Surgical Services
Cataract Surgery
What is a cataract and what is cataract surgery?
A cataract is a cloudiness of the natural lens of the eye. Cataract surgery removes the natural lens and replaces it with a new artificial lens. This new artificial lens is clear and is intended to last your entire life.
Is cataract surgery safe?
Yes, the majority of patients do very well. Like all surgery, complications or problems can occur. During your appointment, Dr. Brown will talk more about your individual risks and benefits of cataract surgery, as well as make lens recommendations for optimizing your vision. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure and only lasts about 15 minutes. You may go home almost immediately after the surgery, but will need a driver to and from the procedure.
Can I wear my contact lenses before my cataract surgery?
Precise measurements of the natural focus of the eye are taken prior to cataract surgery. These measurements are used to calculate the lens implant that best corrects your vision. Contact lenses slightly change the surface of the eye and cause these measurements to be less accurate than possible. It is required that patients stay out of soft contact lenses for a minimum of 2 weeks and specialty hard contact lenses for a minimum of 4 weeks prior to obtaining surgical measurements. Once accurate measurements are taken, patients can return to wearing contact lenses up until the day of surgery.
What do I need to do to prepare for a cataract surgery?
You will have eye drops to start using the day before your surgery. Other than remembering to use your drops, there are no special steps needed. After the surgery, there are some activity restrictions. It is best to take care of any activities such as mowing grass or extra work before cataract surgery.
What can I expect after the surgery is complete?
Immediately after your surgery, your eye may be red, scratchy, or blurry. Generally, people see well and the eye is comfortable in just a few days. After a few weeks, your eye is completely healed and you can enjoy the improvement in vision.
A full medication list is necessary to proceed with cataract surgery. Please bring a complete list of all medications or supplements you are taking if you are considering surgery.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery refers to surgical procedures and devices performed or implanted at the time of cataract surgery to reduce intraocular pressure. This allows improvement in the outflow of fluid in the eye which better controls eye pressure. With this surgery, patients can experience either the reduction in the number of eye drops they are using daily or a discontinuation of drops altogether.
In 2012, Dr. Brown pioneered the use of the surgery in Mississippi. To read about the procedure in Dr. Brown’s on words, click here.
Lasik
LASIK is a pain-free and low-stress laser procedure that improves your vision almost instantaneously. Before the procedure, you will be given a Valium and anesthetic eye drops to keep you comfortable while a state of the art tracking system ensures an accurate treatment zone. Dr. Brown will be in constant communication with you throughout the procedure instructing you on where to look and what will be happening next. Once the desired corneal shape is achieved with the laser, natural healing begins quickly. The entire procedure takes approximately 15 minutes.
To find out if you are a candidate for LASIK, call our office to schedule a free consultation.
Click the link below to watch an informative video on Lasik surgery.
Refractive Lens Exchange
A refractive lens exchange uses methods similar to cataract surgery, where refractive lenses are implanted in front of or in place of the eye's natural lens. With modern lens options, your vision can be corrected at both near and distance, often eliminating the need for any time of vision correction all together.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the pressure within the eye becomes elevated, damaging the optic nerve and causing vision loss. In a healthy eye, fluid is produced in the ciliary body, enters the eye, and then drains through tiny passages called the trabecular meshwork. In people with glaucoma, these passages become blocked and intraocular pressure rises.
Some cases of glaucoma can be treated with medications. For others, laser surgery is required to lower eye pressure.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that weakens the blood vessels that supply nourishment to the retina. When these weak vessels leak, swell, or develop thin branches, vision loss occurs. This can be treated via intravitreal injection or laser. It is important to get routine eye exams with an ophthalmologist if you have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Minor Surgical Procedures
Blepharoplasty:
Several factors such as aging, sun damage, smoking, stretching and obesity can cause the eyelids to droop and sag as the supporting tissues weaken. This area of the face is often one of the first to decline, as the skin of the eyelid is thinner than other areas of the face. Eyelids that droop or bulge can affect peripheral vision, making certain normal daily activities, such as driving, more difficult.
If the eyelids begin sagging into the field of vision, a functional blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, may become necessary. An upper blepharoplasty will tighten the muscles and tissue as well as remove excess fat and skin from the upper eyelids.
A cosmetic blepharoplasty can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelids, or both. This procedure has no effect on vision, but offers a younger, more refreshed look that reflects across the whole face.
Ectroption/Entropion:
Ectropion is a "turning out" of the eyelid that causes redness, irritation, tearing and an increased likelihood of infection. Ectropion can be corrected in a quick procedure in which the lid is tightened.
Entropion is a "turning in" of the eyelid. The lid and lashes rub painfully against the cornea. Entropion usually occurs as a result of aging, but other causes can include injury and various inflammatory conditions. Entropion can be corrected with a brief surgical procedure under local anesthesia.
Lid Lesion Removal:
Tumors, or lesions, on the eyelid or orbit (eye socket) should be evaluated and removed. Upon removal, the lesion is sent to a pathologist for identification to determine whether further treatment is necessary.
Chalazion Excision:
Chalazions are cysts, or fluid-filled sacs, on the edge of the eyelid that can sometimes be treated with medication and warm compresses. In cases when there is no improvement with a medicinal treatment, the chalazion can be excised.
PTERYGIUM EXCISION:
A pterygium is a raised growth in the surface of the eye (the conjunctiva) made mostly of collagen and tiny red capillaries. They are usually caused by extended exposure to sunlight. They may remain stable after appearing, or they may grow and affect vision. Treatments include eye drops for irritation and redness, protection from sunlight and dust to prevent the pterygium from worsening, and occasionally steroids to lessen inflammation. If the pterygium grows into the central cornea, surgical removal is recommended. This prevents the pterygium from altering the cornea’s shape and affecting vision.
Always excellent and courteous staff.
The staff at Eye and Laser Center of Starkville is super friendly and makes you feel at ease during your appointments. They assure you that they have provided you with ...
Love the staff and Dr. Brown does an exceptional job!
Excellent care all the way around. Dr. Brown has removed cataracts in both eyes of mine and my wife. No issues at all.
I was impressed with all the state of the art equipment that this clinic had for evaluating my eyes and cataracts. Everyone I had contact with was completely professional and ...
Best ophthalmologist I've ever used.