An elevated uvea implies some swelling in the internal coat of the eye. This can be in the iris, the ciliary body or the choroid. There are a number of tests that can help to determine what causes this elevation and it is difficult to discern the cause without knowing the results of these tests. If additional information becomes available I would be happy to review it for you.

Question from Canada
I have been to several specialists now regarding floaters (they apparently have clumped together and are distorting my vision badly).  No one seems to be able to give me any solution other than to drain the fluid in my eye and replace it with a gel-like substance.  Is there a less invasive/risky procedure available?

Unfortunately there is no easy and successful procedure for removing floaters from the eye. If examinations have not detected any other eye disease, which could be treated, the best course of action is to wait in the hope that there would be some spontaneous improvement. Unfortunately floaters can be exceedingly bothersome, but the surgery to which you refer is risky in some cases and most people choose to avoid surgery, if possible.

Question from Texas
My son has been having perifial vision problms for a while now. Everything in the middle is blocked out and he can see only whats to his side. He use to suffer headaches after each attack.  However the headaches have disappeared, but the vision problem has not.  He moved to Colorado recently and has the vision problem more frequently.  He went to an eye doctor and they told him he was having migrains without the headaches.  Is this possible?  He said his eyes looked just fine, nothing wrong. Can this be caused by anything else?

The description you give is most consistent with an ocular migraine. As you have been told it is possible to have temporary visual disturbances with or without a subsequent headache. Usually these visual disturbances last from 10-60 minutes, but resolve completely thereafter. They also often are accompanied by flashes or zig-zags of light. As long as the vision problem disappears completely between episodes, the diagnosis you were given is most likely correct. Generally this does not cause any permanent harm to the eye.

Question from Canada
I have gray floaters in my eyes, sgwiglys and numerouse dots (swiglys and dots are clear, I just see an outline) they are seen worse in natural daylight. Also when I roll my eyes from left to right or vice versa I have what seems like a cloudy blotch.  Is this normal.  I am 30 yr old an in good health.  I have had the grey floaters for about six yrs, and had had my eyes checked be an Opthamologist.  I was wondering if the cloudiness or swiglys and circles were a problem.  They don't affect me in any way, I just know that they are there and they are more visible and annoying in bright daylight.  Thanks

What you describe is very typical of vitreous floaters. These clumps of material in the jelly-like material behind the iris of the eye can be very bothersome, but generally do not indicate any eye disease. If your ophthalmologist has confirmed that there are no other eye problems present, you need not be concerned that this will cause damage.

Question from Ireland
My left eye has been itchy and sore from tearing at it for almost two weeks.  It is not severly bad and there is no stye  or inflammation.   (I am not prone to styes)  The eye is red and sore in the inside corner (near my nose) and just at eh corner of my upper eyelid.  I don´t ear glasses and usually don´t have eye problems.  However I am prone to sinusitis and usually suffer mild doses of sinus problems at this time of year. Last week I had a really bad headache for a day or so and my nose was congested, which I usually manage to alleviate  with my own sinusitis  remedies.  Anyhow, the reason I am telling you this  is that I am wondering if my eye symptoms are connected to my sinus problems or if I may have a bacterial infection which might require a visit to my GP.    I have tried Brolene Drops and Ointment. The drops give relief because they have a cooling effect but the ointment doesn´t seem to help.  Still, the condition has not improved.  I realise that this difficult to assess from my description of the symptoms but I would appresiate it if could let me know if there is something I try myself or whether I should visit my Doctor ?  P.S.  I am also prone to nail fungal infections now and again.   I look forward to your reply.

The problem you describe does not appear to be a bacterial infection, but it could easily be related to inflammation in the eyelid. However, symptoms of this sort are variable enough that the exact diagnosis can only be made after a comprehensive eye examination including a slit lamp examination of the eye. If your condition has not resolved spontaneously, I would recommend that you have your eyes examined by an ophthalmologist.

Question from Minnesota
I have been blinking too much when watching TV, driving, when the light is bright, and at the end of the day. I've been to the doctor, got a new glasses prescription, it was wrong in one eye, got a new prescription, and I'm still blinking. He gave me eye drops for dry eye. That isn't it. Is this eye strain that will quiet down or something else? Stress can sometimes set it off. I am 60. Very healthy. Not a nervous person. Happy in my life. What can I do about this?

If your frequent blinking is unaccompanied by light sensitivity, pain, or symptoms of dryness or scratchiness, it may be a muscle spasm in the eyelid. Unfortunately, this sort of frequent blinking may be difficult to eliminate and it is not always easy to discern the cause. Luckily, it generally does not indicate any serious eye problems, so it can be watched in order to determine whether spontaneous improvement will occur. However, it would be wise to have your eye doctor recheck your eye, since the symptoms are persistent, in order to be sure that no other problem is present.

Question from Alabama
I have been suffering from the following symptoms for the past two weeks, the onset of which was in conjunction with a slight sinus infection that lasted for about a week: itching that originates at the tear ducts, extreme red irritation in a two inch circumference around the eye (i.e., undereye and lid) and raised patches of inflamed skin (probably from the unconscious rubbing that goes on during the night).  I notice that the conditions worsen at night, but still present during the day, which leads me to believe it may be n allergen, but I need to rule out "pink-eye" as I as a part-time teacher at a public school.  Your advice and "diagnosis" would be greatly appreciated!!  Sincerely

If the redness and irritation is confined to the eyelid this is likely to be related to an allergy or a form of dermatitis. Your description does not indicate that the eyeball itself is blood shot, although if it were, this could be related to an infectious source. Most of the conditions you describe can improve spontaneously, but if they do not, treatment for the allergic or skin problem is usually quite successful. An ophthalmologist can give you more details about the best form of treatment.

Question from Virginia
Background: I recently had an injury to my eye, on 28 Jan I was playing floor hockey without eye protection (stupid me). A hard rubber ball hit me just below my eye and bounced into my eye tearing tendons @ 6, 7, 11, and 12 oclock.  I had some blood trauma and was sent home for 5 days rest and was given some medications then I returned for a complete examination.  Q:  My pupil has not returned to normal size yet (it appears to be dilated) Do you think this is normal or correct?   The doctor said It could return to normal or may never return to regular size.   I still have some troubled vision especially when it comes to bright light because my pupil is still like it is dilated.

A dilated pupil after an eye injury is not uncommon. It can be the result of irritation in the muscle of the iris, which will resolve when the eye fully heals. However, if the muscle was permanently damaged, the pupil may continue to be enlarged indefinitely. In some cases, this is apparent immediately with a detailed examination, but in others it may require waiting for the healing process to be completed before knowing whether the pupil will return to normal size.

Question from Colorado
About a month ago I got a bump on my eyelid and it hurt for awhile, It has yet to go away.  Last night, I noticed another bump on the same lid but closer to the corner and it hurts and is secreting fluid.  Someone told me I might have pink eye? Do I need to see a doctor?

A bump on the eyelid, such as you described, is usually caused by a blocked oil gland. This is not pink-eye but can represent an infection in the eyelid if the bump becomes red and tender to the touch. Hot compresses can often help these bumps to drain, but it is always wise to have them evaluated by an eye doctor, if they have persisted for some time or are causing additional symptoms.

Question from New York
I have about 20 - 40 visions, work with a computer daily, and lately my left eye sometimes twitches a lot, do you know what might cause this? Should I be concerned?

Twitching of the eyelid can be caused by fatigue, eyestrain or stress, as well as many other causes. The first step in diagnosis is always a comprehensive eye examination and if your vision is not perfect it may be beneficial to consider visual correction. However, this almost never represents any serious eye disease.

Question from New York
I was told, when I had my eyes examined, that my eyes were great! So, when I got home, you can imagine how upset I was when I saw this on my eye exam receit.  Early Hassal-Henle indendations on corneal endothelium. Then, he has early Freh's Disease. (Spelling is difficult to read) Please help me understand what it is he is saying. This was NOT my eye Dr. and it was done out of state, while I was on vacation. I was unable to ever reach him and ask him what he was saying. I am really worried. Thank You

Most likely the condition to which you refer is Fuchs' dystrophy. The appearance of the cornea can suggest the possibility of early deterioration of the corneal endothelium. Although this should be monitored with regular eye examinations, most people never develop any visual problems from this condition. In severe cases, it can progress to cause some swelling of the cornea, but these constitute a small minority and this is unlikely unless the condition is documented to be worsening over time. Please contact us if you have further questions.

Question from Missouri
I am 30 years old and have had a glass eye since I was 2, 28 years.   My question is, how do I keep the eye from watering and control the "gunk" that builds behind the glass eye.  I am constantly rubbing my eyes.   They often mat up, especially in the evenings.  I try not to wear it for long periods of time and keep it cleaned but I cannot escape the "matter"   between my original eye and the glass eye.  It is very uncomfortable and can sometimes be very unattractive.  Can you help?

A prosthetic eye can often create a significant amount of discharge from the mucous membrane surrounding it. The first issue in minimizing this problem is making sure that the prosthetic eye is in good condition and fits well. If there is no problem with the prosthesis, then some simple methods such as hot compresses on the eyelid or gentle scrubbing of the lids may be beneficial in avoiding discharge. In certain cases short term use of antibiotic eye drops might be necessary. Your ocularist and your ophthalmologist should be able to help with additional information.

Question from Virginia
I HAVE HAD EYE TWITCHES IN BOTH EYES ON AND OFF (MOSTLY ON) FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW...WHAT CAUSES THIS AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?

Twitching in the eyelids is a common problem that can be caused by eyestrain, fatigue or stress. There are also other causes and a comprehensive eye examination can help to determine what the source is in your case. Generally this is not a serious problem, but there is no universally affected treatment. Many people try simple measures such as rest or cold compresses on the eye in an effort to alleviate their symptoms.

Question from Georgia
In general please tell me what you think about my question. I am   39 and am legally blind in both eyes due to retinal detachment at age 3 years.   Now I have developed cataracts which has decreased over the past 10 years according to my doctor.  I only have light movement in my right which he says he will not touch.  But in my left eye it is limited to hand movement and counting fingers and has pretty much always been this degree of vision, perhaps slightly better.  He says that he can still see incside on the left eye some but says surgery will need to be done when he cannot see in, he also says there is a chance of improved vision or that I can loose all vision.  If improved will it be better than before the cataracts formed or at least as good as it was when they started.  What are the general chances of blindness?  I know all answers are just general and this is all I request is just a general idea of what to expect.  Thank you.

If you have had no further retinal problems, and the condition of the retina has been stable since childhood, your chance of retinal damage from cataract surgery is quite low. For most people, cataract surgery will restore vision to the level that existed before the cataract developed. The chance of blindness as a consequence of cataract surgery is exceedingly low, generally less than 1%.

Given your history of retinal problems, however, the specific circumstances and probabilities applicable to your case can best be discussed and analyzed by your own ophthalmologist. Please contact us if you have further questions.

Question from Arkansas
I am experiencing central blurred vision- what causes this?   How do I get rid of it?

If your vision has become blurred and this has not spontaneously resolved in a relatively short time, a comprehensive eye examination as soon as possible is indicated. The number of causes of central blurred vision is legion and it would be impossible to give you advice about the nature of your particular problem without the results of your eye examination.

Question from Florida
I have had chronic watery eyes for the past two years.  No itching or redness.  Have tried several antibiotic without success.  Last one was Blephamide.  Wind and cool air aggrevate the situation, but sometimes occurs indoors.  Where should I go? What type of medical advice should I seek?

If you have had watery eyes without irritation, redness or discharge, you may have a problem in the tear duct. It would be wise to have an ophthalmologist evaluate your eyes and specifically look into the possibility of impaired flow through the tear duct causing this long term watering problem.

Question from Washington
I am a 17 year old female with amblyopia in my left eye. As far as I know, It was diagnosed at a time that was too late to treat. My left eye's vision is deteriorating, and when I close my right eye and try to focus on an object, everything in the center range rapidly goes gray and fuzzy. Is there ANYTHING, any surgery or product I could have to help me successfuly restore my vision? Or if that's not possible, what could stop them from deteriorating further?

For most people with amblyopia, vision does not continue to deteriorate from that problem after approximately age eight or nine. If your vision has worsened in your teenage years, you should have a comprehensive eye exam to determine if any other cause of worsening vision is present in your eye.

Question from Washington
I'm wriing a short article on eye protection for fishermen/boaters.   Two questions:  In what way does cold weather pose a hazard to the eyes?   And two:  What is good first aid for eye injusries on the water?  In the latter question, I'm assuming that most injuries will be something simple like insects in the eye but could include a hook in the eye.

Question from Virginia
What is microcystis edema?  A friend has this condition   as a result of lack of proper care of her contacts.  How severe is this condition?

Microcystic edema means swelling of the surface of the cornea which creates small fluid filled cysts. This condition can result from chronic irritation of the eye. Usually if it is related to contact lens wear, the condition will resolve with discontinuing the contacts and appropriate treatment. Future contact lens wear may be possible if the lenses are well fit and in good condition. There are situations, however, in which there could be permanent changes in the surface of the eye should the condition be more severe.

Question from South Africa
I am trying to find as much information on a Eye Disease called " Thygeson's Superficial Punctate Keratitis " There is not much information on this disease in South Africa  , or at least We cannot find any .  Please could you also ,if at all possible tell us , if their is a cure.  Thanking you in advance

Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the cornea. The cause of this disease is not known, but it characteristically creates irritation, light sensitivity, blurriness and discomfort in the eye. Usually it can be managed with the use of appropriate medications, especially anti-inflammatory drops. In some cases, it may become quiescent, but other patient's may have a chronic problem necessitating long term use of medication. Unfortunately, at present, no one knows of a permanent cure for this condition.

Question from New York
MY SON WAS BORN WITH PETERS ANOMLY - I AM LOOKING FOR MORE OR ANY INFORMATION ON THAT EYE DISEASE - THANKYOU

Peter's anomaly is a congenital problem, which primarily affects the cornea. It usually involves a central opacified area in the cornea and often is accompanied by abnormalities in the iris and other areas of the front part of the eye. Unfortunately, the more severe cases of Peter's anomaly are very difficult to treat, although in some cases early surgery can be helpful. I would recommend consulting a corneal specialist and/or a pediatric ophthalmologist for additional information.

Question from the USA
34 yr old white female, dx with mild bilateral AV nicking.   Please advise what this is, symptoms, prognosis and treatment.

AV nicking describes the appearance of the retinal blood vessels. It indicates that there is some change in the caliber of the retinal veins. This may have not implications, but can be associated with high blood pressure or other diseases of the blood vessels. Generally this can be followed by an ophthalmologist, but it may be recommended that a general physical examination be performed by the patient's personal physician to determine whether any other medical problems may be associated.

Question from the United Kingdom
My wee baby is about 7 months now & I realised that he has got an eye squint in his left eye & I know how I can deal with this problem & correct it as soon as possible without medical operations if for example by means of eye exercises or something else suggested by you.

Most cases of squint or crossed eyes that developed in the first year of life do require surgery to correct the position of the eyes. However, a comprehensive eye examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist is a necessary first step in determining the best treatment. In some cases glasses or even exercises may be beneficial.

Question from North Carolina
My daughter has been diagnosed with PEK following conjunctivitis.   I would like information on this condition.

PEK is an abbreviation for punctate epithelial keratopathy. This means that the surface of the cornea has small areas of swelling and/or irritation. It can result in light sensitivity, blurry vision or a sensation that something is in the eye. However, usually if this is the result of an eye infection it is treatable with appropriate medication and will not be a permanent condition.

Question from Dublin,Ireland
My son has a critically damaged optic nerve plus damaged retina through an accident. Will the latest bionic eye revelation be of any use to him.

If there has been severe damage to the optic nerve or the retina, it is very difficult to perform any corrective procedures at present. Unfortunately, the retina and optic nerve are composed of nerve cells and regeneration of nerve cells is still a very difficult therapeutic problem. However, research is ongoing in this area and some encouraging results have been reported from laboratory studies. Your own ophthalmologist should be able to keep you posted on the latest developments in this area.

Question from New York
Hello, Was there a time when a sceral buckel was made out of metal. I have a metal object in my eye that looks like a bow tie on a x-ray.  Would they have used metal 25 years ago?  I have much pain from this object.  Is it supose to be there?  If so , can it be replaced? Is it a costly operation?

To my knowledge, scleral buckles have not commonly been made of metal at any point in their history. However, I am not an expert in the history of the operation and I would suggest consulting a retinal specialist to determine whether that could be the case. It would also be wise to obtain the medical records from any surgery you have had, which should indicate the nature of the device that was used.

Question about Aniridia
What is anorida of the eyes?

Aniridia is a congenital condition in which the majority of the iris of the eye is absent. This results in the appearance of an exceedingly large pupil.   Unfortunately, it also tends to occur with other problems in the eye, including glaucoma and damage to adjacent structures to the iris.  In some cases, appropriate surgery can alleviate these problems, but it may be difficult to restore the eye to an entirely normal condition.

Question about Macular Degeneration
What is the difference between wet and dry macular degeneration and the resulting vision changes?

Wet macular degeneration implies that the blood vessels behind the retina are leaking or bleeding. This form of macular degeneration may cause much more severe visual deficits and can often worsen very suddenly.  Dry macular degeneration generally causes milder visual problems and is a very slowly progressive problem. Most people do not have visual changes from macular degeneration before the age of 65.

Question from Canada
Where is the conjuctival sac located and what is the proper procedure to
apply ophthalmic ointment to it?

The conjunctival sac is the gap between the eyelid and the eyeball that is visible when the lower eyelid is pulled downward. Ointment can be placed in this sac in order to coat the eye by squeezing out the appropriate amount with the eyelid pulled down and then blinking.

Question from Canada
What diseases are associated with Chronic Iritis?

Chronic iritis is an inflammatory disease of the internal eye. Many people may have iritis without any other medical problems, but other inflammatory diseases can be associated with iritis. Among the most common are ankylosing spondylitis and certain forms of collagen vascular diseases. A general physician or rheumatologist can help in assessing whether any of these other diseases are present in a patient with iritis in consultation with the ophthalmologist.