Eye Diseases & Treatments

Corneal eye diseases, conditions, & treatments

Your cornea is the dome-shaped, transparent outer lens of the eye. It protects the iris, anterior chamber, and pupil from debris and germs. It also is the primary focuser of light entering the eye; the cornea bends (refracts) light onto the lens. The cornea can lose its shape, grow cloudy, and suffer from infections. The following are common corneal eye diseases and corneal surgeries treated at the Eye Center of Texas.

• Astigmatism: a condition in which an unevenly rounded cornea creates refractive errors, resulting in vision problems.
  • Treatment: LASIK eye surgery.
    
• Corneal abrasion: a frequently occurring condition in which the cornea has been scratched.
  • Treatment: either prescription eye drops, lubricating drops, antibiotic drops or ointment, or a bandage contact lens, depending on the severity of the abrasion
• Corneal dystrophy: an (often inherited) condition involving the buildup of cloudy substances that cause the cornea to lose clarity.
  • Treatment: Keratoplasty (corneal transplantation)
    
• Corneal neovascularization (CNV): a condition caused by lack of oxygen, in which blood vessels grow into the cornea.
  • Treatment: antibiotics, corticosteroids, anti-VEGF medication
    
• Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy: a disease in which the endothelial cells at the base of the cornea deteriorate, creating potential corneal swelling.
  • Treatment: Keratoplasty (corneal transplantation)
    
• Keratoconus: a progressive eye disease which causes your cornea to thin, then bulge into a cone-like shape.
  • Treatment: Corneal cross-linking (CXL)
    
• Keratitis: an infection often caused by bacteria or a virus that creates corneal inflammation.
  • Treatment: antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, or antibiotic eye drops

Retinal eye diseases, conditions, & treatments

The retina is the thin layer of tissue that lines the inside of the back of the eye. The retina is the part of the eye which takes all the light collected by the lens, organizes it, and translates it into neural signals that it then sends to the brain via the optic nerve.  The following are common retinal eye diseases treated at the Eye Center of Texas.

• Diabetic retinopathy: a condition that occurs when high blood sugar damages the capillaries in the retina, causing vision loss and blindness.
  • Treatment: better control of blood sugar, anti-VEGF medication, steroids, laser surgery (to shrink blood vessels), vitrectomy.
• Diabetic macular edema (DME): a condition in which the damaged capillaries of diabetic retinopathy are left on treated, causing pressure and leakage.
  • Treatment: better control of blood sugar, anti-VEGF medication, steroids, laser surgery, NSAID eye drops.
• Epiretinal membrane (macular pucker): is a condition where scar tissue has formed on the center of the retina (the macula), blurring vision.
  • Treatment: vitrectomy or no treatment, depending on the severity
• Flashes and floaters: flashes are caused by vitreous, which pulls on the retina as it shrinks, creating flickers of light. Floaters often follow flashers and are caused by the vitreous coagulating and detaching from the eyewall.  
  • Treatment: none, unless related to another disease or condition
• Macular degeneration / age-related macular degeneration (AMD): a condition caused by the degeneration of the macula the pigmented area found at the center of the retina. Macular degeneration contributes to loss of central vision.
  • Treatment: laser surgery, anti-VEGF medication, glasses, corrective lenses
• Macular hole: a defect found at the center of the retina caused by an injury or tugging of the vitreous (the gel-like substance in your eye).
  • Treatment: vitrectomy
• Retinal tears and retinal detachment: a condition that occurs when vitreous shrinks, tugging and tearing the retina. If fluid enters the tear it can cause the retina to detach.
  • Treatment: cryotherapy
• Retinal vein occlusion (RVO): a disease in which the blood traveling from your retina to your heart becomes blocked. RVO is sometimes called eye stroke. There are two types: central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
  • Treatment: laser surgery/therapy, anti-VEGF, corticosteroids

Other eye diseases, conditions, & treatments

• Cataracts: a degenerative eye disease that typically occurs with aging. Cataracts develop on the lens and cause blurred vision.
  • Treatment: LASIK eye surgery or PRK
• Glaucoma: a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged by increased pressure (ocular hypertension) due to fluid buildup. The onset of glaucoma is slow; many people are unaware that they have glaucoma.
  • Treatment: eye drops, laser eye surgery (selective laser trabeculoplasty or endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation), filtration surgery

Our doctors

Dr. Edward Wade and Dr. Mark Mayo are nationally-renowned eye surgeons located right here in the Houston, Texas area. They and their team of doctors operate in five locations throughout Houston and the surrounding areas.

See how our patients describe their time at Eye Center of Texas working with some of the best LASIK surgeons in Houston, Texas.  

Treatment at Eye Center of Texas

Eye Center of Texas has helped restore the vision of thousands of Houstonians. Due to our years of experience and our use of only the most advanced eye disease surgical techniques and technology, over 300 Houston-area eye doctors refer their patients to Eye Center of Texas exclusively.

Take that first step towards getting your clear vision back. Contact an Eye Center of Texas facility nearby calling us at 713-797-1010 or requesting an appointment online.