What’s Wrong With My Vision and How Did It Happen?
Kunesh Eye Center provides educational videos to help you understand the eye care issues you or your family members may be suffering from. Watch the videos at your leisure to help understand why your vision is being affected and how the problem is fixed. If you haven’t met with one of our board-certified doctors, call the Kunesh Eye Center to schedule an appointment today! Our number is (937) 298-1703.
New Developments in Medical and Surgical Eye Care
The field of ophthalmology is advancing at a rapid rate. Revolutionary advances have enabled the preservation of sight in patients who once may have been permanently blind. Ophthalmologists were the first surgeons to use laser eye surgery and transplant surgery, often with miraculous results.
The result of these advances means that your treatment options are more varied than before and the quality of your care has been heightened. Following are some of the highlights about new technology and treatments available to you at Kunesh Eye Center.
Kunesh Eye Center has developed a special interest in cataract, glaucoma, diabetes and oculoplastic surgery. Our surgeons have focused in these four areas to bring the highest level of care to patients with these diseases.
We work in partnership with your optometrist, providing surgical expertise and sharing valuable information and opinions. Often, your optometrist will serve as your primary eye care doctor as well as assisting in postoperative care following surgery. Since cataract or glaucoma treatment does not correct other vision problems, you will need to schedule appointments with your optometrist for additional care and eyeglasses.
Early Detection of Glaucoma:
The Key to Preventing Blindness
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in Caucasians and the leading cause of blindness among African Americans. The reason for so much vision loss is that it is estimated that half of all Americans with glaucoma are not aware of it. This is the case because unfortunately most patients have no symptoms until significant permanent vision loss has already occurred. Your optometrist is often the first person to make the diagnosis of glaucoma.
The majority of patients with glaucoma can be managed medically. Your optometrist will often manage your glaucoma medically but will refer you to Kunesh Eye Center if the disease progresses beyond the scope of medical control. At that time, Kunesh Eye Center can offer surgical interventions to help arrest the disease progression. One of the most exciting developments in glaucoma is new diagnostic technology that has enhanced our ability to detect early glaucoma and to monitor for progression at earlier stages. This allows therapy to be altered if necessary, to prevent further vision loss. Kunesh Eye Center has invested heavily in this technology, including HRT imaging, OCT imaging, pachymetry, and advanced visual field software. HRT imaging can be thought of as a CAT scan of the optic nerve and gives us very precise measurements of size, depth and shape that allows for detection of small changes over time. OCT imaging gives us what is known as a direct cross-sectional image of the retina. It is felt that this may allow the earliest detection of glaucoma. Both HRT imaging and OCT imaging take only a few minutes and are painless and noninvasive.
If your glaucoma is not adequately controlled, your optometrist may refer you for evaluation and further treatment. Laser surgery is a promising advancement in the treatment of glaucoma. Kunesh Eye Surgery Center maintains four different types of lasers, each of which provides a laser surgical option for different forms of glaucoma. Laser surgery for glaucoma is very comfortable, convenient and economical. It is performed as an outpatient in our surgical center, saving you the anxiety and expense of a hospital visit.
Open or conventional glaucoma surgery is needed for less than 10% of patients.This is more complex but when patients fail medical or laser treatment, this alternative is highly effective. More than 125 of these delicate operations are performed annually at Kunesh Eye Center. This gives surgeons both proficiency and competence in the latest techniques.
New Technology for Cataracts
Surgery is the only treatment for a cataract. There are no medications, dietary supplements, exercises or optical devices that have been shown to prevent or cure cataracts. You should consider surgery when your cataract begins to prevent you from easily doing the things you enjoy or must do. This time period is different for every patient. For a while, a stronger prescription in your eyeglasses will improve your vision. Your optometrist can make valuable recommendations and guide you when glasses may no longer be beneficial. When glasses are no longer helpful and your vision begins to compromise your independence, your ability to drive, read and enjoy hobbies – your optometrist will refer you for a consultation for possible cataract surgery.
Kunesh Eye Center was founded in 1976 by Dr. Charles T. Kunesh, M.D. It was the first medical practice in Dayton to build an ambulatory surgery center devoted solely to eye surgery. Since its opening in 1989, Kunesh Eye Surgery Center has performed over 55,000 eye surgeries. The center continues to grow and be innovative in the hands of Dr. Charles Kunesh’s children, Dr. Michael T. Kunesh and Dr. John C. Kunesh.
Today, cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and takes only a few minutes. At Kunesh Eye Center, cataracts are removed in the most advanced way, using a technique called phacoemulsification. After applying a local anesthetic, a small incision, as small as 1/8th of an inch is then made in the front part of the eye. The cataract is broken into microscopic particles using high energy ultrasound waves and gently suctioned from the eye. After safely removing the eye’s natural lens an artificial lens is implanted into the eye. Some of the newest advances being performed at Kunesh Eye Center include limbal relaxing incisions to correct astigmatism and new intraocular lens technology to allow patients to see without glasses after surgery.
Oculoplastic Problems
Oculoplastic problems encompass a large number of diagnoses that involve the lids. These problems are quite frequent and are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. As they often are not visually threatening, many practitioners will not focus much attention on them. However, many of these lid problems can be very symptomatic for the patient. An example of common lid problems include ptosis or droopy upper lid, ectropion or entropion which is when a lid turns out or turns in, skin cancers, and tearing problems secondary to blockage of the tear ducts. Although rarely visually threatening, these often will interfere with the quality of the vision as well as create other problems for the patient. In the case of skin cancers these sometimes can even be life threatening. Most general ophthalmologists do not have the training to surgically correct these problems. Dr. John Kunesh undertook fellowship training in oculoplastics specifically to address these issues for patients in our practice.