What are the three types of cataracts? Nuclear sclerotic cataracts, cortical cataracts, and  Posterior subcapsular cataracts can all develop as a natural part of the aging process. The good news is that cataract treatment has only become more quick, safe, and painless over the years. If you have been experiencing hazy, muted vision, and are worried about developing cataracts that will impact your quality of life, you’re not alone. Cataracts affect more than 24.4 million Americans aged 40 and above and will affect approximately half of all Americans by age 75.

The good news is that cataract treatment is more available than ever. Cataract surgery is one of the most common (and most successful) procedures performed in the U.S., and Eye Center of Texas has performed more than 80,000 successful cataract procedures. If you are searching for cataract treatment, an eye care specialist from Eye Center of Texas can tell you which of the three types of cataracts you may be dealing with. But first, let’s discuss the basics.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye that prevents light from passing through the lens to the retina. Cataracts are caused by a buildup of protein (or old, dead cells) gathering on the lens and forming a cloudy area.

If you are unsure of whether you are developing cataracts you should visit an ophthalmologist. Common symptoms of cataracts include:

• Cloudy, dim vision
• Haloing around lights
• Poor night vision
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Your perception of colors is dull and washed out
• Double vision in one eye
• Prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses changes frequently and doesn’t help vision

People often wonder about eye pain as it relates to cataract growth. Do my eyes hurt because of a cataract? Can cataracts cause headaches? Not usually, although your body can attempt to compensate for poor vision and indirectly give you a headache. Eye pain can, however, be caused by glaucoma. Thankfully, glaucoma and cataracts are both treatable eye conditions, for which the top eye doctors at Eye Center of Texas have many convenient treatment options available.

The three types of cataracts

Treatment for all three types of cataracts remains essentially the same, but there are some differences in detectability and rate of growth among them.

Nuclear sclerotic cataracts

Nuclear sclerotic cataracts are formed at the center of the lens and are usually formed as a result of aging. If you were wondering “what type of cataract is most common?” your answer is the nuclear sclerotic cataract.

These common cataracts involve a process called “sclerosis,” or the gradual hardening and yellowing of the lens, that can cause difficulty in distinguishing between different colors and seeing in low light. Nuclear sclerotic cataracts usually develop slowly, and sometimes do not require surgery for a long time.

Cortical cataracts

Cortical cataracts develop on the outer layer of the lens, and are often noticeable in early stages due to white streaks forming on the lens cortex called “cortical spokes.” As they develop, these white streaks often grow and connect to one another, eventually clouding the center of the lens and blocking light from passing through. While cortical cataracts can be a minor inconvenience in the short term, surgery will ultimately be necessary to correct vision for those affected.

Posterior subcapsular cataracts

Posterior subcapsular cataracts are formed at the back of the lens, and are found most commonly in people who have had damage done to their eye via previous eye surgeries or injury, sustained high blood sugar levels, or have had their eye treated with steroids.

Posterior subcapsular cataracts are considered fast-growing cataracts. What is a fast-growing cataract? Fast-growing cataracts can progress to the point of vision loss in as little as weeks or even days, compared to the months or years that it would normally take a cataract to develop.

Although posterior subcapsular cataracts do not always progress rapidly, leaving them untreated can result in vision impairment to the point of blindness. If you have cataracts of any kind, you should speak to an ophthalmologist about treatment options today.

Types of cataract surgery

While home remedies for cataracts are a great tool for cataract prevention, there are no proven non-surgical means for cataract reversal or treatment at this point. If you have cataracts and you want to get rid of them, a procedure will be your best chance at obtaining clear, healthy vision.

The good news is that the procedures are surprisingly quick and painless, and Eye Center of Texas offers a number of options for cataract surgery:

• Laser cataract surgery: Using the LenSX Laser for unprecedented precision, accuracy, and success rates.
• The multifocal intraocular lens: For patients who rely on reading glasses or bifocals in their daily lives.
• The Toric lens implants: For those who need astigmatism corrected while simultaneously replacing a cataract clouded lens.

Eye Center of Texas has the cataract procedure for you, no matter what your vision, no matter what type of cataract.

Continue reading: How long does cataract surgery last?

Find relief from all three types of cataracts at Eye Center of Texas

For more information about how Eye Center of Texas can help you find relief for all types of cataracts, come visit one of our ophthalmologists today. We can tailor a vision plan to your vision and your cataracts so that you will walk away not only with relief from cataracts, but improved vision as well!

Call Eye Center of Texas today at (713) 797-1010 or schedule an appointment online to start seeing clearly.

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Contact lens intolerance is a common condition that makes wearing contact lenses virtually impossible for many people. Contact lenses are an important tool for many people that need vision correction, but what do you do when contacts irritate your eyes, causing pain, and ironically, more vision problems?

The vision specialists at Eye Center of Texas are here to tell you about the causes of contact lens intolerance, and what you can do to relieve it.

Do I have contact lens intolerance?

Contact lens intolerance doesn’t just impact new contact lens wearers, in fact, it can appear in people who have been wearing contacts without discomfort for years.

Contact lens intolerance is an umbrella term used to describe any type of pain, irritation, or significant discomfort from using contact lenses. Some common contact lens intolerance symptoms include:

• Dry, itchy eyes
• Redness
• Irritation and inflammation
• Pain or discomfort when putting in contact lenses
• Corneal abrasions or ulcers

These symptoms can range from mild and irritating to severe and debilitating. If you are struggling with maintaining eye and vision health, an ophthalmologist in Houston from Eye Center of Texas can put you on the right path to comfortable, healthy eyes and clearer vision.

Why do my eyes keep rejecting my contacts?

There are many reasons that your eyes might reject your contacts. Your eyes can develop an intolerance to contact lens fluid, bacteria from unclean contacts, or even the material of the lenses themselves. Some common causes of contact lens intolerance include:

• Improper use, storage, or cleaning
• Reaction to storing or cleaning solution
• Allergies
• Dry eyes
• An improperly fitted lens

Improper use of contacts is a huge contributor to contact lens intolerance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a survey in which over 99% of contact wearers reported engaging in at least one risky contact lens-related behavior, such as keeping their contact lens cases for longer than recommended, sleeping in their contact lenses, or topping off solution in their case without emptying the old solution first.

This begs the question: if contacts are this difficult to use correctly, why use contact lenses at all if you don’t have to? Many imagine that getting corrective vision surgery is more of a hassle than wearing contacts, but the opposite is often true. The LASIK healing timeline is quite short, and the procedure can result in healthier eyes and clearer vision for years to come with little-to-no maintenance.

How do you relieve contact lens irritation?

For the majority of patients, contact lens irritation is a mild inconvenience that can be fixed with a little more attention to contact lens care, while for others it can be an insurmountable and frustrating obstacle. It might be as simple as putting in a few eye drops, while for others it might mean corrective vision surgery or just reverting back to glasses. If you are dealing with contact lens intolerance, you should start by asking yourself the following questions.

Q: How do you wear and care for your contacts?

As illustrated by the CDC’s report that effectively every contact lens wearer is not following recommendations, wear and care could be the solution. Before you take other steps to limit irritation, make sure that you are properly cleaning and disinfecting your contact lenses, and not wearing them for too long.

Q: Do you keep your eyes lubricated?

If your eyes are dry keep them lubricated using artificial tears or other preservative-free eye drops. Eye drops should not be a long-term solution, and are meant to only alleviate symptoms temporarily.

Q: Have you talked to your ophthalmologist about vision correction surgery?

The most effective way to eliminate pain and irritation from contact lens intolerance is to eliminate the need for contact lenses. Vision correction surgery, especially when working with some of the top eye surgeons in Houston, is often much more quick and safe than patients expect — and is much less hassle than having to wear and maintain contact lenses.

The surgeons at Eye Center of Texas offer a range of vision correction procedures, ranging from LASIK to PRK to Visian ICL. If you have questions about the distinction between all of these unique procedures, don’t worry, our ophthalmologists can tell you all about the differences between PRK vs ICL vs LASIK, and which procedure would be right for you.

LASIK has an over 95% success rate, so the overwhelming likelihood is that you will be able to say goodbye to your contacts after LASIK, and start living with better vision in a more comfortable manner.

Leave contact lens intolerance in the past with treatment solutions from Eye Center of Texas

If contact lens intolerance is causing you pain and discomfort, you can find solutions at Eye Center of Texas. Whether you need to be fitted for new contacts or need to explore vision correction procedures that will simplify your life, the trustworthy and experienced specialists at Eye Center of Texas are here to take care of you.

Call today at (713) 797-1010 or schedule an appointment online to start your journey to clearer, more comfortable vision.

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Choosing to have vision correction surgery is a huge decision, but choosing the right vision correction surgery for you can be even more crucial. Although ophthalmologists have been developing vision correction procedures for many years, it seems as though there have been few options to help people fix common vision problems long-term … until now. In March of 2022, the long-awaited procedure said to “free patients from their glasses or contacts” gained FDA approval.

Meet EVO Visian® ICL, the latest in vision correction surgery that is clinically proven to correct common vision problems such as nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism using an FDA-approved implantable lens.

Eye Center of Texas is the first ophthalmologist practice to offer EVO Visian ICL in Houston, and our very own eye surgeons Dr. Edward Wade and Dr. Yasir Ahmed are some of the first doctors to provide the procedure to patients. We are here to help you to learn more about this groundbreaking procedure and see if it could be the right fit for your vision needs.

What makes EVO Visian ICL an innovative vision correction surgery?

1. The procedure does not remove corneal tissue

Unlike traditional vision correction surgeries including LASIK and PRK, EVO Visian ICL does not remove the eye’s corneal tissue. Instead, your eye doctor will create a small opening in your cornea that is used to insert and position the lens. This technique is safer and more accurate, and will not give you dry eye syndrome post-surgery. What more could you ask for?

1. The lens is made of natural materials

The EVO Visian ICL lens is made of biocompatible Collamer that contains a small amount of purified collagen, a protein responsible for skin elasticity that occurs naturally in the body. This implantable lens is completely natural and works in harmony with your natural eye shape and function. Collamer has unique characteristics that make it an ideal solution for correcting your vision, including:

• Compatible with your natural eye
• Soft and flexible feeling
• Not visible once placed
• Protective against harmful UV rays
• Provides better night vision

1. The lens is removable

Typically, vision correction surgery can be a big commitment due to its permanency. However, the EVO ICL lens can be removed by your doctor at any time, giving you flexibility should you choose to have cataract surgery later on. You can keep the lens in for clearer, sharper vision day and night, or have them removed. The choice is completely yours.

Is ICL surgery better than LASIK?

Now that EVO Visian ICL is available to patients, many are wondering “is ICL surgery better than LASIK?” If you’re choosing between ICL vs. LASIK, do note that there are pros and cons to both corrective surgeries. One is not innately better than the other.

However, there are some factors that make ICL more accessible to patients. For example, ICL is a better option for patients who have thin corneas, which can prevent someone from becoming a candidate for LASIK in Houston. The ICL lens is also removable, whereas LASIK surgery is permanent. On the other hand, LASIK can also correct farsightedness where EVO Visian ICL cannot.

When making big decisions related to your vision, you should always consult with your ophthalmologist, they will know which vision correction surgery is more suitable for you and your needs.

What is the success rate of ICL surgery?

According to many sources, the ICL procedure has a success rate of 99% with most patients experiencing almost immediate results, quick recovery time, and minimal downtime. The entire procedure takes 20-30 minutes and is virtually painless due to the numbing eye drops received before the surgery begins. This is all it takes for you to say goodbye to your glasses or contacts forever!

Eye Center of Texas is now offering the EVO Visian ICL vision correction surgery to patients

EVO Visian ICL is the latest in vision correction surgery. This groundbreaking and natural implantable lens can allow you to throw away your glasses or contacts and embrace a life of clearer, sharper vision in just 20-30 minutes. Eye Center of Texas is proud to be the first in Houston to offer this procedure to its patients. If you have any questions regarding EVO Visian ICL, our eye surgeons Dr. Wade and Dr. Ahmed will be happy to assist you. Call us at 713-797-1010 or request an appointment online today to try this new lens-based vision solution for yourself.

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Eye Center of Texas is proud to offer our patients the EVO Visian ICL and Toric ICL procedures in Houston. Both are game-changing, breakthrough procedures that are designed to treat myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism. But what are the differences between EVO Visian ICL and Toric ICL, and how do I know if I’m a candidate for these new vision correction surgeries?

The eye surgeons at Eye Center of Texas are here to explain the differences between these minimally invasive, cutting-edge procedures, and tell you if you might be eligible to break free from contact lenses and glasses with an ICL implant.

What is EVO Visian ICL?

EVO Visian ICL received FDA approval in 2022 as a safe and effective treatment for myopia with and without astigmatism. The procedure has been available overseas for years and is clinically proven to correct vision problems like nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism.

The half-hour, outpatient procedure is minimally invasive. The surgeon implants a biocompatible, flexible Collamer® lens into the eye between the natural lens and iris, allowing the implant to work in harmony with your natural eye, without the removal of any corneal tissue.

Crystal clear vision, excellent night vision, and UV protection are all available without the removal of tissue from the eye — and the procedure is completely reversible. Unlike other vision correction surgeries, the lens is completely removable. Because the procedure involves the addition of a lens, as opposed to the removal of your cornea, you can easily replace the lens should you ever have eye complications that require surgery.

Our very own Dr. Edward C. Wade is the first eye surgeon in Houston, and one of the first surgeons in the state, to offer the EVO Visian ICL procedure. Eye Center of Texas is proud to be at the forefront of innovation. We also have Dr. Yasir Ahmed, one of the first surgeons in Houston to offer the EVO Visian Toric ICL procedure.

What is Toric ICL?

EVO Visian Toric ICL is a version of the EVO Visian ICL procedure that provides eye surgeons with a new tool for treating more advanced cases of myopic astigmatism. Toric ICL treats myopia and astigmatism at the same time and eliminates the standard of correcting the two with separate procedures, which can be costly and time-consuming.

Toric lenses are soft, pliable lenses that have different strengths at different meridians, and allow the lens to rotate and reorient themselves on the cornea. Similar to EVO Visian ICL, the lens is completely replaceable, so should your vision change meaningfully, your eye surgeon can replace the Collamer® lens with minimal discomfort and downtime.

Dr. Yasir Ahmed is one of the first surgeons in the state to offer the Toric ICL procedure in Houston. If you have been searching for vision solutions and are not a good candidate for LASIK due to thin corneas or severe astigmatism, Toric ICL might be the procedure for you.

Benefits of EVO Visian ICL and Toric ICL

Both procedures are low risk, minimally invasive, and are long-term solutions for vision problems. The Visian ICL procedure is FDA-approved for myopia between -3.00 to -20.00 D. The Toric ICL procedure can correct astigmatism in the range of 1.00 to 4.00 D! There is no minimal corneal thickness requirement, making it an option for those with thin corneas, for whom laser-based procedures are not an option. Some other benefits of ICL procedures are:

• Toric lenses have the unique ability to treat myopia and astigmatism
• UV protection
• Excellent night vision
• Short recovery time
• Removable by your doctor
• Does not cause dry eyes
• Does not remove any corneal tissue

If you’re on the path to clear vision and need solutions, the first step is to call Eye Center of Texas, where treatments, check-ups, or vision correction surgery are performed by some of the best surgeons in Texas.

Am I a candidate for an ICL implant?

Some criteria for patients that qualify for ICL are:

• Moderate to severe myopia
• Aged 21-45: ICL is not often performed in patients with presbyopia, or farsightedness, which tends to set in with age
• Correct pupil size — which is not exceptionally large or small
• Six months to one year of static vision prescription: Your surgeon won’t want to perform the procedure if your vision is rapidly changing.
• Not allergic to anesthetic eye drops, as the outpatient procedure requires their use
• Not pregnant or breastfeeding
• Not on steroids or immunosuppressant drugs

You can still receive the procedure if you have dry eyes or thin corneas. Patients with thin corneas, who may not qualify for LASIK in Houston, are often still candidates for ICL implants. The only way to know for sure is to come into Eye Center of Texas for a consultation and to have a doctor tell you what is best for your journey to clear vision.

Interested in EVO Visian ICL or Toric ICL? Call Eye Center of Houston today!

EVO Visian ICL and Toric ICL are non-invasive, long-lasting procedures that can allow you to break away from glasses or contacts — even if you are disqualified from other vision correction surgeries due to thin corneas or severe astigmatism. Whichever procedure is best for you can be determined by our surgeons.

Eye Center of Texas is proud to have two surgeons at the forefront of this technology — Dr. Wade and Dr. Ahmed. Give Eye Center of Texas a call at 713-797-1010 today or request an appointment online to learn more about the exciting new frontier in vision solutions.

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If you have been experiencing significant eye pressure or changes in vision, you may be wondering how to find a glaucoma specialist in Houston. It is estimated that more than two million Americans have no idea that they have some form of glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Those affected can remain asymptomatic for years, making it exceedingly difficult to catch before damage is done.

The Houston glaucoma specialists at Eye Center of Texas are here to tell you a little more about glaucoma’s variations, symptoms, and risk factors — and where to go for a wide variety of quality treatment options.

Symptoms of glaucoma

How do you know if you have glaucoma? Because glaucoma can be symptomless, it is important that those concerned about their eye health see a Houston glaucoma specialist and ask questions about their eye health. When glaucoma does present symptoms, they can look like this:

• Vision loss
• Blurred vision, narrowed vision
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Haloing
• Eye pressure

Regular eye exams are your first line of defense against glaucoma. Your eye doctor can identify risk factors that may increase your chances of developing glaucoma and conduct tests to detect the disease before it can cause too much damage to your vision.

Types of glaucoma

There are four types of glaucoma, with two being more prevalent than others:

• Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. It is caused by improper drainage of the canals through which aqueous fluids drain. Eye pressure from lack of drainage will increase over time, eventually damaging the optic nerve.
• Angle-closure glaucoma is the more rare, acute version of open-angle glaucoma. Patients suffering from angle-closure glaucoma often suffer from nausea, headaches, and vision interruptions.
• Normal-tension glaucoma is a bit of a mystery. It functions similarly to open-angle glaucoma, but it develops under normal eye conditions, i.e., not under abnormal pressure.
• Secondary glaucoma is when glaucoma is brought about by a secondary condition, such as diabetes, cataracts, or tumors.

Can early signs of glaucoma be reversed? Although there are no miracle cures, glaucoma can be stopped from progressing if caught in the early stages. Home remedies for cataracts and glaucoma don’t really exist, although simple things like maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding smoking are considered preventative.

What kind of doctor treats a patient with glaucoma?

For medical treatment of glaucoma, usually with eye drops, a Therapeutic Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist can provide this treatment. Should a laser or surgical procedure be recommended, an Eye Center of Texas Ophthalmologist is trained to provide these surgical procedures. They can also diagnose wet or dry macular degeneration and a host of other common eye diseases.

Glaucoma treatments are focused on relieving pressure caused by liquid buildup in the eye. There is no cure for glaucoma, so treatment usually refers to prescription medication to control the glaucoma, or a surgical option can be discussed.

There are a few types of glaucoma surgery:

• Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a laser treatment for glaucoma in which a laser creates small holes to relieve intraocular pressure. This procedure is quick and painless, according to most patients.
• Filtration surgery (trabeculectomy) is similar to SLT but without the laser. Instead, the surgeon makes a small incision to relieve the pressure. This surgery has a very high success rate and has more long-lasting results than SLT.
• Shunts or implants, like the iStent medical implant, can be inserted manually that allow the eye to drain properly.

Glaucoma surgery recovery time is relatively short compared to other eye surgeries, usually lasting only 3-6 weeks, and is reportedly not highly painful or uncomfortable. Patients are encouraged to avoid strenuous activity and protect their eyes from harsh conditions during recovery. Patients can generally return back to normal activity only a day or two after the procedure.

See a glaucoma specialist in Houston at Eye Center of Texas

If you are looking for a glaucoma specialist in Houston, look no further than Eye Center of Texas, where many of the top eye surgeons in Houston can get to work on correcting your vision. The surgeons at Eye Center of Texas perform cataract surgery, LASIK surgery, and corneal surgery, in addition to the many options for glaucoma surgery.

Don’t let glaucoma go undetected, call us at 713-797-1010 or make an appointment online to see an ophthalmologist today.

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For many, a life without contact and glasses sounds like a dream — but if you suffer from already dry eyes or a thin cornea, you may wonder whether there are good alternatives to LASIK. The good news? The road to better vision doesn’t stop at LASIK. There are several other options such as EVO Visian ICL or photorefractive keratectomy PRK surgery that can bring you the clear vision you’ve been hoping for.

At Eye Center of Texas, we offer a range of vision corrective surgery options including LASIK, EVO Visian ICL, and PRK. Depending on your unique vision and goals of the procedure, one of these procedures may be a great fit for you.

What can you do if you can’t get LASIK?

EVO Visian® ICL Lens

The EVO Visian ICL lens is an implantable Collamer lens that is an excellent alternative to LASIK for astigmatism as well as for patients who are not a good candidate for LASIK due to dry eyes, thin corneas, and high levels of nearsightedness.

When comparing the LASIK vs. ICL procedures, during EVO, a removable lens is placed behind the colored part of your eye (your iris) through a small hole rather than creating a flap and reshaping your cornea with a laser. Not only does this provide most patients with immediate vision improvements, but unlike LASIK which permanently changes the shape of your eye, it allows your eye surgeon to remove the lens at a later date if you require additional eye surgery. The entire procedure is very quick and virtually painless, taking only 20-30 minutes.

Other benefits of EVO Visian ICL include:

• Clear, sharp vision
• Short recovery time
• Offers UV protection
• Not visible once they are placed
• Can improve night vision
• Does not cause dry eyes

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)

Patients that are looking for a safe alternative to LASIK due to dry eyes or thin corneas may want to consider PRK vision corrective surgery. PRK is a refractive surgery that removes the outer layer of your cornea to allow access to the cornea without creating an incision. It then uses a laser to help correct vision loss due to nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism similar to LASIK.

Because the outer layer of your cornea is being removed entirely, the recovery time for PRK is a bit longer than it is for LASIK but it is still a great option for patients who want to break free of their contacts and glasses but aren’t a good candidate for LASIK.

If you’ve already tried LASIK and are curious about additional eye treatments to further improve your vision, you are able to get PRK after LASIK although it is rarely needed.

Refractive lens exchange (RLE)

RLE is a vision corrective surgery that replaces your entire natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens. This is a great alternative to LASIK for patients who struggle with age-related vision changes or presbyopia, a condition that gradually affects the eye’s ability to focus on objects that are close-up.

The RLE procedure is very similar to cataract surgery except in RLE, you’re removing a clear lens rather than a cloudy one. Most patients can resume normal activities after a week of resting but may not experience completely clear vision for a couple of weeks.

What is the safest corrective eye surgery?

Each of the above-mentioned eye surgeries has had high success rates and is considered a safe procedure. That said, the safest corrective eye surgery for you will depend on your vision impairments, individual goals, the thickness of your cornea, and any other existing symptoms.

For example, if you’re looking for LASIK alternatives for dry eyes, you may be a good candidate for either PRK or EVO Visian ICL. But because EVO Visian ICL is only used to treat nearsightedness or nearsightedness with astigmatism, if you have dry eyes and are farsighted, the best alternative for you may be PRK.

Need an alternative to LASIK? Eye Center of Texas can help you choose the right vision corrective surgery for you.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing the right alternative to LASIK for you. You’ll want to take into consideration aspects such as your prescription, other symptoms, your lifestyle, and the types of benefits you are seeking. Fortunately, the best LASIK surgeon in Houston, TX at Eye Center of Texas will be able to tell you whether or not you’re a good candidate for LASIK and inform you of other options to help you achieve your goal of a life without dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

If you’re looking for an eye doctor to help explain your vision corrective surgery options and recommend a treatment plan tailored to your needs, look no farther than Eye Center of Texas. Our skilled doctors have completed over 75,000 LASIK procedures and are one of the first ophthalmologist practices in Texas to offer the groundbreaking EVO Visian ICL procedure.

Request an appointment with us online or call Eye Center of Texas today at 713-797-1010.

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If you have been wondering when to see an ophthalmologist, chances are the answer might be sooner rather than later. If you are having issues with your eyes, whether they be vision or comfort-related, an ophthalmologist can ensure that your eye health is in good hands by providing both practical care on daily eye health and eye disease diagnosis.

Eye disease is often difficult to catch without check-ins with your ophthalmologist. Because the symptoms of serious diseases can present as minor inconveniences and irritations, people often wait until diseases are advanced to seek treatment. Things like redness and dry eye, should they persist for any meaningful amount of time, should be examined by a qualified ophthalmologist immediately, as they are the best chance you have at an early stage eye disease diagnosis.

When should I see an ophthalmologist?

Before you know when to see an ophthalmologist, you should know why you should see an ophthalmologist. Most patients don’t know the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist and are unsure which specialist they should even schedule an appointment with.

What’s the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist? Optometrists are licensed to perform eye exams and vision tests. They can prescribe corrective lenses and contact lenses, and write prescriptions for some medications. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who are also licensed to perform eye exams and prescribe lenses and medication. The difference is that ophthalmologists are licensed to perform eye surgery and specialize in specific eye diseases and surgical techniques.

You wouldn’t go to an ophthalmologist to schedule a routine checkup, but if you are concerned about your eye health, or have a history of vision problems, you should probably pay one a visit. If you’re looking for the best ophthalmologist in Houston, you’ll find many of them at Eye Center of Texas, whether you need a general practitioner, a specialist, or a surgeon.

Here are some common signs that you should see an ophthalmologist.

If you are undergoing changes in your vision

Vision problems can signify any number of things all the way from serious eye disease to the need for a simple prescription update. Sudden blurry vision can be a sign of cataracts, macular degeneration, or retinal diseases, and new floaters can be a sign of retinal detachment. Symptoms could mean that you need new eye drops, or that you need surgery. Only an ophthalmologist will be able to tell you for sure.

If you are experiencing excessive irritation

Both dryness and redness are common symptoms that can indicate uncommon problems. If your eyes are red, or you have dry eyes at night, and over-the-counter eye drops aren’t providing any relief, you should see an ophthalmologist. In extreme cases, excessive dryness can lead to corneal scratching and result in permanent damage to your vision.

If you are experiencing pain or pressure

Sustained pain is usually a bad sign for your eye health. Something as innocuous as pressure in the eyes, which is often ascribed to sinus pressure, can be a sign of advancing glaucoma. If you have been experiencing pain, headaches, or eye pressure, you should see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Infections, diabetes, injuries

The list of reasons to see an ophthalmologist is long. These are some more common reasons that are not related to everyday symptoms.

• Diabetics should get their eyes checked by an ophthalmologist regularly to ensure that high blood sugar does not cause vision loss.
• Anyone that has or has had an eye infection should see an ophthalmologist to ensure that the infection does not result in serious complications.
• Anyone that has had a non-emergency eye injury should consult their ophthalmologist. Whether physical debris or chemical contamination, ophthalmologists can help treat damage resulting from injuries.

What conditions do ophthalmologists treat?

Ophthalmologists are a great first line of defense against common eye disease. What are common eye diseases that an ophthalmologist would be able to diagnose and treat?

• Glaucoma
• Keratoconus
• Cataracts and fast-growing cataracts
• Conjunctivitis
• Corneal diseases including keratitis, keratoconus, photokeratitis
• Age-related macular degeneration

How do you diagnose eye problems such as these? You go see an ophthalmologist! If eye disease diagnosis is not your concern, the ophthalmologists at Eye Center of Texas also perform corrective vision surgeries and give LASIK consultations.

Continue reading: Questions to ask at a LASIK consultation

Stay on top of your eye health. Know when to see an ophthalmologist from Eye Center of Texas.

Knowing when to see an ophthalmologist is an important part of both overall eye health and eye disease diagnosis. If you are at all concerned about the health of your eyes, have had recent changes in vision, or if it has just been a while, you should schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist at Eye Center of Texas today.

The specialists at Eye Center of Texas want to make sure that your eyes are disease-free and seeing crystal clear. Do right by your eyes, give us a call at 713-797-1010 or request an appointment online today.

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• Lasik vs. Contacts: Which is Best for You?
• What to Expect With Lasik Before and After Eye Surgery

Since April is women’s eye health and safety month, Eye Center of Texas is here to talk about one of the easiest ways you can take care of your eyes regardless of your age or gender — annual eye exams.

Early detection is one of the best ways to prevent eye diseases such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and dry eye disease, all of which are eye conditions that women are more likely to develop. So, the short answer to the title of this blog is yes, you really do need an annual eye exam.

Please note that the doctors at Eye Center of Texas do not perform routine eye examinations. We encourage our patients to visit our partner Optometrists, available on our recommended optometrists page.

What is an eye exam?

During an annual eye exam your eyes are checked for vision changes, signs of common eye diseases, and assessed for how well they work together. At your eye exam, you can expect simple tests to be ran including one or more of the following:

• Reading charts: assess how clearly each individual eye sees
• Eye muscle movement tests: used to check your eyes alignment, ability to fuse an image, and determine any eye muscle weakness
• Color vision tests: checks for color vision defects
• Air puff tonometry: emits a small puff of air into your eyes to assess intraocular pressure and measure the cornea and test for glaucoma
• Slit lamp: a test using a circle of light to check the health of your cornea, iris, lens, and retina
• Visual acuity test: assess each eye’s ability to read a line of letters as they get progressively smaller
• Refraction tests: determines the exact lens prescription you need to correct your vision
• Retinal examination: dilates your pupils to allow your doctor a better look at the back of your eyes and optic nerve

The importance of annual eye exams extends far beyond assessing your vision and overall health. They can also give you a good look into your overall health. Regular eye exams have been responsible for early detection of diseases like diabetes, muscular sclerosis (MS), and arteriosclerosis — all the more reason to schedule an exam with your optometrist, particularly if you haven’t had an eye exam in years, and even if you have perfect vision.

Which doctor does eye exams?

Do ophthalmologists do eye exams? Optometrists and ophthalmologists are often confused with one another. While both are licensed medical doctors who are able to offer eye exams, opthamologists are also able to provide medical and surgical interventions for eye conditions.

How often should you have your eyes examined?

Frequency recommendations for routine eye exams depend on your age and vision problems. Individuals aged 20 to 39 should be seen a minimum of once every five years, individuals aged 40 to 54 should be seen a minimum of once every 2 to 4 years, and individuals aged 55 to 64 should be seen a minimum of once every 1 to 3 years. Those looking to ensure that they maintain a lifetime of healthy vision, however, should see an eye doctor at least once a year.

It is recommended that you have a comprehensive eye exam done at least every other year as regular visits allow your doctor increased opportunities to catch symptoms of eye diseases such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and dry eye syndrome. Early detection may be the key in protecting the long-term health of your eyes. If you have vision impairments or are monitoring certain conditions, you may need to schedule eye doctor appointments more than once a year.

Please note that contact fittings and vision screenings are not a substitute for annual eye exams as they do not test for eye conditions beyond vision impairments.

Comprehensive eye exam vs. a routine eye exam

Routine eye exams

What is included in a routine eye exam? Routine eye exams can help you answer questions about your vision such as “do I need reading glasses?” or “what are possible presbyopia treatments?” In other words, routine eye exams use visual acuity tests to look for vision impairments or refractive errors such as myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), astigmatism, and/or presbyopia. They can also help to treat symptoms such as glare, halos, headaches, and eye strain.

Comprehensive eye exams

What is a comprehensive eye exam? A comprehensive eye exam checks for all of the same things that a routine eye exam does but with the addition of screening for common eye diseases. These tests include the visual acuity test as well as many of the others mentioned above such as eye muscle movement tests and cataract eye exams including pupil dilation and air puff tonometry.

Looking for an ophthalmologist in Houston? Schedule an appointment at the Eye Center of Texas!

In honor of women’s eye health and safety month, the team at Eye Center of Texas would like to encourage you to schedule your annual eye exams with one of the Houston doctors on our referral list. Regular eye exams are a critical part of taking care of your eyes and your overall health.

If your eye doctor finds that you are suffering from eye issues such as vision loss, cataracts, or glaucoma, schedule an appointment to see us. Our office offers long-term vision solutions including laser cataract surgery and cornea surgery. We’ve also performed over 75,000 successful LASIK procedures and have been Houston’s trusted vision partner since 1990.

Request an appointment with us online or call Eye Center of Texas today at 713-797-1010.

Please note that the doctors at Eye Center of Texas do not perform routine eye examinations. We encourage our patients to visit our partner Optometrists, available on our recommended optometrists page.

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• Eye Strain Treatment in Houston
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• What to Expect With Lasik Before and After Eye Surgery
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In observance of women’s eye health and safety month, Eye Center of Texas is here to talk about the most common signs of cataracts in women.

Women in the US are more likely to develop certain serious eye diseases than men including macular degeneration, thyroid eye disease, and cataracts. Eye disease in women and men alike is more easily prevented if caught early, which is why we recommend being aware of the more common signs of cataracts and other eye diseases.

If you are concerned about developing cataracts, or the health of your vision in general, we recommend talking to your eye doctor, finding the right surgeon, and taking action sooner rather than later, as mature cataracts can be harder to fully remove.

Symptoms of cataracts

So, what do cataracts look like? And how do you know if you have them? Protein buildup on your lens will cause an opaque white, yellow, or brown discoloration to appear. They are fairly visible once they have developed, but developing cataracts are often a little harder to spot.

Most signs of cataracts in women (and in men) include difficulty seeing as well as symptoms such as:

• Difficulty reading: This can mean trouble focusing on things both near and far away as well as persistent blurry or cloudy vision even while wearing prescription lenses.
• Poor night vision: Driving in the dark or walking around your house at night might suddenly be more difficult.
• Double vision: Cataracts can scatter the light passing through your eye, refracting it and causing distortions in your vision.
• Haloing around lights: Driving at night can become dangerous when halos and glare obstruct your vision.
• Light and glare sensitivity: The scattered light can overwhelm your eyes and cause pain.
• Severe difference in vision quality between eyes: If one eye is suffering from a cataract the imbalance created can cause a number of vision problems.

How are cataracts diagnosed?

Ask your optometrist or ophthalmologist about getting a dilated eye exam if you are concerned about cataracts. The National Eye Institute recommends that patients over 60 years old undergo a dilated eye exam once per year, as cataract risk goes up significantly with age. However, if you are wondering at what age do cataracts usually start, you should know that juvenile cataracts and congenital cataracts also exist and that the risk is not just posed to those 60 and up.

Cataracts can also form on the back of the lens. Called posterior subcapsular cataracts, these cataracts usually start small and are hard to spot, they interfere with vision in a number of ways and progress at a faster rate than normal cataracts.

Some risk factors for cataracts include:

• Age
• Excessive or prolonged exposure to the sun
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol use
• Obesity or poor diet
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Previous eye injuries or eye surgeries
• Prolonged use of corticosteroids

During a dilated eye exam, your doctor will likely want to measure your eye pressure as well. This is one method to check for early signs of glaucoma, another leading cause of vision problems that presents itself commonly in older patients.

Posterior subcapsular cataracts, congenital cataracts, and glaucoma are just a few of the many reasons why we recommend getting regular eye exams. There is no better way to ensure long-term quality of vision and eye health than making sure you regularly consult with professionals on your specific needs.

Continue reading: The Difference Between Glaucoma vs. Cataracts 

Cataracts treatment

There is widespread myth and misinformation on the subject of non-surgical cataract treatment. Homeopathic suggestions abound, ranging from apple cider vinegar to honey, but none of them really work. While there is research being conducted on non-surgical cataract treatment, nothing has yet revealed itself as a miracle cure.

The only current way to treat cataracts is through surgery. And while making healthy choices can prevent you from developing cataracts, there is no way to reverse their growth once they have developed. That said, cataract surgery has gotten much more advanced than it once one. Patients now spend well under an hour in the chair and only 24-48 hours in cataract surgery recovery.

If you are concerned about cataract surgery costs, Eye Center of Texas offers financing and payment plans because we believe that clear vision should be attainable for everyone.

Looking for a cataract surgeon in Houston? Call Eye Center of Texas to discuss different surgery options.

If you think you or a loved one has exhibited any of the signs of cataracts in women, we encourage that you see an eye doctor as soon as possible to discuss your options.

The cataract surgeons at Eye Center of Texas have performed over 80,000 successful cataract surgeries and are regarded as some of the finest in the country. If you need guidance on the path to healthy vision, our renowned doctors can help you determine whether you would be a good candidate for cataract surgery, LASIK, or any other corrective eye surgeries.

Call Eye Center of Texas today at 713-797-1010 or request an appointment with us online.

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Common eye problems in the winter might be easy to ignore at first. However, ignoring symptoms like light sensitivity or itchy eyes in the winter can lead to other conditions like dry eye syndrome or, in extreme cases, abrasions of the corneal surface.

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