Alexander Knezevic M.D. | Cedars-Sinai Ophthalmologist | LASIK | Dry Eye | Cataract | Cornea

Thanks for your question. Everyone is born with a natural lens inside of their eye. As we get older, the normal proteins in the lens start to break down. This is what causes the lens to get cloudy, and we call this a cataract. These are normal eye changes that begin to happen after about age 40 and often progressively get worse over time. Most people over 60 have some clouding of their lenses. This can potentially impact vision. Other considerations such as family history, other medical problems like diabetes, ultravoilet (UV) ray exposure, or certian medications like corticosteroids can speed up the development of cataracts.

Thanks for your question - In the early stages, you may not have any symptoms at all. As the cataract impacts the vision, you may notice blurry vision, seeing double or a ghosted image out of the eye with cataract, being extra sensitive to light (especially with oncoming headlights at night), having trouble seeing well at night, or needing more light when you read, or seeing bright colors as faded or yellow instead. During an eye exam, your doctor will examine your eyes under a microscope to see if a cataract has developed.

A very common question - thank you for asking! People tend to make fewer tears as they get older due to hormonal changes. Environment can play a role with dry eyes being more common in dryer climates. Both men and women can get dry eye; however, it is more common in women—especially those who have gone through menopause. Certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, thyroid disease, and lupus can contribute. Eyelid problems like blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), entropion (when eyelids turn in), or ectropion (eyelids turn outward) can make dry eye worse. Looking at a computer screen for a long time, using contact lenses for a long time, certain medicines, and certain eye surgeries can all impact dry eye.

Thanks for your question - the answer is yes, usually. There are a few considerations like the level of astigmatism, the type of astigmatism (regular or irregular), and whether or not you are a candidate for LASIK. Astigmatism has been being treated with LASIK since the 1990's!

Thanks for your question - it depends. There are a number of considerations before having LASIK. Age is important, and you must be over 18. We look for a stable glasses prescriptions, particularly over the last year or two. The prescription also must be within certain limits. There are other factors, like the thickness of your cornea, that we measure and screen during a LASIK consultation to determine if you are a good candidate.

We do! During a clinic visit we'll discuss the pro's and con's of the medication for your specific situation and for your eyes.