Frequently Asked Questions at the Chattanooga Eye Institute

My doctor says my eyes are dry, but they constantly water. How can this be? Answer: When the eyes become dry they can produce a "reflex" tear to compensate for the dryness, causing almost a type of flooding. But this "reflex" tear doesn't contain the right ingredients to properly lubricate the eyes. The use of artificial tears, which are formulated to be likened to the human tear, when used on a daily and frequent basis, can help eliminate this watering and control dry eyes. If this does not help, there are other alternatives. Those would require you coming in for an appointment.

My father is being treated for glaucoma. What are my chances of developing glaucoma? What are some of the risk factors? What are some of the symptoms? Answer: There are a number of risk factors for glaucoma, including age, heredity, being nearsighted and African ancestry. The most common type, which is called chronic open angle glaucoma, has no definite symptoms until the peripheral vision is affected.

If you fall into any of the categories for risk, especially if you are over 50 and have a parent or sibling with glaucoma, you should have annual pressure checks and dilated exams. If it isn’t caught early enough, glaucoma can cause irreversible vision issues.

A less common type of glaucoma is acute closed angle glaucoma, which causes a red, very painful eye with blurred vision.

What should my eye pressure be? Answer: For most people, 21 millimeters of mercury or less is considered normal.

Why do you dilate my eyes? Answer: Dilating the pupil of the eye allows visualization of the lens, optic nerve and retina. It helps determine whether cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration or other eye diseases are present.

I don't feel as though I'm having any problems, but the doctor says I have cataracts. When do they need to be removed? Answer: Cataract surgery is usually needed when vision worsens to the point that it affects your daily activities. It may become difficult to distinguish between dark colors, such as brown, black, and navy. Driving at night may become impossible due to glare of headlights and street lamps. Reading or watching television may become difficult and less enjoyable.

What is a refraction? Answer: A refraction is the process of determining the prescription of glasses needed to improve your vision.

If my vision is great, and I don't need glasses or contacts, why do I need to have my vision checked regularly? Answer: The health of your eye may change. Specifically, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy can cause significant damage to the internal structures of the eye and possible loss of vision without any symptoms.

If I need surgery will it be done at the office? Answer: Minor surgeries are done in the office. However, major eye surgeries are done as an outpatient procedure at NovaMed Surgery Center or a freestanding ambulatory surgery center.

Why is my vision blurry at times, especially while reading? Answer: The cornea must be a smooth surface to see clearly. If it is dry, the vision will be blurry. In some cases, just blinking more often can relieve the problem. The average blink occurs about every 4-5 seconds. When reading, blinking occurs less frequently. Forced blinking or the addition of artificial tears may resolve the problem.

I see little black bugs or specks floating in my vision. What are they? Answer: They are called floaters. Most floaters occur normally with aging and are benign and harmless. However, if floaters are new to you, or you are experiencing an increase in floaters, you should contact our office to rule out a vitreous detachment or retinal tear.