Questions & Answers

Questions About the Clinic and Services

What eye care services are available? Adult Services, Pediatric Services
What insurance does Triangle Ophthalmology accept?
How do I get to the clinic?
How do I make an appointment?

Questions About the Exam

What should I expect at my first visit?
What should I expect at my child’s first visit?

Questions About the Eye

How does the eye work?

Questions About Eye Disease

My eyes don’t hurt and I can see well. Do I need an eye exam?
What are nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism?
How do I know if I have macular degeneration and how is it treated?
I have diabetes but don’t have any problems seeing; do I need an eye exam?
How do I know if I have cataracts?
What is a refraction?
How can my eyes be dry if they water all the time?
I use drops that say “gets the red out”; is that okay?
How are cataracts treated?
After cataract surgery, can my cataract grow back?

My eyes don’t hurt and I can see well. Do I need an eye exam?

Regular eye exams are invaluable to maintaining your ocular health by detecting therefore preventing disease. Over 50% of all ocular disease is silent until it is advanced. This means that you will not have symptoms until there is already damage. Early detection can allow for a choice of treatment options and a reduced risk of further harm.
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What are nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism?

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How do I know if I have macular degeneration and how is it treated?

ARMD is an eye disease in which there is deterioration of the central retina (the area that is responsible for central vision) resulting in the decline of central vision. Macular degeneration is painless and usually slowly progressive over years. Read more about macular degeneration…
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I have diabetes, but don’t have any problems seeing; do I need an eye exam?

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How do I know if I have cataracts?

Cataracts typically develop slowly and progressively, causing a gradual and painless decrease in vision.

Symptoms can include the following:

Blurred vision at distance or at near
Sensitivity to Glare (particularly at night with headlights)
A feeling of a “film” over the eyes
A temporary improvement in near vision
Double vision from one eye alone

What is a refraction?

A refraction is a process by which we determine your specific eye glasses prescription. We can use an automated machine for a good estimate and then we use a phoropter to refine this estimate. (It is important to note that your insurance typically does not cover the cost of a refraction, although it is usually a minimal fee).
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How can my eyes be dry if they water all the time?

With age, our eyes begin to produce a poorer quality tear leading to something called dysfunctional tear film. Because they are of poor quality, our body tries to compensate by increasing the quantity. Unfortunately, the increase quantity does nothing but make the eyes water. Read more about dry eyes….
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I use drops that say “gets the red out”; is that okay?

The “gets the red out” component in the drops actually constricts the blood vessels in the eye. With frequent use, your body can become accustomed to the constriction. There, when the drops are not used there is a rebound effect which makes the eyes even more read. Pure lubricating tears are usually the drops of choice for red eyes.
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How are cataracts treated?

With an outpatient surgical procedure, an ophthalmologist can remove the cataract. Typically, a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted at the time of cataract extraction to replace the focusing power of the natural lens. IOL can be for a fixed preset distance (the traditional IOL) or multifocal which allows focused images at many distances (the latest in IOL technology). The timing of surgery depends solely on the patients concerns and symptoms. Read more about cataracts…
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After cataract surgery, can my cataract grow back?

No, the cataract itself can not grow back. At any point after the surgery, cells can grow behind the artificial lens that was placed in surgery. This creates a film or opacity that can be difficult to see through. An in office laser procedure can remove the film quickly and painlessly.
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