General Eye Care

Dr. Burns offers his patients cutting-edge vision technology as well as routine ophthalmology services.

• Diagnosis and Treatments
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic Eye Care
• Cataracts
• Macular Degeneration
• Optical Services
• Common Eye Disorders

Diagnosis and Treatments

Dr. Burns has invested in the latest technology to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye and vision conditions because he understands that early detection can improve your final outcome. The earliest stages of many serious diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy can go unnoticed by those afflicted because there are no symptoms. Routine eye exams are extremely important for early diagnosis, which is why you should not wait until you notice a problem with your vision to schedule an appointment with Dr. Burns.

Dr. Burns is fully equipped to treat as well as diagnose eye disorders and diseases, which is why he is the one doctor for all your eye care needs. From children's first eye exams to seniors' cataract check-ups, Dr. Burns is here for you. If you are diabetic, it is particularly important that you are under the care of an experienced ophthalmologist, and that you undergo annual eye exams.

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Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually damage the optic nerve, eventually robbing a person of vision. In order to prevent blindness, early detection is crucial. People afflicted with glaucoma often have no noticeable early symptoms, and by the time they notice a change in their vision, it may be too late to save their sight. Glaucoma is not curable, but it can be controlled. It was once thought that intraocular pressure (IOP) was the primary cause of optic nerve damage, but it has since been found that other risk factors can play a role in vision loss, even when people have normal IOP. This is one of the reasons why Dr. Burns uses a state-of-the-art GDx analyzer for advanced glaucoma testing.

Diagnosis of Glaucoma: The GDx Analyzer

Rather than measure intraocular pressure, the GDx analyzer uses a laser to quickly and painlessly measure the thickness of the optic nerve fibers on the retinal surface, just before they come together to form the optic nerve. The GDx produces a color-coded picture of the nerve fiber layer, which allows Dr. Burns to diagnose glaucoma at the earliest possible stages.

Treatment Options for Glaucoma

When glaucoma is diagnosed, the patient will be prescribed eye drops to lower the intraocular pressure. Other treatments include oral medications (which are rarely used, partly due to side effects), laser surgery, such as SLT treatment, and filtration surgery.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Glaucoma

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), a surgical treatment for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma, is an exciting recent development in open-angle glaucoma treatment. Prior to its introduction, oral medications and argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) were the primary treatment strategies for open-angle glaucoma.

How It Works

SLT works by using a specific wavelength of light to irradiate and target only the pigment-producing cells in the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is the area which drains fluid from the eye. This is the area of the eye which is not working properly in open-angle glaucoma causing the fluid to not drain effectively, thus, resulting in elevated IOP. SLT treatment, unlike ALT treatment, does not cause any thermal damage to surrounding cells in the meshwork, thus causing less damage and scarring to these tissues. When the meshwork is treated with SLT, a biologic response occurs at the cellular level, thus leading to IOP reduction. The meshwork appears to drain fluid more easily than before treatment with SLT. This, in turn, reduces the risk that the glaucoma will progress.

One of the advantages of SLT over ALT includes less thermal damage . Therefore, SLT can be repeated several times in the future, whereas ALT typically can only be repeated once. SLT has very few complications, the main one being a transient rise in IOP in the first hour after treatment. Results of SLT are very good to excellent in most patients. Patients who are using just one drop for controlling IOP have an 80% chance of a 4 to 8 point drop in their IOP after SLT treatment.

Dr. Burns will discuss with you the best and most effective treatment options for your type of glaucoma. He is happy to provide SLT treatment in his office now in order to make it more convenient for you. Please contact our office today if you are interested in finding out more about SLT treatment for glaucoma.

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Diabetic Eye Care

Cataract formation in patients with diabetes often occurs at a much quicker rate than in patients with age-related cataracts. In addition to the formation of cataracts, several other problems can arise in the eye as a result of diabetes. These include refractive shift, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema.

Refractive Shift

One of the most common conditions affecting diabetics, a refractive shift, can occur before the patient knows that he or she has diabetes. The variations in an individual’s glucose level that are associated with diabetes can lead to fluctuating fluid levels in the eye’s crystalline lens. When glucose levels are high, fluid levels rise and the lens thickens, causing a myopic (nearsighted) refractive shift. When glucose levels drop, so do fluid levels, resulting in a thinner lens and a hyperopic (farsighted) refractive shift. Because a diabetic’s glucose level can fluctuate widely without treatment, it can be extremely difficult to accurately diagnose a diabetic patient’s refractive error. Blurred vision can also occur if the blood sugar level increases suddenly, and can last for several weeks.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious, but usually preventable, problem that can occur in patients who have had diabetes for many years. Retinopathy is defined as non-inflammatory damage to the retina. It is generally caused by circulatory problems with blood vessels in the eye. Eventually these vessels collapse and deteriorate. Over time this deterioration affects blood flow to the macula, leading to loss of fine vision and finally blindness. In its early stages, it rarely causes vision problems and is only detectable by a trained physician. However, it can progress to a more severe form called proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and cause permanent vision loss. Laser surgery and other procedures are very effective in treating diabetic retinopathy, and can reduce the risk of vision loss to less than 5 percent in conjunction with a good glycemic control strategy.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema, which is closely related to diabetic retinopathy, is defined as a swelling of the retina and macula as a result of blood leakage from damaged vessels in the eye. As the macula and retina thicken with fluid, the patient’s vision becomes progressively distorted, and eventually long-term damage and vision loss will occur without treatment. Fortunately, there are effective laser treatments designed to address macular edema as well.

Because many types of diabetic eye conditions do not show symptoms until it is too late for treatment, it is crucial for patients with diabetes to have their eyes examined regularly by an ophthalmologist. Early detection and treatment is the only way to address these conditions without partial or total vision loss.

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Macular Degeneration

One of the most common causes of poor vision after the age of 60 is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Current estimates put the incidence of AMD at 10 percent in patients age 64 to 75 and 30 percent in patients over 75 years of age. In addition to age, certain risk factors have been determined including blue eyes, heredity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and smoking.

AMD affects the macula, the part of the retina that is responsible for central and detailed vision, resulting in a loss of central vision and visual acuity. There are two forms of AMD: the dry form, which is more common, and the wet form. There is no treatment for dry AMD, but laser therapy has been shown to effectively treat wet AMD.

Detecting Macular Degeneration

There are a number of signs and symptoms that indicate the onset of macular degeneration. The formation of drusen, yellow deposits around the macula, is a good early indicator of developing macular degeneration. Other common signs include pigmentary alterations in the eye, unusual fluids exuded from the eye, and atrophy. Sudden, drastic decreases in visual acuity are a common warning sign. Loss of detailed vision, particularly central vision, is a classic symptom of macular degeneration.

The Amsler Grid Test is a popular and effective ophthalmological test your eye doctor can perform to help diagnose macular degeneration. The Amsler Grid is simply a grid of vertical and horizontal lines with a dot in the center for focusing reference. A patient suffering from macular degeneration will see the grid as distorted, and parts of the grid may seem completely blank.

The Newest Technology

Info coming soon!

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Optical Services

Routine Eye Exams

Your eyes are constantly changing. Adults should have a routine eye exam every one to two years-- not just adults who need glasses or contacts! Serious eye conditions, like glaucoma, can begin to damage your vision before you ever notice a symptom. Dr. Burns wants you to have healthy vision for years to come, and he can help make sure that happens.

Eyeglass Prescriptions

Eyeglasses are the simplest way to improve your vision, and are still the first choice for millions of Americans. Dr. Burns can prescribe the lenses that are right for you, but only you can choose the style that expresses who you are! Dr. Burns has all the latest eyeglass fashions and accessories at his Middletown Eye Care and Southend Eye Care optical shops.

Contact Lens Fitting

When it comes to contacts, one size does not fit all! You have many wonderful contact lens options today, and Dr. Burns can make sure you get the contacts that are right for you. You can acquire every kind of specialty contact lens through licensed professionals like Dr. Burns. For the sake of your vision, you should never buy contacts, costume or prescription, from any vendor who is not a licensed eye care professional.

For more information on glasses and contacts, or to order your contacts online, visit our online optical shop.

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Common Eye Disorders

Dr. Burns also treats the following common eye diseases and disorders:

Myopia, Hyperopia, and Astigmatism

Myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism (vision distortion caused by irregularities of the cornea or lens) can be corrected with laser surgery, glasses or contacts. Because Dr. Burns specializes in both laser vision correction and non-surgical vision correction with glasses and contacts, he can help you choose the option that is best for you.

Eyelid Disorders

Eyelid surgery can be used to treat several eyelid conditions, including entropion (inward turning of the eyelid), ectropion (outward turning of the eyelid), and ptosis (drooping of the eyelid). These conditions typically cause problems such as dry eye, excessive tearing, discomfort, sensitivity, irritation, and restriction of normal vision.

Through surgery, we can remove tumors that may appear on any part of the eye, such as the eye socket, eyeball, eye muscles, optic nerve, fat, and tissues. We are also able to correct a blocked tear duct through lacrimal drainage surgery, called dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Blocked tear ducts can cause wet eyes (excessive tearing), mucus buildup, or ongoing infections of the lacrimal sac where tears collect.

Contact the office of Dr. Burns and schedule an appointment today.

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Contact Dr. Burns and schedule an appointment today.

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