Corneal Procedures

Orange County Corneal Procedures

What is the Cornea?

The cornea makes up the outermost layer of your eye; like a window to your eye’s interior, the cornea is the clear, dome-like surface that extends over the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber of the eye.

The cornea works to allow light to pass into the eye, to the lens and the retina, and additionally helps to focus light. The cornea works similarly to a camera lens in this regard.

What is the Importance of Corneal Health?

Corneal health is dependent on a variety of factors, and corneal diseases can either distort vision or result in vision loss. Corneal well-being is integral to maintaining overall eye health.

Other factors in the health of the cornea include the health of an individual’s conjunctiva (the tissue that covers the front part of the eyeball and lines the back of the eyelids) and the health of a person’s eyelids themselves. Both these components have glands that produce tear fluids, which are vital to maintaining corneal health.

For professional corneal surgery and treatment, contact Dr. Gaster today in his offices at Beverly Hills, CA, and Orange County, CA.

Corneal Cross-Linking

Corneal cross-linking is a surgical treatment option to treat keratoconus and other ectatic diseases. Corneal cross-linking is performed by applying a riboflavin solution to the eye, which is then activated by UV-A light for approximately thirty minutes.

This solution is used to help form new bonds across collagen strands in the cornea and repair damage caused by proteases, a class of enzymes that break collagen cross-linkages in the stroma. This procedure helps the cornea to recover and preserve some of the mechanical strength of the cornea.

For more information on corneal cross-linking options in Beverly Hills, CA, or Orange County, CA, contact the offices of Ronald. N. Gaster today!

Beverly Hills Corneal Transplants

An unhealthy cornea affects visual acuity by scattering light, causing glare, and blurred vision, and in some cases, glasses and contact lenses are not effective in improving these visual disparities. At this point, a cornea transplant may be necessary to restore functional vision.

A corneal transplant is a procedure in which an unhealthy cornea is removed and replaced with a healthy cornea from an organ donor. Corneal transplants are also often recommended if painful swelling in the cornea cannot be relieved through the use of medication.

There are many conditions that can affect the clarity of your cornea, such as:

  • Scarring, caused by eye infections such as eye herpes, fungal keratitis, or bacterial infections
  • Hereditary conditions
  • Corneal thinning or irregularities in the shape of the cornea
  • Excessive swelling (edema)
  • Chemical burns of the cornea or damage from an eye injury

Beverly Hills Pterygium

A pterygium is a growth of pink, fleshy tissue on the white of the eye that typically grows from the inner corner of the eye towards the iris. A pterygium most commonly impacts individuals who spend a large amount of time outdoors, such as surfers.

Pterygium is commonly called “surfer’s eye.” It is a slowly advancing, non-cancerous growth that can cover the pupil after time and decrease vision. Occasionally, pterygium causes no symptoms but its appearance, although some individuals experience itching, burning, or blurred vision.

A pterygium is not usually a serious condition, but when it interferes with sight, it is best to remove it. It does have the capacity to return regardless of proper surgical removal, so it is best to protect your eyes from the sun at all times.

Dr. Gaster has removed pterygia from many surfers’ eyes, including world-class surfing champions.

Click here to watch a testimonial from Bruce Irons. If you have noticed a growth in your eye, contact Dr. Gaster as soon as possible.

Beverly Hills Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment

Dry eyes related discomfort is one of the most frequent afflictions presented to eye doctors from patients. The impacts of dry eye can deviate from the below list and vary from person-to-person, but it is common for patients who suffer from dry eyes to experience a number of the following symptoms: foreign body sensation, redness, scratchy eyes, dryness, gritty sensation, blurry vision, and burning.

Dry eye syndrome is related to tear production and is most frequently caused by increased tear evaporation and/or insufficient or poor quality tears.

Treatment options for Dry Eye Syndrome include artificial tears, which provide temporary relief from dry eye syndrome, and omega- 3 supplements, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), Meibomian Gland Expression, Restasis, Xiidra, autologous serum, and LipiFlow.

If you are experiencing dry eye syndrome in Orange County or Beverly Hills, California, and are looking for relief, request an appointment to see Dr. Gaster today!