Dr. Roger V. Ohanesian

I have heard many persons state that it was a bug that “bit” them in the eye. They did not see the big do that but felt something in the eye…a foreign body sensation. When examined with a slit lamp that can magnify things up to 40 times, I have never in nearly fifty years of practice, ever seen a bug bite. It would be unlikely as the eye tissues have many nerves and a bug would cause a rapid blink response causing the bug to fly away.
More likely, this was a misdirected eyelash striking the cornea and causing a foreign body sensation or a chalazion (sty) developing in one of the oil secreting glands in undersurface of the lower eyelid.

Treatment by using a warm compress placed upon the closed eye has worked very well if used twice to four times a day. If symptoms persist or if there appears to be thickened, pus-like tears, then seek the help of an ophthalmologist as an antibiotic may need to be prescribed.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

Warm compresses and Omega-3 capsules, also known as fish oil. Sometimes the Meibobian glands (top layer of the tear film) that produces the oil gets clogged if a person has Omega-6, which is a thicker oil and is prone to clogging the gland. Warm compresses allow the thickened oil to liquify and return to covering the water layer to prevent it from evaporating. Beneath the water layer is the mucous layer that causes the tear layers to adhere to the cornea. Eating salmon frequently can substitute for Omega-3, but is often more expensive.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

Consider the vitreous to be similar to the albumin of an egg. If you crack a fresh egg, there is a membrane around the albumin and another around the yolk. If you crack a three week old egg, the albumen has degenerated and is now watery with white spots,condensations of protein in it. This is what happens to the vitreous in the eye. The amount that is still gelatinous is attached to the retina and can form traction as the eye moves up/down, right/left throughout the day. When this traction is in the periphery, it can pull firmly on the retina and cause a tear to the retina which might need and cause considerable blurring. Even worse is that the tear to the retina might allow the now watery vitreous to enter this tear and go behind the retina creating a Retinal detachment.

If the traction from the shrinking retina is located in the center of the retina (the Macula) then it will cause serious damage to the center of vision from which recovery is limited. All of these conditions or even the distinct possibilities of traction upon these tissues may be the reasons to perform a vitrectomy and replace the vitreous with saline, a salt water substitute for the vitreous. Because this surgery is very delicate, it is only recommended in cases where there is the danger of further vitreous degeneration to result in one of these conditions or if particles of the protein concentrations (floaters) obscure the vision and are blurring the vision.

Treatment for Strabismus is determined by the amount of eye turn. If minimal glasses with prisms are tried to bring the images seen from each eye together to coincide. If a greater amount is found, surgery on any of the six muscles of either eye , sometimes both, are operated upon to allow the child to see the same object with each eye in the same central part of the retina.

If it has not improved after several weeks, you may have an irritation from the entry incision to the eye. This tissue usually heals within a few weeks but if not it may require treatment by your surgeon. He is the one to see regarding this disturbance.

The Ultraviolet rays of light from the sun are believed to be one of the risk factors toward Macular Degeneration and cataracts. Wearing sunglasses which filter out these rays reduces the incidence of these disorders.

Let him wear the sunglasses. They reduce his risk factor of damage from the harmful rays of the sun.

She may have dry eye disease. It is very common and may be a result of a reduced oil secretion that comes from the eyelid. She might try using a washcloth rolled up like sushi dipped into warm water and with all the drips squeezed out, placed upon your eyes for 30 seconds. Then, return it to the warm water, squeeze out the drips, and keep it on for another 30 seconds. Keep doing that for five minutes and perform this 2-4 times a day. This may alleviate her discomfort. If it does not, she should see her ophthalmologist for further evaluation.

Time to see your ophthalmologist. You could have a Retinal disorder which causes these floating spots. The reasons for pain in the eye will also be evaluated during that visit.

Have your mom be seen by a retinal specialist. He will advise whether she has diabetic retinopathy and whether it should be treated by intravitrenous injection or laser to hopefully prevent loss of vision.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

You need to see an ophthalmologist. There are many different reasons for your symptoms, from cataracts to developing Myopia. Treatment is often possible by eyeglasses, but may require surgical removal of cataracts. Your ophthalmologist is probably able to give you treatment no matter what the condition might be.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

Don’t rub your eyes. This can dislodge the flap of corneal tissue overlying the area of treatment. After a month, it is usually secure, but it's never wise to rub the eyes.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

No. But cataracts usually develop in each eye at about the same time, like gray hair. My advice to patients is to have surgery done when the cataracts are preventing you from doing something you need to do or want to do. I also advise that they not wait too long.

I often travel to remote areas on humanitarian visits and see solid black cataracts. These are very difficult to remove and often will cause complications that are not found in cataract surgery on a less dense cataract.

If one eye has a cataract and little appearance of it is seen in the other eye, then there is no urgency toward doing the second eye. As time goes on, it will become obvious and can be removed then.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

Could be the depression where an incision was made on the cornea to enter the Anterior Chamber, a necessary step in cataract surgery. It usually heals and becomes less irritating
and therefore has less watering within a month.
If you have further watering, you should see your surgeon for confirmation.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

Usually not, but repetitively can cause damage, sometimes permanent damage to the cornea and tear producing structures.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

Every 20 minutes look away from the computer at some distant object. Hold that gaze for 2 minutes then close your eyes for 2 minutes. This allows the muscles to relax and the eye to become well lubricated.

Roger Ohanesian MD

Dry eyes happen to a large number of persons and your mom might be one of them. Have her stop rubbing her eyes and use artificial tears. If no improvement, see an ophthalmologist as it could represent something more serious - an infection from a virus, bacteria, parasite or allergy to something.

Your eyes are important and should be treated well. That said, see an ophthalmologist for safety.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

Rehydrate them with the wetting solution. There is a possibility that they have cracked, but less likely if they have not been abused while dry.

Roger Ohanesian, MD

You may have dry eye problems and need the added irrigation that occurs when you blink frequently.

The Meibobian glands may be the culprit as they produce an oil that covers the top surface of the watery fluid of the tear and prevent it from evaporating. The bottom layer is the mucous which keeps the fluid onto the surface of the cornea.

You may have MGD or Meibobian Gland Disease. The Meibobian glands produce this oil which is exuded onto your lid margins every time you blink. Aqueous fluid from your tear gland also is exuded as well as mucous which serves as the base element of the tear and sticks everything to the cornea.

If you have a reduction of your Meibobian gland secretion, this makes the tear evaporate more rapidly making your eye feel dry and scratchy.

Best advice I can give is for you to see an ophthalmologist. It would be ideal if you knew an eye dr who specializes in Dry Eye diseases.

There are several doctors who do this.

Roger Ohanesian MD

This disease is probably Demodex Follicularum and is contagious. He probably has been advised to cleanse his eyelid and lashes with various medications that will kill the adult organism and the larva which live within the follicle of the lash. Consistent cleansing with these hypochlorites will kill off adults and larva over a two- to three-week time period. Family members are in jeopardy as the organism is able to pass from one person to another if close enough. If symptoms of itchy, burning, crusted lids occur in a family member who has been diagnosed with this parasite, safety would dictate that lid scrubs should also be considered if diagnosis is confirmed by an ophthalmologist.

Roger Ohanesian, MD