SPECIALTY EYE CARE

We do more than just routine eye exams at Vision Source of Brandon. Many eye conditions can go undiagnosed or may not be treated with the latest technology.  We believe our patients deserve individualized attention to their visual needs and eye health concerns. 


Many eye conditions require advanced testing and treatment options in order to offer the best possible outcomes.

DRY EYE SOLUTIONS

Many people treat the symptoms of their dry eyes with eye drops, but at Vision Source of Brandon, we treat the root cause of the dryness which may reduce the need for eye drops. Dry Eye Disease is a common condition affecting millions of people. Many factors can influence the development of dry eye: the use of digital screens, contact lenses, aging, environmental conditions, and certain medical conditions. Many people put up with the discomfort of dry eyes rather than seeking out a solution. We are here to relieve your dry eyes by discovering the underlying cause and offering the latest treatment solutions. 

SYMPTOMS OF DRY EYE:


  • Blurring of vision that comes and goes
  • Dry or gritty feeling
  • Burning
  • Excessive tearing
  • Itching
  • Eye fatigue


Evaporative Dry Eye accounts for 80% of the cases of dry eye. A lack of healthy oils in the tear film causes the tears to evaporate too quickly. This lack of oil is caused by dysfunction or loss of the oil glands that are found in the eyelids. Bacteria that live on the eyelids invade the glands and cause the oils to solidify. This causes inflammation of the ocular structures and obstruction of the glands.  It is imperative to prevent gland damage and improve the function of the remaining glands because lost glands do not come back!


Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye makes up 20% of the cases of dry eye. The aqueous (water) layer of tears can be reduced as tear production can diminish with age or with certain medication side effects. People with Sjogren’s disease will also have an inadequate amount of tears.


Fortunately, there are many recent advances in dry eye treatment. You can see a few of them below.


Blephex/ZEST

Blephex or ZEST is a deep cleaning and exfoliation of the eyelids that removes debris, biofilm and Demodex mites which are known to cause inflammation and destruction of the meibomian glands. Eyelid health is instrumental to a functional tear-film, and clear and comfortable eyes.


This lid hygiene treatment, like dental cleanings, should be repeated every 6 months for best maintenance.

IPL

IPL is a fantastic FDA approved treatment for dry eyes that uses specific wavelengths of light to reduce the inflammation in and around the lids that contributes to dry eye disease.  It works by destroying abnormal blood vessels that have formed from chronic effects of dry eye.  IPL also decreases Demodex mite population in the eyelids and helps to restore the meibomian gland oil production.  Most patients who have IPL treatment feel a noticeable improvement in their dry eye symptoms.

Eye Drops

There are many eye drops available to help with the symptoms of dry eye disease. It is our goal to treat the root cause of the condition, rather than the symptoms, and to keep our patients from feeling the discomfort of dry eyes. However, some patients require the healing properties of artificial tears or prescription eye drops. 


Our doctors will prescribe the drops that best suit your needs, whether they be over the counter artificial tears, or prescriptions drops such as Regenereyes, Xiidra or Cequa.  

Tearcare

Tearcare is a spa-like treatment involving precise, targeted therapeutic heat applied to the eyelids that liquefies the thickened oils in the Meibomian glands.  This improves tear film quality and stability which, in turn, improves symptoms of dry eye disease and even visual clarity.

Blephex/ZEST
IPL
Eye Drops
Tearcare

Did You Know?

An estimated 45 million people wear contacts, in the US alone.

SPECIALTY CONTACT LENSES

Some patients cannot obtain clear vision with eyeglasses or standard soft contact lenses. People with misshapen corneas require specialty contact lenses to provide them with their best possible vision. Corneal distortions can be caused by corneal diseases such as keratoconus, or from prior corneal surgeries such as RK (radial keratotomy), LASIK or corneal transplants. Specialty contact lenses are used to create a “regular” surface over their irregular eye which allows for the best vision possible. Our doctors provide specialty contact lens options to keep our patients seeing their best.


Scleral Lenses

A scleral lens is a large rigid lens that vaults the cornea, which makes it comfortable to wear. The lens holds moisture on the eye as well, which can help to prevent contact lens related dryness.

Hybrid Lenses

A hybrid lens has a rigid central portion for best optics, and a soft outer edge which makes it easier to fit on the eye. 

RGP

An RGP is a rigid lens with a smaller diameter than a scleral and is in constant contact with the cornea. 


This lens is lower in price and has more options available for customization, however it is less comfortable to wear until the eye adapts. 

Scleral Lenses
Hybrid Lenses
RGP

MYOPIA MANAGEMENT

Myopia (near-sightedness) has become an epidemic, with about 1/3 of the world being myopic! Myopia is generally the result of the eyeball becoming too long during the growing years of childhood. 
What most people don’t realize is there are sight threatening conditions that accompany increasing myopia. Besides the inability to function without eyeglasses or contact lenses, there is an increased risk of glaucoma, retinal detachment and macular damage, and that risk goes up as the myopic prescription goes up. 
Misight lenses are specialty contact lenses that have been proven to reduce myopia progression by 59%! They do this by focusing the light entering the eye in front of the peripheral retina which prevents the eye from growing longer. These lenses should be used at the earliest stages of myopia and throughout the child’s growing years, typically between the ages of 8-14 years. This is your best chance to keep your child’s eyes healthy for their lifetime. 


GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is a disease that causes progressive optic nerve damage, which can cause loss of peripheral vision and eventual blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma is a disease that usually has no symptoms at all, which is why annual eye exams are necessary for detecting early stages of damage. 
Most times, glaucoma can be treated by using eye drops to reduce pressure in the eye. This needs to be checked three or more times per year to be sure vision loss does not occur. We closely monitor glaucoma using advanced technology including Optovue optic nerve imaging and visual field testing. 


EMERGENCY EYE CARE

Ocular emergencies are better handled by optometrists than a walk-in clinic. Eye infections, inflammation and trauma can be misdiagnosed and mistreated without adequate equipment to evaluate the structures of the eye and without proper education. Some of the emergency visits we handle include eye infections (pink eye), corneal abrasion (scratched cornea), foreign body (something stuck in the eye), floaters and flashes of lights which could be signs of retinal detachment. Most emergency visits can be handled in our office and do not require a referral to a surgeon.