Ophthalmology
Expert insights on ocular conditions, surgical techniques, retinal disease, and vision-related management.
Recent Discussions
How do you decide the threshold and duration of subretinal fluid that can be safely tolerated in exudative AMD when adjusting treat-and-extend intervals?
There are so many other factors at play here. The very nature of this question begs the question of whether you are treating the patient or the OCT. Sadly, it appears the preponderance of patients I have seen are treated at fixed intervals of 1-2 months and no treat and extend, even from physicians ...
Who are good candidates for light adjustable lenses?
Ideal Candidates Desire for spectacle independence, especially those motivated to fine-tune vision after surgery. High expectations for visual precision — e.g., engineers, pilots, or patients highly sensitive to small refractive errors. Previous refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK, RK)** — where IOL pow...
In patients with end-stage glaucoma requiring surgery (cataract or incisional glaucoma surgery), how do you approach discussion of possible "snuff" and how does this factor in your decision to proceed with surgery?
I have operated on hundreds, if not thousands, of patients with end-stage glaucoma over my career. Many CAT IOL + bleb surgery or Cat IOL alone. I cannot remember a snuff directly related to surgery. Judicious use of ER acetazolamide immediately postoperatively goes a long way. If cat IOL alone and ...
How do you approach offering multifocal IOLs to patients with prior retinal pathology and surgery (i.e., mac-off RD) who have had relatively good recovery of vision?
As a retina specialist, I have seen a significant increase, over recent years, in patients doing badly because someone inserted a multifocal IOL in the context of prior or impending retinal disease. In most of these cases, the patients seemed naive to the implications, reporting that they were told ...
In patients with treated endophthalmitis secondary to a bleb leak, how do you determine timing of revision?
There are really two separate (but related) issues to address here: The infection. This is treated in conjunction with my vitreoretinal colleagues, as it will require intravitreal antibiotics +/- vitrectomy, depending on the degree of posterior segment involvement. Of course, the bleb is also cultu...
Is optimal timing of choroidal drainage in the case of kissing choroidals with hypotony after glaucoma surgery different in a vitrectomized eye?
To answer the question, probably the timing is not different for a vitrectomized eye. One could make the case for more immediate surgery in the sense that there is no vitreous buffer between appositional retina layers, but I doubt there's much data to support that. On the subject of timing in genera...
What is an effective technique for obtaining tissue for pathological analysis from a broad-based luminal punctal/canalicular mass?
If there is enough representative tissue outside of the punctum/canaliculus proper, then it can be incised sharply like any other marginal lesion (I prefer a 15-blade and Westcott scissors). If the pathology is limited to the lumen, then a modified punctoplasty could be considered. Dilate the punctu...
How do you approach the management of epithelial ingrowth in a patient who underwent LASIK 20 years ago and developed epithelial ingrowth following recent cataract surgery?
If it’s a small area in the periphery, not causing any issue, then it would be reasonable to monitor it as it may not progress. If it is progressing or starting to cause issues, you can either try YAG, which may take more than one round, or simply lift the flap and scrape both the bed and underside ...
How do you decide the best way to treat glaucoma in patients with ICE syndrome given their higher risk of surgical failure and corneal complications?
In general, patients with ICE syndrome have unilateral refractory disease that often requires surgical management. MIGS procedures are not typically effective given the angle anatomy and progressive nature of the disease, and I usually perform tube shunt surgery in these cases. Placing the tube deep...
What is your preferred method of secondary IOL placement (Yamane vs. scleral sutured) and why?
I think the real answer here depends on what is most reliable and repeatable in your hands. When I started years ago, like many retina surgeons then, all I did for secondary IOLs was an ACIOL. Easy, quick, and with few things that could go wrong (but not zero!). For a variety of reasons, I learned t...