|
Informative
Facts Concerning Our Services
Below
is a list of some frequently asked questions, but please feel free to
call our office if you need additional information at
(954)
786-5353. We are always pleased to assist you.
Please Note: If you are using
Netscape to view this site, the book-marking feature does not
apply. You will need to scroll down the page to view the
questions and answers.
| About
Oculoplastic Surgery |
|
|
 |
What
is a cataract and how can it be treated? |
 |
 A cataract
is a cloudy area in the eye's lens that can cause vision problems.
Most cataracts are caused by aging. In fact, more
than half of all Americans, age 65 and older, have a
cataract. In the early stages, stronger lighting or new
glasses may lessen vision problems caused by cataracts. At a
certain point surgery alone will be needed to improve
vision. Cataract surgery, today, is safe and very
effective. Dr. Loeffler utilizes the latest techniques using
ultrasound fragmentation (phacoemulsification) to remove
cataracts. Dr. Loeffler is currently trained in laser
cataract surgery but this procedure has not yet been approved by
the FDA. In Dr. Loeffler's hands, over 98% of patients have
an improvement in vision following cataract surgery.  |
|
|
|
What
is glaucoma and how can it be treated? |
|
Glaucoma is
a disease which can lead to damage of
the optic nerve of the eye which can result in blindness.
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma, affects
about 3 million Americans. At first there are no symptoms,
but over the years it can steal your sight. With early
treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision
loss and blindness.
Although glaucoma can never be
cured, you can be treated in order to control the disease.
This makes early diagnosis and treatment important to protect your
sight. Eye drops are the first line of treatment in most
cases, with the objective to lower the intraocular pressure to a
safe level. This may require one or several different drops
to achieve adequate lowering of the pressure within the eye.
If medical therapy fails, laser surgery can then be tried to lower
the eye pressure. Conventional surgery, which creates a new
opening for fluid to leave the eye, can be performed as a last
resort.
Remember that the treatment for
glaucoma may not restore lost sight - peripheral vision loss from
glaucoma is irreversible, but early detection and treatment is the
key to preserving your sight. This is why Dr. Loeffler
routinely measures the intraocular pressure in your eyes.
|
|
|
|
Why
do I need to be concerned about diabetic retinopathy? |
|
Diabetic
retinopathy is a potentially blinding complication of diabetes
that damages the retina. Half of the 15 million Americans
with diabetes suffer from diabetic retinopathy. At first,
there are no symptoms. But the longer you have diabetes, and
the worse your blood sugar control, the greater the risk of you
developing more severe diabetic retinopathy. Timely laser
treatment is the key to preventing vision loss from diabetes, but the real key is screening all diabetics for retinopathy when their
diagnosis is made. Diabetics requires annual visits
to the ophthalmologist and follow-up visits are determined at each
visit. Dr. Loeffler, a board certified ophthalmologist, is
also the ophthalmologist for the North Broward Diabetes Center,
and is uniquely qualified to manage diabetic retinopathy. |
|
|
|
What
is macular degeneration and can it be treated? |
|
Age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) is a disease that affects your central
vision. It is a common cause of vision loss among people over
the age of 60. Because only the center of the vision is
affected, one does not become totally blind. However, AMD
can impair the ability to read, drive or perform other daily
activities that require fine, central vision.
There are two forms of AMD: Dry and
Wet.
Dry AMD affects about 90% of those with the
disease. It's cause is unknown. Slowly, the light
sensitive cells in the center of the retina (macula) degenerate.
With less of the macula working, the central vision diminishes
over a period of years. Dry AMD usually affects both eyes,
but at different rates. There is no treatment for Dry AMD.
Wet AMD accounts for only 10% of AMD cases but
causes 90% of the blindness associated with AMD. It is
caused by the growth of new blood vessels under the macula which
can then leak fluid or blood under the macula. This blood or
fluid can cause rapid damage to the retina with loss of central
vision in a short period of time.
Treatment of AMD includes laser surgery for
selected wet cases. Unfortunately, there is not treatment at
present for Dry AMD. However, Dr. Loeffler will instruct you
on how to use various grids and charts to help you monitor the eye
for damage that could be caused by the wet form of AMD.
|
|
|
|
What
is dry eye and how can it be treated |
|
 Some people do not
produce enough tears to keep the eye lubricated in normal
situations. These people will complain of burning, stinging,
scratchiness, mucous discharge, excessive tearing, eye irritation
and difficulty wearing contact lenses. Dry eye syndrome is
often associated with menopause, arthritis and affects women more
often than men. Dry eyes can also be caused by decreased
tear secretion secondary to the use of many medications.
The main form of treatment for dry eyes is tear
supplements, in the form of drops, gel or ointment.
Conserving tears, by blocking their drainage from the eye, is a
second step in the management of dry eyes. Dr. Loeffler will
gladly supply you with samples of tear supplements and literature regarding
dry eye treatment.
|
|
|
|
What
is oculoplastic surgery? |
|
 Oculoplastic
surgery is a subspecialty in the field of ophthalmology that deals
with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids, lacrimal
(tear duct) and orbit, the bony cavity around the eye.
To be an oculoplastic surgeon, one
must complete an approved residency in ophthalmology, become board
certified, complete a formal fellowship in oculoplastic surgery,
take a written and oral exam and submit a thesis of original work
to the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery. Dr. Loeffler has reached this professional pinnacle
and is eminently qualified to manage disorders that affect the
eyelid, tear duct and orbit.
Problems in this area include:
- Eyelid malposition - droopy
lids, lids that turn in or out
- Eyelid tumors - either benign or
malignant
- Cosmetic eyelid problems -
excess skin on upper lids, bags on lower lids
- Tear Duct - trauma to the tear
outflow apparatus or blockages in the tear duct
- Orbit - problems with the bony
housing of the eye, including fracture, thyroid eye disease or
tumors.
|
|
|
|
What
is blepharoplasty? |
|
 The
eyelids protect one's eyes in addition to enhancing one's
appearance. Over time, your upper or lower eyelids may
become droopy or baggy as the eyelid tissue stretches, muscles
weaken and fat pockets bulge and become more prominent around the
eyes. This most often occurs with aging but can occur in
younger patients as well. Aesthetically, such conditions may
detract from the overall attractiveness of one's eyes and cause a
"tired" or older appearance. When severe, these
conditions may also cause functional problems, such as impaired
field of vision or difficulty wearing glasses.
Eyelid surgery to correct and
improve the appearance of the eyelids is called blepharoplasty.
 Blepharoplasty
is performed on an out-patient basis using local anesthesia with
IV sedation. In upper eyelid surgery, excess skin, muscle
and fat are removed in a meticulous fashion. In lower lid
surgery, sometimes only the bulging fat tissue is removed, or the
skin and muscle may also need to be removed. Incisions are
made in such a way as to hide them in the natural folds in the
eyelids. Lower lid surgery is frequently done from the
internal surface of the lids, the so-called "stitch less" blepharoplasty. Eyebrows that are too low can also be
corrected by the oculoplastic surgeon.
|
|
|
|
Is
eyelid surgery covered by insurance? |
|
Some
insurance plans will cover upper eyelid surgery if they can be
convinced that there is a functional impairment caused by the
droopy upper eyelid skin.
These impairments include:
- Restricted upper field of vision
- Symptoms of eyelid irritation
attributed to the redundant eyelid skin
- Eyelid skin laying on the
eyelashes
Each insurer is different, and
their response will vary patient to patient. Lower eyelid
surgery is virtually never covered by insurance.
|
|
|
|
What
is laser surgery for wrinkles? |
|
The laser
used for wrinkle removal is a highly sophisticated instrument
which allows the physician to control the exfoliation process, by
safely removing thin layers of skin.
|
|
|
|
Where
can the laser be used? |
|
The laser
can be used for fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. The deep laugh lines around
mouth and the frown
lines around the eyes can be softened. Even acne and some surgical
scars can become softer. |
|
|
|
How
do I care for my treated skin? |
|
Dr.
Loeffler will prescribe creams and skin treatments to keep the
skin from drying. Sun protection is mandatory to avoid skin
discoloration and further wrinkle formation. |
|
|
|
What
is LASIK and how does it work? |
|
LASIK is an
acronym that stands for Laser in-situ Keratomileusis, which means
to shape the cornea, using a laser. Using an instrument
called a microkeratome, a thin flap of corneal tissue is folded
back. The excimer laser is then used to precisely remove a
predetermined amount of tissue from the inner cornea to correct
the nearsightedness, astigmatism, or farsightedness. The
corneal flap is then repositioned without stitches, and the eye is then operated on. |
|
|
|
Does
LASIK hurt? |
|
No.
Because the cornea is treated with numbing drops, patients
experience little if any discomfort during or after the procedure. |
|
|
|
How
long does it take for the vision to improve? |
|
While
results vary from patient to patient, most patients have markedly
improved vision in one to three days. Full visual results
are usually realized in one to four weeks. |
|
|
|
Are
there any risks with LASIK? |
|
Every
surgical procedure, including LASIK, has some potential
risk. Risks include over-correction, under-correction,
corneal scarring and even loss of vision. Dr. Loeffler will
gladly review all the risks and benefits of LASIK with you, and
your visit is never over until all your questions have been
answered.
|
|
|
|
Is
LASIK covered under my healthy insurance plan? |
|
LASIK is a
refractive surgery and is considered "cosmetic" by most
insurance carriers. It is not covered by health insurance. |
 |
Center for
Ophthalmology
& Laser Surgery |
2100 E. Sample Road
Suite 102
Lighthouse, Florida 33064 |
| (954)
786-5353 |
| info@oculaser.com |
|
|
The answer
really depends upon your particular vision problem.
While
Dr. Loeffler guarantees you that he will do his very best to get
you to 20/20, no one can guarantee that you will have perfect
vision or that you will never need distance or reading glasses
again. But virtually everyone
experiences improved vision, and most people see well enough to
pass a driver's test without glasses.
