Cornea Surgery

Cornea surgery (or, sometimes, corneal surgery) can greatly improve your vision. The cornea is the clear outer covering of the eye. Cornea surgery is typically performed to correct corneal scarring and eliminate refractive error.

Corneal scarring can be the result of a number of factors, including eye injury or disease, but it leads to corneal clouding. If the cornea becomes clouded, less light enters the eye, impairing vision. Sometimes, this can be corrected using an excimer laser to remove the damaged or diseased tissue. If this clouding is due to deep scarring or a serious disease, the preferred treatment is a corneal transplant. The cloudy portion of the cornea is removed and replaced with a clear portion from a donor. There are about 40,000 corneal transplants a year performed in the United States.

Refractive error is another name for common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK is the most common cornea surgery used to correct refractive error.

Not all refractive surgery is cornea surgery. Presbyopia treatment may be performed by replacing the eye's lens, a second clear part of the eye found behind the iris with an artificial lens. Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) placement is another form of refractive surgery. It involves placing a supplementary lens behind the iris but in front of your natural lens.

To learn more about cornea surgery and other forms of advanced eye treatment that can help you see the world clearly, please contact Carter Eye Center today.

Do you need eyeglasses?

If you are having trouble reading at a distance or up close, you may need eyeglasses. Or perhaps you have glasses, but your old pair has broken or you feel you need to update your prescription. Whatever the reason, if you need glasses, Carter Optical at Carter Eye Center can help.

Carter Optical is the optical services division of the Carter Eye Center, offering a full-service optical dispensary to our patients. Whether you are looking for a simple, sturdy pair of glasses or a high-fashion style that can make a real statement, our highly knowledgeable staff can help you find the ideal glasses from our extensive collection. The personalized attention we offer ensures you get the frames that suit you best, and lenses that provide you with the best corrected vision available with glasses.

We also offer specialized glasses, including prescription sunglasses and bifocals. We can also help you understand why your vision might be changing (such as due to presbyopia), and talk to you about all the options available to you.

To learn more about the eyeglasses services we offer, please call us at (214) 775-2773 or email us today to schedule an appointment.

Questions about BOTOX®

Although many people have heard the name BOTOX®, most people do not know exactly what it is or how it works, so the Carter Eye Center has prepared the following questions to help you understand this exciting and popular cosmetic treatment.

What is BOTOX®?

BOTOX® is Allergan's trade name for a purified form of botulinum toxin prepared as an injectable treatment. Originally used to treat eye spasms and other medical conditions, its use has expanded into cosmetic applications and is now most commonly used to treat wrinkles.

How does BOTOX® work?

BOTOX® works by relaxing muscles that have become conditioned to remaining contracted. When these muscles relax, the skin over them smoothes, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

Is BOTOX® safe?

Yes. BOTOX® is FDA-approved for medical and cosmetic applications. Millions of people receive BOTOX® treatments every year, and serious adverse side effects are rare. Most complications are the result of injector error, another reminder that it is best to work with an experienced doctor to ensure you get the best possible results from your BOTOX® injections

Does BOTOX® treat all wrinkles?

No. BOTOX® only treats wrinkles caused by overactive muscles. Some wrinkles are caused by a loss of volume in the face, and are best treated by injectable fillers like Restylane and Radiesse. Other wrinkles may respond best to eyelid surgery or browlift.

To learn more about BOTOX® and whether it is the right treatment to combat your signs of facial aging, please contact us today to schedule an appointment.

BOTOX ® Cosmetic Offered by Carter Eye Center

Chances are, you've heard of BOTOX® Cosmetic. This injectable wrinkle treatment has the ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in many areas of the face. BOTOX® Cosmetic works by relaxing muscles that have developed a habit of contracting involuntarily, causing some wrinkles. When the muscles relax, the wrinkles smooth to a great extent. BOTOX® Cosmetic is popular because it is effective, quick, and safe.

BOTOX® Cosmetic injections can be used to treat wrinkles:

• In your forehead, including vertical lines between the brows
• At the corners of your eyes (crow's feet)
• Around the mouth (lipstick lines)

Although BOTOX® Cosmetic is a popular choice for wrinkle correction, and effective for many wrinkles, it is not effective for all wrinkles or other signs of facial aging. During a consultation, we can assess your concerns and help you decide whether BOTOX® Cosmetic, injecable fillers like Restylane and Radiesse, or surgical treatments like eyelid surgery or browlift might be best for you.

To learn more about the anti-aging treatments we offer, please schedule a consultation at the Carter Eye Center today.

Recovery Time after LASIK

One of the most frequent questions asked at Carter Eye Center is how long the recovery period after LASIK lasts. LASIK is an outpatient procedure which only requires local anesthetic in the form of eye drops. The procedure itself only lasts for a number of minutes, shortly after which most patients are able to see with complete clarity. To give your eyes time to heal, however, we recommend that you take at least a day off from work or other strenuous activities.

For most patients, twenty-four hours is sufficient to return to their regular routine. Occasionally, Dr. Carter will recommend additional rest time, depending on your type of work or other activities you regularly perform throughout the day. Often patients may feel groggy or sleepy directly following the procedure, and are encouraged to rest for as long as they feel is necessary.

Many patients remark on their ability to see clearly almost immediately after the procedure, and tell us they are thrilled to be able to see even better than they could with contacts or glasses. Even though your vision may be immediately improved, you should not immediately return to work, especially if you spend a lot of time working on the computer. You should allow your eyes to rest for the amount of time Dr. Carter recommends, without exception.

To learn more about this remarkable procedure, please contact the Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas today.

Lifestyle Changes after LASIK

Imagine you are standing on the edge of a beautiful lake, that the sun has just come up and is making the pebbles on the beach each a different color. Imagine the trees across the lake sway gently in the breeze and the morning fog is just starting to lift off the surface. Now imagine taking off your glasses and still seeing all this beauty with perfect clarity.

When people talk about life without contacts or eyeglasses, it is common to bring up sports, hobbies, or hassle. But more than just a question of carrying separate glasses for indoors or outdoors, or remembering to bring your contact paraphernalia with you on vacation, LASIK vision correction allows an entire change of lifestyle, and not only simplifies current hobbies and makes new ones possible, but genuinely affects your day-to-day life.

After you have had LASIK, you will never experience the pain and frustration of getting a hair or speck caught between your contact lens and your eye. You will never have to remove your glasses during a movie or at your child’s play to clean a fingerprint off the lens. You will never again feel the confusion of waking up in the middle of the night and having to look for your contacts or glasses before you can go get a drink of water.

At the Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Carter has helped thousands of patients see clearly without the aid of contacts or eye glasses. Our LASIK patients enjoy freedom from the daily habits and inconveniences created by vision aids. To share that freedom, please contact Dr. Carter today and finding out how we can help you see the beauty life without needing rose-colored glasses.

Diabetic Retinopathy Questions

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
The term "retinopathy" refers to damage to the retina which is not caused by inflammation. Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the eyes brought on by diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy develops in up to 80% of individuals who have had diabetes for 10 to 15 years, although it can develop sooner.

How does Diabetic Retinopathy develop?
Diabetic retinopathy is a product of prolonged diabetes, particularly where the diabetes may not have been correctly treated. The retinal tissue will become damaged over time, but produces few symptoms in the early onset. The most common symptoms may include:

• Double vision
• Blurred vision
• Retinal bleeding
• Lost or diminished peripheral vision
• Change in vision
• Sudden or slow vision degeneration

Can Dr. Carter treat Diabetic Retinopathy?
Fortunately, diabetic retinopathy can be diagnosed and treated. As with many other eye disorders, however, the earlier the disorder is diagnosed, the better opportunity for correction and the more options will be available to you. Symptoms which may not be listed above may still be indicators of diabetic retinopathy, and if you have any of the above symptoms you should make an appointment for an examination at the Carter Eye Center in Dallas, Texas immediately.