Browse published articles attributed to Jay Stockman, with full-archive search.
Contact lens solutions have evolved drastically over the past 50 years. They started as a multi-procedure activity that included cleaning, disinfecting, and soaking. These procedures could take hours to complete, and compliance was poor while the cost was high. As technology improved, so did the ...
Acne Rosacea is a skin condition that mimics regular acne, but lasts much longer and often affects adults. The condition can have substantial side affects and create secondary problems with the skin and surrounding tissue. Treatment often requires oral medication. Blepharitis is an ...
Television watching has become a national pass time in the United States, and along with it commercial exposure. We often hear, and see new products and drug manufacturers now use this medium to advertise their pharmaceuticals. The problem that often arises is that the viewer does not know ...
In the hands of a well trained, experienced, and seasoned refractive surgeon, LASIK is a very good procedure with excellent results. IntraLASIK which is the same procedure that employs a laser to create the flap is even. An often over looked complication of the procedure is the affect that the ...
Cataract surgery has come a long way over the years and the surgical results are dramatically better then in the past. However, there are still potential complications and careful presurgical evaluations can often predict post surgical complications. One such potential problem is corneal edema (swelling of the cornea). With the development of Phacoemulsification which involves vibrations that break apart the cataractous lens, the likelihood of corneal swelling is much greater.
Blepharitis is the inflammation of the lids. It may have several etiologies and can result in many secondary conditions that are detrimental to ocular health. Patients often present with inflammation and redness of either the anterior, posterior or both areas of the lids. In addition, there is ...
Patients' complaints of burning, dry and red eyes are often passed off as either nothing significant or a side bar of dry eyes. Many eye doctors simply recommend artificial tears and hope for the best. When these same individuals return with contact lens discomfort and related symptoms, they are more difficult to deal with. While dry eyes are in many cases the etiology of the symptoms, the cure is more complex. The underlying reason for the dry eye condition must be determined in order to fully correct the problem. An often overlooked cause is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
Radial Keratotomy (RK) has been referred to by some as the “Grand Father” of Refractive Surgery. It involved making radial incisions in the cornea some times as deep as 80% of the total corneal thickness in an attempt to flatten the tissue. Astigmatism was treated with specific incisions located ...
Cataract surgery has undergone a remarkable evolution over the many years since it’s inception. At first, a large incision had to be made so the natural lens could be removed and an Intraocular Lens (IOL) could be inserted. The first IOLs were placed in the anterior section of the eye in front ...
Stem cells have proven themselves to be the next great healer in treating deadly and debilitating diseases. While research has been restricted, their efficacy is well known. The concept that one's own body, through the use of stem cells, can cure and heal damage to the tissues; and therefore improve function is a medical breakthrough of monumental proportion. Delivery of these stem cells to the affected organs is always an issue that must be considered as much as the selection of the cells themselves.
An injury to the outer layer of the cornea, the Epithelium, usually heals with in a few days, and results in no long term damage. However, if the Epithelium does not fully reattach to the underlying layer, Bowman’s Layer, then that focal point may be a source of future problems. This is called a ...
Contact lenses have been worn for many decades and have improved substantially over the years. Along with this change in lens technology has been a dramatic improvement testing and diagnostic capabilities. While many contact lens wearers do so with out incident, there are many perils that may inflict damage to the eyes that can result in devastating complications. Proper contact lens fitting and follow ups should include not only the basic refraction, cornea readings and corneal health evaluation, but also corneal topography and endothelial cell count measurements.
Macular Degeneration is a progressive disorder that damages the central most part of the retina called the macula. This area of the eye has the highest concentration of neuroreceptors and thus the most acute vision. Any alteration in this section of the retina will result in decreased vision. A ...
Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens in the eye. The lens becomes yellow or opaque preventing light and images from reaching the retina. They most frequently affect older patients, but may appear in younger individuals as well. While the most common type of cataract is age related ...
Proper medical management of any surgery is vital to its ultimate success. Refractive surgery, in particular requires meticulous monitoring, and adapting in order for the individual to achieve the refractive goal set forth. Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) is a common refractive procedure that ...
Amblyopia, or lazy eye is reduced vision in one eye as a result of a sustained period of visual neglect in childhood, resulting in neither eye glasses nor medical treatment improving the vision in that Amblyopic eye. During infancy, an infant’s neurological system is very flexible, and can ...
Seasonal allergies are a constant companion for many individuals and represent a major health factor for millions of Americans. Symptoms include sneezing, coughing, red itchy eyes, sore throat and even dark circles under the eyes. Hay fever is often caused by pollens which are at the highest counts in higher heats, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration. Ragweed is the most common allergen in the fall which causes our immune system to release histamines and other inflammatory mediators. The spring is dominated by tree contributions, followed by flowers, weeds and molds.
Proper diets have long been known to be beneficial to our overall good health. New research has demonstrated more specifics as to just how important and what we need to eat in order to stay healthy and fit. Vitamin B is actually a family of 8 water soluble Vitamins each with specific benefits that our bodies need to stay healthy. All of them except for B12 are found in similar food sources. Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) is found in meats, grains and brewers yeast. It is involved in the breakdown of nutrients and facilitates the burning of fuel for energy.
Americans have pursued a never ending search for nutrients, and supplements in an effort to improve ocular health and prevent eye diseases. While many advertized items have little or no actual benefit, there are some that have been shown to be helpful, and efficacious. Over the last half ...
Cystoid Macular Edema is a swelling in the central most part of the retina creating small cyst like lesions. It may occur for a number of reasons, but I will concentrate on the incidence occurring following cataract surgery. The standard of care has changed greatly over the years with cataract ...
Patients with systemic diseases and conditions frequently will also have ocular manifestations of those disorders. Recognizing these findings is vital to proper treatment. Patients who come to our office with complaints of dry eyes, or inflammatory conditions like Iritis, Uveitis, Scleritis or ...
When a patient walks through the door, the eye care professional must immediately begin evaluating the integrity of that patient; the way s/he carries themselves, their speech pattern, facial features, clarity of their eyes, position of their eyes, signs of squinting, or excessive tearing. These ...
Dry Eyes and Their Treatments Dry eyes are enormously common in the US, and it is believed to be the source of most complaints in eye doctor’s offices. While there are very few studies that have been conducted on this condition, many eye symptoms are thought to actually be based on a dry eye ...
Aging has always and will always be a reason for our bodies to change. At first, we mature with deeper voices, body hair in males, and those attractive curves in females. The next step is not as welcome. Our hair gets gray or falls out, wrinkles appear, gravity takes control of various body ...
LASIK procedures have been performed for a number of years with varying degrees of success. Many patients have been freed from having to wear glasses and are very happy with the results. Others still need eye glasses for certain activities. Common side effects include post surgical dry eyes, light sensitivity, fluctuating vision and halos around lights. As the procedure has evolved some of the side effects have been reduced while others have started. Development of the Femtosecond laser resulted in a neater, sharper flap that heals faster and better then when the lathe is used.r
Cataract surgery has been performed for many years, and new developments have dramatically improved the post-op vision. The lens is a normal structure of the internal part of the eye. We are all born with clear, natural lenses whose function is to focus light onto the retina, and also absorb ...
Contact lenses have been around for more then half a century. They started as glass lenses, and evolved into many different types of soft plastic polymers. These changes have been dramatic, and have enabled millions of people to wear contact lenses comfortably for a whole host of activities. The ...
The evolution of cataract surgery has changed significantly over the years. It began with simply opening a large wound to remove the cataract, and then closing the hole leaving a void where the natural lens was. The only way a patient could then see was with the aid of very thick post surgical ...
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve inside the eye resulting in blindness if untreated. There is a genetic predisposition for the disorder, but there are other factors that contribute to the type of Glaucoma and severity of the disease. Routine eye exams should always include a ...
The refractive surgical procedure, PRK involves debrading, or scraping the top layer of the cornea, thereby exposing the inner layers which are then treated with a laser. In doing so, the cornea can be reshaped, and this will improve the vision of the patient. Ideally, the patient will wear a ...
Health care has dramatically improved this past quarter century with the development of new and more effective drugs. After WW II, antibiotics were discovered and death rates declined. As bacteria have evolved; so have antibiotics. In addition, other pharmaceuticals have come along to fight ...
Aging is a fact of life and all the trips to the gym, nutritionist, and Dermatologist for Botox, will not prevent your eyes from needing reading glasses when you approach the ripe age of 40. While multifocal eye glass lenses have been around for many years, recent developments in contact lenses ...
The lid is a very complex, and important structure. It has multiple functions that require a constant flow of fluids, and physiological maintenance. Disruption of any part of this mechanism can, and often does result in disease, pain and the possibility of secondary complications. The lid’s most ...
Reduced vision, or even blindness my exist for an individual for a number of reasons. Treatment will depend on what the cause is, and how effective the treatment will be. Conventional, non invasive treatment has always been eye glasses, or contact lenses to correct visual problems. Over time, ...
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted, urogenital disease that frequently goes un or misdiagnosed. As a result of this under diagnosing many individuals suffer from Adult Inclusion Conjunctivitis(A.I.C.). The reason for the misdiagnosing is the lack of desire by many eye doctors to raise the ...
Dry eyes are a serious and growing conce for millions of individuals. The eye must be bathed in a continuous flow of a tear film that consists of several components. A healthy tear film contains lipids, aqueous, and mucin. The outer lipid layer prevents evaporation, keeping the inner layers ...
Keratoconus is a genetic, recessive condition that affects less then 1% of the population, is progressive and can have devastating affects on the vision. There are several types of the condition each demonstrating varying degrees of severity. The mild variation of the condition will present ...
For people over the age of forty, reading becomes increasingly difficult. This inability to focus up close is called Presbyopia. It is a normal part of aging, and can not be prevented. As LASIK and PRK have increased in popularity, researchers have looked for ways to eliminate the need for ...
Blepharitis is the inflammation of the lids, and it affects the glands that reside within these tissues. The incidence of lid infection ranges from 3.2% in young adults and increases with age to 71.1% with seniors. The cause of Blepharitis is almost always bacterial in nature, and tests positive ...
The many benefits of LASIK are obvious, vision without glasses, however several side affects must always be considered prior to surgery. One of the most significant, and bothersome is Dry Eyes. Most individuals that undergo the procedure will experience at least some dryness, yet others will be ...
Health care has been much improved since the discovery of antibiotics. Prior to WWII, Sulfa drugs were the treatment of choice to fight bacteria and were quite successful, but did not cover all the organisms that attacked humans. As a result, many perished and even more suffered debilitating ...
In an effort to stay healthy, and prevent disease many of us have been taking vitamins. When examining the physiology of our eyes, it makes sense in certain instances to supplement our diets, and improve the metabolism of tissues. There are several problems that arise with that point of view. ...
Over the counter remedies are all thought to be very safe; since a doctor’s prescription is unnecessary. That however, is not true. All medications, whether they are prescribed or not, have side effects, and can react with other pharmacological entities. In some cases, these effects could ...
Multiple Sclerosis is the gradual damage to the nervous system, leading to demyelination, and system failures. Previously, diagnosis was made when there were “several episodes separated by time and space”. As the symptoms piled up, and there were clear signs of the disorder a diagnosis was made. ...
Diabetes is a systemic disease that can, and often affects many areas of the body. The search for a cure has been long, and difficult, and to date the only therapy has been to manage the condition and treat the symptoms. While better blood glucose control has been at the apex of this therapy, it ...
A clear, natural lens is a structure that is common in most eyes. This lens helps focus light on to the retina and allows for clear vision. If the lens is too strong then the eye is considered nearsighted(myopic), and conversely if it is too weak then it is considered farsighted(hyperopic). ...
The pursuit of visual correction has taken many paths over the years, some better then others. On occasion, a protocol that is intended for one use can be applied to another with results that exceed its original intentions. Such is the case with Intacs, which are corneal implants to correct ...
Glaucoma is a silent disease that always results in blindness if not properly treated. There are several types of glaucoma, but all are a result of increased pressure within the eye, and a corresponding decrease in blood flow to the optic nerve. Like most diseases, treatment of glaucoma has ...