An ophthalmologist is a physician who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system and in the prevention of eye disease and injury. They provide a full spectrum of care including routine eye exams, diagnosis and medical treatment of eye disorders and diseases, surgery, and management of eye problems that are caused by systemic illnesses.
After completing 4 years of undergraduate study at a college or university, ophthalmologists attend 4 years of medical school to obtain an M.D. or D.O. degree. After graduating from medical school, they complete a 1-year internship and 3 years of training in ophthalmology in a residency program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
According to the American Board of Medical Specialties website, "A board certified physician has completed an approved educational training program and an evaluation process including an examination designed to assess the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to provide quality patient care in that specialty." Dr. Militello has completed the Board Certification process by the American Board of Ophthalmology, which is one of the founding members of the American Board of Medical Specialties.
You can check if any physician is Board Certified by one of the 24 approved medical specialty boards in the United States by logging on to www.abms.org or calling 1-866-ASK-ABMS.
No Patch, No Stitch Cataract Surgery
A cataract is a clouding of the eye's naturally clear lens. The lens focuses light rays on the retina - the layer of light-sensing cells lining the back of the eye - to produce a sharp image of what we see. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily, and vision is blurred.
Dr. Militello utilizes the latest technique when performing cataract surgery, known as "phacoemulsification". It involves only a micro incision on the surface of the eye and the use of a sound energy to break up the cloudy lens, which can then be removed. An artificial replacement lens is inserted through the same incision. In most cases only an eye drop is needed to numb the eye for the procedure, therefore patients do not need to wear an eye patch. Since the incision is very small, no stitches are needed and the wound will heal on its own.
If you notice the following symptoms, Dr. Militello will evaluate your cataracts to see if you are a candidate for surgery:
- Blurred vision that cannot be corrected with a change in glasses
- Increased glare
- Halos around street lights
- Difficulty reading fine print
Diabetic Evaluations
All people with diabetes--both type 1 and type 2--are at risk of developing Diabetic Retinopathy. Retinopathy is the medical term for damage to the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the retina, the tissue at the back of your eye that captures light and relays information to your brain. These blood vessels are often affected by the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes.
It is recommended that everyone with diabetes get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Between 40 to 45 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have some stage of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age people in the United States.
Eye Injuries
Eye injury is one of the leading causes of blindness. Dr. Militello is available to treat a wide range of eye injuries, including:
- Blunt trauma
- Corneal abrasion
- Chemical eye injuries
- Eyelid lacerations
- Foreign bodies
- Penetrating injuries
Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin, muscle and fat from the upper and lower eyelids. With age and occasionally for hereditary reasons, the muscles and ligaments around the eyes weaken and the skin becomes increasingly loose and puffy, producing an older and tired appearance.
Dr. Militello performs both functional and cosmetic eyelid surgery. Dr. Militello would be happy to discuss the procedure, as well as all of the benefits and risks associated with eyelid surgery.
Glaucoma Treatment
Glaucoma, once thought of as a single disease, is actually a broad term for a certain pattern of damage to the optic nerve (the bundle of nerve fibers that carries information from the eye to the brain). This pattern usually occurs in the presence of high intraocular pressure, but contrary to popular belief, glaucoma can occur with normal or even below-normal eye pressure.
Certain people are at greater risk of developing glaucoma than others. Risk factors include age, family history, race, diabetes, hypertension, and previous use of certain medications.
Vision experts estimate that half of those affected may not know they have it because symptoms may not occur during the early stages of the disease. By the time the patient notices something is wrong, the disease has already caused considerable damage. Unfortunately, the vision lost to glaucoma is gone forever.
Dr. Militello specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. He utilizes the latest medications, laser procedures and surgery to treat glaucoma.
YAG Capsulotomy
A "YAG" is a procedure used to treat posterior capsular opacification (also known as a secondary cataract). This is a clouding of the remaining capsular tissue that develops postoperatively in as many as half of cataract removal operations. Symptoms of posterior capsular opacification are similar to those of cataract, including blurred vision and increased glare. The procedure takes seconds, and once performed will never need to be done again.
Botox
Dr. Militello uses Botox for both clinical and cosmetic indications. Botox can be used for the clinical indications of blepharospasm, Meige's syndrome and hemifacial spasms to reduce the effects of these facial movement disorders. Botox is used cosmetically to reduce facial lines around the eyes and mouth, such as glabellar furrows, crow's feet, and smoker's lines.
