The field of ophthalmology is constantly changing as new technology is developed that helps eye doctors diagnose, treat, and prevent common eye health conditions. From taking clear images of the interior parts of your eyes to offering surgeries that reduce the risk of complications, you’ll find that the best eye specialists make continuing their education a priority. Here are just a few of the ways that new advancements can improve patient outcomes and help you benefit from the best that modern medicine has to offer to people with glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye conditions.

Diagnose and Track Eye Disease Better With Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

The ability to get clear, accurate images of the interior parts of your eye makes a huge difference in how well your doctor can make a diagnosis and plan the best course of treatment. With OCT, your eye doctor can see the individual layers of your retina that would typically only be visible with the removal of your eye. Fortunately, this option for imaging is non-invasive and leaves your doctor with clear images that help them to diagnose and treat diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and vitreomacular traction.

Explore New Ways to Treat Glaucoma

For many years, eye doctors treated glaucoma with tube shunt surgeries that often led to complications that included infections and excessively low intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients. While eye surgery might still be necessary to reduce IOP, it has now become easier to prevent failures by using minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Medication delivery is also undergoing some changes for people with glaucoma. Many patients struggle with complying with treatment plans that use drops, and new sustained-release medication implants are transforming how well people can manage their glaucoma. In one study, the use of this type of medication reduced IOP by close to 30% during a 12-week period. Brooklyn, NY eye specialists can also use micropulse laser treatment to help people with glaucoma when medication isn’t working. This minimally invasive treatment can reduce side effects, and it can be repeated as needed.

Prevent Complications From Cataract Surgery

The placement of an intraocular lens (IOL) during cataract surgery requires an eye doctor to choose the right technique to prevent complications for the patient. Pseudo-exfoliation syndrome is a common reason why IOLs become dislocated, and new surgical techniques can prevent this from happening. The sutureless Yamane technique is recognized in the ophthalmological field as helping to reduce inflammation in the eyes following cataract surgery, and this option provides faster rehabilitation compared to older methods of treatment.

Keeping an eye on the latest advancements in ophthalmology provides you with talking points to cover with your eye doctor when you face a new diagnosis or have concerns about how a health condition is impacting your vision. As you inquire about your eye specialist’s credentials, remember that recent training in the latest techniques is just as important as their prior education. Working with an eye doctor who is willing to discover and learn new techniques to add to their practice makes it possible for you to be able to take advantage of the amazing advancements that science is bringing to the field of ophthalmology.