Neuro-Ophthalmology

Vision problems are common among a large portion of today’s society. Recognising the signs and symptoms of some of the most common eye conditions can go a long way in preventing them from occurring. Many of us are not proactive when it comes to our eye health. Dr. Dory Neu-Ner is an ophthalmologist that believes in taking care of our eyes to protect our vision. This will make performing everyday tasks much easier.

We need to practice preventative care by having routine eye exams done by Dr. Neu-Ner in order to diagnose any vision problems early. Good eyesight improves the overall quality of life. It contributes to a huge part of our non-verbal communication, improves our learning and comprehension, and is an important part of our health in general.

Your eyes, like many other organs in the body, can lose their full potential if not taken care of properly. They are subject to injuries and stress that can bring on eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and more. The good news is that many of these eye disorders or diseases can be effectively treated with early diagnosis and specialist input from an ophthalmologist.

What is a neuro ophthalmologist?

Neuro ophthalmologists are trained to diagnose and treat complex vision problems related to your nervous system. They deal with visual complications that are caused by disorders of the brain or optic nerve connection. These can include vision problems or issues brought on by strokes, trauma, infections, or brain injuries.

Dr. Neu-Ner is an ophthalmologist and medical or osteopathic doctor trained to treat a much broader range of eye issues than an optometrist. He is a surgical and medical specialist able to diagnose and treat neurological and systemic diseases that affect your vision. His extensive training in the visual system and neurological disorders of the eye enable him to diagnose brain disorders using eye examinations.

Numerous brain disorders can cause issues with the control of your eye movements as well as problems in processing vision. Dr. Neu-Ner can assess the following conditions and help you with diseases and symptoms that include:

  • Multiple sclerosis or MS – is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system
  • Ischemic optic neuropathy or ION – is a sudden loss of vision due to the optic nerve being damaged by a blockage of its blood supply.
  • Severe headaches or migraines with aura – an aura is a sensory disturbance or change in vision such as blind spots, a tingling in your face or flashes of light.
  • Optic neuritis or ON – this the swelling or inflammation of the optic nerve which can suddenly flare up from a nerve disease such as MS or an infection.
  • Orbital tumours – these are abnormal growths of tissue in the structures surrounding the eye. Should you experience symptoms such as a bulging forward of the eyeball, vision change or loss, or pain around your eye, contact your ophthalmologist immediately.
  • Giant cell arteritis or GCA – is a disease of the blood vessels or an inflammation of the lining of the arteries especially in your head and temples. If not treated, this disease can lead to blindness.

Other conditions and symptoms Dr. Neu-Ner diagnose and treat can also include double vision, reduced colour vision, and visual loss, strabismus, thyroid eye disease, cataracts, glaucoma and more.

Because your vision is a part of your brain function, Dr. Neu-Ner is able to evaluate your whole neurological system and investigate using imaging of the optic nerve, retina, and other imaging of the eye, as well as MRI brain scans. As an ophthalmologist, he will do a thorough eye exam that will include the following:

  • Examine your eyes with a slit lamp microscope – this involves a bright light that will give him a closer look at the inside of your eye and its structures. The slit lamp microscope is effective in detecting eye diseases.
  • Test the movement of your eyes and your vision – Your eye doctor will make you stare at an object in front of you while they move it side to side and up and down.
  • Check your colour and field vision – visual field tests measure how far your eye sees in any direction without moving. A colour vision test will entail you looking at a series of test cards each containing a multi-coloured dot pattern.
  • Perform a partial or complete neurological exam – this will test coordination and strength and involves a combination of ophthalmic and neurologic techniques to assess things such as your neurologic status, vision, ocular motility, pupillary function and eyelid orbits.
  • Review past scans that you may have brought along with you – past scans will save time and give your Dr. an overview of your medical history. It will help them make a more informed decision about your eye health
  • Assess your eye pressure – this necessary test is typically performed at every eye exam and is called tonometry. It measures pressure by direct contact with the eye.

What Conditions Does a Neuro-Ophthalmologist Treat?

Dr. Neu-Ner is able to diagnose and treat a variety of vision problems and diseases that include:

  • Strabismus or crossed eyes
  • Thyroid eye disease or inflammation and damage to tissues around the eyes
  • Psuedotumor cerebri or intracranial pressure
  • Abnormalities of the eyelid such as lid retraction, proptosis, blepharophimosis, and others
  • Double vision or Diplopia is when you see two images of the same object or thing.
  • Microvascular cranial nerve palsy is the blood flow to nerves your head being blocked
  • Optic nerve disorders are when the optic nerve is damaged by a blockage of its blood supply.

As the name suggests, a neuro-ophthalmologist is a specialist of both neurology and ophthalmology. If you suspect your vision problems are caused by issues related to your nervous system, visit Dr. Neu-Ner as soon as possible. Your symptoms may not present as serious but can ultimately lead to more serious complications.

Dr. Neu-Ner has the expertise to diagnose and treat issues of the brain, eye, nerves and muscles. In some instances, medication may not be sufficient to treat some disorders. In these cases, Dr. Neu-Ner will recommend surgery to correct your vision. He is passionate about providing high quality care to patients with visual complaints caused by neurological conditions.

The gift of eyesight is something many of us take for granted. When you cannot see, it is almost impossible to perform daily tasks such as driving, feeding ourselves or meeting other basic needs. Vision impairment can be prevented or cured by early detection by your ophthalmologist.

Have any questions on ophthalmology? We are here to help. If you do not find your answer below, get in touch with us and we will do our best to provide it.

Ophthalmologists are medical professionals specialized in diagnosing and treating all eye and vision problems. Their expertise includes providing vision services such as prescribing glasses and contact lenses, as well as managing and preventing ocular medical conditions, which may involve performing surgery.

Ophthalmology provides comprehensive eye care, including disease prevention, refractive and optical services, diagnosis and management of eye conditions, as well as medical, surgical, and rehabilitative treatments.

Ophthalmologists are qualified to diagnose and treat a range of eye conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, eye injuries and trauma, dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal disorders, uveitis, strabismus, and others.

Surgical ophthalmology involves ophthalmologists performing microsurgical procedures within the eye, such as cataract extraction and retinal detachment repair. Most surgical ophthalmologists perform cataract surgeries and usually specialize in one of several surgical subspecialties.

If your primary care physician or optometrist is unable to address your eye condition, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist can provide a detailed evaluation and offer a more precise diagnosis.

Ophthalmologists are experts in diagnosing and treating eye injuries, infections, diseases, and disorders. They assess for early signs of conditions like cataracts or glaucoma and conduct comprehensive examinations of the retina and optic nerve.

Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed eye surgery. It is commonly done due to the widespread occurrence of cataracts, which cause clouding of the eye’s natural lens, particularly in the aging population.

A standard ophthalmic exam is a comprehensive series of assessments performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, both of whom specialize in eye health. These tests assess vision and overall eye health and are also known as a comprehensive eye exam or routine eye exam.

Eye emergencies, including sudden vision loss, corneal laceration, retinal detachment, foreign objects or chemicals in the eye, orbital cellulitis, acute glaucoma, and scleritis, necessitate immediate referral to an ophthalmologist for urgent medical care.

Visual acuity measurement includes preliminary tests to evaluate visual function and eye health. These tests assess depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, and pupil response to light. Additionally, refractive status is assessed to identify conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

Some common eye diseases include glaucoma cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration

It is generally advised to undergo an eye exam every 1 to 2 years, based on age, risk factors, and whether you currently use corrective lenses.

An ophthalmologist is a medical and surgical specialist providing the highest level of eye care. Their advanced training allows them to diagnose and treat a broader range of eye conditions compared to optometrists and opticians.

Before your eye test, bring notes on any questions you have, a list of all current medications and treatments, any glasses you use, and details about distances for specific tasks like using a computer. Also, include any medical documents related to previous eye treatments. Inform your eye specialist if you have diabetes or if there are any special needs, such as learning disabilities, autism, or physical disabilities, that may affect the examination.

Vision screening is a basic test designed to identify potential vision issues early. An eye exam, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive evaluation of your eyes and overall eye health.