Providing excellence in eyecare

At Midland Eye our specialist Consultant Ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) offer a comprehensive service for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of eye and vision concerns. Patients can be seen by a Consultant within a few days of contacting the clinic.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside your eye. Your lens sits just behind your iris, the coloured part of your eye. Normally your lens is clear and helps to focus the light entering your eye.  Developing cataracts will cause your sight to become cloudy and can give rise to symptoms of glare and dazzle with lights, for example when driving at night.  Cataracts can affect one or both eyes and typically develop with age but some cataracts can be associated with underlying medical conditions. Unfortunately cataracts cannot be prevented, but with regular eye tests can be picked up in their early stages so that you can receive treatment sooner.  Cataracts are treated by replacing the cloudy lens with a new artificial lens (implant), also known as an intraocular lens (IOL).  With cataract surgery the cloudy lens is generally replaced with a monofocal lens. This usually provides good distance but means you will still require glasses for tasks within arm’s length.  At Midland Eye we can offer another solution, premium intraocular lenses (IOL).

Multifocal IOLs

If your goal is to achieve the greatest freedom from glasses/contact lenses after surgery, you might want to consider multifocal IOLs. These advanced lenses can correct vision far away, up close and all distances in between.

Toric IOLs

Toric IOLs are premium IOLs that aim to correct or reduce the refractive error caused by astigmatism. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea isn’t a perfectly curved shape. Many people who wear glasses or contact lenses have some degree of astigmatism.  Toric IOLs are tailored to the patient’s individual astigmatism to give optimal results.

LENSAR

We are also able to offer cataract surgery using the latest LENSAR femtosecond laser system which offers the most advanced technology available (that may reduce the time it takes to remove your cataracts).  The LENSAR system provides your surgeon with a unique, high resolution, 3-D image of your eye that allows your surgeon to tailor your treatment, which can improve visual outcomes.

Refractive lens exchange

Refractive lens exchange (RLE), uses the same technique and IOLs as cataract surgery. It is an eye surgery used to improve the refractive state of the eye, and decrease or eliminate a patient’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses.  RLE is an alternative for those who are not a good candidate for laser vision correction. The IOL used in refractive lens exchange will be decided by the Consultant Ophthalmologist after a detailed examination and discussion regarding your lifestyle needs.

Laser eye surgery

Laser eye surgery involves using a laser to change the shape of the cornea at the front of the Eye.  This improves the ability of the eye to focus more clearly and can treat short sight, long sight and astigmatism or blurred vision, eliminating the need for glasses.  At Midland Eye we have installed state of the art laser technology to achieve vision correction and treat abnormalities of the eye and offer both LASIK and LASEK laser eye treatment.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve, in part due to raised intraocular pressure.  The optic nerve is the cable that sends signals from the eye to the brain. Damage to the optic nerve causes patchy loss of vision that varies in severity. Sight lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered.  There are different types of treatment for glaucoma depending on the severity. Early cases may simply require eye drops. Midland Eye can offer treatments including Trabeculectomy and Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) which offer the opportunity to lower intraocular pressure, preserve vision and reduce the need for eye drops.

Retinal and macular disorders

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless eye condition that causes you to lose central vision, usually in both eyes. AMD doesn’t affect your peripheral vision (side vision), which means it will not cause complete blindness.  Treatment for AMD aims to help a person make the most of their remaining vision, for example, magnifying lenses can be used to make reading easier. Certain types of AMD may require intravitreal injections which will also require follow up visits and tests.  At Midland Eye we use Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to monitor such disease. The OCT allows the Ophthalmologist to see the retina’s distinctive layers. They can then map and measure their thickness, record and compare at each visit.

Ectopion, Entropion & Ptosis treatment

Ectopion is when the lower eyelid turns outwards away from the eye.  Someone looking at you might be able to see part of the pink inner surface of the affected eyelid.  Typically it occurs in older people and is thought that the tissues and muscles around the eyelid become weak with ageing.  Entropion is when the eyelid (usually the lower lid) folds inward. It is very uncomfortable, as the eyelashes constantly rub against the cornea and irritate it. Entropion is also age related but other causes include infection (Trachoma) which can lead to scarring.  Ptosis is the name given to a
drooping of the upper eyelid that occurs when the edge of the upper eyelid that contains the lashes falls too low. When this happens, the edge of the eyelid covers part of the pupil, blocking part of your vision.

Blepharoplasty

In order to improve the appearance of the eyes, many people resort to having eyelid surgery. Blepharoplasty, as it’s medically known, helps the eyes to look more youthful by reducing and tightening the loose skin.  This procedure is sometimes referred to as an ‘eyelid lift’ and can be carried out on the upper or lower eyelid, or on a combination of the two.

Corneal disorders

The cornea is your eye’s clear, protective outer layer that serves as a barrier against dirt, germs and other things that can cause damage.  It also plays a key role in vision.  As light enters your eye it gets refracted, or bent by the cornea’s curved edge. This helps determine how well your eye can focus on objects in the distance or close up.  There are a number of disorders that can affect the cornea, examples of which include; allergies, conjunctivitis, infections, dry eye, Fuch’s dystrophy, keratoconus, Herpes Simplex and Zoster.  If your cornea is damaged by disease, infection, or an injury, the resulting scars can affect your vision. Some corneal disorders can be treated with topical or systemic medication, glasses or contact lenses, however if severe then a surgical procedure may be necessary.  At Midland Eye we use a variety of diagnostic equipment that aids the Corneal Specialist Consultants in their assessments and treatments of corneal disorders.

Dry eyes

The main reason for dry eye syndrome is that you’re unable to produce either the correct amount or quality of tears as you normally would.  There are a number of possible reasons for this, including your contact lenses, a side effect of medication you’re taking, a symptom of another eye-related medical condition, such as blepharitis or hot or windy weather.  This condition can affect all age groups, but is most common in people over 65. It’s also more likely to affect women than men.  Treatments include eye drops and anti-inflammatories and punctal plugs, also known as tear duct plugs which prevent the drainage of liquid from the eye.  The latest treatment we are able to offer for dry eye syndrome is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy.