If you are considering visiting Dr. Johnson in Southern California to have your eye floaters evaluated and possibly treated, here are some guidelines that will hopefully answer some question you may have and some questions you didn’t realize that you had.
We use an answering / scheduling service that is local, but off site. We do not employ a receptionist. We have specifically instructed the answering NOT to answer any questions about eligibility for treatment, fees, insurance, etc. If there are any questions that are not answered here in the web site, you can leave a message and ask that Dr. Johnson call you back, or you can send him an email directly. He will make an effort to return to call or email in a timely fashion, but depending on the schedule and other concerns, it may be delayed. If it is more time sensitive or urgent, call the main office number and have the answering service staff relay that to Dr. Johnson.
Doctor Johnson’s practice is exclusively dedicated to treating eye floaters. As such, he is able to spend 60-90 minutes which each patient at each appointment. In addition, there are usually appointment spots available even on short notice. You do not need weeks or months to schedule ahead. Because many of our patients come from outside Southern California, Dr. Johnson will do his best to accommodate your travel plans. If you have a special request or time constraint, let us know.
Dr. Johnson cannot predict in advance if your floaters can be safely treated. Some of that is influenced greatly by your age. Read about that here if <30 years, here if 30-45, and here if over 45. Best to read all three sections, actually. If you are deemed to be a good candidate for treatment and wish to proceed, we can do the laser treatment procedure right at that first visit. We generally schedule 90 minutes for the first visit to allow plenty of time to talk, discuss, answer question, dilate, evaluate, discuss risks, etc. Treatment itself may take between 20-45 minutes depending on the complexity, amount, and challenge involved.
Number of days to schedule
With laser treatment, there is no inflammation or actual healing process, so treatments can be done on consecutive days if desired and needed. If you are traveling from out of the area, we can make some general recommendation is to schedule at least two, but preferably 3 consecutive day treatments to allow for the best opportunity in a short period of time. Almost everyone, even the most ideal treatments require at least a second treatment, and some of the more complex treatments may need more.
If you live relatively close (maybe an hour travel radius), it is preferable to allow a few or several days between treatments, so just schedule the first appointment, and we’ll foloww it up from there.
Do I need someone to drive me?
We do not use any sedation with treatment and there is no patching of the eye afterward a treatment. The eye rapidly recovers from the bright light used during treatment. About 10-15 minutes after treatment the main challenge is the dilated pupil(s). If you have been relatively comfortable after a dilated eye examination (with a good pair of sunglasses, most likely, then you may feel quite comfortable driving yourself.
[Medico-legal disclaimer: We have to advise you that your pupils may be dilated for several hours and that you should only drive after your vision has return to a fully functional state. If you are quite bothered by the pupil dilation process, then you should allow for another driver or other transportation means.]
The Exam
After the initial visual; acuity and baseline eye pressure testing, the examination and consultation absolutely requires the dilation of one or both pupils. If you have had a recent, thorough eye examination by a qualified eye care provider and only have a problem in one eye, then we are quite comfortable dilating and examining one eye. It will make the post exam and/or treatment period a bit easier.
We have not found the use of ultrasound, retinal photography, or other imaging techniques to be helpful in the evaluation of the “treatability” of your eye floaters. There are a few examination techniques and ophthalmoscopes that be be used at the time of the examination. All are painless, except that the lights used to illuminate the back of the eye can be a bit bright. A few patients have been sensitive to the light, but it shouldn’t be more or less than you have experienced at previous exams.
Dr. Johnson often uses a diagnostic contact lens at the time of the exam. It provides a better, more magnified, and more stable, blink-free exam. Even if you have never worn a contact lens, you will not feel it. The surface of the eye is numbed with anesthetic eye drops first, and then the contacting surface of the lens is coated with a thick, clear lubricant so the lens actually floats and glides over the surface rather than irritating or “scuffing” the surface of the cornea.
The Treatment
The actual laser treatment is completely painless. The same types of contact lenses are used throughout for all the advantages it serves. There are some laser aperture “clicking/snapping” sounds. Almost always the patient may see a spray of small dark black shadows falling inferiorly when there is a good transfer of energy to the floaters. This is not only common, but it is a sign that the floater solids are being vaporized into gas bubbles. The bubbles are actually rising to to roof of the globe, but the brain reverses the images, and you will perceive them falling. The small micro-bubbles will only linger and last 10-20 minutes or so. They quickly dissolve and reabsorb.
Post Treatment Care and Restrictions on Activities
In short, there is none. No patching, no eye drops, no medications. You can go and do whatever you want. The procedure is surprisingly well tolerated. Even with aggressive, consecutive day treatments when necessary.
Dr. Johnson is usually at his office in Irvine, in Southern California 5 days a week. Appointments may begin at 8:30, and the last appointment of the day is typically around 4:00 pm.
