Medical Eyecare

Common Eye Diseases

​If our evaluation indicates an ocular health condition or risk of the condition, further medical testing may be recommended to access the condition. Our office is equipped with the latest in ocular medical testing instruments to perform most of these tests. In some cases, you will need to be referred to another doctor or facility for additional testing or evaluation. Please call for urgent care, so we can get you in as soon as possible. Urgent care includes:

• Infections

• Red eyes

• Sudden vision loss

• Foreign matter in your eyes

• Minor injuries

• Other urgencies

We are specialists in eye problems and are equipped to handle these types of problems very effectively. These types of office visits are billed as medical procedures to your medical insurance plan just as they would if you were to go to an urgent care clinic.

Cataract Co-Management

​If we determine that you have cataracts that need to be removed, we will refer you to a surgeon for the lens replacement surgery and co-manage your post-operative care with the surgeon following the procedure.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

We are able to monitor Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and recommend a course of treatment for you. We have a sensitive ocular coherence tomography (OCT) instrument which helps to determine the severity of the disease. We are able to detect subtle changes that may indicate the wet form of AMD. It is important to catch AMD as soon as possible when it turns to the wet form, as you will need to be referred to a retinal specialist ophthalmologist for immediate treatment to preserve your vision.

Floaters

Floaters are a very normal finding and most people have them and learn to ignore them. However, a sudden onset of floaters with flashes can be an indication of something more serious. It is considered an emergency and it is imperative that you contact our office immediately. We will dilate your eyes so we can get an indepth view of the back of your eye to make sure there is nothing serious such as a tear in the retina or a retinal detachment. If a tear or detachment is present, we will refer to the appropriate retinal specialist.

Glaucoma

​Our office is fully equipped for diagnosis, management and treatment of glaucoma and those who have a risk of glaucoma such as ocular hypertension, family history or suspicious optic nerve appearance. We utilize technologies such as ocular coherence tomography (OCT), visual fields testing, pachymetry, and fundus photography to monitor and track your condition and plan or change your treatment when necessary.

Diabetic Related Eye Exams

Diabetics or pre-diabetic patients need annual dilated exams to check for effects of diabetes on your eyes, such as diabetic retinopathy or changes in vision correction. We communicate with your primary care physician after your eye exam to let your doctor know if your eyes show any effects from your diabetic condition.

Dry Eye Treatment

Montana's climate produces a higher percentage of dry eye patients. We have experience with over-the-counter and prescription therapies for dry eyes. For more extreme cases, we can insert punctal occlusion plugs for temporary or long term relief. This process involves placing dissolvable or synthetic plugs in the natural drains of your eyes to enable tears to stay in your eyes longer. Placing warm compresses on your eye also helps with dryness.