Ophthalmology
Expert insights on ocular conditions, surgical techniques, retinal disease, and vision-related management.
Recent Discussions
What operative techniques do you use to minimize the risk of postoperative ectropion in a patient with pre-existing lower eyelid laxity undergoing lower eyelid blepharoplasty?
I favor a transconjunctival approach for the fat excision or transposition, combined with either pinch skin excision or CO2 laser resurfacing, and horizontal tightening either by canthopexy (in milder laxity patients) or a full tarsal strip procedure in severe laxity or frankly ectropic patients.
How often do you recommend ophthalmologic screening exams for patients with sarcoidosis?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has guidelines for routine eye exams for an asymptomatic, healthy individual (not someone with sarcoidosis). These guidelines include a complete, dilated eye exam at age 40, interim exams at the discretion of the patient and one's ophthalmologist, and an exam ev...
How do you approach treatment of eyelid sarcoma?
I have not personally treated eyelid sarcoma but have treated SCC and adenexal carcinoma both definitively and in adjuvant settings. I have used 60 and 66 Gy in 2 Gy per fraction for adjuvant and definitive patients, respectively, with electrons using appropriate eye shielding.
What factors guide your decision to perform subretinal fluid drainage during primary scleral buckle surgery for a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment?
Since external drainage of subretinal fluid is the step in scleral buckle surgery associated with the greatest risk of serious complications (i.e. subretinal hemorrhage, retinal perforation, retinal incarceration), I only drain if the subretinal fluid so bullous that drainage is necessary to insure ...
In a patient with recurrent episodes of GCA that flare shortly after steroid tapering, how do you differentiate between steroid-dependent inflammatory relapse, an alternative autoimmune vasculitic process, and a paraneoplastic phenomenon?
This could certainly be worrisome for a paraneoplastic phenomenon. GCA is associated disproportionately with myeloid lineage mutations (CHIP - clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate significance). TET2 is think is the best-studied mutation, but in my experience, any other CHIP mutations such as ASXL1...
How would you approach management of nodular scleritis in the setting of suspected GCA?
Scleritis is probably a rare but real association with GCA. The rarity is such that I would not ignore alternative causes of scleritis. For example, ANCA-associated vasculitis could mimic GCA and syphilis has also been reported as a masquerade. Scleritis is usually divided into 5 forms: nodular, dif...
How would you approach the upfront management of a patient with acute unilateral vision loss with strong clinical risk factors for both cardioembolic stroke and GCA if an expedited MRI is not possible due to the presence of an AICD?
I'm definitely not an expert in this topic, but you have many clinical tools to increase/decrease your clinical suspicion for GCA vs. cardioembolic stroke. Some things I would ask: Is this patient currently in Afib? What's their CHADSVASC? Are they anticoagulated? Can we get a TTE to check for vege...
Do you steer away from PRK when chronic pain history is present in an otherwise appropriate refractive surgery candidate?
There is not enough data to support the theory that patients with a history of pain may have more complications in PRK like slow or non-healing epithelial defects and neuropathic pain. However, I personally push patients toward femto LASIK when they qualify for both PRK and femto LASIK. The main rea...
How do you approach evaluating patients with suspected neuropathic corneal pain?
Start by taking a good history. Certain diagnoses, such as diabetes, previous cranial surgery, and/or radiation, and a history of varicella zoster keratitis should make you suspicious. If you suspect neurotrophic disease, don’t put any drops in the eye until you’ve had a chance to visually inspect t...
What is your approach to intralesional steroid injection for chalazia (in terms of dosage, approach, timing)?
I offer the option of intralesional steroid to all patients with chalazia, particularly if there is significant inflammation present. I give up to 1 cc of a 10 mg/mL solution of dexamethasone. I have approached this by both transconjunctival as well as transcutaneous. I think transconjunctival hurts...