "there is no eraser at the end of a scalpel or a laser."
Good luck and best wishes.

LASIK risks may include eye pain or discomfort, hazy, foggy or blurry vision, scratchiness, dryness and other symptoms of dry eye, glare, halos (rings) or starbursts around lights, double vision, decreased ability to see in low light,
light sensitivity, and small pink or red patches of blood on the white of the eye that go away over time. Most of these problems can be temporary but some may last forever. I would discuss all of your concerns with your ophthalmologist/refractive surgeon so that you are aware of all of the costs, risks, benefits, and outcomes and are aware of how your surgeon will treat any problems that may occur. Good luck and best wishes.

Every patient and every surgery can be different, but under most circumstances, cataract surgery can be done by most skilled surgeons in 30 minutes or less unless complications occur. And there is a minimum of 30-90 minutes in a recovery area after surgery. I would discuss this with your surgeon so that you have a general idea as to what to expect. Good luck and best wishes.

Without a doubt, cataract surgery is effective. What is happening to your eyes is that the lens gets cloudy and this can affect your vision. There are many ways to describe a cataract, and there are several types of cataracts. But simply, instead of looking through a clear and clean window (the lens) during the day or at night, seeing clearly gets reduced with time (age-related cataracts). The "window/lens" can appear to be foggy, dull, dim, and possibly even dark depending upon the type of cataract and for how long it has been getting worse. Cataracts can also be affected if you have diabetes or take steroids. Some patients with breathing problems need to use steroid inhalers and they need to be monitored by an eye doctor for cataract development and to have their eye pressures checked to rule out another problem, glaucoma. I would check with your eye doctor so that you know what your corrected vision is, are you safe and comfortable driving, especially at night, and are your cataracts affecting your quality of life, your job, or your hobbies? My policy was for every patient is to fully know all the costs, risks, and benefits of any type of surgery as well as any eye surgery. And it is very important to know what the time-line prognosis may be and any consequences you have in waiting. A 40-year old with mild cataracts will possibly be able to wait as opposed to a 75-year old with more severe age-related cataracts. Your eye doctor knows your eyes and your health the best, so please contact them at your convenience to have all questions and concerns answered. Good luck and best wishes.

The biggest issue with laser-assisted cataract surgery is the added cost that is not covered by insurance. This dollar amount should be discussed with your surgeon so that you are aware of all financial requirements before and after your surgery, including copays that you may be responsible for.

"Surgeons pay for the laser machine, they pay for interfaces used for each case, they pay a royalty fee on each case, and they pay a significant yearly maintenance fee to keep the lasers working. These costs are not paid for by insurance companies and so the cost has to be incurred by the patient." From the website:
https://lasvegaseyeinstitute.com/cataract-surgery/laser-cataract-surgery-vs-traditional-cataract-surgery/

There is also a risk that the laser energy can make a dilated pupil smaller causing a small risk of surgical complications. You should discuss all of your concerns, questions, financial responsibilities, risks, and benefits with your surgeon, always. Good luck and best wishes.

This question is best answered based on how old your daughter is? Based on her age and a willingness and ability to place something into her eye, contact lenses may be an option as are glasses at any age. Refractive surgery is usually not considered until a child's eyes have reached a stable and consistent prescription status, usually at 18-21 years of age, but this can vary and will vary from surgeon to surgeon. Generally speaking, most LASIK eye surgeons agree on 25-40 as the ideal age range for LASIK eye surgery candidacy for a few reasons. By the age of 25, eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions have most likely stabilized. A stable prescription is one of the hallmarks of a good LASIK candidate. Here is a good website: https://www.hodgeseyecare.com/what-is-the-best-age-to-get-lasik/blog

Whatever options that you are considering, please discuss all of your questions and concerns with your eye doctor whether it be an optometrist or a refractive surgeon/ophthalmologist. Good luck and best wishes.