Dr. Carl B. Tubbs, M.D.
Ophthalmologist
1000 Wellington Ave Grand Junction CO, 81501Rating
5/5
About
Dr. Carl Tubbs is an Ophthalmologist practicing in Grand Junction, CO. An Ophthalmologist has completed medical school as well as residency training in medical and surgical eye care; Dr Tubbs has also completed an additional fellowhsip year of training in the management of glaucoma. He sees patients in western Colorado at ICON Eye Care, takes referrals from Colorado as well as Utah, and specializes particularly in the management of cataract and glaucoma.
In addition, Dr Tubbs works with ANSI (the American National Standards Institute) as well as ISO (the International Standards Organization) and is active in developing and updating draft standards that provide guidance within the US and internatinally for the development and application of eye-related devices such as intraocular lens implants, surgical glaucoma devices, LASIK technology, and others. He also Chairs the Z80 devision of ANSI which is related to the development US ocular devices.
Education and Training
University of Washington School of Medicine MD 1988
University of Washington B.S. (Microbiology) 1983
Dartmouth College A.B. (Chemistry) 1980
Board Certification
OphthalmologyAmerican Board of OphthalmologyABO
Provider Details
Dr. Carl B. Tubbs, M.D.'s Expert Contributions
ICL AFTER CXL
this depends on the corneal shape as well as other factors. If RGP contacts are not working as well, a non-surgical option might be fitting with a scleral lens. These often can be of help and may avoid surgery. READ MORE
What is the best surgery for glaucoma?
Check with your eye doctor. There are a variety of surgeries that can be used depending on the extent of glaucoma, the eye pressure, your age, and other factors. Like most things there is no "one size fits all". READ MORE
How soon can you get water in your eye after cataract surgery?
Generally a week, but your surgeon will counsel you. Most often showering is fine with gentle eye closure and a gentle pat dry but we usually prohibit pool - swimming and hot tub for a week. It depends on how the eye heals. READ MORE
Can Lasik fix astigmatism?
In most cases yes. The eyes will be measured before surgery and your surgeon will tell you. Certain types and amounts of astigmatism cannot be corrected with LASIK. READ MORE
Will Lexotan affect my eyesight?
It would be very unlikely for Lexotan to have an effect on glaucoma. The medication can cause some drowsiness and so if your eyes need to work harder to focus at distance this could be an effect. Another cause of blurred vision could be some ocular dryness. If your symptoms are mild you could see how things go over 1-2 weeks and if not better certainly have an eye exam. READ MORE
When can I fly after LASIK surgery?
If you are a pilot you need to check with your surgeon. If you are a passenger it is not an issue to fly after LASIK, but be cautions to keep the eyes lubricated as its dry at altitude. READ MORE
Can I drive after laser eye surgery?
Yes, but if you receive any sedation you need to wait and follow the doctors instructions. Most often patients are seen the day after surgery. Your vision will be measured and you can be counselled about driving. READ MORE
Can corrective lenses cure myopia?
There is a double question here, actually. if the eye is nearsighted, it needs an additional external lens to focus light properly on the retina (glasses or contact lens). With such an appropriate lens in place, the eye is not nearsighted and sees well at far; however this does not correct the natural focusing state of the eye, meaning that with the glasses off for example, the eye is still nearsighted. Young eyes tend to change and have some increasing nearsightedness for some reason. Wearing a prescription does not seem to affect this change for the better. Some research indicates that use of eyes at near at a younger age (computer, cell phone, ipad) can contribute to gradual increasing nearsightedness (as a person gets older) as opposed to outdoor activities and use of the eyes at far, and there is a lot of research ongoing here- READ MORE
What helps your eyes heal faster after Lasik?
Follow your post-operative instructions, avoid rubbing the eyes, and keep them well lubricated. Preservative free lubrication drops work very well. READ MORE
What is the recovery time for cataract surgery?
Ask your surgeon about expected recovery time. Generally people see better within a few days but it takes 3-4 weeks for typical full healing. Occasionally dry eyes can delay full visual function to some extent. Light physical activity for several days afterward and no driving for 24 hours if sedation is given- you will most likely be given a list of instructions before surgery- READ MORE
Eye Shakes/ Visual distortion
This could well be an "ocular migraine" where people have visual changes that are temporary, and no headaches. You can look this up online. There are sometimes dietary and hormonal triggers. www.ao.org is a good resource, as is the May Clinic website. READ MORE
Retinal vasculitis and sildenafil
Would not expect this to be an issue with vasculitis for occasional use- READ MORE
Can I take medrol dose pak if I had lasik?
Unlikely for a Medrol dose pack to have any effect here- READ MORE
Eye mole
Its not uncommon to have pigmented areas on the conjunctiva so most likely normal, especially in a young healthy person. You can follow it at home with photos, or better yet, an eye doctor can take a high magnification picture for reference- READ MORE
I have a swollen left eye lid. I want to know if that serious? Or should I be worried?
It might well be a plugged oil gland in the eyelid. Generally these respond to warm compresses 2-3 times daily. If worsening good idea to have an exam with a local doc. READ MORE
Will my 4yo outgrow glasses?
Most children start out farsighted and outgrow this. In some cases if there is too much farsightedness then a glasses Rx can be given. If she is having headaches with reading and close work it is possible that she is unable to naturally focus through her current farsightedness; people who are stressed/fatigued after any health issue may temporarily have difficulty with near vision, so this may well be temporary. As a test, you could have her wear glasses at home with near work/play and see if headaches are better with glasses on as opposed to off. It sounds as though this will get better with time, but certainly a good question for your eye doctor in her specific case. READ MORE
Eye question
This is really something that needs to be addressed with your local eye doctor but sounds as though there is a reasonable plan- READ MORE
Why is my vision blurry with contacts ?
If the vision is blurred when wearing CTX then there are many possible reasons. If the vision is good in the day and worse toward the evening, it may be some ocular dryness. If you are in a dry environment during the day, then a trial of preservative free lubricant drops 3-4 times daily for a week or two as trial may well be helpful. Ocular allergy can also be limiting. However, the power of the contacts, the fit of the contacts, the wear schedule (too long a wear period can cause blurring and irritation) and type of wetting and cleaning solutions (if used) can all influence vision. If its an issue it is best to see your CTX provider for an examination. Hope this helps. READ MORE
What are the most comfortable contact lenses for astigmatism?
It all depends on the amount and type of astigmatism, as well as certain eye measurements. Contact lenses are "fit" through a process in the office and while one can predict comfort to some extent the best measurement is how they feel. Minor adjustments are not uncommon. READ MORE
Dark spot in vision
If the dark spot moves in the vision that's typical for a "floater" although some "floaters" (aggregations of protein in the vitreous gel inside the eye) can be fairly stationary as well. To test for a "dark spot", a dilated examination of the eye is helpful, and if that were normal, then assessing vision with a "visual field" which checks central and some peripheral vision in a special testing machine, can also be useful. With a central "dark spot", using a test to assess the central 10 degrees of visual field (such as a Humprey 10-2 field analysis) can be useful. There is not one typical diagnosis that is causative- READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Associate Professor of Ophthalmology U. of MN 2000 - 2014
Awards
- Certificate of Excellence Undergrad Bio Research 1983 U of WA
- Medical Student Research Stipend 1985 U of WA
- Robert H Williams Research Prize 1986 U. WA
- Alpha Omega Alpha 1987 AOA
- Householder Award for Patient Care 1992 U. MN
- Recognition Award, OHTS Study 1996 AAO
- Certificate of Appreciation, Eye Care America 2001 AAO
- AAO Achievement Award 2020 AAO
Professional Memberships
- American Medical Association
- American Glaucoma Society
- Z80 ANSI
- International Standards Organization
- American Ophthalmological Society
Fellowships
- University of Virginia Glaucoma 1993
Fellowships
- Glaucoma Fellowship at the University of Virginia
Professional Society Memberships
- Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Glaucoma Society, Member of the American Medical Association
What do you attribute your success to?
- He attributes his success to curiosity and an interest in learning.
Areas of research
Dr Tubbs is active in medical and sugical research, with an emphasis on glaucoma management and cataract surgery. He has participated in multiple clinical trials since beginning pratice in 1993.
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