Dry Eye is a condition in which there is a deficiency of the tear film that is due to either an insufficient production of natural tears or an excessive evaporation of tears. Systemic conditions such as Sjorgrens Syndrome or autoimmune connective tissue diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus Erythematosus, inflammation of the Lacrimal Gland, long term contact lens wear, past eye infections, medications such as antihistamines or allergy medicine, blood pressure medicine, certain allergies and even vitamin deficiencies may decrease the quantity of tears that you produce. Your tears may evaporate too quickly if you suffer from low-grade eyelid inflammation, called blepharitis, which is often caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), a problem within the tiny tubular glands in your eyelids. Hormonal changes make perimenopausal woman particularly susceptible to dry eyes. Whether you suffer from insufficient production of tears or excessive evaporation of tears, or both, you may experience a decrease in the quantity and quality of your tear film resulting in the surface of the eye being affected.
Primary Care
Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates is considered a specialty practice with some insurance carriers. Therefore, if your insurance requires a primary care referral to see a specialist, you are required to contact your primary care provider prior to your appointment and present your referral at the time of your appointment.
Emergency Care
Residents will provide direct patient care to a multitude of in-office clinical cases. They will observe and co-manage a large variety of surgical procedures such as; cataract, refractive surgery, blepharoplasty, entropion, ectropion, chalazia, ALT/SLT, MIGS procedures, trabeculectomy, intravitreal injections, and retinal detachment. Residents will participate in direct and observational care with retinal and glaucoma specialists. They will participate in direct care of nursing home patients, in-office hospital consultations, in-office emergencies, and after-hour on-call emergency care which allow for greater autonomy and independent learning. Finally, a variety of procedures will be learned during the program; corneal topography, external photography, slit lamp photography, fundus photography, OCT & OCT-A, A-scan ultrasonography, B-scan ultrasonography, foreign body & rust ring removal, punctal plug insertion, port release, corneal scraping, dilation & irrigation, and amniotic membrane insertion.
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that is most often associated with a high pressure inside the eye- Intraocular Pressure (IOP)- that damages the nerve and causes progressive loss of vision. In the United States there are more than three million people with glaucoma. The most common form, Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) begins without any symptoms or obvious loss of vision. With early detection, diagnosis & treatment, in the vast majority of cases, glaucoma vision loss can be controlled or prevented. It is critical to diagnose and treat glaucoma as early as possible through regular eye exams in order to prevent vision loss.
Ophthalmology
Full scope eye care with an emphasis on secondary and tertiary eye care. Direct patient care with an emphasis on treatment and management of ocular disease in a high volume, clinical, pathology practice. The program consists of independent and supervised interaction by optometry and ophthalmology to provide independent thinking in therapeutic management and co-management of a vast variety of ocular disease conditions.
Macular Degeneration
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in people over 50 in which the central portion of the retina, called the macula, is damaged as a result of the hardening of the small arteries supplying oxygen and nutrients to the retinal tissue. There are two main types of Age Related Macular Degeneration: Dry Macular Degeneration and Wet Macular Degeneration. Dry Macular Degeneration is the most common type of Age Related Macular Degeneration making up 85-90% of cases, resulting in a slow progressive loss of vision. Typically, we see small, yellow colored deposits between the retinal layers, which are called drusen. Many people 50 years of age or older have some drusen as they age and may be asked to schedule eye exams more frequently in order to monitor them as there is some possibility that Dry Macular Degeneration will progress to Wet Macular Degeneration. We need to detect Wet Macular Degeneration quickly as it has far more serious consequences for vision loss. Wet Macular Degeneration is characterized by an abnormal growth of new blood vessels under the retina, called “neovascularization,” which is prone to be leaky and can easily break and bleed. If leakage occurs, the macula may actually begin to swell, bleed and scar causing severe loss of central vision, which may be irreversible.
Laser Eye Surgery
LASIK Surgery is a type of laser eye surgery called “lamellar eye surgery” because it is performed between the layers of corneal tissue. This is accomplished by creating a very thin flap of corneal tissue that can be lifted and the laser energy applied, followed by returning of the flap to its original position without the need for sutures or stitches. LASIK offers patients a laser vision correction procedure with minimal discomfort and a quick visual recovery.
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye preventing light rays from passing through it easily. This results in a clouding and blurring of vision. For many patients, cataracts start out slowly and have little effect on vision at first. But, as the cataract becomes denser, so does the impact on vision. Cataracts are a common cause of vision problems among people in their 50’s and 60’s and they are actually a major cause of senior eye problems and vision loss. More than 20 million Americans age 40 and older and more than half of all Americans develop cataracts by age 80.
Cataract Surgery
During cataract surgery we remove the cataract and replace it with a clear permanent lens implant (IOL) in order to correct your vision. Among seniors and “baby boomers,” cataract surgery is one of the safest, most effective, predictable and common operations performed the U.S with more than 2.5 million people having cataract surgery & lens implants each year. At Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates our cataract surgeons Jonathan A. Seidenberg, M.D., Eugene E. Protzko, M.D. & Candice R. Giordano, M.D. provide advanced cataract surgery & lens implants using state-of-the-art technology at the Mid-Atlantic Surgery Pavilion in Aberdeen, and typically perform the cataract operation and lens implant surgery on an outpatient basis which offers comfortable and convenient same-day surgery.
Eye Exam
But these screenings are only used to identify children at risk for vision problems and DO NOT replace a comprehensive eye examination performed by an eye doctor.
Jessica A. Wieser, O.D. is an Optometrist who provides routine and specialized eye health & vision care to patients from throughout Maryland. Dr. Wiser earned her Doctorate of Optometry Magna Cum Laude from Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University followed by a Residency in Wilmington Veterans Affairs Medical Center receiving extensive training in glaucoma, retina, cornea/contact lens and neurology. Dr. Wieser sees patients for comprehensive eye care and all types of eye health & vision correction including contact lenses for astigmatism and bifocal contact lenses. She has a special interest in cataracts, glaucoma, retina problems such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration (AMD).
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a complication of Diabetes Mellitus that left undetected and treated can lead to severe and catastrophic vision loss. All patients with diabetes should have regular eye exams and diagnostic testing in order to detect changes in the small blood vessels of the retina that may indicate the need for treatment-even if there is no vision loss!
Do those stubborn frown lines between your brows make you look tired or upset? If so, BOTOX® Cosmetic may be right for you.
Eyelid Surgery
Dr. Protzko sees patients for all types of medical & surgical eye care including cataracts, glaucoma, eyelid surgery, retina problems such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration (AMD), dry eyes and has a special interest and expertise in laser cataract surgery and the use of advanced intraocular lens implants (IOL), including toric lens implants to correct astigmatism and multifocal lenses to help cataract surgery patients reduce their dependence on eyeglasses, bifocals or reading glasses, and achieve a full range of vision after cataract surgery. Dr. Protzko offers patients comfortable, convenient, close to home same day ambulatory eye surgery at the Mid-Atlantic Surgery Pavilion, located in Aberdeen, MD.
Plastic Surgery
Over the years, Obagi® Medical Products, Inc., has developed clinically-proven skin health products and systems primarily for the dermatology, plastic surgery, and related aesthetic markets.
Face Lift
Ultherapy® provides effects similar to a mini face-lift without surgery. Recently approved by the FDA in the United States, it is quickly becoming a popular way to address sagging skin.