Ophthalmology
Expert insights on ocular conditions, surgical techniques, retinal disease, and vision-related management.
Recent Discussions
Do you feel there are medical advantages to FLACS and if so, what are they and how often are you offering FLACS to patients?
That's a question that's sure to trigger contentious responses!Personally, I think the capability of making toric marks on the cornea or lens capsule to line up toric lenses (and using iris registration to do so), as well as the ability to do LRIs, does offer some advantage for accuracy in astigmati...
In what cases do you consider mannitol for cataract surgery?
I have found IV mannitol VERY helpful for dehydrating vitreous for short axial length, especially around 20.5 or less. Otherwise, in short eyes, there is less working space and a greater tendency for the iris to want to prolapse out, even in the absence of typical IFIS-type medications. I’ve typical...
Is there any role for topical corticosteroids in the treatment of photokeratitis?
Typically not, as this is not an inflammatory condition. The goal is to provide supportive care with aggressive lubrication and pain control with topical cycloplegics until epithelial regeneration occurs.
Do you stop netarsudil or brimonidine for patients with very injected conjunctiva prior to trabeculectomy, and what do you feel is the benefit?
I find Rhopressa helpful in lowering IOP pre-op surgery, but it can cause inflamed conjunctiva, so I stop 1 week prior to surgery and prefer brimonidine 0.15% (Alphagan P), and it may have neuroprotective value as well.
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...
How would you approach a patient with vitreoretinal lymphoma without CNS or systemic involvement?
The optimal treatment approach for primary intraocular lymphoma is debated. This is a rare disease with only small retrospective series guiding therapy. There is no clear superior treatment approach in the literature. In clinical practice, younger patients are often treated initially with high-dose ...
How do you go about assessing a patient that has had refractive surprise following cataract surgery when determining the cause for surprise and in preparation for the other eye?
Pretty simple, if at the visit at 1 week BEFORE the second eye is done, if the vision is NOT good and they are refracted and there is a surprise, then look again. If necessary, DON'T do the 2nd eye until you know what is going on with the first surgery!
In primary angle closure suspects without cataracts, how do you approach the discussion about LPIs, given the relatively low risk of an acute angle closure attack?
In primary angle closure suspects without cataracts, I will have a discussion about aqueous humor dynamics and outflow mechanisms of the eye, and how that relates to risk stratification in the patient's case. We are fortunate in glaucoma to have a fair bit of evidence to guide us in our clinical dec...
How do you approach IOL calculations and selection in patients with keratoconus based on disease severity?
Lens selection assuming stable KCN and no plan for a transplant: Symmetrical astigmatism and they don't want to wear CL after surgery? Can consider a toric lens. Symmetrical astigmatism and they are okay with continuing RGP/sclerals? Monofocal aberration-free lens. Asymmetrical astigmatism and want...
When do you consider adding steroids alongside intravenous antibiotics for patients with orbital cellulitis?
If the orbital cellulitis is infectious, I never add steroids. There is no literature or proof that they do anything, and decreasing immunity, in my opinion, is simply a bad idea. If it is inflammatory, then absolutely. Most infectious orbital cellulitis is from the sinuses and is more common in chi...