When we perform cataract surgery, we take the cataract out of its capsule and then use the capsule as a way to stabilize the lens implant. Sometimes we use a different word for the capsule, which is “bag.” Sometimes we even call it a “capsular bag.” The capsule is behind the colored iris of the…

I have written before about sleeping in contact lenses, but I feel that it is a topic that should be addressed frequently. Very frequently, I am surprised when I talk to patients about contact lenses. The common refrain is “Nobody ever told me that before!” There isn’t any great insight here, but just a very…

We do cataract surgery all the time, and at the time of cataract surgery, we place intraocular lens implants. One thing that can happen to lens implants over time is that they can move out of place. It is very rare for this to happen, but it is definitely possible. One of the most common…

Recently, I learned that some corneal surgeons recommend that their corneal transplant patients increase their steroid eye drops around the time of a flu vaccination. It seems like there is no established/well-studied connection between flu shots and transplant rejection, but there are some reports. I think that it is certainly reasonable to increase steroid eye…

Recently, I heard of a patient who improved her dry eye-related pain by using clarified butter, or ghee, in her eye. She had a chronic course of pain related to the dry eye and had tried multiple therapies. Nothing seemed to work as well as the ghee. I have to say that I am very…

One of the most valuable things that I think we do as physicians is discuss our practices with each other to propagate knowledge and improve as a community. That is why I was sad to find out that my favorite listserv for discussion of ophthalmology recently decided to shut down. However, I might be saved…

There is some concern on the part of laser eye surgeons that performing laser vision correction may be higher risk in patients with a history of forming keloids. Keloids are a form of raised scar, and the theoretical link is that these patients have a higher scar forming tendency and therefore might get scarring in…

The prevailing historical thought in laser vision correction is that one should not perform laser vision correction on a patient who is breastfeeding as there can be hormonal effects on the cornea, so the vision correction may not work as intended. There have been some recent articles and opinions that this may not be necessary…

When someone says “eye tattoo,” there are different things that they may be referring too. In this case, I am only referring to a procedure that is known as corneal tattooing. Corneal tattooing is most often done for problems of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye. Why? One of the functions…

Certainly there are some medical decisions that are incorrect, no matter how they are sliced. However, I often find that it is important to understand that different people have different ways of doing things, and there frequently isn’t any good way to dismiss one way or the other as “wrong.” Approaches to medicine are sometimes…