Services

IPL reduces eyelid inflammation that causes dry, itchy eyes.

During IPL treatment, we apply coupling gel to the skin and you may experience a warm sensation as intense pulsed light is applied to the skin. Following treatment, we perform Meibomian gland expression, which accelerates the healing process.

After treatment, you may experience some redness around the treated areas, which usually disappears within a few hours. In most cases, makeup may be applied immediately, and daily activities can be resumed, however you’ll need to stay out of direct sunlight for a few days and apply sunscreen.

Dry eye can be relieved with as few as 3 treatments, which are ideally done every 3 to 4 weeks. Maintenance treatments may be required 6-12 months after.

Drops to lubricate the eyes to alleviate dry eye symptoms.

In most cases of chronic dry eyes, patients may be recommended to use artificial tears on a regular basis to lubricate and moisten the eyes in order to alleviate the symptoms.

When considering the use of artificial tears, it is recommended that you consult your doctor in case you have any allergies. Like all eye drops, when using artificial tears please be sure to avoid letting the tip of the tube or dropper to come in contact with the eye or any other surface. If the eyedropper gets contaminated it may cause further discomfort in the eye or cause an infection.

Artificial tears do not require any prescription. There is not a specific brand of artificial tears that will work for all patients. Plus, depending on your preferences of comfort, you may prefer to use drops of varying thickness. Some patients will prefer to use artificial tears that are more fluid (like water) while other will prefer a thicker (gel-like) viscosity. Preservative-free drops are recommended.

Used to treat inflamed or infected chronic dry eye.

In cases where chronic dry eyes are inflamed and/or infected, medicated steroids and antibiotics eye drops may be prescribed by your doctor to treat the inflammation and infection, respectively. Like all eye drops, please be sure to avoid letting the tip of the tube or dropper come in contact with the eye or any other surface.

Increase the eye’s tear film naturally.

Also known as punctum plugs, lacrimal plugs or occluders, punctal plugs are very tiny devices that are inserted into the eyes tear ducts in order to block drainage. In turn, this increases the eye’s tear film, naturally increasing surface moisture and relieving the discomfort caused by dry eyes.

Your eye doctor will recommend the use of non-dissolvable punctal plugs as treatment for your dry eyes. It is not recommended that you attempt to remove punctal plugs on your own. If you are experiencing any discomfort or are concerned that the plugs are causing problems, please contact your eye doctor to have them safely removed.

Inserting the punctal plugs into the eye’s tear ducts can be done painlessly, usually requiring no more than 2 minutes to complete.

Drops that help increase the eye’s natural ability to produce tears.

Restasis opthalmic emulsion is a specially medicated eye drop that helps increase the eye’s natural ability to produce tears and therefore keep your eyes feeling moist and comfortable. Restasis reduces the inflammation associated with dry eye disease. By reducing inflammation, the eyes will slowly improve their ability to produce tears naturally.

Restasis drops are usually recommended for daily use over the course of 2 to 6 months and can be safely used by those that wear contact lenses or glasses. Like all eye drops, when using Restasis please be sure to avoid letting the tip of the tube or dropper coming in contact with the eye or any other surface. Restasis drops are available at all pharmacies.

Remove cataracts by placing a new intraocular lense into place.

Using an ultrasonic probe, the lens is fragmented and removed from the eye with suction. The surgeon then puts a new intraocular lens into place. One of the most commonly performed surgeries worldwide, cataract surgery is safe and offers results that last a lifetime.

Healing is quick, you should experience no discomfort or pain following the procedure and you’ll see improvement in your eyesight within 48 hours.

We carry a selection of enhanced lens implants for patients undergoing cataract removal.

The standard recovery time following cataract or refractive lens exchange is 1 to 2 days. To ensure proper healing and long-term improvement to your vision, you’ll need to avoid heavy lifting, using swimming pools and hot tubs, and participating in any contact sports.

For the first 2 weeks following surgery, you’ll use medicated eye drops as directed. It’s important to note that with some levels of astigmatism, an additional procedure like laser enhancement may be needed to “fine tune” your new lens. Each patient is assessed individually and recommendations will be given based on your medical history and how well your eyes adjust to the new lenses.

If you’re diagnosed with a retina disorder, we may prescribe an anti-VEGF medication.

If you are diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal artery or vein occlusion, or any other condition leading to macular edema you will be prescribed intravitreal injections of an anti-VEGF medication. The three most prevalent anti-VEGF medications currently used are Avastin, Lucentis, and Eylea.

Avastin is a medication that is used to reduce swelling and abnormal blood vessel growth. It was originally developed for the treatment of colon cancer but has gained worldwide acceptance for the successful treatment of several eye conditions. The company that developed this medication has never applied to Health Canada or the FDA to seek approval for intraocular use. It remains approved only for cancer treatment, and therefore its use in the treatment of eye conditions is considered “off label”.

In contrast, Lucentis and Eylea were developed for intraocular use, and are approved by both the FDA and Health Canada for the treatment of some eye conditions. Lucentis and Avastin are very similar on a molecular level. In fact, Lucentis is just the active fragment of the larger Avastin molecule, and therefore they work very similarly. All three of these medications are used frequently by retinal specialists, and your retinal specialist will help determine which medication is right for your eye.

Lucentis and Avastin work by reducing swelling and also inhibiting abnormal blood vessel growth. They have truly been a major advance in the treatment of retinal conditions, and one of the most exciting innovations in modern medicine in the last decade. Prior to these medications, the treatment options for many retinal problems were very limited and ineffective. Lucentis and Avastin injections have saved the vision of countless patients world-wide who would otherwise have almost certainly been blinded without treatment. While the treatment may sound scary, you can rest assured that the injections are almost always safe and painless.

Typically, injections are started on a monthly basis for the first few months of treatment. After the first three injections, the need for ongoing treatment is re-evaluated. Most patients do require ongoing injections even after the first few months, but often no longer need the medication on such a frequent basis. Dr. Mitchell or Dr. Adatia will tailor your treatment to your eye’s specific needs, ensuring you receive only as much medication as is necessary to maintain your vision.

After injections, the following post injection instructions are very important:

• Keep your eye clean and avoid dusty, dirty or windy environments for 48 hours
• Do not get any water in your eye for at least 48 hours, including while in the shower. Do not swim or use a hot tub for at least 48 hours.
• Do not rub your eye. If the eye feels irritated use a fresh bottle of artificial tears to lubricate and soothe the eye. These are provided to you at the time of the injection. Do not use old, previously opened bottles of tears as their sterility cannot be guaranteed.
• Avoid travel outside of Canada for at least 4 days after an injection. In the extremely rare event that a complication develops, it is important that you have prompt access to medical care. If you take medication eye drops in the injected eye you may restart them the day after the injection.
• It is normal following an injection to experience some aching or irritation in the eye. Most of this irritation is actually due to the drops used to sterilize and numb the eye for the procedure, and should subside within 12 to 24 hours. If the pain persists for longer than this you should contact our office. It is also common to notice some bleeding and redness on the white part of the eye after an injection. This is harmless to the eye but can take 7-10 days to resolve, during which time the eye should be painless.
• It is extremely rare to develop an infection inside the eye, also known as endophthalmitis, after an injection. However, it is very important to identify this complication as soon as possible if it develops. Typically, symptoms include worsening pain (past the initial 12-24 hours), progressive reduced vision, worsening light sensitivity, and worsening redness or discharge from the eye. Please contact our office immediately at 403-258-1773 or seek medical care if any of these symptoms develop.

Finally, several studies have investigated injections in the eye and shown them to be safe for your general health. Nonetheless, because these medications influence blood vessels there is a theoretical risk of stroke, heart attack, blood clots in the legs or lungs, or gastrointestinal side effects. If symptoms develop that suggest any of these conditions, please seek immediate care at your nearest emergency department.

Performed to repair retina detachment or to remove floaters.

Vitrectomy, which involves removing a vitreous gel from the eye, is performed as part of an epiretinal membrane peel or to repair retinal detachments or remove floaters. After surgery, patients usually have to maintain a face down position for at least 10 days to ensure the procedure is successful.

Performed to remove floaters—a common ocular condition.

Floaters are a very common ocular complaint. They are caused by opacities in the vitreous gel, which cast shadows on the retina. These are interpreted by the brain as floaters in the vision. As the eye ages these floaters become more prevalent, particularly if the vitreous gel separates completely from the retina (a process called posterior vitreous separation).

A floaterectomy (also known as a Floaters only vitrectomy, or FOV) is a procedure in which the vitreous gel is removed from the eye and replaced with a clear saline fluid. The instruments used are extremely small and therefore the incisions rarely require sutures, resulting in minimal postoperative discomfort.

While floaters can be frustrating they do not actually cause any ongoing structural damage to the eye. The symptoms will also sometimes resolve with watchful waiting. Therefore, floaterectomy surgery, or FOV, is not considered a medically necessary procedure and is not covered by Alberta Health Care.

The surgery is performed at Southern Alberta Eye Centre, and you can go home immediately after your surgery. It is recommended that a friend or family member accompany you on the day of your procedure. You will have a patch on the operated eye and will be unable to drive afterwards. The patch will be removed on your postoperative day 1 visit with your doctor. In almost all cases the surgery is performed using local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia, although general anesthesia is available as an option.

Typically, patients are seen 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month following their surgery. During the first two weeks after surgery there are a number of activities that are not recommended. These include driving, any activities requiring lifting more than 10 lbs, or getting water in your eye (including while bathing). Avoid any activities that would require bending at the waist. You should also avoid reading, using computers or mobile devices. Watching TV is ok, provided it is from a distance of 6 feet or more. Activities performed at a distance require far less eye movement or strain compared with activities done within arm’s length. Traveling by air during the first month after surgery is strongly discouraged. In some circumstances an air bubble may be intentionally left in the eye during the surgery to facilitate healing and in these circumstances air travel is absolutely contraindicated until the air bubble has disappeared.

Scleral buckling is an option for treating retinal detachment.

Scleral buckling surgery is one option for treating retinal detachment. During this procedure, a very small piece of silicone band or sponge is placed on the outside of the eye and sutured permanently in place. This pushes the outer wall (sclera) of the eye inwards, closing the retinal break and allowing the retina to reattach.

One of the benefits of scleral buckling surgery is that the risk of developing a cataract after the surgery is much lower than the risk of cataract formation after vitrectomy surgery. There is also no entry of instruments into the eye, and usually there is no need to position face down after the surgery. However, because sutures are required to secure the conjunctiva during the surgery, there is usually more postoperative discomfort with a scleral buckle compared with vitrectomy or pneumatic retinopexy. These sutures are absorbable, but usually some pain medication is required for the first week after scleral buckling surgery.

Scleral buckle surgery is performed at Rockyview Hospital, and you will not need to stay in the hospital after your surgery. It is recommended that a friend or family member accompany you to the hospital on the day of your procedure. You will have a patch on the operated eye and will be unable to drive afterwards. The patch will be removed the day after surgery on your postoperative day 1 visit with your retinal specialist. Both general anaesthesia and local anaesthesia are options for this procedure, and can be discussed with the anaesthetist at the time of your surgery.

Typically, patients are seen 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month following their surgery. During the first two weeks after surgery there are a number of activities that are not recommended. These include driving, any activities requiring lifting more than 10 lbs, or getting water in your eye (including while bathing). Avoid any activities that would require bending at the waist. You should also avoid reading, using computers or mobile devices. Watching TV is ok, provided it is from a distance of 6 feet or more. Activities performed at a distance require far less eye movement or strain compared with activities done within arm’s length. Traveling by air during the first month after surgery is strongly discouraged. In some circumstances, an air bubble may be intentionally left in the eye during the surgery to facilitate healing. In these circumstances air travel is absolutely contraindicated until the air bubble has disappeared.

Scleral buckles are often used in younger patients with retinal detachments, as the consequences of cataract formation are more significant in young patients. The configuration and extent of the detachment are the primary factors in deciding whether to use a scleral buckle, vitrectomy, pneumatic retinopexy, or a combination of these techniques. Ultimately, if you are suffering from a retinal detachment, your retinal specialist will advise you on which of these options is the best for your eye.

An alternative option to treating retinal detachment.

Pneumatic retinopexy is one option for treating retinal detachment. Typically, it is considered when there is one retinal tear in the upper half of the retina. It can also be used if there is more than one tear, provided the tears are very close to each other. Usually the retinal detachment also needs to be of very recent onset. In the event you have a retinal detachment, your retinal specialist will examine your eye and determine if this procedure is right for you.

During this procedure, a small gas bubble in injected into the back of the eye. The gas bubble then expands and pushes the retina back in place. Once the retina is reattached, laser retinopexy or cryotherapy is applied around the retinal tear(s), causing a scar to form that holds the retina in place permanently. This part of the procedure may happen on the same day or a few days after the bubble is placed inside the eye. Unlike scleral buckling or vitrectomy surgery (the other two major options for retinal detachment repair), pneumatic retinopexy is performed in the office and does not require a trip to the operating room.

Positioning after pneumatic retinopexy is critical to the success of the procedure. The gas bubble needs to be pushing against the retina and closing the retinal tear, and this usually requires the patient to maintain a face down position after the procedure. Depending on the exact location of the tear, the positioning will vary and your retinal specialist will give clear individualized instructions for positioning on a case-by-case basis. The positioning after pneumatic retinopexy and other retinal procedures is a challenging part of the process, but plays a large part in determining the success of many of these procedures. Typically, the positioning needs to be maintained for 10 to 14 days after the procedure.

The gas bubble eventually is absorbed into the bloodstream and is replaced in the eye by clear fluid. Until the bubble resolves it is very important that patients do not fly or experience significant changes in altitude. The change in altitude causes gas to expand, which increases the pressure in the eye causing irreversible damage. It is also important that any other physicians or dentists providing treatment are made aware that there is a gas bubble in your eye. Certain other medications, particularly inhaled anesthetics can also cause expansion of the gas bubble and increased eye pressure. Your retinal specialist will let you know when the gas bubble has resolved and it is safe to travel by air.