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LASIK Candidacy

Are You a Candidate for LASIK?

LASIK—which stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis—is a common type of laser vision correction procedure. The first step in the LASIK surgery process is determining whether you’re a good candidate. The LASIK candidacy process helps the doctors at Specialty Eye Institute provide the highest-quality, most personalized vision care to every patient who walks through our doors.

More than 25% of our patients are deemed ineligible for LASIK surgery. Ineligible candidates may qualify for one of the other vision correction procedures we offer, like Visian ICL, PRK, or Custom Lens Replacement. If you don’t qualify for any of these procedures, our team will help you find the right alternative treatment option.

Tips & Insights: Take the LASIK Self-Test

Why You Might Not Be a Candidate for LASIK

Some patients aren’t LASIK candidates for various reasons. While doctors can sometimes determine patient candidacy during the initial LASIK consultation, other scenarios call for a thorough preoperative eye exam. Your doctor can determine at any point during the exam that you’re not a LASIK candidate. Here are the top five reasons why patients don’t qualify for LASIK candidacy:

1. Corneal Thickness

LASIK reshapes the cornea by using a laser beam to remove small amounts of damaged corneal tissue. The higher a patient’s vision prescription, the more tissue the laser must remove to correct their vision. LASIK also creates a corneal flap—a thin layer of the cornea that’s generally between 110 and 150 microns thick. The average cornea is thinnest in the center and becomes thicker around the edges. A healthy cornea is roughly 535 to 550 microns thick in the center.

Before undergoing LASIK, your doctor will estimate how thick your corneas will be after the procedure. If your corneas are thinner than average, you may not be a LASIK candidate. That’s because you wouldn’t have enough tissue remaining to maintain the cornea’s strength after the procedure. A patient who has thick corneas but a high vision prescription also may not be a LASIK candidate.

2. Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a vision condition that weakens and thins the cornea over time, causing the eye’s surface to become distorted. It occurs in patients of all ages. Patients who have keratoconus shouldn’t undergo LASIK surgery because it will cause the cornea to become even weaker and thinner. During the preoperative exam, your doctor will analyze your corneas’ thickness using advanced technology to determine whether you have keratoconus.

We offer treatments to help slow and stop the progression of keratoconus. Available treatment options include Scleral Lenses and CXL (corneal cross-linking).

3. Dry Eye

Patients who suffer from chronic dry eye also don’t qualify for LASIK. Your Specialty Eye Institute doctor will recommend treating your dry eye symptoms before seeking laser vision correction surgery. Since LASIK causes temporary eye dryness for four to six weeks—and can even cause permanent eye dryness—your doctor may recommend that you forgo laser vision correction surgery altogether.

PRK is an alternative vision correction procedure that is less likely to cause or exacerbate eye dryness.

4. Cataracts

A cataract occurs when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, causing it to blur vision. Since cataracts typically develop as a result of aging, they’re most common in older adults. However, they can also develop as a result of eye trauma or medication.

Patients who have cataracts aren’t good LASIK candidates because a clouded lens due to cataracts can’t be corrected by LASIK surgery. Thankfully, modern cataract technology can often provide vision correction comparable to LASIK.

Tips & Insights: Take the Cataract Self-Test

5. Other Eye Diseases and Health Conditions

Additional reasons for not being a good LASIK candidate include the following:

You are under the age of 17
You have another vision condition, like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or glaucoma
You take certain prescription medications that could interfere with laser vision correction
You have an unstable prescription
You are pregnant or nursing

Your Expectations About Laser Vision Correction

It’s important to set realistic expectations before undergoing LASIK surgery. The goal of LASIK surgery is to reduce or eliminate one’s need for prescription glasses and contact lenses. Functional vision is the goal, which means having 20/40 vision or better in both eyes. Don’t go into the procedure expecting it to completely fix all your vision problems.

Determining Your Candidacy for LASIK

Before pursuing LASIK surgery, schedule an appointment with your local Specialty Eye Institute provider to receive a thorough assessment of your eyes, determine your candidacy for the LASIK procedure, and set expectations. This is a time for you to ask questions and address any concerns you have about the procedure. Your doctor will outline potential risks and have you sign consent forms asserting that you have acknowledged those risks. Your doctor may also require you to watch a video that discusses potential risks in more detail.

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LASIK Risks

LASIK is a relatively low-risk procedure. However, it still comes with some potential risks that you should be aware of before pursuing surgery. Some risks of this laser vision correction include the following:

Dry Eye: LASIK surgery can cause temporary or permanent eye dryness. Our doctors recommend using artificial tears to help lubricate the eyes during the recovery process to prevent dry eye problems. Take the Dry Eye Self-Test.
Glare Halos and Double Vision: You may notice a glare or halo effect around car headlights when driving at night. This side effect typically only lasts for the first few weeks after your LASIK procedure but can last longer in some patients. A second laser correction procedure can improve this condition in some cases.
Over and Under-Corrections: Your doctor may over-correct or under-correct your prescription due to human error or the inability to predict how your eyes will heal. Over and under-corrections can be corrected after the eyes have fully healed, but there’s no guarantee.
Corneal Flap Issues: Some LASIK procedures can cause the outermost layer of cornea tissue to grow abnormally underneath the corneal flap during the healing process. This abnormal growth is known as epithelial ingrowth. It can be treated surgically but may occur more than once.
Vision Loss or Changes: Unforeseen surgical complications can cause a patient to experience vision changes and even vision loss after the procedure. This risk is uncommon but still possible.
Neuropathic Corneal Pain (NCP): NCP is a condition that occurs in roughly 0.1% of LASIK patients. It causes oversensitivity in the eyes, face, or head. There is no known cause of NCP.

The FDA and LASIK

The Patient-Reported Outcomes With LASIK (PROWL)

In October 2009, the National Eye Institute (NEI), the Department of Defense (DoD), and the FDA launched the LASIK Quality of Life Collaboration Project (LQOLCP) to examine the potential risk of severe problems occurring in patients after LASIK surgery. The project’s goal was to develop a tool that would:

Help determine the percentage of patients who have trouble performing normal activities after undergoing a LASIK procedure
Identify predictors for those patients

The PROWL studies assessed visual symptoms in patients before and after LASIK surgery to identify changes over time. The studies also measured the impact of symptoms on the performance of normal activities. The results showed that less than 1% of study participants experienced significant difficulty with or an inability to perform normal activities without corrective lenses due to any one visual symptom (starbursts, ghosting, halos, glare) after LASIK surgery. More than 95% of participants were satisfied with their vision following LASIK surgery.

The Decision Checklist

In July 2022, the FDA drafted a document recommending that doctors share a decision checklist with their patients. The document—which is now finalized as of January 23rd, 2023—focuses on the risks associated with LASIK surgery and notes that some patients have become severely depressed due to post-surgery complications. The decision checklist states that certain chronic conditions like diabetes and some medications may put patients at risk for poor outcomes. The FDA is currently collecting LASIK concerns regarding this drafted document.

If you have questions or concerns regarding the safety of LASIK surgery, contact Specialty Eye Institute today to speak with one of our eye doctors.

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LASIK Eye Surgery Recovery: What To Expect, Timeline, & Results

The LASIK Recovery Process

Laser eye surgery is a great option for people who want a lasting, cost-effective vision solution that gives them the freedom to do what they love free of glasses or contacts. However, enjoying these benefits may not be as simple as going in for a LASIK procedure and then going right back to your day-to-day routine for everyone. Here are a few things you should know about your LASIK recovery time and what can affect your LASIK eye surgery recovery.

How Long is the LASIK Eye Surgery Recovery Timeline?

There are various stages of the LASIK surgery recovery timeline. A lot of people notice significantly enhanced vision immediately following their LASIK eye surgery. Most patients can return to their normal routine in just a few days.

After laser eye surgery, it will be important to use the eye drops prescribed by your eye doctor to maximize the healing process and prevent any infection. For each stage in the LASIK recovery timeline, keep in mind that there are different expectations in terms of visual results, steps in your aftercare, and tips to speed up the healing process.

The First Day After LASIK Surgery

To ensure a smooth recovery at the conclusion of LASIK eye surgery, it’s important to wear a protective eye covering on the first day after the procedure. In addition, you will need to be driven home by a friend or family member. Wear this covering until the next morning and swap it with any protective sunglasses you received from your doctor. You can shower after the first day, but avoid irritating your eyes with water or soap.

You may experience some eye discomfort on the first day of the LASIK surgery recovery. Usually, this means dryness, blurriness, itchiness, and light sensitivity. However, these symptoms should be alleviated with lubricating eye drops prescribed by your doctor and over-the-counter pain relief medication. If you experience worsening pain, contact your physician.

Need Help? Our Staff of Ophthalmologists in Toledo, OH Offer Innovative LASIK Surgery & Treatment Options

The First Week After LASIK

Your physician will want to see you at least a couple of days following your eye procedure to ensure you are navigating the LASIK eye surgery recovery timeline correctly. During the first week and onward of your healing process, you should be using the eye drops and pain medication as often as prescribed.

You will need to avoid touching your eyes, using eye makeup (and remover) and creams, doing yard work, night driving, and exercising. Avoid coming into contact with general eye irritants (e.g. dust, smoke). This will prevent infection and allow the incision to heal.

To maintain the safety of your eyes throughout the healing process, wear UV-protective eyewear or protective goggles outside and during physical activity or home improvement tasks.

After the First Week

The eye discomfort and light issues you may have initially experienced should be gone or at least substantially better. You will be visiting your eye doctor periodically over the next year so they can check on the progress of your LASIK eye surgery recovery and vision improvements.

Although uncommon—if you’re experiencing vision issues after your procedure, your doctor may recommend getting a LASIK enhancement surgery to improve your eyesight further.

Factors That Affect LASIK Recovery Time

There are a few factors that can affect your LASIK eye surgery recovery timeline outside of just following your laser eye surgeon’s guidelines. Not using your eye drops as directed, dry eyes, and other vision issues can extend your recovery time after LASIK. Individuals with a more extreme eye prescription may also expect a longer recovery time.

FAQ: Laser Eye Surgery Recovery

Will I Have 20/20 Vision After LASIK?

There’s no guarantee that LASIK surgery will give you perfect vision, but it is highly successful. Most patients can expect quick, notable results after LASIK eye surgery so close to 20/20 vision that they may no longer depend on corrective lenses.

How Long Do the Effects of Laser Eye Surgery Last?

While your vision will continue to change as part of the aging process, LASIK permanently reshapes your cornea. Most patients enjoy their new vision for years to come.

Need Assistance? We Offer Eye Care Solutions in Areas Such As Ann Arbor, Bryan, Kalamazoo, & Lansing

Will My Activities Be Restricted During LASIK Recovery?

Depending on how quickly you tend to heal, you can typically return to most normal activities in a few days. Your surgeon will go over any restrictions at the time of surgery and following your 1-day post-operative appointment. Some temporary restrictions immediately following surgery may include driving, showering, rubbing your eyes, reading, swimming, exercising, and sports. It is also recommended that you stay away from dirty and dusty environments. These restrictions are only temporary and your doctor will instruct you on when you can resume these activities.

What Are the Most Common LASIK Recovery Complications?

Some common LASIK recovery complications include irritation, discomfort, and night glares. To minimize any recovery complications, visit your eye doctor for several follow-up visits within the first year of your procedure. These follow-up visits allow your eye doctor to follow your healing timeline. If you experience any vision issues following your LASIK procedure, we advise you to contact your eye doctor immediately.

Picking an experienced surgeon is important when considering laser eye surgery. The staff of ophthalmologists at Specialty Eye Institute offers various types of eye care solutions such as LASIK eye surgery, dry eye treatments, cataract surgery, keratoconus treatments, and glaucoma options. Schedule your LASIK consultation to learn more! Give our staff of ophthalmologists and optometrists a call by phone at (877) 852-8463 to talk about the benefits and recovery timeline of a LASIK procedure.

Tips & Insights: What Is An Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Eye Surgery?

What Happens During The LASIK Procedure? Step-by-Step

LASIK surgery can change the way that you see the world around you. With its typically quick recovery and mostly painless procedure, it’s easy to see why LASIK is one of the most popular eye surgeries in the US. If you’re considering it, too, it’s important to know what exactly to expect if you undergo the surgery.

We’ll discuss pre-procedure preparation, what will happen during the surgery, and what you can expect after in terms of recovery.

Preparing For Your LASIK Surgery

What To Expect

The first step on your journey to LASIK is to set up a consultation. At this point, your doctor will walk you through the process, explain the benefits, and warn you about the risks.

The benefits of LASIK include:

LASIK can give you improved vision that reduces your reliance on glasses or contacts
About 99% of people have vision of 20/40 or better after the procedure without glasses
More than 90% end up with 20/20 vision

There are some risks, though, including:

Issues with your cornea that require further treatment or surgery
Corneal ectasia, which is the weakening of your cornea
Inflammation or infection that will need to be treated with medication
Vision that’s worse than before you had LASIK, which will require treatment

Some side effects that you may experience are:

Glare around lights
Reduced night vision
Blurred vision
Tiny red or pink spots on the white of your eye
Sensitivity to light
Dry Eyes

Comprehensive Eye Exam

After your consultation, they will perform a comprehensive eye exam to determine your eligibility for the surgery. During your comprehensive eye surgery, they will look at:

Your general medical history
Any medications you’re currently taking
The shape and thickness of your cornea
Your pupil size
Your refractive errors
Any pre-existing ocular conditions

Once you’re approved, you can get your surgery scheduled.

Pre-Procedure Instructions

Your preparation for your LASIK surgery will need to start a couple of weeks beforehand.

Be Informed

Make sure that you’ve read any information that’s been given to you about the surgery, and ask any questions that you have. It’s better to go prepared with knowledge of what’s going to happen than to be surprised during the procedure.

Avoid Contacts

If you’re wearing soft contact lenses, most surgeons will ask that you stop using them about two weeks before your surgery.

If you’re wearing rigid contact lenses, then it may be asked that you stop using them about four weeks before your surgery.

Stop Using Make-Up and Lotions

On the day of your procedure, or even a couple of days before, make sure that you are not wearing make-up, perfumes, or facial moisturizers. These products can get into your eyes and increase your risk of infection.

Arrange For Someone To Drive You

After your surgery, you should not drive until your doctor has given you permission to. You will need to ask someone to drive you home after the procedure, as well as for your check-up the next day.

The LASIK Procedure: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Arrival and Pre-Procedure Prep

It’s asked that you arrive promptly at the appointment time for your procedure, especially if there is paperwork that needs to be filled out.

Anesthetic Eye Drops and Lid Speculum

Before the procedure begins, numbing eye drops will be administered to ensure that the surgery is as pain-free as possible.

Next, a small, metal instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open and in place for the surgery.

Creating The Corneal Flap

Once the lid speculum is in place, a precision flap-making instrument will be meticulously put into position. You’ll be asked to focus on a special fixation light and the surgeon will activate the precision instrument electronically. This will fold away a corneal flap, making the middle layer of the cornea accessible.

Reshaping the Cornea

After, the cornea is reshaped by an excimer laser. This is done differently depending on which ocular condition you are trying to treat.

Myopia

The cornea is flattened to reduce the converging power of the eye. This is done by removing more tissue from the center of the cornea than around.

Hyperopia

The central cornea is steepened to enhance the converging power of the eye. This is done by removing more tissue from the periphery than the center.

Astigmatism

The cornea will be made more spherical by changing the pattern of the beam, which can remove tissue in one direction more than the other.

Repositioning The Corneal Flap

Once the reshaping is finished, the flap will be put back in place and will naturally be held there by the moisture in your eye for fast healing.

Immediate Post-Procedure Steps

Once the surgery is completed, you will be prescribed eye drops to help reduce inflammation and avoid infection while your eyes heal. It may cause slight stinging when you start using them, but this is normal and they should continue to be administered as directed by your doctor.

You may also be prescribed artificial tears to avoid dry eyes after surgery. The artificial tears should keep your eyes full of moisture and comfortable. They may also provide you with a shield to protect your eyes and stop you from touching them.

What to Expect After The LASIK Procedure

LASIK Recovery

In most cases, recovery from LASIK surgery is extremely fast.

Many can return to work within a few days and, with caution, can start driving again. A side effect of LASIK surgery is blurred vision, so be aware of the state of your vision before you get behind the wheel.

Some activities should be limited while your eyes heal. It is situational, but the general guidelines are:

Wait three days before exercising
Wait two weeks to use make-up or lotion near your eyes
Wait at least one month to play contact sports
Wait one to two months to swim or use hot tubs

Healing Timeline

Most people have 90% of their best vision possible after the procedure. Within a couple of days, you will notice an improvement. But it will take three to six months for your eyes to fully recover and heal.

For the first week after your surgery, you may experience:

Dry eyes
Watery eyes
Sensitivity to light
Discomfort or mild pain in your eyes
Puffy eyelids

It’s vital that you do not touch your eyes during this week so that they can heal.

Long-Term Care

For long-term recovery, you will need to attend check-ups with your doctor to monitor your progress. After your post-op check-in, you should be checking in with your doctor about once every one or two years, unless they recommend more frequent visits.

The LASIK Procedure With Specialty Eye Institute

LASIK surgery is a life-changing procedure with the ability to vastly improve your vision and reduce your reliance on glasses or contacts. It’s a huge decision that can cause monumental change, and you should only let the most experienced, skilled doctors help you make it.

The trusted team at Specialty Eye Institute is here to help you every step of the way, from deciding to undergo LASIK surgery, to efficiently and safely performing the procedure, to ensuring that your recovery goes smoothly.

If you’re interested in discussing LASIK surgery with us, call us at 866-435-8935 or request an appointment on our website. You can also take our LASIK self-test online for free.

See our list of FAQs about LASIK surgery for more information.

What Does It Mean to Be Legally Blind?

You may have heard the term “legal blindness” and wondered what it really means to be legally blind. We’re here to help you understand this complex—and often misunderstood—term so you know what warning signs to be aware of in your own life.

Keep reading to learn about the technical definition of legal blindness along with its common causes, treatments, and prevention tips.

The Definition of Legal Blindness

Normal or “perfect” vision is 20/20 central visual acuity. Someone is legally blind if they:

Have 20/200 central visual acuity or worse in their better-seeing eye with the help of prescription glasses or contacts
Have a visual field of 20 degrees or less

If a person with 20/20 vision can see an object that’s 200 feet away from them, someone with 20/200 vision would only be able to see the same object from 20 feet away. If a person can see clearly while wearing prescription glasses or contacts, they’re not considered to be legally blind.

It’s important to note that there are different levels of blindness. For example, legal blindness doesn’t necessarily equate to total blindness, which is characterized by a complete lack of light and form perception. However, some people who are legally blind are also totally blind.

The vast majority of people who are legally blind do not fall within the threshold of total blindness.

The U.S. government uses this definition of legal blindness to determine eligibility for things like federal disability benefits, driving privileges, rehabilitative care, school and workplace accommodations, low vision devices, and tax exemption programs. Doctors use this definition to determine candidacy for various vision treatments, like medication and surgery.

3 Tests That Are Used to Diagnose Legal Blindness

Optometrists and ophthalmologists use these three methods to test for legal blindness in patients.

Snellen Eye Chart

Even if you’ve never been to the eye doctor, you could probably recognize a Snellen eye chart. It features a series of black capital letters that decrease in size as you move down the chart. As a result, the letters at the bottom are the most difficult to read. Someone who is legally blind can only read the top letter on the chart.

Your doctor will have you cover one eye at a time and read the lowest row of letters so that you can measure your visual acuity in each eye. This test helps your doctor determine if you need prescription glasses or contacts or if you need a new prescription for the glasses or contacts you already wear.

Confrontational Visual Field Test

A confrontational visual field test is another way that eye doctors measure visual acuity. As the doctor sits in front of you, he or she will hold up a series of fingers in various positions to test all four quadrants in your visual field—particularly your peripheral vision. You will cover one eye at a time and recite the number of fingers you see. If you struggle to detect the number of fingers being shown, you may be legally blind.

Comprehensive Eye Exams

A comprehensive eye exam uses a series of tests to measure your visual acuity and detect common eye diseases and conditions that could lead to legal blindness. If you have one of those vision conditions, you face a greater risk of losing your vision and becoming legally blind—if the condition goes unchecked.

Common Vision Conditions That Are Linked to Legal Blindness

The common vision conditions described below can cause legal blindness if left untreated.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over the age of 60. It occurs when the macula—the central part of the retina—deteriorates. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. Although age-related macular degeneration doesn’t typically cause total blindness, it’s still a possibility. At the very least, it can cause visual impairments that inhibit daily tasks.

Cataracts

A cataract is distinguished by a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which blurs vision. Cataracts make it more difficult to complete daily tasks, like reading, driving, and watching TV. The more a cataract progresses, the more likely it is to cause vision loss, which could lead to blindness.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a vision condition that can affect people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It damages the blood vessels at the back of the retina, which can lead to vision loss and even blindness if left unchecked.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma constitutes a group of vision conditions that damage the optic nerve, which transfers images from the eye to the brain. Similarly to age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in people over age 60.

How Legal Blindness Is Treated

The particular vision condition that caused you to become legally blind will help your doctor determine the proper treatment plan. Common treatments for legal blindness include prescription glasses or contacts, medication, a corneal transplant, cataract or retinal surgery, and visual rehabilitation—like low vision therapy and low vision devices.

These treatments are designed to enhance one’s vision to improve their daily function and overall quality of life. Keep in mind, though, that not all cases of legal blindness can be treated.

How to Prevent Legal Blindness

Prevention is always preferred over treatment. Here are five practical ways that you can prevent legal blindness.

Schedule routine eye exams with dilation: These comprehensive exams enable doctors to detect, diagnose, and treat vision conditions that could cause legal blindness.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eat nutrient-rich foods, exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight, and get plenty of sleep each night.
Know your family history: Some eye conditions that cause legal blindness are hereditary. Knowing your family’s history of these conditions can help you protect your vision.
Wear eye protection when necessary: Whether you’re mowing the lawn or participating in a contact sporting event, you should wear protective eyewear to shield your eyes from common hazards.
Don’t smoke: If you’ve never smoked, don’t start. If you currently smoke, quit.

Schedule Your Annual Eye Exam at Specialty Eye Institute

The best thing you can do for your vision is schedule routine eye exams. During a comprehensive eye exam at Specialty Eye Institute, the doctor will check your eyes for signs of common vision conditions that can cause legal blindness. This exam also helps the doctor determine your need for prescription glasses or contacts.

Schedule your appointment today to get started.

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What Is Heterochromia? Everything You Need to Know

The term heterochromia can sound a little intimidating to those who’ve never heard it before or don’t know what it is. But, thankfully, the word is a lot scarier than the condition it represents. There’s a lot to know about heterochromia, so let’s unpack what exactly it is, the different types it can take the form of, what the causes are, the steps to take to diagnose it, and how to get treatment, if necessary.

What is Heterochromia?

Heterochromia is a rare and unique condition where a person’s eyes are two different colors. This can occur in one eye or affect parts of both eyes. Even dogs—like Huskies and Border Collies—can be seen with distinctively different colored eyes. The reason for this phenomenon is a rare condition that affects the iris and the melatonin that gives it its color. Heterochromia can be present at birth or develop later in life due to certain medical conditions or injuries.

Types of Heterochromia

There are three types of heterochromia: complete, central, and sectoral. It’s fairly easy to tell the difference between the three types, as each of them has their own unique physical appearance.

Complete Heterochromia

Complete heterochromia is the rarest type of the condition. It occurs when each eye is a fully different color than the other. For example, if one eye is completely green and the other is dark brown, this would be considered complete heterochromia.

Central Heterochromia

Central heterochromia occurs when the multi-coloration starts within the eye. There will be a different color near the pupil, but as it moves toward the edge of the iris, it shifts to a different color. With central heterochromia, both eyes are typically affected in a similar manner. For example, the color around the pupil could be brown and gradually switch to green around the edges. This type can be commonly confused with hazel eyes. However, the difference is that central heterochromia has two distinct colors in two specific areas, while hazel is a mixture of multiple colors throughout the iris.

Sectoral Heterochromia

Sectoral heterochromia, which can also be referred to as partial heterochromia, is the most varied of the types. It takes place when an eye has a secondary color that forms a “slice” or “wedge.” It can occur in one or both eyes and doesn’t necessarily manifest in both the same way. For example, one blue iris could have a thin slice of brown, while the other could have the brown take over a majority of the iris.

Causes of Heterochromia

The causes of heterochromia typically depend on whether the condition is congenital, or if it’s acquired. Both exhibit in the same way, at different times in a person’s life, but the causes behind them can vary pretty drastically.

Congenital Heterochromia

Congenital heterochromia is when the condition is present at birth, or shortly after. If it’s congenital, it is generally considered to be harmless and just caused by a genetic mutation. In these cases, the babies will be given an eye examination to rule out any underlying causes. While uncommon, it is possible that congenital heterochromia could be caused by other issues. The following examples are conditions that could manifest with heterochromia as an indication:

Horner’s syndrome: a rare condition that affects the eye and face due to disruption of sympathetic nerve supply.
Waardenburg syndrome: a group of genetic conditions that can cause changes in coloring in skin, hair, and eyes.
Sturge-Weber syndrome: a neurological disorder that typically manifests in a port-wine birthmark, a brain abnormality, and excessive pressure in the eyes.
Piebaldism: a condition that is characterized by a lack of melanocytes (which create melatonin) in specific areas of a person’s hair and skin.
Bourneville disease (tuberous sclerosis): a hereditary disorder that can cause seizures, behavioral and developmental slowness, and a variety of diseases in the kidney and lungs.
Hirschsprung disease: a birth defect in which nerve cells are missing from the infant’s large intestine.
Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome: an X chromosome-linked syndrome that manifests in abnormalities in a person’s skin, hair, eyes, teeth, and central nervous system.

Acquired Heterochromia

Acquired heterochromia is when the condition becomes present later in life, which is less common and more concerning. It can happen over time or rapidly due to the following factors:

Eye injury: any incident that can cause bruises, punctures, or scratches.
Eye surgery: typically due to intraocular surgery, like pars plana vitrectomy or cataract surgery.
Uveitis: inflammation inside the eye, generally due to a person’s body fighting an infection.
Glaucoma: a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve in the back of the eye, which can cause vision loss or blindness.
Glaucoma medication: an effect of the medication that can cause a person’s natural iris color to darken over time.
Diabetes: a chronic condition that affects how a person’s body transforms food into energy.
Eye tumors (benign or cancerous): a collection of abnormally growing cells in a person’s eye.
Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO): a condition that occurs when a person’s main vein flowing from their retina is blocked by a blood clot.

Heterochromia Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis and treatment for heterochromia varies depending on a couple of factors surrounding the condition. The condition itself is not harmful and does not need to be treated; the only changes to the body are aesthetic. If the condition is simply a genetic mutation, the symptoms can be covered by colored eye contacts if the iris color variations are undesired.

This is usually the case for congenital heterochromia. If the condition presents itself in infants, there is not generally a need or concern for treatment. As mentioned before, the baby would need to visit an eye specialist for an official diagnosis and to make sure there are no underlying causes that could be more serious. If one is found, it will be the underlying condition that will need to be treated.

As for acquired heterochromia that occurs later in life, a comprehensive eye exam will be necessary to find out what is causing the change in iris color. This underlying disease or condition will need to be pinpointed and treated. In these cases, heterochromia is not the cause of these conditions, but the symptom that will alert a person to seek help for what could potentially be a more serious issue.

Comprehensive Eye Care From Specialty Eye Institute

From comprehensive, routine exams to cataract eye surgery and everything in between, Specialty Eye Institute’s physicians are here to take care of you. For over 40 years, we’ve been trusted as an innovative expert in the industry. We have accomplished this by always putting our patients first and having a commitment to technology and research that allows us to be on the cutting edge of treatments.

Are you in need of comprehensive eye care? Whether you need a routine eye exam or treatment for a condition, take the leap to better vision and a clearer future by setting up an appointment at Specialty Eye Institute.