Blog of Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates

You’re pursuing LASIK to eliminate your dependency on corrective lenses. So, it’s only natural to wonder if you’ll need to wear reading glasses after laser eye surgery. The answer largely depends on the technique used during your procedure. Traditional LASIK does not address age-related close vision loss, but an approach called monovision does.

Traditional LASIK for Younger Patients

Like your body, your eyes change over time. Many adults start to have trouble seeing clearly at close distances around their early 40s. This is due to a normal change, known as presbyopia, which affects the eye’s focusing ability. Everyone will experience some degree of presbyopia, regardless of whether or not they’ve had a traditional LASIK procedure.

Traditional LASIK is meant to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It’s not designed to treat or prevent age-related close vision problems.

If you're younger than 40, you will likely undergo traditional LASIK. This procedure is a great option to safely and effectively improve your refractive vision error for years to come. A traditional LASIK procedure will neither delay nor hasten your eventual need for reading glasses.

Monovision LASIK for Older Patients

If you’re struggling with refractive vision errors and age-related close vision loss, consider a LASIK technique called monovision. With monovision LASIK, our ophthalmologists correct one eye for distance vision and one eye for near vision. While it may sound strange, this alternative to traditional LASIK can help you achieve a clear range of vision.

To ensure that your brain can adapt to this type of vision correction, our eye doctors will likely encourage you to try monovision contact lenses first. You may already be using monovision contact lenses to decrease your dependence on glasses and feel comfortable with this difference in focus. However, not everyone is satisfied with monovision.

Sometimes, younger patients wonder if they can undergo monovision LASIK to prevent the need for reading glasses in the future. Monovision LASIK is only appropriate for patients who are experiencing presbyopia at the time of the vision correction procedure. If you’re in your 20s, it may be another 20 years or more before you encounter any close vision challenges.

Other Surgical Alternatives to Reading Glasses

If you’re over the age of 50 and looking for a different surgical alternative to reading glasses, refractive lens exchange may be the ideal solution. Unlike monovision LASIK that reshapes your cornea, refractive lens exchange involves replacing the natural lens of your eye with a state-of-the-art artificial lens. Known as an IOL, this lens can improve the clarity and sharpness of your vision by treating presbyopia and refractive vision errors. Our ophthalmologists perform this procedure with the CATALYS® Precision Laser System because it offers unmatched precision and safety.

Schedule a Consultation to Learn More

The board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates are here to help you obtain the best vision possible. Whether you’re a young patient looking to correct a refractive vision error or an older adult looking for ways to overcome presbyopia, our team can help.

Call 732-349-5622 today to schedule your consultation to find out the right solution for your needs. We welcome patients from Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

Cataract surgery involves replacing your eye’s clouded lens with an artificial IOL to restore clear vision. You can expect to experience little to no discomfort during the procedure. As intimidating as laser cataract surgery may sound, it’s usually a simple process that’s over within minutes.

 At Susskind and Almallah Eye Associates, we rely on the advanced CATALYS® Precision Laser System to improve patient comfort during and after surgery. Keep reading to learn about the cataract removal experience and the role that the CATALYS system plays.

Pre-Surgery Steps to Improve Your Comfort

Our board-certified ophthalmologists and experienced laser cataract surgeons prioritize patient comfort above all else. You will be awake during the surgery, but our eye doctors take several steps to ensure that you have a painless experience.

When you arrive, you may have the option to take a mild sedative to promote relaxation. Additionally, numbing eye drops will be administered to prevent discomfort during the procedure.

Our doctors may also discuss the prospect of delivering additional medication throughout your surgery to keep you comfortable. They will check in with you multiple times during your cataract surgery to make sure that you feel all right.

When you come in for your initial cataract consultation, please bring up any concerns that you have about feeling uncomfortable during surgery. Our doctors will help calm your worries and explain exactly what relaxing medications and techniques they will use for your procedure.

CATALYS for a Smoother Procedure and Recovery

When it comes to improving patient comfort during and after surgery, the CATALYS system offers several advantages over other cataract removal technologies. The system delivers a personalized, precise procedure. It’s delicate enough to work on the sensitive structure of your eye.

Several elements come together to make your CATALYS experience as comfortable as possible. First, the device features a gentle, guided docking process. Docking refers to the way that the device moves into place above your eye. With an advanced docking system, your eye will experience minimal force during treatment.

Additionally, the laser replaces many of the steps of cataract surgery that were traditionally performed using handheld medical instruments. For example, the laser breaks up the cataract into tiny, controlled pieces to prepare it for removal. This segmentation allows for smoother and gentler cataract extraction.

As you can see, our laser eye surgeons go to great lengths to ensure that you don’t feel any discomfort during your surgery. But your comfort during the recovery period is just as important. Thankfully, the CATALYS system effectively minimizes post-surgery eye redness and inflammation. This paves the way for a short and easy recovery.

Schedule Your Laser Cataract Surgery in Toms River

Cataract surgery can be a life-changing procedure. Don’t postpone this surgery because you are worried that it will be uncomfortable. When performed by our experienced eye doctors using state-of-the-art-equipment, cataract surgery is a painless experience.

Schedule your initial visit to Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates by calling 732-349-5622. We have locations in Toms River, Manalapan Township, Brick, and Barnegat for your convenience.

Cataracts occur when the clear lens of your eye becomes clouded with protein. This condition is common in older adults and can make it difficult to see.

Visual impairment in older adults has long been associated with diminished cognitive ability. Cognitive ability includes thinking, reasoning and remembering. Until now, little research had been conducted to show if cataract surgery could actually help slow cognitive decline in seniors.

Recently, the American Academy of Ophthalmology highlighted an impressive study from England, which explored the positive relationship between cataract surgery and long-term cognitive health. This study supports something that we already know: the benefits of cataract surgery extend beyond visual improvements.

A Closer Look at The Study

The study followed 2,068 adults who had cataract surgery and 3,636 adults who did not have cataracts. The researchers measured the participant’s cognitive abilities by administering a simple memory test.

The researchers administered this memory test before and after cataract surgery. They compared their findings to results gathered from older adults who did not have cataracts.

What they discovered was amazing. Before the surgery, patients with cataracts experienced a faster rate of cognitive decline than those without cataracts. After surgery, the rate of cognitive decline slowed by an impressive 50 percent! This information was measured over 13 years of follow-up.

Why Might Cataract Surgery Have a Positive Impact on Brain Health?

While the researchers who conducted this study aren’t entirely sure why undergoing cataract surgery helped slow cognitive decline, they have several theories:

• Cataracts contribute to cognitive decline by lowering self-efficacy and increasing social isolation and depression.
   
• The sensory deprivation caused by cataracts has a negative impact on brain function.
   
• By improving a patient’s eyesight, cataract surgery can lead to increased physical activity, an improved social life, better mood, and higher self-efficacy. These things support cognitive function and provide mental stimulation.

Other Impressive Benefits of Cataract Surgery

The most significant and obvious benefit of cataract surgery is improved vision. However, studies like the one discussed above continue to reveal unexpected benefits, such as:

• A decreased risk of falls and fractures
• A higher chance of living longer
• Improved quality of life
• Less difficulty driving and a lower crash rate  

Even if you think that you or a loved one may be too old for cataract surgery, schedule a consultation with our experienced, board-certified ophthalmologists. There is no upper age limit when it comes to cataract surgery, and the benefits of the procedure are significant.

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we perform laser-assisted cataracts surgery using the Catalys® Precision Laser System. We offer a wide range of premium intraocular lenses to replace your clouded lens and restore your vision. In addition to correcting your cataracts, these lenses can improve visual issues such as astigmatism and age-related farsightedness.

Schedule Your NJ Cataract Surgery Consultation

Call 732-349-5622 to learn more about cataract surgery and receive individualized treatment recommendations. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we proudly serve patients from across New Jersey at our convenient Manalapan Township, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat locations.

There are many dermal fillers to choose from. The primary difference between these treatments is the main ingredient that they use to rejuvenate the skin. Some contain poly-L-lactic acid, and others contain calcium hydroxyapatite.

However, the most well-known and well-loved ingredient is hyaluronic acid (HA). In fact, over two million HA-based injections were administered in the United States last year. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about this incredibly popular type of filler.

1. Hyaluronic Acid Occurs Naturally in The Skin

Your body naturally produces hyaluronic acid. This clear, viscous sugar molecule is present in your skin, eyes, and tissues.

When it comes to your complexion, HA contributes to a healthy, smooth appearance. Don’t let the word “acid” make you think that this gel substance is harsh, because the opposite is true.

Unfortunately, the amount of beneficial HA in your skin decreases over time. Some culprits behind this decline include aging, the sun, and smoking. Since HA is largely responsible for your youthful appearance, it’s important to replenish it if you want your skin to look fresher and more supple.

2. Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Can Improve Many Concerns

Hyaluronic acid fillers work below the surface of your skin to restore or increase volume in the treatment area. HA can be used to improve the contour of your facial features and to fill in lines and depressions.

A few of the cosmetic concerns that HA fillers can improve include:

• Acne scars
• Sunken cheeks
• Thin lips
• Smile lines (also known as nasolabial folds)
• Marionette lines that start at the corners of the mouth and go downward
• Crow’s feet
• Lip lines (also known as smoker’s lines)
• Horizontal forehead wrinkles
• Volume loss on the back of hands

3. Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Start Working Instantly

With some fillers, results appear gradually. A good example of this is Sculptra Aesthetic®, a poly-L-lactic acid filler that restores volume by stimulating collagen over time.

However, the reason why many patients love HA fillers is that they offer immediate results. The clear gel formulas begin to work right away, adding volume and smoothing away your top cosmetic problems.

4. Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Are Reversible

Our ophthalmologists know how to safely administer a wide range of injectable treatments to create a beautiful, natural-looking result. When you visit us, we take every precaution to create successful outcomes and avoid complications. Yet patients tend to wonder if fillers are reversible in the event that they change their mind or don’t love the outcome.

HA fillers can be dissolved safely and efficiently with an injectable enzyme known as hyaluronidase. This correction is very rarely needed. However, it may give you peace of mind knowing that your HA treatment is reversible.

You should be aware that your results are not permanent. After six months or more, your body will naturally break down the product and absorb it.

5. There are Several Different Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Not all hyaluronic acid fillers are the same. They have subtle differences, such as thickness. For that reason, different fillers are used to correct different concerns.

Our ophthalmologists will match you with the appropriate product for your issues. We offer several FDA-approved HA fillers including:

• BELOTERO BALANCE®
• JUVÉDERM®
• Restylane®

Schedule Your Toms River Filler Treatment

To learn more about fillers and receive individualized recommendations, please call 732-349-5622 to schedule a consultation. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we have locations in Toms River, Brick, Barnegat, and Manalapan Township for the convenience of our New Jersey patients.

On a list of things that most of us take for granted, clear vision is near the top. Generally, people don’t think about their eye health until they start to experience problems. However, by then it can be too late.

Since March is Save Your Vision Month, it’s a great time to raise awareness about two incredibly common visual complications: cataracts and glaucoma. Both of these conditions can cause vision loss and blindness. We want you to be familiar with them, as well as the advanced treatment and management options that we offer at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates.

Essential Information About Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens of the eye. It can form in one or both eyes and block light.

Cataracts occur far more frequently in older individuals. They are a common issue, and more than half of all Americans will develop cataracts by the time they are 80 years old.

This visual complication develops slowly and does not affect your eyesight in the early stages. However, it can interfere with your vision over time and even lead to blindness.

People who have cataracts may begin to notice that their sight is blurry. Eventually, daily activities become difficult as it gets harder to see.

Cataract Treatments

Thankfully, most cataracts can be removed to restore clear vision. Our ophthalmologists use new and advanced technology to give our patients a desirable outcome from their cataract surgery.

For laser-assisted cataract surgery, the Catalys® Precision Laser System provides superior safety and precision during the gentle removal of the clouded lens.  After removing the clouded lens, our highly trained eye doctors will replace it with a premium artificial intraocular lens. These IOL’s offer numerous benefits, including the simultaneous correction of refractive vision errors such as astigmatism.

These technological advancements in cataract surgery are great news for patients. Since 2014, 90 percent of our patients chose to have cataract surgery with the Catalys® laser.

Glaucoma at a Glance

Glaucoma is known as the silent thief of sight. This title refers to the fact that glaucoma rarely presents symptoms in the early stages.

With this eye condition, high eye pressure damages the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain. This damage can lead to vision loss and even permanent blindness.

Glaucoma tends to affect people over the age of 40, though it can develop at any age. There are several additional risk factors for developing glaucoma, including:

• A  family history of the condition
• High eye pressure
• Diabetes
• Thin corneas

Managing Glaucoma

Glaucoma can’t be cured, but some treatments can slow the progression of the disease. The goal is to lower the eye pressure in patients with this condition. If you have glaucoma, our ophthalmologists may begin by prescribing eye drops that can help reduce intraocular pressure.

After the eye drops, they may recommend the XEN® Gel stent. This next-generation glaucoma treatment works by implanting a tiny instrument — about the size of an eyelash — in your eye to relieve pressure. Canaloplasty is another advanced treatment option.

Hopefully one day there will be a way to restore lost vision and cure the disease. Until then, our ophthalmologists will do their best to limit the impact of the condition on your sight. 

Schedule Your Eye Care Appointment in Brick

Early detection is the best treatment for glaucoma, cataracts, and other optical issues. Schedule your appointment for a comprehensive eye exam or to discuss treatment options for a visual problem by calling 732-349-5622. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we welcome patients from Toms River, Brick, Barnegat, and Manalapan Township, New Jersey.

These days, it seems like dermal fillers and other cosmetic injectables are available everywhere. However, to get good results and avoid any possible complications, it’s crucial to find someone who is qualified to administer these injections. Below are four reasons why you should consider getting cosmetic injections from an ophthalmologist at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates.

1. Ophthalmologists Are Incredibly Familiar With the Delicate Eye Area

To safely perform their jobs and care for the visual needs of their patients, our ophthalmologists are required to know everything there is to know about your eyes and the surrounding area. When administering injectable products anywhere, especially near the eyes, it is crucial to find someone who knows what is going on beneath the surface.

There are areas that should and should not be injected. Our ophthalmologists can easily avoid problematic zones like the main artery beneath your eye. They know the precise location that your injectable treatments should be placed to ensure safe, beautiful results.

2. Eye Doctors Invented BOTOX® Cosmetic!

In the 1980s, ophthalmologists were injecting patients with botulinum toxin — the same ingredient in modern BOTOX® — to address problems such as crossed eyes and uncontrollable eye spasms. In fact, BOTOX® works by blocking signals that travel from your nerves to your muscles.

It was through these ophthalmologist-administered injections that people began to realize that botulinum toxin could fade lines and wrinkles, too! When the muscle in the treatment area stops contracting, the signs of aging fade from the surface of your skin.

3. Ophthalmologists Understand Facial Aesthetics and Cosmetic Rejuvenation

You may be wondering, “How much do eye doctors know about cosmetic treatments?” Well, the answer might surprise you.

Our ophthalmologists are incredibly familiar with facial aesthetics and cosmetic rejuvenation. They know how to select the right injectable treatment to achieve your unique goals. They even perform cosmetic blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, to restore a patient’s youthful appearance. 

We offer the following injectable products at our practice:

• BOTOX®
• XEOMIN®
• JUVÉDERM® 
• RADIESSE®
• Sculptra® Aesthetic
• BELOTERO BALANCE®
• Restylane® Silk
• JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC

4. Ophthalmologists Are Highly-Skilled and Educated Medical Professionals

You trust our ophthalmologists with your eye care needs because they are skilled and educated. They have been through years of schooling and specialized training. They have completed internships and residencies.

During that time, our ophthalmologists learned valuable medical skills. Those same skills allow them to offer cosmetic injectables to patients safely.

For example, they know how to thoroughly evaluate a patient’s candidacy before providing a service. And they understand the importance of explaining the potential benefits and risks before a treatment. When you come in for cosmetic injections, you can trust our ophthalmologists to provide a safe and professional experience.

Schedule Your Filler or BOTOX® Treatment in Toms River

Are you ready to refresh your appearance without surgery? Call 732-349-5622 today to schedule an injectable consultation or treatment. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we happily welcome patients from Toms River, Brick, Barnegat, and Manalapan Township, New Jersey.

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we are passionate about providing our patients with safe and effective treatments – and that doesn’t end with caring for eye conditions. In fact, we proudly offer a range of FDA-approved cosmetic injectables and dermal fillers at our practice.

During the holiday season, our patients want to look their best for every event on their busy schedules. You probably have your own family get-togethers, parties, and photo opportunities coming up.

Thankfully, injectable cosmetic treatments offer a non-surgical way to achieve the rejuvenated look that you want, without surgery or downtime! We offer a wide variety of injectables, but let’s take a closer look at two of our most popular options.

Show Your Youthful Side with BOTOX® Cosmetic

Wrinkles and fine lines are a common cosmetic concern for many men and women. These stubborn facial creases are created over time by repeated muscle movements. By relaxing your facial muscles, BOTOX® can smooth out wrinkles in the treatment area.

BOTOX® is FDA-approved to treat crow’s feet, forehead lines, and glabellar lines (also known as “frown lines” or “eleven lines”). We also offer XEOMIN®, an injectable wrinkle relaxer that works similarly to BOTOX®. XEOMIN® is FDA-approved for the treatment of frown lines.

Enjoy the holidays with a youthful look that reflects how you feel on the inside! Our patients love that they typically see results after one treatment, and there is little to no downtime.

Plump Up Your Skin with RADIESSE®

As we age, we lose youthful volume beneath the surface of our skin. Volume loss can lead to facial wrinkles, and it can also make veins and tendons on the back of your hands look more prominent than before. RADIESSE® is currently the only FDA-approved dermal filler for face and hands.

RADIESSE® immediately restores volume once injected and then gradually stimulates the production of collagen in your skin. Collagen helps keep your skin looking youthful and healthy, and you produce less of it as you age.

RADIESSE® can provide a lifted and refreshed effect that may last a year or more. Welcome the holidays with confidence thanks to your natural, beautiful results.

Choosing the Right Injectable Product

We also offer the following injectable treatments:

• JUVÉDERM® and JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC
• Sculptra® Aesthetic
• BELOTERO BALANCE® 
• Restylane® Silk 

You have more injectable options to choose from than ever before. It may seem challenging to find the right choice to meet your aesthetic goals, but that’s where we come in. We will listen to your cosmetic concerns, discuss the results that you want to achieve, and then help select the right treatment for you.

Call Today to Learn About Injectable Treatments in Toms River

We proudly offer cosmetic injectables to help our patients look and feel their best. Call us today at 732-349-5622 to learn more or to schedule your treatment. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we happily welcome patients from across New Jersey at one of our convenient locations in Toms River, Brick, Barnegat, and Manalapan Township.

Millions of people suffer from cataracts, and they are one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of your eye, which usually is clear. If you have cataracts in one or both eyes, then you know that they can interfere with your vision. While the visual decline is often gradual, eventually your sight may become so blurry or distorted that it becomes difficult to perform daily activities.

You deserve to see the world clearly, and cataract surgery may be a good option if your vision does not improve with a stronger lens prescription. But how do you choose the right surgeon for such an important procedure?

Evaluating Your Potential Ophthalmologist

Choosing an eye specialist to perform your cataract surgery is a big decision. Your eyes are your window to the world, and you want to know that your vision is in good hands.

 When looking for an ophthalmologist, consider their:

• Qualifications: It is essential to look for a board-certified ophthalmologist. This certification shows that they have met specific requirements regarding knowledge, skill, and experience. Dr. Omar Almallah is board-certified by both the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Board of Eye Surgeons.
   
• Experience: Ask your potential cataract surgeon about their experience. You want to know that they have performed successful procedures in the past and feel familiar and comfortable with the surgery.

  Dr. Almallah has performed over 25,000 cataract operations and is nationally recognized for his accomplishments as a cataract surgeon.
   

• Diagnostic methods: It is important to receive a thorough eye exam before undergoing any corrective surgery. Our experienced staff will perform a variety of tests including pupil dilation, a tonometry test, a visual acuity test, and corneal topography and Optos wide fundus imaging of optic nerve and retina.

  These tests allow us to fully understand your unique eyes in order to recommend the most appropriate treatment.
   

• Technology: You should ensure that your cataract surgery is performed using the best technology available. The right equipment can increase the safety of the procedure while offering faster healing times. We perform most of our laser-assisted surgeries using the innovative Catalys® Precision Laser System by the Abbott® Corporation.

  This system consists of a cutting-edge femtosecond laser, 3D Optical Coherence Tomography, and state-of-the-art software. We also use the innovative ORA IntraOperative Aberrometry to select the proper IOL placement during surgery.
   

• IOL lens selection: Does your eye surgeon offer the high-quality IOL lens that will meet your visual needs? We offer a variety of premium intraocular lenses to simultaneously correct cataracts, refractive vision errors, and presbyopia (age-related vision loss).

Schedule Your New Jersey Cataract Surgery Consultation

If you are in the New Jersey area, consider taking advantage of the experience, equipment, and innovation available at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates. Cataracts are common, but they are not something that you should allow to interfere with your daily life.

Please call us at 732-349-5622 to schedule your cataract surgery consultation. We serve patients from Manalapan Township, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

Millions of people worldwide are affected by glaucoma. This group of eye conditions can cause damage to your optic nerve, which is responsible for carrying images to your brain.

Known as the “silent thief of sight”, glaucoma can lead to irreversible blindness. Unfortunately, some people have a higher than average risk of developing glaucoma. It is important to know the risk factors of developing this visual complication in order to facilitate early detection.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

You can have one or more risk factors for developing glaucoma and never suffer from the condition. However, if any of the following factors apply to you, you should consider scheduling an appointment with our ophthalmologists to evaluate the health of your eyes.

Some individuals may have a higher risk of developing glaucoma, including those who:

• Are over the age of 40
• Have a family history of the condition
• Have high eye pressure
• Are of Asian, Hispanic or African descent
• Are nearsighted or farsighted
• Have diabetes
• Have had trauma to one or both eyes
• Have taken certain steroid medications for a long period of time

If you have multiple risk factors, you may have an even higher risk of glaucoma. However, by understanding the most common risk factors, you are taking a big step in proactively protecting your vision.

If you are at an increased risk of developing this visual complication, please contact our ophthalmologists. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we can help determine your risk and discuss what steps you can take to protect your vision.

Should I See an Ophthalmologist?

It is important to see an ophthalmologist if you are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma. Additionally, if you experience any symptoms of the disease, you should seek immediate attention.

Glaucoma symptoms can include:

• Blind spots in your peripheral vision
• Blurred or decreased vision
• Halos around lights
• Headaches
• Eye pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Red eyes
• Tunnel vision

Most people do not experience any symptoms of glaucoma in the early stages of the condition. That is why regular, comprehensive eye exams are essential to early detection and early treatment efforts.

Glaucoma tests and painless and do not take a long time to complete. Our ophthalmologists will dilate your eyes in order to thoroughly test your vision. We will examine the health of your optic nerve and check your eye pressure.

If our ophthalmologists determine that you have glaucoma, we will discuss your options controlling the progression of the disease. We may prescribe medications, often in the form of eye drops, during the early stages of glaucoma. During the later stages, a surgical procedure such as canaloplasty or the implantation of an XEN® Gel stent may be more effective.

Schedule a Consultation with our New Jersey Ophthalmologists 

Our ophthalmologists have helped many patients detect and treat glaucoma. Call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 to learn more about your risk of developing this condition during a personalized consultation. We have offices located in Toms River, Brick, Barnegat, and Marlboro for your convenience.

Diabetes is a complex condition that has the potential to affect your entire body, including your eyes. If you have diabetes, there are special considerations to be aware of when it comes to maintaining your visual health.

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, our experienced ophthalmologists are available to help answer any questions that you may have about diabetes and your vision.

Protect Your Vision with Routine Eye Examinations

Everyone should receive a regular, comprehensive eye examination from an experienced ophthalmologist. However, diabetics unaware of their condition may particularly benefit from an eye examination because it may lead to an early diagnosis. Diabetes may first present itself in the form of:

• Eye infections
• Boils
• Styes
• Recurrent redness
• Mild haziness of vision
• Double vision
• Frequent change of glasses for reading
• Difficulty with near or distance focusing
• Difficulty seeing while driving at night
• Additional complications related to the eyes

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to schedule a comprehensive eye examination to determine the cause(s). Early detection and management of diabetes can go a long way in preserving the health of your eyes throughout your life.

If you have diabetes, regular eye examinations are a great way to protect your vision. Our ophthalmologists will monitor the health of your eyes and look for early signs of visual complications such as diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition where high blood sugar levels cause retinal damage, which can lead to visual impairment and even blindness. Since this condition may not present itself with any noticeable symptoms in the initial stages, early detection through a comprehensive examination is crucial. We recommend that individuals with diabetes schedule an eye appointment at least once a year.

It is also highly recommended that you get your eyes tested when your treatment has shifted from oral drugs to insulin because the diabetic changes in the retina may have worsened. Cataract changes are also associated with diabetic changes and should be monitored.

Diabetes and LASIK Surgery

Many people who have diabetes wonder if they can improve their vision with LASIK surgery. Your diabetes should be stable and controlled before you consider LASIK. If not controlled, you can possibly experience a poor visual outcome after LASIK surgery. Blood sugars can rise and fall dramatically, which is believed to be directly associated with changes in vision. Having LASIK will not compensate for blood sugar fluctuation and therefore should not be performed in patients with an untreated diabetic condition.

Your visual complication must be one that can be improved through LASIK surgery. LASIK can improve the following refractive vision errors:

• Nearsightedness
• Farsightedness
• Astigmatism

Our ophthalmologists thoroughly evaluate any patient who is considering LASIK surgery to ensure that they will benefit from the procedure. A detailed examination with Dr. Omar F. Almallah including a retinal exam, close examination with a slit lamp, tear film and epithelial tests can lower the high complication rate in individuals with diabetes who undergo LASIK. Our LASIK surgeons will discuss your candidacy for LASIK as well as any safety concerns. Many individuals with diabetes have improved their vision through LASIK surgery.

Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Examination Today

If you have diabetes, please schedule an eye examination with Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates by calling 732-349-5622. We welcome patients from across New Jersey at our Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat offices.

If dirt, dust, or an eyelash gets in your eye, resist the impulse to rub it. Instead, try flushing these tiny particles with a few drops of artificial tears or water (using an eye cup or small glass). Fill the glass with water and place the lower rim of the glass on the bone at the base of the eye socket. Slowly tip the glass upward, and let the water run over your opened eye. Otherwise, have someone inspect your eye by gently pulling your lower lid downward while you look upward. Then, reverse the procedure for the upper lid. If the foreign object can be located, have it removed with a moistened swab or clean cloth.

If an object is embedded in the eyeball, doesn’t move with blinking, causes pain or sensitivity to light, or decreases vision, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Instead, seek emergency care.

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, our top priority is the health of your eyes. From illustrating common eye safety practices to offering comprehensive eye care services, our ophthalmologists are here to meet your needs. Schedule an eye examination today by calling 732-349-5622. We welcome patients from across New Jersey at our Manalapan Township, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat offices.

One of the first symptoms experienced by those suffering from the condition known as “myasthenia gravis,” a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles, is drooping of one or both eyelids.

More than half of those who develop myasthenia gravis experience first signs and symptoms of the condition that involve eye problems. Along with “ptosis” (eyelid droopiness), myasthenia gravis patients may also experience “diplopia” (double vision) in addition to other symptoms elsewhere in their bodies. The double vision (diplopia) that is associated with myasthenia gravis may be horizontal or vertical. It improves or resolves when one eye is closed. Symptoms of ptosis and diplopia can both be explained by an interruption in the communication that normally takes place between nerves and muscles. Once diagnosed (sometimes with the help of an ophthalmologist), there are various medical treatments for myasthenia gravis.   

Regular eye examinations can help detect a variety of health conditions. Schedule your eye examination with Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622.  We have offices in Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat for the convenience of our New Jersey patients.

One of the most common reasons for visits to the ophthalmologist is dry eyes, which is estimated to affect nearly half (48 percent) of adults over age 18. There are a number of causes of “dry eye syndrome,” including the inability of the Meibomian glands to secrete sufficient amounts of oil for tears, or failure of the lacrimal glands to produce enough watery fluid (aqueous) to keep the eyes adequately moistened. In addition to diagnosing and treating these and other causes, dry-eye patients who do not show improvement after treatment should be tested for Sjögren’s syndrome. This autoimmune disease, which is characterized by dryness of the mouth and the eyes, is often overlooked as a cause of dry eyes. As a consequence of Sjögren’s syndrome, inflammation of the glands that produce tears (lacrimal glands) leads to decreased water production for tears and dry eyes.

If you are suffering from dry eyes, schedule an eye examination with our experienced ophthalmologists at 732-349-5622. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we welcome patients from across New Jersey at our Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat offices.

Astigmatism is a very common visual imperfection that affects more than three million Americans each year. If you suffer from astigmatism, you may be wondering if LASIK can correct it. While glasses and contacts can provide relief, you are likely looking for a more permanent solution.

The good news is that at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, our experienced ophthalmologists can successfully treat most cases of astigmatism using LASIK surgery.

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a refractive vision error, just like nearsightedness or farsightedness. The symptoms of astigmatism include:

• Blurry vision
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Halos around lights
• Headaches or eyestrain
• Constant squinting

If you have astigmatism, your eye is shaped more like an egg than a perfect sphere. This shape causes a problem with the way that your eyes process light. Because of the irregular shape, light is not focused on a single point in your eye, which can cause vision difficulties. You may be born with astigmatism or develop it later in life. While you will likely notice the symptoms, astigmatism can also be detected during a routine eye exam.

How Does LASIK Treat Astigmatism?

Some cases of astigmatism are not severe enough to require treatment. However, if your astigmatism is bothersome or interferes with your daily activities, you may wish to treat it with LASIK eye surgery.

Most cases of astigmatism can be fully corrected with a LASIK procedure. Astigmatism often occurs alongside myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), both of which can also be treated with LASIK.

A LASIK treatment to correct astigmatism is very similar to a regular procedure. In a traditional LASIK procedure, a corneal flap is created on your eye so that a laser can correct the shape of your cornea.

To treat astigmatism, the laser reshapes the inner layer of your cornea to correct the egg-like shape of your eye. This allows your eye to take in light and focus it into one clear point, eliminating blurry vision. The LASIK procedure is painless and only takes a few minutes.

Candidates for LASIK Astigmatism Treatment

LASIK surgery may be right for you if you want to eliminate the vision problems associated with astigmatism. Your candidacy for LASIK can only be determined through a thorough eye exam with an experienced eye doctor. In general, you may be a candidate for LASIK if you:

• Are 18 years of age or older
• Have generally healthy eyes free of infection
• Have had the same prescription for at least 2 years
• Wish to treat astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness
• Want an alternative to glasses and contacts

LASIK can treat most degrees of astigmatism. However, if you have a very high astigmatism, our ophthalmologists will evaluate your candidacy for LASIK correction as well as your potential need for a follow-up LASIK treatment.

Schedule a Consultation with our New Jersey Ophthalmologists

Our experienced LASIK surgeons can help determine if this procedure is right for you. Please call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 to schedule a personalized consultation. We have offices located in Toms River, Brick, Barnegat, and Marlboro. 

Dr. Omar Almallah and his wife Cheryl were honored at the 9^th Annual Heart and Soul Gala on Thursday, February 8, 2018 alongside Wendy Whelan, principal dancer at the New York City Ballet.

Dr. Almallah and Cheryl Almallah were recognized for their years of work as celebrated ballroom dancers in the greater New York City area. The event was held at the Breakers, which is located in Palm Beach, Florida.

The Heart and Soul Gala is held to benefit Career Transition For Dancers, a service of the Actors Fund. Career Transition For Dancers, which started in 1985, is designed to provide dancers with the support and resources they need to establish themselves in their field while also giving them training and everything else they may need for success outside of dancing.

Dr. Almallah and Cheryl Almallah have always been strong supporters of the arts, and they are passionate about ensuring that striving artists have the support they need to make great contributions to the field. It's part of Dr. Almallah's commitment to serving his community.

If you live in or around Manalapan Township, New Jersey and you're looking for a nimble, agile ophthalmologist, please call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates today at 732-349-5622 for a consultation and examination. We proudly provide services to those in the areas of Toms River, Brick, Marlboro, and other nearby areas in New Jersey.

This is a common question that we hear from patients who are considering LASIK, and during our consultations with LASIK patients, we find that it stems from some of the common misconceptions that surround LASIK and lead to fear of the procedure.

The short answer is yes. You will be awake for your LASIK procedure. But that should not worry you at all. Here we explain why. 

LASIK Is Not Painful

One of the reasons we find that patients are hesitant to be awake during LASIK is the fear of feeling pain. They fear that being awake for a surgical procedure means that they will feel discomfort during the eye operation. However, with LASIK, you should not feel any discomfort. Some patients report feeling a light pressure on the eye, but that is all.

For LASIK, you will take a mild oral sedation and receive numbing drops in each eye before the procedure. So although you will be awake for LASIK, you will feel relaxed and comfortable.

You Can’t Blink

Many patients have the concern that if they are awake during LASIK, they will blink and mess up the operation. This fear is easy to dispel. Although you are awake during LASIK, your head will be held in a comfortable, stable position and a special retainer will prevent you from blinking during the few minutes that surgery lasts.

LASIK Is Quick

The word “surgery” is often associated with long hours in the waiting room, and LASIK candidates fear that will mean hours of laying awake in an operating room. However, LASIK surgery is a very quick, efficient, and effective procedure. The LASIK procedure only takes about 10 minutes to perform on each eye, and the actual time that lasers are in contact with your eye only lasts for a few seconds.

You will likely be seeing more clearly before your ride home has time to finish checking their social media.

You’ve Selected Experienced LASIK Surgeons

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we have performed thousands of microsurgical procedures. Patient safety and satisfaction are our priorities. We use the latest, state-of-the-art laser vision correction technology to endure that our patients get the best results possible.

During your consultation, we encourage you to ask questions about LASIK and voice your concerns and hesitations about the procedure. We want you to feel safe, comfortable, and confident in selecting the right laser vision correction surgery with our doctors.

Call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates Today

Would you like to explore how LASIK can help you see the world more clearly? Please call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, P.A. today at 732-349-5622 to schedule your personal consultation and take the first step toward living life free of glasses and contacts.

We have five offices in Ocean and Monmouth County located in Toms River, Brick, Manalapan Township, and Barnegat. Our outpatient surgical facility, devoted entirely to eye surgery, operates five days a week. And we also welcome patients who travel from around the world in search of advanced ophthalmic procedures. 

When your vision has been clouded by cataracts, you will need surgery to correct it. With today’s advanced technology, you have more options than ever before for intraocular lenses (IOLs) to replace your eye’s natural lens and help you see more clearly.

During your consultation at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we can review the many options available and select the right IOLs for your lifestyle. However, the following will give you an overview of the types of advanced lenses available today.

Call 732-349-5622 today to schedule your appointment at one of our convenient office locations in Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, or Barnegat, New Jersey.

Multifocal Length IOLs

Since the FDA first approved IOLs in the 1980s, you have had the option to replace your natural lens with an intraocular lens implant. However, the early standard IOLs did not flex like your eye’s natural lens, meaning multiple focal lengths were no longer possible once you underwent cataract surgery. Although your cloudy vision could be corrected, you would still need glasses and contacts to give you a full range of vision.

Today, you can choose IOLs that provide a multifocal range. From TECNIS Symfony® IOLs that provide Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) for continuous, high-quality vision at any distance to Crystalens® IOLs that provide an active range of vision that closely mirrors the eye’s natural ability to focus, you can select IOLs that give you more freedom to live independently from glasses and contacts.

Toric IOLs

Like toric soft contact lenses, Toric IOLs are designed with different powers in different meridians of the lens that allow for correction of astigmatism. With Toric IOLs, your cataract surgeon orients the lens during placement to ensure proper astigmatism correction so you can enjoy an active lifestyle with more freedom from glasses and contacts.

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates we offer patients Toric IOL lens options, including TECNIS Symfony® Toric IOL and TRULIGN™ Toric IOL.

Aspheric IOLs

Traditional IOLs are spherical, which can contribute to minor vision quality issues, such as diminished low-light or night vision. Aspheric IOLs more closely mimic the natural curve of the eye’s lens, which is aspheric, and can therefore provide sharper vision in some cases. We offer our patients the benefits of TECNIS® Toric Aspheric IOLs.

Call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates Today

Are you beginning to notice your vision clouding from cataracts? Now is the time to explore your options for intraocular lens replacement. Please call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, P.A. today at 732-349-5622 to schedule your personal consultation.

Our experienced ophthalmologists will thoroughly examine your eye health and vision needs and help you select the right IOLs to fit your needs and lifestyle.

We have five offices in Ocean and Monmouth County located in Toms River, Brick, Marlboro, and Barnegat. Our outpatient surgical facility, devoted entirely to eye surgery, operates five days a week. And we also welcome patients who travel from around the world in search of advanced ophthalmic procedures. 

When we learned at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates that our office receptionist Maureen had been diagnosed with cancer, we wanted to do what we could to support her in her journey to recovery. On October 13, 2017, we hosted the Susskind & Almallah Dinner Gala at the Eagle Ridge Golf Club to raise funds to help Maureen with her medical costs and expenses as she undergoes cancer treatment.

Thanks to the generous support of our New Jersey community, the Susskind & Almallah Dinner Gala was a success. We raised over $10,000 to benefit Maureen and were able to present her with a check that evening.

The evening’s festivities included dinner and dancing and a ballroom show featuring Dr. Omar Almallah and Mrs. Cheryl Almallah, who are nationally recognized ballroom dancers. During their competitive dancing days, the Almallahs were ranked fifth in the United States by the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association.

Please enjoy the video of Dr. and Mrs. Almallah’s Slow Foxtrot demonstration at the gala to the Connie Francis song “I Will Wait for You.”

Dr. and Mrs. Almallah's Slow Waltz Demonstration to "Fascination" by Nat King Cole.

Dr. and Mrs. Almallah's Tango Demonstration to Stanley Black's "Sombra."

Dr. and Mrs. Almallah's Quick Step Demonstration to the Song "A Cool Cat in Town."

Dr. and Mrs. Almallah's​ Viennese Walt Demonstration to "Gramofon" by Eugen Doga.

Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates serves patients throughout Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey. Please call today 732-349-5622 if you would like to schedule an eye care or dermal filler consultation. 

LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea to enable light to focus properly on the retina for clearer vision. Many patients report improved night vision with LASIK vision correction.

In a study conducted by the Navy Refractive Surgery Center of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, researchers found that for patients who underwent traditional bladed microkeratome LASIK, between 2% and 7% of patients had a significant postoperative improvement in night driving simulator testing. For patients who underwent wave-front guided LASIK (often called bladeless LASIK), 11% to 31% saw a significant improvement in night driving simulator testing.

In the early years of LASIK, one of the side effects that patients were often warned about and experienced was the possibility of seeing halos or glares around lights at night. However, as technology has advanced, these risks have decreased.

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates we use advanced technologies, such as the VISX S4 Excimer Laser System with WaveFront guided refractive surgery. We are committed to offering our patients state-of-the-art technology for optimum results.

Are you interested in finding out whether LASIK is right for you? Call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 today to schedule your consultation in one of our four convenient locations in Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

Watch Dr. Omar Almallah perform a new minimally invasive glaucoma surgery – Ab Interno Canaloplasty done in conjunction with Femto laser cataract surgery. This procedure is not meant to replace Ab Externo Canaloplasty, however, like Ab Externo Canaloplasty, this procedure restores the eye’s natural drainage system and reduces intraocular pressure. 

To learn more about Dr. Almallah and the benefits of Ab Interno Canaloplasty for patients with glaucoma, please call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 today. We serve patients throughout central, northern, and southern New Jersey. 

Summer is quickly approaching and with it comes wedding season. You are likely well into planning your travel, and your gift, and all the other small details to help your family and friends celebrate the big day, but don’t forget to make time to enhance your appearance for all of the photos that will be taken that day. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we can help you reverse the signs of aging with a variety of cosmetic injections.

Whether you need to address fine lines and wrinkles in the forehead, in the eye area, or around the mouth or need to add lost volume to your cheeks, we offer our patients a range of facial rejuvenation options to fit every need. We will help you choose from:

• BOTOX® Cosmetic
• JUVÉDERM®
• RADIESSE®
• BELOTERO BALANCE®
• Sculptra® Aesthetic
• Restylane® Silk
• XEOMIN®
• JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC

These non-surgical injectables are safe and effective treatments. With minimal downtime, you can return to your summer plans looking effortlessly younger.

Are you ready to enhance your look for upcoming summer weddings? Call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 today to schedule your appointment in one of our four convenient locations in Manalapan Township, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

Glaucoma is the term used to refer to a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the eye because of increased pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness around the world.

Early diagnosis of glaucoma is critical for treatment. During your comprehensive eye exam, we may perform several tests for glaucoma, including:

• Measuring your intraocular pressure by applying a small amount of pressure to the eye, usually with a warm puff of air
• Testing for optic nerve damage by examining the optic nerve under magnification
• Checking for areas of vision loss with a visual field test, sometimes referred to as the peripheral vision test
• Measuring the thickness of the cornea with a probe called a pachymeter
• Inspecting the angle of the cornea with the use of a mirrored contact lens

Diagnosing glaucoma can be difficult and requires careful evaluation. Routine eye exams are important to maintaining your eye health. If you have noticed any changes in your vision, please schedule your next visit with us today.

Call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 to arrange your eye exam at one of our four convenient locations in Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

LASIK surgery is a permanent solution for vision correction because it corrects the cause of your blurry vision by reshaping the cornea. The majority of patients who undergo LASIK do not need to wear glasses or contacts after their procedure.

However, as you probably know, your eyes can change over time. Just as you may have experienced minor changes in your glasses prescription over time, you may experience the need for a touch-up procedure.

It is important to maintain your annual eye exam schedule with your doctor to monitor your vision and the overall health of your eyes as you age. If your vision changes, then we can discuss your options for corrective lenses or an enhancement procedure.

LASIK also does not eliminate the need for reading glasses since age-related vision issues are not caused by the shape of your cornea but rather the hardening of your lens. As your eyes change with age, you may still require reading glasses in the future.

If you are ready to say goodbye to the everyday hassle of glasses and contacts, call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 today to schedule your appointment with one of our experienced doctors. We have four convenient locations in Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

If you wear glasses but are looking to make the switch to contact lenses, you may have wondered if soft or hard contacts are right for you. Maybe you enjoy sports or outdoor activities that make wearing glasses difficult. Or you’re just tired of misplacing or breaking your glasses. Whatever the reason, there are advantages to both type of contact lenses, and depending on your lifestyle and preference both can be a great solution for clearer vision.

Soft contact lenses are the most popular choice when it comes to deciding on contact lenses. Generally made of a flexible plastic, soft contacts are more comfortable than hard lenses but can be more fragile. With a variety of options for extended or daily wear lenses, soft contacts give you more control over how often you can change out your lenses. Other advantages of soft contacts include:

• Offer disposable lenses in daily, weekly, or monthly versions
• Stay in place on the eye better
• Easier to adjust
• Correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
• Great for active lifestyles

Hard contact lenses are a rigid lens that is made of a gas-permeable material to allow oxygen to pass through and reach the eyes. The two main types of hard lenses are conventional hard lenses (PMMA) and rigid gas-permeable lenses (RGP). Hard contacts are generally used to correct refractive errors on the eye, including astigmatism, and can help slow down the development of nearsightedness in young and adult wearers. Other advantages of hard contacts include:

• Relatively inexpensive compared to soft lenses
• Offer crisp vision
• Durable and long-lasting
• Retain their shape
• Available as multifocal and bifocal

If you’re tired of hiding behind bulky glasses and want to learn more about the various types of contact lenses available, call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 to schedule an appointment today. We have four convenient locations in Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

Myopia (nearsightedness) occurs  because the clear front cover of the eye (cornea) has too much curvature. As a result, light entering the eye focuses incorrectly, making distant objects look blurred. While there is evidence that this “refractive error” is hereditary, there is research indicating that performing too much close-up work may also influence myopia development. Because myopia is reaching epidemic proportions among children in urban areas of the East and Southeast Asia  in particular, Chinese researchers sought to see what difference it might make to add one 40-minute outdoor session to young school children’s days. After three years, those playing outside regularly realized a 23% reduction in the development of myopia over children  who didn’t get the extra outdoor time.  

P.S. Being outdoors may help children focus their vision more on long distances, thereby reducing the incidence of myopia.

Over the course of the most recent year  for which there is available data, over 250,000 children under the age of 12 were treated for toy-related eye injuries in emergency rooms across the United States. Of particular concern is the related finding that children’s eye injuries from non-powdered guns (such as BB guns, pellet guns, airsoft guns, and paintball guns) increased by 511 percent over a recent two-year period, when 3,000 children received treatment for such injuries. The most common injuries sustained by these children were corneal abrasions (scratches on the outer surface of the eye) and “hyphema” (pooling of blood in the front of the eye). The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends against giving projectile-propelling toys to children.

P.S. When purchasing sports equipment for children, be sure to include protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses that is appropriate to the sport.

If there is one nutrient that is important for healthy eyes, it is zinc. This essential trace mineral plays a vital role in producing melanin (a protective pigment in the eyes). Zinc deficiency has been linked with impaired vision, poor night vision, and cataracts. Zinc is also recommended for people diagnosed as being at high risk for “age-related macular degeneration” (AMD) or who are already experiencing the early stages of AMD. With all this in mind, adequate daily intake of zinc through diet, nutritional supplements, or fortified foods is encouraged for good eye health. Good dietary sources of zinc include red meat, oysters and other seafood, eggs, poultry, wheat germ, mixed nuts, black-eyed peas, tofu, and baked beans.

P.S. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established a dietary reference intake for zinc of 11 mg/day for males and 8 mg/day for females. Higher doses (beyond 100 mg.) should not be taken without consulting with a doctor.

While ready-made drugstore reading glasses are quite inexpensive and available without an eye exam, they only offer the same degree of correction in both lenses, and the optical center of the lenses is not customized to each wearer. These off-the-rack readers are essentially two magnifying lenses mounted in an eyeglass frame. They are not a good option for people who need a different correction in each eye or who have astigmatism (irregularity in the curvature of the cornea). Prescription reading glasses, on the other hand, are not only personalized to each wearer, but they also come with the benefit of a comprehensive eye exam, which is important for detecting other age-related conditions and diseases that pose a threat  to vision.

P.S. Prescription bifocals, trifocals, and progressive lenses (“no-line bifocals”) combine needed correction for distance viewing with near correction for reading in a single set of lenses.

While the ancients extolled the eyes as “windows to the soul,” today’s physicians value the eyes for their ability to provide a non-invasive look inside the body. The fact is that the eye is the only place in the body where a doctor can see nerves, arteries, and veins without using a scalpel. When the eye doctor peers into the eyes to look for signs of eye disease, he or she  may also be able to see disease processes that are occurring elsewhere in the body. For instance, the ophthalmologist may see narrow or enlarged blood vessels and hemorrhages, which can be indicators for hypertension. In addition, cholesterol buildup may be observed, prompting an appointment with the cardiologist.

P.S. Because elevated blood sugar can lead to swelling in the eye lens, vision problems may be indicative of diabetes.

Because glaucoma is an eye disease that leads to permanent vision loss without first presenting symptoms that might warn of its potential danger, it is very important to undergo regular comprehensive eye tests. Bearing in mind that more than 2.2 million Americans have glaucoma and only half of them know it, people ages 40 to 60 should be examined by the ophthalmologist every three to five years. Anyone over the age of 60 should have his or her eyes examined every one to two years. These examinations will screen for the disease with “tonometry,” which measures eye pressure. In addition to measuring intraocular pressure, the exam will also likely include an “ophthalmoscopy,” which involves examination of the optic nerve.  

P.S. The most common treatment for glaucoma involves the use of eye drops known as “prostaglandin analogs,” which lower eye pressure.

Amblyopia, which affects approximately two to three of every 100 U.S. children, is the most common cause of childhood visual impairment. Often referred to as “lazy eye,” this developmental disorder involves reduced visual acuity in one eye because the brain is favoring the other eye. To address the problem, amblyopic children usually wear a patch over the stronger eye for several months, forcing the weaker eye to become stronger. Now, research shows that wearing 3-D glasses and watching “dichoptic” movies (which present different and separate images to each eye) helped children with amblyopia overcome their vision problem more quickly. After watching three dichoptic movies weekly for two weeks, all the children with amblyopia showed a significant improvement in visual acuity.

P.S. Amblyopia may be caused by a large amount of refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism) between the child’s eyes; misaligned eyes (strabismic amblyopia); or cataract in one eye.

When it comes to making medical decisions, particularly those involving children, it is important that parents and eye doctors are on the same page. Sometimes, however, it only takes misunderstanding of a term in a diagnosis to create a divide. Case in point comes from a recent study in which researchers used the term “pink eye” to describe a conjunctivitis diagnosis with parents. As it turns out, upon hearing the “pink eye” diagnosis, parents were much more likely to insist on antibiotic treatment even after being told that antibiotics were not necessary. On the other hand, parents who received an “eye infection” diagnosis  only wanted antibiotics  when they believed that antibiotics would be effective. 

P.S. Conjunctivitis, or “pink eye,” can be caused by bacteria (which respond to antibiotics), viruses (which do not respond to antibiotics), or allergic reactions.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease of the macula, the area of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. Symptoms include blurry or fuzzy vision, darkness in the central portion of the visual field, and wavy lines that should appear straight. There are two types of the disease. About 90 percent of all cases are “dry” AMD, in which the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down to cause gradual loss of central vision. “Wet” AMD occurs when fragile new blood vessels behind the retina leak blood and fluid  under the  macula, causing rapid deterioration of central vision. Wet AMD is treated  with lasers or  injected medication, while dry AMD can be treated with specific vitamins and minerals.

P.S. While no treatment is currently available to reverse dry macular degeneration, the disease is usually only slowly progressive, and taking high-dose antioxidants and zinc  can delay and possibly prevent intermediate AMD from progressing to severe vision loss.

Fibromyalgia is a multimodal disease that produces pain and lethargy (among a variety of other symptoms) that may be caused by a number of undetermined factors. The overwhelming characteristic of fibromyalgia is longstanding pain at defined tender points (myofascial trigger points). Fibromyalgia patients are also afflicted with chronic fatigue, malaise, dizziness, numbness, tingling, a swollen feeling in tissues, and stiffness. Recently, researchers have also found that fibromyalgia sufferers are hypersensitive to everyday sensory stimulation, including sight, sound, and touch. As a result, they may experience difficulty processing everyday sights, which is something that the eye doctor can help ascertain with a comprehensive eye exam. This may be one more clue to determining fibromyalgia’s cause(s).  

P.S. Fibromyalgia remains a mysterious disease, but the research noted above suggests that it may have its origins in the processing centers of the brain and the sensory nerve fibers in blood vessels.

New contact lens materials and designs are changing the way wearers are utilizing contacts to improve their vision. Based on data involving approximately 7,700 contact lens fittings, a recent survey reveals that contact wearers prefer soft contacts over hard contacts by a 9:1 ratio. Currently worn by nearly three-fourths of contact lens users, silicon hydrogel lenses have a water content of greater than 60% that is more compatible with the cornea. The survey also notes increased use of daily disposable lenses, which now account for nearly 30% of prescriptions. In addition, soft toric lenses are gaining favor for their ability to treat astigmatism, while older presbyopic patients are turning to multifocal contact lenses that correct both near and distant vision.

P.S. According to the survey mentioned above, multipurpose lens care solutions are now used by at least 90% of patients, who recognize their safety and convenience advantages over previous cleaning and storage systems.

Those who work and play outdoors in sunny, windy, and dusty conditions without wearing protective eyewear  commonly develop non-cancerous growths on their corneas (the clear front window of the eye) and conjunctivas (the membrane that covers the white part of the eye, the sclera). Similar to a callus on the skin, a “pinguecula” is a yellowish patch or bump consisting of a deposit of protein, fat, and/or calcium that usually appears on the side of the eye closest to the nose. The triangular-shaped growth of fleshy tissue known as a “pterygium” that develops on the sclera may eventually extend over the cornea and grow large enough to interfere with vision. Although these growths may be removed surgically, a pterygium may return.

P.S. A pterygium can often develop from a pinguecula.

The fast-growing cancer of the eye known as “retinoblastoma” primarily affects children before age five. Because this condition is aggressive, it is crucial to detect and treat it early, which provides the best hope of saving vision, eyes, and lives. As its name suggests, this type of cancer begins in the retina, the sensitive lining on the inside of the eye. This most common form of eye cancer affecting children may occur in one or both eyes and is usually detected when a flash photograph reveals a white color at the center of the pupil. Because the gene responsible for this cancer is passed from parents to children, those with a family history of the disease should be particularly vigilant. 

P.S. Because children treated for retinoblastoma have a risk of recurrence in and around the treated eye, it is important to schedule follow-up exams with the ophthalmologist.

Because our tear ducts grow less productive with age, individuals aged 65 years and older are more likely to develop “dry eye syndrome.” Other symptoms of dry eye include itching, stinging, and burning sensations. Causes range from medications that inhibit tear production as a side effect to diabetes, arthritis, and long-term use of contact lenses. Whatever the cause, it is important to treat dry eye since keeping the eyes moist is essential to eye health and good vision. Blinking the eyelids spreads fluid from the tear glands over the eyes, after which it is drained away through the tear ducts. This moist condition keeps the outer layer of the eye free from debris and the cornea clear for optimum vision.

P.S. Tears protect the eyes against infection.

Chronic eye-watering and irritation of the outer portion of the eyeball (cornea) may be due to inward-turning eyelashes. Abnormally positioned eyelashes can result from an eye infection, inflammation (swelling) of the eyelid, autoimmune conditions, and trauma. This misdirection of the eyelashes, a condition known as “trichiasis,” results in the errant eyelashes brushing against the eyeball. Left untreated, trichiasis may lead to corneal ulceration, which is a potentially serious concern that can lead to loss of eyesight in the affected eye. When there are multiple lashes growing toward the eye, the ophthalmologist may recommend surgery to have them removed permanently. If so, “ablation” utilizes radiofrequencies or lasers to remove the offending lashes.

P.S. Some cases of trichiasis are caused by “epiblepharon,” an extra horizontal fold of skin that causes inversion of the eyelashes against the cornea.

If diabetics allow chronic high glucose levels to damage small blood vessels in their retinas, they can develop “diabetic retinopathy.” While the condition generally causes no symptoms in its early stage, it can eventually lead to blurry vision, floaters, flashes of light in the peripheral area of vision, and even sudden blindness in one eye. To prevent these unwanted outcomes, those with diabetes are strongly urged to control their blood sugar, blood cholesterol, and blood pressure and get regular eye exams. It is also important that the eye doctor monitor the development of “diabetic macular edema,” swelling of the macula due to fluid leakage and accumulation, and “proliferative diabetic retinopathy,” the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina.  

P.S. Diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) can be managed with intraocular injections of medication, laser surgery, and direct surgery of the retina.

“Corneal abrasion,” which is scratching of the clear outer layer at the front of the eye, is one of the most common kinds of eye injuries. Corneal abrasions are quick to heal, but they are painful. The traditional treatment for this injury involves wearing an eye patch. However, there is research that suggests that the initial use of an eye patch actually slows healing and does not reduce pain. Moreover, researchers conclude that since corneal abrasions do not affect vision to a great extent, it is rather pointless to render patients with scratched corneas “monocular” (one-eyed). Foregoing the use of an eye patch may actually help corneal abrasions heal more quickly on the first day after the injury. 

P.S. The cornea is vulnerable to burning from excessive exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

When the protective outer layer of the eye (“white of the eye”) becomes red and inflamed, the condition can become quite painful. About half of all cases of “scleritis,” the medical term for inflammation of the “sclera,” are believed to be caused by an underlying autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The most common type, “diffuse scleritis,” involves widespread redness and inflammation throughout the whole (or a portion of) the front portion of the sclera and is the most treatable.  “Nodular scleritis” presents with nodules or bumps on the surface of the eye, which are tender to the touch. The much more severe “necrotizing scleritis” is characterized by extreme pain and tenderness and can destroy scleral tissues.

P.S. The sclera makes up  83 percent of the eye’s surface.

By looking through the cornea and eye lens, eye doctors are afforded the only look inside the body that can be attained without making an incision. This glimpse inside the eye offers a good look at the size and condition of blood vessels, which can provide valuable information. For instance, researchers from Duke University were recently able to come to some conclusions about brain function by looking at the small blood vessels at the back of the retina. They were able to do so because retinal blood vessels are similar in size, structure, and function to the blood vessels in the brain. Consequently, a comprehensive eye exam can provide a way of examining brain health. 

P.S. A look at the blood vessels in the eye can reveal any damage brought by high blood pressure, which may provide clues about heart health.

Your heart and kidneys are not the only organs that can become damaged by high blood pressure (hypertension). It can also damage the retina, the layer of tissue at the back of the eye that converts light and images entering the eye into nerve signals that are transmitted to the brain for interpretation. “Hypertensive retinopathy” is caused by high blood pressure that damages the blood vessels in the retina. The more pronounced the hypertension, and the longer that blood pressure has been high, the more severe the damage is likely to be. Symptoms include double vision, dim vision, or vision loss, which should be reported to the ophthalmologist, who can determine their causes.

P.S. Individuals who smoke, have diabetes, or have high cholesterol levels have a higher risk of retinal damage and vision loss.

Certain individuals are at increased risk for “retinal detachment,” which occurs when the delicate light-sensitive membrane (retina) separates from the back of the eye. People with a high degree of nearsightedness are susceptible to this problem because their eyes are longer than average from front to back. Others at high risk for retinal detachment are those with a family history of the condition; cataract- and glaucoma-surgery patients; and diabetics (who are at risk for “diabetic retinopathy,” which leads to the formation of new blood vessels on the retina). While retinal detachment is a medical emergency, approximately 90% of cases are treatable. Early detection of symptoms such as the appearance of persistent flashes of bright light should prompt immediate treatment.    

P.S. One warning sign of retinal detachment includes the appearance of an unusual amount of black dots (“floaters”) in the field of vision; a dark curtain spreading across the visual field; and new, unexplained blurred vision.

That small bump that sometimes appears on either the upper or lower eyelid is caused by a blocked oil gland. A “chalazion” usually disappears in about a month without treatment. However, most patients seek treatment when a chalazion is large enough to block vision or looks unsightly. The bump that characterizes a chalazion is caused by a blockage in the Meibomian gland on the eyelid, which produces oil in both the upper and lower eyelids. Chalazia are sometimes confused with styes, which, unlike chalazia, are caused by infections and are usually painful. In addition, chalazia are usually found away from the edge of the eyelid while styes are most often found right on the eyelid edge.

P.S. Home care for a chalazia includes a warm compress to the eyelid several times a day for about ten minutes at a time.  If the chalazion does not heal after treatment, it can be surgically removed.

Most people are familiar with glaucoma’s well-earned reputation for being a “sneak thief of sight” due to the facts that symptoms usually go unnoticed and the disease progresses slowly. However, there is a form of glaucoma that can occur quite suddenly among generally older individuals with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or some other cardiovascular problem.

“Neovascular glaucoma” is often referred to as “90-day glaucoma.”  This is because it develops nearly 90 days after some type of ischemic vascular event in which tissue may be deprived  of blood flow or suffer a slow perfusion of blood supply and oxygen that prompts uncontrolled blood-vessel growth. Immediate treatment is needed for this “secondary glaucoma” to reduce inner eye pressure and inflammation. Unlike the much more common “open-angle glaucoma,” “closed-angle glaucoma” can develop very quickly and necessitate immediate treatment. 

Call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 today to schedule your consultation with one of our experienced doctors. We proudly serve the areas of Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

“Eye melanoma,” also known as “ocular melanoma,” occurs when the cells that produce pigment in the eye become cancerous, much in the same way that they can in the skin (skin melanoma). While this form of cancer is rare, it is the most common eye cancer in adults. It usually occurs in the middle of the three layers of the eye, the “uvea,” which is positioned between the outermost “sclera” and the innermost “retina.” Because this type of cancer is not visible when looking in the mirror and does not cause symptoms, it is usually detected as a result of a comprehensive eye examination. Diagnosis begins with a dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist that often leads to ultrasound examination.

P.S. Because ocular melanoma may spread to other parts of the body, early diagnosis is essential.

While the mere sight of a broken blood vessel on the white of the eye (sclera) is enough to raise concerns, the condition known as a “subconjunctival hemorrhage” is usually a harmless condition. Because neither pain nor changes in vision are involved, many people do not realize that they have the characteristic bright red patches on the whites of their eyes until they see them in the mirror. Causes can range from a violent cough or sneeze to vomiting or heavy lifting. In some cases, eye trauma or roughly rubbing the eyes is enough to cause rupturing of the blood vessels underneath the clear surface of the eye (conjunctiva).  In most cases, the body reabsorbs the blood within two weeks.

P.S. If you experience recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages, schedule an appointment with the eye doctor.

With the number of U.S. Alzheimer’s patients expected to climb to 13 million over the next 35 years, the search is on to find a reliable diagnostic test. Until very recently, there have only been clinical tests that help detect fairly advanced cases, and current biological markers of early disease (proteins in spinal fluid, MRI scans of the brain, and brain PET amyloid imaging) are fairly inaccurate, invasive, and expensive. However, breakthrough research has revealed that a simple eye scan may uncover the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease. By identifying buildups of proteins (beta-amyloid “plaques”) in the eye that are similar to those that collect in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, doctors can detect this most common form of dementia.

P.S. The eyes are essentially an extension of the brain, which is why and how the “plaques” associated with Alzheimer’s disease may travel from the brain through the optic nerve to the eyes.

If you wondered what was wrong with Bob Costas’ eyes during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, the sports announcer was forced by a common eye infection to miss nearly half of the event. “Conjunctivitis,” also popularly referred to as “pink eye,” is a highly contagious infection that is commonly seen among school children. It is caused by bacteria or a virus that inflames the thin membrane (conjunctiva) that lines the eyeball and inner eyelid. The conjunctiva becomes red and swollen, and there is often a discharge from the eye as well as the experience of blurred vision, a gritty sensation, and/or light sensitivity. Viral conjunctivitis, the most common type, usually clears up on its own in about a week.  

P.S. While bacterial conjunctivitis is more serious than viral conjunctivitis and may require medical treatment, allergic conjunctivitis is caused by pollen or another airborne irritant and does not resolve until the source is eliminated.

Dear Dr. Almallah,

On behalf of the Sales and Marketing leadership team at Bausch and Lomb, we would like to thank you for being one of our top 25 implanting surgeons for Crystalens and Trulign Toric this year.
We sincerely hope that our products have, and continue to, enhance the lives of your patients following cataract surgery.   We believe that the surgeons who understand, adopt, and utilize Crystalens and Trulign Toric at the highest levels, are visionary, highly committed to their patients, and highly skilled in the operating room.  We also believe that this combination yields extremely satisfied patients who share their stories with others.
Thank you one again for your partnership and trust.  Please let us know any time we can help.

Very Best Regards,

Alan

Alan Peck
U.S. Director, Premium IOL Sales

Chronic inflammation of the eyelids, known as “blepharitis,” is often associated with inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and acne rosacea (a condition common among postmenopausal women). When flare-ups occur, those affected with the inflammation experience red eyes, a burning/gritty sensation in the eye, swollen/itchy eyelids, flaking of the eyelid skin, crusting eyelashes, and blurred vision. In addition to these very uncomfortable symptoms, blepharitis causes the eyes and eyelids to become more susceptible to infection. Eyelashes may also fall out or grow abnormally. While there is no cure, symptoms and flare-ups can be greatly reduced with a regimen of eyelid cleansing and care. This treatment begins with a thorough eye exam that rules out other causes of symptoms.

Blepharitis may be caused by a combination of factors. At SUSSKIND & ALMALLAH EYE ASSOCIATES, P.A., we want to emphasize that periodic eye examinations are an important part of routine preventive health care. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for maintaining good vision, when possible, preventing permanent vision loss.

A remarkable ground-breaking procedure that involves using the patient’s own stem cells has recently proved successful in restoring the sight of people blinded by caustic chemicals. This approach involves taking stem cells from the patient’s healthy eye, growing them in a lab, and transplanting them to the patient’s burned eye. Specifically, stem cells are taken from the limbus of the healthy eye, the rim around the cornea. Stem cells in the limbus produce new cells to replace dead corneal cells. In this case, they are used to replace damaged tissue in the burned eye. Stem-cell transplants offer hope to the thousands of people who suffer chemical burns to their eyes from caustic chemicals at work and at home each year. Although numerous impediments remain, the use of stem cells is promising and may epitomize the future for replacement and regeneration of some ocular damage. At SUSSKIND & ALMALLAH EYE ASSOCIATES, P.A., our patients’ needs and concerns are our top priority. We offer a wide range of eye care services to you and your family. Your eyesight is precious, so be sure to have your eyes professionally checked by an ophthalmologist on a regular basis.

A condition that commonly results in temporary paralysis of facial muscles, Bell's Palsy is a viral infection that affects the facial nerve. The side of the face affected can display a drooping mouth, sagging eyebrow and lower eyelid, and the inability to close the eye. This can result in an extreme form of dry eye known as exposure keratitis. Most people with Bell's Palsy suffer from this and may develop the appearance of a teary eye, but in fact it remains dry due to its inability to blink or completely close. Patients with Bell's Palsy are recommended to see an ophthalmologist for consultation, as treatment will likely involve the application of artificial tears during the day and an ophthalmic ointment at night. Lubrication in the affected eye is highly suggested to maintain the overall health of the eye. Nearly 80 percent of Bell's Palsy patients recover within six months, but without proper care for the eye affected, needless suffering and permanent consequences such as corneal ulceration and scarring can occur.

More common in adults, people with diabetes, and pregnant women, Bell's Palsy should be followed-up with an ophthalmologist through periodic professional eye examinations.

Due to a growing number of requests for dermal fillers Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates is now offering JUVÉDERM® injectable gel to our patients. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Omar Almallah, a Board Certified surgeon, listed in the "Guide to America's Top Ophthalmologists" here to administer JUVÉDERM®.

Dr Almallah is Board Certified by both the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Board of Eye Surgeons and has been practicing in Ocean and Monmouth Counties for over twenty years. Patients are aware of his knowledge and training in and around the eyes and face and now seek him out to help restore a refreshed appearance. He is known for his gentle touch and confident ability to put patients at ease.

JUVÉDERM® injectable gel is a doctor administered non-surgical facial procedure which is primarily used for "smile lines", nasolabial folds (around the nose) and lips. JUVÉDERM® is made of hyalronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in our skin that helps to add volume and fullness. After receiving approval in 2006, JUVÉDERM® has become one of the most popular injectable dermal fillers on the market.

One treatment could smooth out your lines for up to one full year. You should see immediate improvement after your treatment. Many patients will need an additional treatment to achieve optimal wrinkle smoothness, however results vary and the correction is temporary. Supplemental "touch-up" treatments may be required to maintain desired results.

Dr. Almallah offers complimentary evaluations for JUVÉDERM® injectable gel in any one of our five locations in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Please call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at (732) 349-5622 ext. 37 for your evaluation today.

When did you last exhibit signs of contact lens overwear? Probably not so long ago. This condition continues to plague patients who wear lenses made from even the most advanced oxygen-permeable materials.

What causes contact lens overwear and more importantly, how can you help avoid it?
Contact lens overwear is caused by lack of oxygen to the cornea, which produces distinct symptoms. Patients may not realize they've overworn their lenses when they remove them because the presence of corneal abrasions is masked by reduced sensitivity secondary to oxygen deprivation. Unsuspecting patients often go to sleep only to awaken 1 to 2 hours later with severe, stabbing pain, extreme light sensitivity, tearing, cloudy, blurred vision and grittiness.

If early symptoms of overwear aren't identified and addressed quickly, patients risk developing long-term changes, such as:

• Neovascularization: Abnormal blood vessels growing in the clear cornea
• Polymegethism: Abnormalities of endothelial cell size
• Pleomorphism: Abnormalities of endothelial cell shape
• Epithelial microcysts
• Corneal thinning
• Reduced corneal sensitivity.

What's more, long-term adverse reactions ultimately may cause corneal exhaustion syndrome and contact lens intolerance.

Please schedule an appointment with one of the many qualified eye physicians in Ocean County, New Jersey at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates and see if you may be a contact lens overwearer.

If you make routine visits to have your eyes examined, chances are your familiar with the procedure and have formed a trusting relationship with your eye physician. You and your physician should have a mutual relationship, one where information is passed back and forth between the two of you. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we want you to feel like an integral part of keeping your eyes healthy and that is why it is important that you keep the physical health of your eyes a top priority.

During your eye exams, we will check not just for your prescription and whether or not you need glasses, but also for:

Crossed or lazy eyes
Eye tearing problems
Focusing problems
Glaucoma and cataracts

If we do find anything out of the ordinary during an eye exam we will discuss with you the possible treatment options.

If you are getting routine eye exams, chances are that you are having them once a year. If you notice any symptoms that seem out of the ordinary to you leading up to your eye exam, make sure you write them down and bring them in to us. Ask us why your vision is the way it is and what options you have for preventing further vision degeneration.

Remember, your comfort and understanding are important to us and we want to equip you with the right tools and knowledge to take care of your eyes and their health.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye physicians in Ocean County, please contact us at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates.

At Susskind and Almallah Eye Associates, PA we help answer the age old question, "why is it that when we get older, our near vision gets worse?" The answer is Presbyopia. Presbyopia is an age related condition that affects the lens of the eye in a way that keeps the eye from accommodating or focusing clearly up close.

A quick fix may be a cheap pair of reading glasses or cheaters as they are also know, but most people find it an inconvenience to keep multiple pairs around the house and in their car. There is another option though. Crystalens® is a "premium" intraocular accommodating lens implant commonly associated with cataract surgery, but can also be used to treat Presbyopia. Crystalens is the ONLY FDA-approved accommodating lens available in the United States. More than twice the number of patients implanted with the Crystalens can see at all distances compared to standard lens implants, giving patients that otherwise would have had to wear reading glasses a youthful way to see the world again.

"As a successful interior designer with a very active lifestyle, my eyes are very important to me. I also enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors. I can't believe how well my vision is now that I have Crystalens."
Mary Campbell

More often, patients in their 40's, 50's and early 60's are researching their options for corrective eye surgery and realizing that lens replacement with Crystalens is the way to go when they have been diagnosed with either presbyopia or cataracts. An added bonus with Crystalens surgery for presbyopia is that patients will not have to undergo cataract surgery later in life. The reason Crystalens offers such superior results is based primarily on its design, which mimics the eyes natural muscle "flexes" to accommodate near, far and everywhere in between. Omar F. Almallah, MD, FACS, FABES is a premier ophthalmic surgeon and is the areas market leader having performed hundreds of crystalens procedures here at the Jersey Shore. Dr. Almallah routinely attends the ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) meetings, an international educational and scientific organization with 9000 member ophthalmologists, where he has spoken on the techniques he uses to make crystalens so successful in his own practice.

"At age 60, as my cataract worsened, I was forced to do something, or stop working, but retirement is not an option for me. I work with computers as a Quality Control systems tester and I rely heavily on my eyesight for observing patters to detect system errors. I also drive 27 miles to get to work everyday in congested traffic.

Having the Crystalens procedure performed by Dr. Almallah definitely increased my quality of life. I have no doubt about it! Thanks, so much."
Richard Goldgraben

In a clinical study performed in the United States, crystalens® was implanted in 497 eyes in 324 adult patients over 50 years of age. The results showed that most of the patients that underwent crystalens® implantation in both eyes had vision that was good enough to pass a driver's licensure exam. All patients had good "intermediate" vision; simply meaning they could see their computer screen or items at an arm's length without their glasses. Amazingly, 98.4% of patients in this study could read print the size of stock quotes in the newspaper or phone numbers in the telephone book without glasses. In addition, patient questionnaires have shown that 93% of patients involved in this study and having the crystalens® implanted in both eyes, state that they can perform most daily activities such as shopping or applying makeup without the use of their glasses. If you have noticed that your vision seems to be failing you, we encourage you to come in for a thorough eye exam to determine if you are presbyopic or if cataracts are present. The doctor will discuss with you the options now available for vision restoration.

Dr. Almallah is a Board Certified ophthalmologist both by the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Board of Eye Surgeons. His primary practice is devoted to eye surgery and he has been practicing in Toms River and the surrounding communities for the last twenty years. He is internationally recognized as a refractive ocular surgeon and is acknowledged by his peers as one of the finest and most skilled eye surgeons. In fact, patients have traveled from England, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Korea, India and across the United States to have their eye surgery performed by Dr. Almallah. He has also operated on several ophthalmologists. Dr. Almallah graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and received his Doctorate of Medicine from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. His training to be an eye specialist was at Temple University Hospital where he was ranked number 1 out of 500 applicants for one of 3 very coveted training positions. He completed his residency and was Chief Resident his senior year at the Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Dr. Almallah evaluates every surgical candidate personally and applies his extensive knowledge in ocular surgery to educate patients and their families to the appropriateness of recommending particular ocular procedures to patients. When he does recommend a procedure, it's with great confidence that the patient will benefit. One of the many conveniences offered to Dr. Almallah's patients is that the surgery center where he performs Crystalens and cataract procedures is located just next door to his main office in Toms River, giving his patient's the comfort of familiar surroundings with less travel time.

Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, PA have five convenient locations in Ocean and Monmouth counties for medical and routine eye exams, contact lens fits, glaucoma treatment, cataract evaluations, LASIK evaluations and consultations for "premium" cataract lens upgrades such as Crystalens and also Verisyse lens evaluations and surgery for patients with high nearsightedness corrections.

To schedule an evaluation with Dr. Almallah, simply contact Ed Brooks at the Toms River location at 732-349-5622 ext. 37.

Treatment for cataracts used to be limited to replacing your cloudy lens with a mono-focal type intraocular lens (IOL). These lenses would limit your focus ability to just one distance, near of far. Additional vision correction was treated with an extra pair of glasses. With new multi-focal lenses like AcrySof ReSTOR, your near and far vision is corrected with one lens implant.

The surgical procedure to replace the natural crystalline lens of your eye with an AcrySof ReSTOR lens is called refractive lens exchange. During this surgery, the natural lens of the eye is broken up with the use of lasers and removed. The ReSTOR lens is put in place in the area where the lens was removed.

The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and you should expect to be at the surgery center for a few hours. You should see improvement in your vision almost immediately. You can return to normal activities right away, but recommend 1 to 2 full days of rest before going back to work.

Please contact the experienced refractive lens exchange professionals at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates today for an initial consultation. The Ocean County and Monmouth County vision specialists are more than happy to answer all your vision correction questions.

We count many athletes - from the recreational to professional level - among our regular patients. Many of them suffer some form of refractive error that holds them back from achieving their optimal athletic performance. Until recent years, laser vision correction was not a good option for many athletes, particularly those involved in contact sports. Fortunately, with today’s advanced techniques, this is no longer the case. Laser vision correction is now an option for all athletes competing in the entire range of sporting events.

In the early days of laser vision correction, and until recently, the only technique that existed was traditional LASIK. The traditional LASIK procedure requires that a flap be cut on the outer layer of the cornea in order to re-contour the inner cornea. This flap is the primary reason why athletes involved in contact sports are not advised to undergo the procedure. If this flap is disturbed in any way during the healing process, many serious complications may result, including loss of vision.

LASIK is still not recommended for those who compete in contact sports. However, a new laser vision correction procedure is now available that eliminates the risks involved with the LASIK flap. Advanced Surface Ablation, or ASA, reshapes the cornea without cutting a flap. Athletes who undergo this procedure can continue to compete without having to worry about damaging their corneal flap.

LASIK may still be a good option for you if you do not compete in contact sports. Our ophthalmologists will be able to help you determine which laser vision correction option is best for you. If you live in the New Jersey area and are interested in laser vision correction, please contact us today to arrange a consultation.
 

In May 2003, the IRS confirmed that laser vision correction qualified as a medical expense. If your medical expenses reach 7.5% of your income in any given year, the price of your LASIK/laser vision correction can be deducted for tax purposes. Most people, however, end up not reaching the 7.5% threshold, therefore, they turn to another popular program: Flexible Spending Accounts.

Your company may offer a FLEX account, and you may not even know about it. A Flexible Spending Account (FSA), (also called flex plan, reimbursement account, Flex 125, Tax Saving Plan, Medical Spending Account, a Section 125, or a Cafeteria Plan), is an employer-sponsored benefit that allows individuals to pay for their eligible medical expenses on a pre-tax basis (there are also similar accounts for dependent and child-care expenses). If you expect to acquire medical expenses that won't be reimbursed by your regular health insurance plan, you may consider taking advantage of your employer's FSA, if one is offered.

A FLEX account allows you to choose an amount to be withheld from each paycheck, and deposited in a special account. You can then use the money in this account to pay for your LASIK.

The advantages of using a FLEX account are that you save automatically,and the money is pre-tax, which means you can save up to over 30%! You must use all the money in your Flex Account before Dec. 31 or you lose the unspent money. You can allocate the expense of LASIK and it would then be deducted from your FLEX account. Ask your Benefits or Human Resource Department for details.

How can I benefit?
FSA saves you money by reducing your income taxes. The contributions you make to a Flexible Spending Account are deducted from your pay BEFORE your Federal, State, or Social Security Taxes are calculated and the contributions are not taxable. The result is that you decrease your taxable income and increase your spendable income. You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

How does it work?
At the beginning of the flex spending plan year (which usually starts January 1st), your employer asks you how much money you want to contribute for the year (typically there are limits). You usually have only one opportunity to enroll in a given year, unless there is a qualified "family status change," such as marriage, birth, divorce, or loss of a spouse's insurance coverage. The amount designated for the year is taken out of your paycheck in equal installments each pay period and deposited in a special account by the employer. As medical expenses are incurred, that are not fully covered by your insurance, you submit a copy of the Explanation of Benefits or the provider's invoice and proof of payment to the plan administrator for reimbursement.

What expenses are eligible?
Any expense that is considered a deductible medical expense by the IRS and is not reimbursed through your insurance can be reimbursed through the FSA. These include most elective surgery, LASIK/laser vision correction, deductibles, eyeglasses, and prescription drug co-payments.

Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in the world. While ophthalmologists are able to treat thousands of people a day in this country and give them their sight back, it may be useful to understand the factors that cause cataracts in an effort to reduce the chance that you will get one in the future.

First, a cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye. The lens is responsible for letting in and focusing light onto the retina so that you can see sharp and clear images. The lens is made up of protein and water, and when protein builds up or clumps together, not as much light is able to get through to the retina. When the light is diminished, so is the image, which can appear cloudy, fuzzy, or blurred, and color can appear faded. If cataracts are not treated they can lead to irreversible blindness.

Causes
Some of the risk factors of cataracts can be reduced, including:

• Smoking
• Heavy use of alcohol
• Eye drops that contain steroids
• Diabetes – proper treatment can reduce the chances of getting cataracts
• Excessive exposure to sunlight – ultraviolet light and cosmic rays may be a factor according to some studies
• Diet heavy in salt
• Dehydration

Other risks cannot be reduced, including:

• Aging – the number one reason people get cataracts
• Eye injuries or severe trauma to the eye
• Genetic predisposition

While some of these causes could be argued, such as environmental factors, or others where more studies are needed, once someone has a cataract, it is important that they see an experienced cataract surgeon as soon as possible to have it removed.

If you are in the Monmouth or Ocean County, New Jersey area, and you are interested in finding out more about cataracts and their causes, please contact Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, P.A. today.

We advise women who are pregnant or nursing not to undergo LASIK or any other similar refractive surgery until nursing is complete and several months have passed. We give the same advice to women who plan on becoming pregnant within six months following refractive surgery. There are a couple reasons for this:

Pregnancy and lactation naturally cause huge fluctuations in a woman’s hormone levels. What many women are not aware of is the fact that these hormonal fluctuations can have a direct and significant effect on vision and the degree of their refractive error. In fact, it is common for pregnant women to experience periods of increased nearsightedness during gestation.

In order for us to get an accurate measurement of a woman’s refractive error, her hormone levels need to be relatively stable. Measuring refractive error during pregnancy or lactation will inevitably give us unreliable data to work from. Working from unreliable measurements almost ensures a less-than-optimal surgical outcome.

Another important thing to consider is the possibility of complications resulting from the refractive surgery itself. In the event that there are complications, it may be necessary to administer certain medications that may be harmful to the infant - whether the infant is in-utero or breastfeeding.

If you live in the New Jersey area and are considering refractive surgery, or have further concerns about how refractive surgery may affect pregnancy or nursing, please contact us today to arrange a personal consultation.

Half of the adults reading this column have a refractive error. This assertion is based
on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which
shows that about half of all U.S. adults are either nearsighted or farsighted or have an
irregular corneal curve known as astigmatism. These common eye-focusing problems,
known collectively as “refractive errors,” affect young, old, and middle-aged people of
all races. According to researchers, 3.6 percent of those surveyed were farsighted and
about one-third were nearsighted. Slightly more than 36 percent were found to have some
form of astigmatism. The high prevalence of refractive errors among the population may
be due to the heavier loads placed upon the eyes by TV, computers, and video games.
How refractive errors are treated or managed depends upon the amount and severity
of the condition. Do you need more information?

With diabetes at epidemic proportions in the United States, this disease has emerged as the biggest threat to the eyesight of working-age Americans. While much attention is (correctly) directed at the havoc that erratic blood glucose levels have upon the blood vessels in the retina (diabetic retinopathy), there are also other potential problems. For instance, diabetics are 40% more likely to suffer from glaucoma than non-diabetics. This risk increases with age. In addition, diabetics are 60% more likely to develop cataracts. This clouding of the eye lens also occurs at earlier ages and progresses faster among people with diabetes. Because all of these complications can be either successfully treated or managed with early detection, regular comprehensive eye exams are mandatory.
November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes is the number one cause of blindness in the United States. Your eyesight is a precious possession and should be protected with periodic professional eye examinations.

With the incidence of myopia (nearsightedness) rising worldwide,
researchers recently sought to look for possible causes, which remain
uncertain. While genetic factors probably play the biggest role, some
studies have suggested that there may be an association between this
refractive error and light exposure. With this in mind, Israeli researchers
looked at data on youths ranging in age from 16-23 specifically to see if
there is a relation between the incidence of nearsightedness and birth
months. To their surprise, the researchers found that the babies born in
June and July had a 24% greater chance of becoming severely myopic
than those born in December and January. This finding suggests that
early-life exposure to natural light may be linked with myopia.
Nearsightedness is a very common vision condition that affects
nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population.

Eye cataracts are named in accordance with their location. The
most common type, a “nuclear” cataract, occurs in the center of the
lens and may induce nearsightedness. As a result, there may be a
temporary improvement in reading vision, known as “second sight,”
which unfortunately disappears as the cataract worsens. A “cortical”
cataract begins as wedge-shaped spokes in the cortex of the lens
that extend from the outside of the lens toward the center. Although
it develops slowly, it may impair both distance and near vision to the
point where surgery is indicated at a relatively early stage. Lastly, a
“subcapsular” cataract slowly develops as a small opacity under the
capsule. Symptoms may not appear until it is well developed.
Cataracts are a common cause of vision loss, especially as we age,
but they are treatable.

Thanks!

Eye Surgery Cost: Insurance and Financing

Although most vision insurance plans consider LASIK (refractive surgery) cosmetic or elective, some companies do offer generous discounts to their members. Also, you may qualify for a tax deduction for refractive surgery, so check with an accountant.

Given today’s economy, patients may be tempted to choose a surgeon solely based on the fee charged, but this could be a costly mistake. It is wise to choose the best surgeon you can find, and then, if you need, find the most affordable financing available. Just think of it this way, if you choose Surgeon (A) because his charge is $400 less than Surgeon (B), but you know Surgeon (B) is the better choice, you’re risking your vision for the sake of $1 per day over the course of 13 months! Is it really worth the risk for the monetary savings?

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates we offer Chase Health Advance financing to our patients. They have 12, 18, or 24 month NO interest payments for those patients who qualify or you may also choose and extended payment plan with a reasonable interest rate. We also use Chase Health Advance for Crystalens (cataract replacement lens) and Verisyse (High Myopia) lens implants as well. Please ask our Refractive Director for more information if you are interested.

Also, some large companies are now offering subsidized health plans that cover at least a portion of LASIK costs. If you work for a major company, ask about the possible benefits they offer that might cover elective corrective eye procedures.

Call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 today to schedule your consultation with one of our experienced doctors. We proudly serve the areas of Marlboro, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

The laser-sculpting surgery known as LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is not suitable for everyone. Because this procedure involves making a flap in the cornea and removing a portion of corneal tissue below before replacing the flap, nearsighted patients must have corneas of sufficient thickness. In cases of patients with corneas that are too thin, there may be an alternative to LASIK. For patients with mild nearsightedness, in particular, corneal rings in the shape of transparent crescents may be implanted around the cornea's periphery. This has the effect of flattening the cornea without permanently removing tissue. In fact, the rings may be removed at any time if patients' correction needs change or if patients suffer side effects such as glare.

Call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at 732-349-5622 today to schedule your consultation with one of our experienced doctors. We proudly serve the areas of Manalapan Township, Toms River, Brick, and Barnegat, New Jersey.

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Nearly two and a half million Americans have open angle glaucoma with the majority of them unaware of this problem because this condition usually presents no symptoms. It is very difficult to define clear-cut risk factors for glaucoma, however some include being African American, increasing age, nearsightedness, males greater than females and family history of glaucoma. Elevated intraocular pressure in the eye occurs in five to ten million Americans, but only about 10% of such people develop glaucoma due to this pressure. In some cases, elevated intraocular pressure can be normal.

What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is defined as a disease of the optic nerve, in which the nerve fibers are injured, usually, but not always, by abnormally increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Open angle and closed angle glaucoma are the two primary forms of glaucoma. In rare circumstances, a person may have a combination of the two. Another common form of glaucoma is known as normotensive glaucoma, in which damage occurs to the optic nerve but the IOP is normal or even low. There are many more forms of glaucoma, ranging from congenital glaucoma (babies born with the disease) to pigmentary glaucoma. To further complicate the disease, approximately 10% of Americans have high intraocular pressure but do not have glaucoma…a condition called ocular hypertension. These individuals, however, are considered to be at risk for glaucoma.

To understand how this disrupts the normal processes of a person’s sight, it must first be explained how we see. Light passes through the cornea, the clear tissue at the front of the eye. Directly behind the cornea is the iris…the colored tissue of the eye, which opens and closes like a camera shutter to regulate the passage of light. The lens is located behind the iris, it focuses the light which then hits the retina…a fragile electrical membrane of nerve cells that receives light. The retina translates light into signals that are sent to the optic nerve. This nerve is a cable of about 1.2 million nerve fibers that transmit signals from the eye to the brain, which then interpret these signals into images. The eye is also composed of two fluid filled chambers. These chambers are responsible for nourishing the area around the colored iris and behind the cornea, and exert pressure to help maintain the eye’s shape. Aqueous fluid is continuously produced within the front of the eye itself causing pressure within the eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP). Normal pressure is usually maintained at measurements of 10 to 20 mm Hg. To offset the inflowing fluid and to maintain normal IOP, the fluid drains out between the iris and the cornea.

Glaucoma treatments focus on lowering intraocular pressure. If the fluid system stays balanced, the pressure in the eye stays normal. If the drain becomes blocked, the fluid cannot leave the eye, and the IOP increases. Prescription medications, usually in the form of eye drops, and can lower IOP are used as treatments. Lowering the IOP is the main goal in the treatment of glaucoma.

Glaucoma, which can cause blindness, usually has no warning signs. Not knowing you have glaucoma is the greatest risk. Simple tests done by your eye doctor can diagnose glaucoma early and help slow or stop further loss of vision. Early treatment with medications, laser treatment, surgery, or combination of these can nearly always maintain safe pressure preventing optic nerve damage and blindness.

The most important part of glaucoma treatment is you, the patient. Become aware and learn about glaucoma and how it is treated. The more information you know the more successful the treatment. It is not always necessary to see a glaucoma specialist for diagnosis, many ophthalmologists are also very well educated and trained to handle glaucoma treatments as well. If you think you may have glaucoma or even suspect that your eye pressures are high, simply call your eye physician’s office and schedule an appointment.

Written by:

Ed Brooks
Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, PA
20 Mule Rd.
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 349-5622 Ext. 37
www.oceancountyeye.com

The importance of a routine eye exam can mean the difference between seeing the street sign you are looking for or making a wrong turn onto a busy interstate. Very often people let the fact that they are seeing poorly go too long before scheduling an appointment with their eye doctor. Of course the opposite is also true, when things look clear, chances are they could be seen even clearer with new eyeglasses, contact lenses, cataract surgery or laser vision correction.

Although an eye exam may not be at the top of the priority list, many practices offer additional convenience to their patients by providing evening and weekend hours. A meticulous doctor will provide a thorough examination and can inform a patient of any issues that need to be addressed or simply to let them know that their eyes are doing well. A regular eye exam is recommended at least once a year.

A complete eye exam should include a number of reassuring tests and measures including a glaucoma test, dilation (to determine the health of the inner eye including the lens), refraction, (commonly performed to establish the patient’s current prescription) and a patient history, to enable the doctor to evaluate the patient’s chief complaint, previous conditions and/or complications. These test results will give the doctor the information needed to let the patient know if additional care is needed. Most often it is the reassurance of having these tests that will give the patient sound piece of mind.

Although fairly common after the age of sixty, cataracts and glaucoma should be taken seriously if detected during an examination. A consultation with the eye doctor can determine if a patient has cataracts or glaucoma or if the patient may be at risk in the future. In the hands of a skillfully trained and experienced surgeon, these issues may be remedied with routine surgery and/or prescribed eye drops and can have remarkable results.

In the unfortunate case of an emergency involving the eye(s), call the eye doctor’s office. If the situation is serious, the patient will be seen immediately. If the emergency occurs after regular office hours, the doctor on call will be notified and will return the patient’s call to determine the nature and severity of their situation. If necessary, the doctor will advise the patient to meet him at the office. Of course if the patient should go to the hospital first, the doctor on call will meet the patient there. No matter what the situation, the patient comes first. Choose the practice that will provide premiere service and professional care. Take the time to ask friends and family whom they recommend. A good practice will be easy to find.

Skin cancer, freckles, and premature aging, are just a few detrimental outcomes of Ultraviolet exposure. Now consider the impact the sun has on our eyes. Ultraviolet light is the high-energy rays projected from the sun just beyond the violet/blue end of the visible spectrum.

Although 99% of UV light is absorbed by the eye’s anterior structures, some of it does make it to the light sensitive retina. UV absorption by the eye may be connected to a number of serious eye diseases. These diseases are not unfamiliar to most, however, are not commonly connected to UV rays. Such ocular diseases include age-related cataract, cancer of the skin around the eye, photokeratitis/keratitis and corneal degenerative changes, and may contribute to age-related macula degeneration, to mention a few.

Worldwide, cataract is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness. A cataract can be defined as cloudiness of the lens developing over a period of many years. According to laboratory studies, UV exposure can be considered a casual factor for cataract. Additionally, studies have shown certain types of cataract are associated with higher exposure to UV and especially UV-B radiation.

A major cause of reduced vision in the United States for people over 55 is age-related macula degeneration. UV exposure in laboratory experiments has shown retinal tissue damage and scientists have speculated that chronic UV exposure may contribute to aging processes in the retina.

The importance of good glasses and sunglasses cannot be argued in light of this information. Now glasses and sunglasses with UV protection and Polarization are used more often as a method of protection rather than just for appearance. Polarization in addition to UV protection helps eliminate annoying glare and distortion associated with bright sunlight and night driving.

Understanding the potential risks associated with sun damage to your eyes can be helpful when deciding on the right pair of glasses that fit your lifestyle. A yearly eye exam is recommended regardless, why not take advantage of this time with your eye doctor and ask about the effects of the sun and the type of glasses or sunglasses that would best suite your needs.