- ArthritisThe eye is composed of three basic layers. The outermost layer is the sclera or “white” of the eye and the cornea-the curved dome in the front of the eye. The innermost layer is the retina, and the middle layer is the uvea. The uvea or uveal tract includes the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid which provide most of the blood supply to the retina. Inflammation in any of the parts of the uveal tract is called uveitis. Uveitis can be caused by autoimmune disorders such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Sarcoidosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Multiple Sclerosis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Uveitis can also be caused by a wide range of infections including Herpes Simplex, Varicella Zoster (Chicken Pox or Shingles), Epstein-Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus, Syphilis, Lyme Disease, Tuberculosis, Fungal Infections, Cat Scratch Disease or Toxoplasmosis.
- Primary CareLinh Chieu, O.D. is a Primary Care Optometrist & Contact Lens Specialist at The Eye Care & Surgery Center. Dr. Chieu received her Doctorate in Optometry (O.D.) from the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry and completed a Residency in Cornea & Contact Lenses at SUNY College of Optometry as well.
- Smoking CessationWhile we do not have all the answers to the thyroid eye disease puzzle, we do have good evidence that patients with thyroid eye disease will exacerbate their problems if they smoke. Furthermore, patients who stop smoking, often benefit with an improvement in their thyroid eye disease. Smoking cessation will also improve the healing process should you require surgery.
- Emergency CareDuring business hours, patients should call any of our office locations to speak with a staff member. After business hours, our answering service is available to route your call to a member of our on-call patient care team. Please note, any patient with a medical emergency is advised to dial 911 to receive emergency medical care.
- GlaucomaThere are many types of Glaucoma. However, there are two main types of Glaucoma: Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) and Angle Closure Glaucoma. Sometimes it is possible to have damage to the optic nerve, even with a “normal” Intraocular Pressure (IOP) which is called Normal Tension Glaucoma. Secondary Glaucoma refers to any case in which another disease causes or contributes to increased eye pressure, resulting in optic nerve damage and vision loss. We will limit our discussion to Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Angle Closure Glaucoma.
- OphthalmologyChildren’s eye exams at The Eye Care & Surgery Center are a routine part of our pediatric ophthalmology practice. Our Pediatric Ophthalmologist is a subspecialist who deals with problems common to or seen exclusively in the pediatric or children’s age group. Children’s eyes and vision are different than adult’s eyes and vision. The brain cells that control our vision are not fully developed, or mature, when we are born. These cells develop throughout the first decade of life. Because of the immaturity of a child’s visual system, disorders that may have little effect on an adult’s ability to see can have a profound and life-long effect on a child’s vision. Poor vision due to inadequate stimulation of these brain cells, amblyopia, is a common cause of loss of vision in this age group. Some disorders are only seen in children. Some disorders, such as certain types of tumors, may be found in both children and adults, but may have different effects when they occur in children.
- Macular DegenerationWe are very fortunate to have possible treatment options that may help to slow or even halt the progression of vision loss. However, patients must understand that once the macula has been damaged, there is no treatment that currently can consistently reverse that damage and the associated loss of vision. Early diagnosis and treatment to prevent or halt vision loss must be the approach that we take. Currently there are some treatment options available for certain types of macular degeneration that include anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth factor (VEGF) injections such as Lucentis® and Eylea® for Wet Macular Degeneration and the prescription of diet vitamin supplements.
- Laser Eye SurgeryAt The Eye Care & Surgery Center, we offer Refractive Lens Exchange Surgery which is also called Clear Lens Replacement or Lens Replacement Surgery with Lens Implants as another option for certain patients who wish reduce their dependency on glasses. The common vision problems of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can be corrected either by reshaping the cornea-the front clear window of the eye-or by changing the power of the lens inside the eye. During your examination and consultation if we find that you are not a good candidate for corneal surgery such as LASIK or PRK, we are able to then evaluate your candidacy for Refractive Lens Exchange using Lens Implants.
- CataractsThe most common forms of amblyopia are strabismic and anisometropic. Strabismic amblyopia occurs when a strabismus is present and the eyes are not aligned. The brain favors one eye over the other and the non-preferred eye is not adequately stimulated and the visual brain cells do not mature normally. Anisometropia refers to the condition when the eyes have an unequal “refractive power”. As an example, one eye may be nearsighted and the other farsighted. Because the brain cannot “balance” this difference, it picks the eye that is “easier” to use and develops a preference for this eye only. Other causes of amblyopia may include: cataracts, ptosis and trauma.
- Cataract SurgeryThere are many types of Intraocular Lens Implants (IOL) that we can use in order to provide you with the best results to match your lifestyle and activities after cataract surgery. These different types of lens implants include Monofocal Lens Implants which are the most basic type of lens implant and only correct distance vision and not arms’ length or close reading vision, Aspheric Lens Implants which offer a higher quality of distance vision but still do not correct arms’ length or close reading vision, Toric Lens Implants for those patients with astigmatism and Presbyopia Correcting Multifocal Lens Implants such as the AcrySof® IQ PanOptix™ Trifocal Lens Implant, the TECNIS Symfony Lens Implant (IOL), the AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision Intraocular Lens which correct distance vision, as well as arms’ length vision and close reading vision for most patients.
- Eye ExamUnder the direction of our Pediatric Ophthalmologist your child will have the following testing during the course of their eye exam...
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Diabetes Care
- ThyroidWhile not all people with thyroid problems develop eye disease, approximately 70% will at some point develop problems related to their eyes. There are many names given to the eye syndrome occurring in thyroid abnormalities. The most common name is Grave’s disease, named after Dr. Graves, who first described the eye problems in 1875. The eye changes associated with thyroid disease are seen in all types of thyroid disorders. Most commonly, they develop in patients who are or were hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid). Eye problems can occur in patients who have an underactive thyroid or even normal thyroid. The eye disease is not necessarily related to the control of your thyroid levels. Most people will develop thyroid eye problems within 1 year of their thyroid diagnosis. While most eye problems related to thyroid disease are mild, some can be quite disfiguring and traumatic. There is a great deal that can be done to evaluate and treat patients with thyroid related eye problems.
- Diabetic RetinopathyDepending on the stage of diabetic retinopathy, the potential for and the amount of vision loss, it is possible to treat, stabilize and often reverse the effects of the disease. Treatment of diabetic retinopathy can entail the use retinal laser photocoagulation treatment as well as intravitreal injections of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitor drugs or other drugs. However, successful management of diabetic eye problems requires early diagnosis and treatment.
- UltrasoundYour cataract surgeon will gently pass another sophisticated high technology microscopic instrument through the tiny incision. Sound waves or “Ultrasound” produced at the tip of the instrument will be used to gently break the cataract into pieces small enough to be washed away, drawn through the instrument and removed from your eye. This cataract removal technique is called “phacoemulsification” and is preferred for most patients.
- Computed TomographyAt The Eye Care & Surgery Center, we use the most advanced computer imaging technology in order to make the earliest and most accurate diagnosis of glaucoma. The doctors at The Eyecare & Surgery Center use OCT or Optical Coherence Tomography, a method that is capable of creating digital images through the use of special beams of light in order to create a contour map of the optic nerve and measure the retinal nerve fiber thickness. In many regards this is similar to the CT Scans used to study organ systems and tissues throughout your body. The goal of OCT Optic Nerve Computer Imaging is to give our eye doctors the ability to detect the slightest loss of optic nerve fibers, at the first possible moment, in order to diagnose glaucoma at the earliest possible stage in order to stop the progression of the disease and preserve your vision. These tests are also useful in monitoring for the possibility of progression by comparing tests over time. We perform OCT Optic Nerve Computer Imaging right in the comfort and convenience of our office at The Eye Care & Surgery Center.
- ChemotherapyEntropion is an eyelid position problem characterized by the eyelid turning inward. When this occurs, the eyelashes and the skin of the eyelid can rub against the surface of the eye and cornea causing considerable irritation and even serious damage. The most common cause is simply a laxity of the lower eyelid as the aging process and effects of gravity occur. Specialized muscles may loosen or weaken, allowing the eyelid to maintain an abnormal position. Most of the time, correction of this problem requires a simple same-day surgical technique. Other causes of entropion include certain conditions which cause scarring of the conjunctiva, chronic use of certain topical medications, some chemotherapy, burns and injury.
- OtolaryngologyDr. Jacobs holds the academic title of Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Rutgers Medical School (formerly UMDNJ) and has served as President of the New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. In addition to being a member of the American Glaucoma Society, he is only one of a few surgeons in New Jersey to have been successfully certified in cataract surgery by the American Board of Eye Surgery.
- Reconstructive SurgeryJuliana Leapman, M.D. is a Cosmetic Eyelid, Orbital & Reconstructive Eye & Facial Plastic Surgeon at The Eye Care & Surgery Center. Dr. Leapman earned her medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed a residency in Ophthalmology at Montefiore Hospital-Albert Einstein College of Medicine followed by Fellowship in Oculoplastic & Facial Reconstructive Surgery at Sheba Medical Center, The Goldschleger Eye Institute – Ramat Gan, Israel & Yitzhak Shamir Medical Center-Tzrifin, Israel.
- BotoxBOTOX® Cosmetic Injections can dramatically improve your facial wrinkles. Today, BOTOX® Cosmetic is by far the most popular cosmetic procedure performed in the United States. Botox is actually a purified protein derived from Botulinum Toxin Type A. During the BOTOX® Cosmetic Injection procedure, a small amount of BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected directly into the individual facial muscles that are responsible for creating wrinkles in the overlying skin. By weakening those muscles and preventing the pulling on the skin BOTOX® Cosmetic helps to minimize diminish the wrinkles. The actual BOTOX® Cosmetic Injections take only minutes to administer, and noticeable results can usually be seen within two to eight days. Our patients are able to return to work and wear makeup immediately after treatment.
- Eyelid SurgeryWhen a child is born with a droopy eyelid, this is considered congenital ptosis. There are several causes of congenital ptosis and is sometimes can associated with other eye problems including misdirected or misaligned eye muscles. In many instances, the eyelid muscle that elevates the eyelid does not develop well. There is a spectrum of severity from very mild to very severe. When significant, the droopy eyelid can block the visual input to the child’s eye and impair the development of that eye and normal vision. The child may maintain an abnormal head posture in an attempt to see underneath the droopy eyelids. Your child’s pediatric ophthalmologist will evaluate the functioning of the eyes and eye muscles, and assess whether the associated ptosis is significant and requires correction. If surgical correction is deemed necessary, your child will have a consultation with our specialist who will then explain the possible approaches to the surgical correction of congenital ptosis, each guided toward severity and cause of the droopy eyelid. The eyelid surgery for correction of congenital ptosis may range from a simple tightening of the upper eyelid muscle if it has good function to even utilizing the brow muscles to elevate the eyelid. There are several ways of accomplishing this goal including the use of specialized materials and grafting techniques and if necessary we will guide you through this process so we can be helpful in achieving the best possible results.
- Plastic SurgeryEye Lift or Blepharoplasty eyelid surgery is a popular type of cosmetic facial plastic surgery to help you look your best. Your eyes are one of the most important aspects of your appearance, and one of the first areas to show signs of aging. For some, this can occur as early as your twenties to early thirties. If your eyes project a lack of energy due to overhanging skin and puffiness of your eyelids, you may appear tired or older. Conversely, if the eyes are more open and relatively free of creases and folds, you will probably seem more rested and youthful. In our society, looking your best and preserving your youthful features are important parts of who we are.
- BlepharoplastyUpper eyelid Blepharoplasty involves the improvement of two characteristics of the aging upper eyelid area. The first is correction of excess skin of the upper eyelid, a condition referred to as “hooding of the upper lid.” The second condition that can be corrected is the puffiness that is seen in the inner corner and middle of the eyelid as a result of herniation (pushing forward) of fat located in these areas above the eye. Upper eyelid Blepharoplasty is commonly performed at the same time as lower eyelid Blepharoplasty.
- Skin CancerJonathan P. Greenberg, MD is an ophthalmologist, retina specialist & vitreoretinal surgeon at The Eye Care & Surgery Center in New Jersey. He received his medical degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, where he was vice president of the Medical Student Council and graduated in the top 10% of his class. Dr. Greenberg then completed a three-year research fellowship in retinal disease at Columbia University followed by a residency in ophthalmology at Northwell Health and a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He also has a special interest in diagnosing and managing intraocular tumors, including performing plaque brachytherapy to treat ocular melanoma.
- Acne Treatment
- UlcerThe outermost layer of the cornea is called the epithelium. If it is damaged from trauma of any type, i.e. getting a foreign body in your eye such as piece of metal, a poke in the eye from a branch or a finger or even from a dirty or damaged contact lens, it is possible for bacteria, viruses or fungi to penetrate the cornea and cause an infection. An infection of the cornea is called Keratitis or Corneal Ulcer. Keratitis can cause painful inflammation with discharge, which if not treated quickly and appropriately, can lead to corneal erosion, corneal ulceration and corneal scarring. Corneal scarring results in a loss of corneal transparency and loss of vision which could require a corneal transplant in order to restore vision. Generally, the deeper the corneal infection, the more severe the symptoms and the greater the potential for loss of vision.
- LesionsGrowths on or around the eyelids and face are common and the vast majority of these lesions are benign and can be easily removed in the office. The approach to growths on the eyelids and face is similar to elsewhere on the body. Changes in appearance, size or color are all considered important to bring to the attention of your doctor who will then carefully evaluate these eyelid and facial growths. An in office biopsy may be required. This procedure is quick and relatively simple and should the growth in question be malignant, we can remove them and provide the necessary level of treatment or surgery to create a proper cosmetic result. There are several types of malignant growths of the eyelid and face that we want to be observant of.
- Chemical PeelsWe are pleased to offer our patients a variety of anti-aging skin care chemical peels and products. These medical grade products are a must have for optimal skin repair and rejuvenation and utilize a combination of light peeling agents that induce sloughing of the cells in the epidermis (the top layer of the skin) with little or no downtime. The epidermis heals in only a few days giving the skin an improved appearance, more even skin color, smoother texture and a healthier glow. Deeper chemical peeling products create inflammation to the Dermis (the second layer of skin) where regeneration can take weeks, even months.
- Skin CareChemical peel for anti-aging skin care can be an important part of helping you maintain a youthful appearance. Chemical peeling is an accelerated form of exfoliation that began in ancient Egypt more than 5000 years ago. During the crusades, old wine with tartaric acid became a popular skin care remedy. In that late 1800s sugar cane derived acids were used in Polynesia and the Caribbean. These combinations of chemical agents contained alpha hydroxyl acids, the active ingredients responsible for skin exfoliation. Physicians soon began using skin peeling for therapeutic benefits. In the late 1800s, they found that a variety of chemicals applied to the skin would reduce age-related skin changes, freckles and acne scarring. They also found that the process reoriented the new skin connective tissue. Collagen remodeling is the main goal of chemical peel and the reason they improve sun damaged skin by improving the texture and reducing wrinkles. From the 1980s to the present, chemical peels still remain effective therapeutic options for skin rejuvenation. Their simplicity and low cost make them an ideal complement to every skin care regimen.
- Allergies