Cataracts can cause many symptoms – blurred vision, fading colors, glare, difficulty reading, driving or doing things you enjoy. Cataracts are a natural part of aging and many people will experience gradually decreasing vision. After the cataract is removed, patients are generally amazed by how much their vision is improved and some can even reduce their dependency on glasses.

Cataracts are treated surgically, and at Brighton Vision Center your surgeon and their team will counsel you every step of the way. In the vast majority of cases, cataract surgery will restore the vision in the eye by replacing the clouded lens with a clear lens implant. The surgery is performed as an outpatient (no hospital stay) and typically takes about 10-15 minutes. With modern cataract surgery, the recovery is quick for most patients. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery in the world and is considered to be safe and effective – your individual surgical risk will be discussed by your surgeon.

In general, there are two different types of cataract surgery:

Premium Cataract Surgery

Premium Cataract surgery – also known as refractive cataract surgery – uses the newest technology in lens implantation. This is the best choice to reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses because this technology offers the ability to see at a range of distances with improved clarity.

Traditional Cataract Surgery

In Traditional Cataract Surgery, your surgeon will implant a lens in your eye that will improve the quality and clarify of your vision at one distance. You will discuss with your surgeon which distance is best for you – distance, intermediate (computer or tablet), or near (reading). After your surgery, you will require trifocal or bifocal glasses for your best vision.

If you have glaucoma, your surgeon may also offer you a Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery to be performed at the same time as your cataract surgery to treat your glaucoma or potentially reduce your need for eye drops.

If you believe you or a family member has cataracts, contact us to schedule an appointment today. We look forward to caring for you, please call today.

810-494-2020

Dr. Farjo is our corneal specialist at Brighton Vision and has performed thousands of restorative corneal procedures over the past 25 years.

The cornea is the most important refracting surface of your eye and any problems with it, even slight, can lead to blurred or doubled vision in the eye. Corneal dystrophies and degenerations such as Map-Dot-Fingerprint (Anterior basement membrane) dystrophy, Keratoconus, and Fuchs Corneal Endothelial dystrophy can lead to severe vision loss. Fortunately, there are therapies and surgical treatments to help prevent or restore clarity to the cornea.

During your visit, we will generally map your cornea with our three-dimensional scanning technology and determine whether there are any abnormalities of the cornea as well as the best method to correct those if present. Thankfully, most corneal problems are correctable and many do not require surgery. Please contact us to schedule an evaluation if you have been diagnosed with a corneal problem.

810-494-2020

A diagnosis of glaucoma can be scary, but at Brighton Vision Center, our glaucoma specialist, Dr. Emily Schehlein, and comprehensive glaucoma team can help you manage the disease.

Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve – the cable that connects the eye to the brain. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States and there are often no symptoms that you would notice. You can have glaucoma with a high pressure in the eye or a normal pressure. Glaucoma causes changes in your peripheral vision (or side vision) and can affect members of the same family. Glaucoma is a lifelong disease, so it is important to find a doctor and team that you can trust with your treatment.

During your first visit for your glaucoma evaluation, we will perform several tests to determine if you have glaucoma, the severity, and the type. If you do have glaucoma, there are multiple treatments. Typically, glaucoma is treated in 3 ways: medications (eye drops), laser therapy, and surgery. Dr. Schehlein is skilled and knowledgeable in all aspects of glaucoma care.

If you also have a cataract, your surgeon may discuss removing your cataract and treating your glaucoma at the same time. Many Minimally Invasive Glaucoma procedures are performed though the same incision as cataract surgery and both problems can be treated at once. Please call today for an evaluation with Dr. Schehlein.

810-494-2020

Age-Related Macular Degeneration- Latest Treatments Available at Brighton Vision Center

Age-related macular degeneration, also called “macular degeneration”, or simply AMD, is a common disease of the retina, with more than 20 million Americans affected. AMD can affect anyone, but age is the most important risk factor, with nearly 30% of Americans over the age of 75 having some degree of macular degeneration. Blurry vision, wavy lines, and loss of central vision can all be signs of macular degeneration, but for most people, there are no symptoms from macular degeneration. Screening by an eye doctor, like those at the Brighton Vision Center, is essential for early diagnosis of this potentially blinding condition.

There are two types of macular degeneration: the “wet” kind and the “dry” kind. The vast majority of people with macular degeneration have the dry form. This usually does not have symptoms and is often treated with special vitamins to help prevent progression of the disease. New medications, such as Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) are available for certain patients with AMD. If you would like more information about these treatments, we would recommend making an appointment with one of our retina specialists, Dr. Karin Sletten or Dr. Nicholas Carducci.

The “wet” kind of macular degeneration is less common. This kind of macular degeneration tends to have more symptoms, like blurry vision, waviness in vision, or missing spots in vision. In rare cases, sudden vision loss can occur from wet macular degeneration. Many treatments exist for this kind of macular degeneration, such as injections of Avastin (bevacizumab), Lucentis (ranibizumab), Eylea (aflibercept), Byooviz (ranibizumab-nuna), and Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa). Our retina specialists, Drs. Karin Sletten and Nicholas Carducci, are experts in the treatment of wet macular degeneration and eye injections, and would be happy to discuss treatment with you at your next appointment.

Advanced Care for Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Available at Brighton Vision Center

A retinal vein occlusion occurs when a blockage occurs in one of the blood vessels in the back of your eye. Symptoms of a vein occlusion can include blurred vision, distorted vision, missing central vision, or very rarely a feeling of pressure in the eye. This is different from a stroke and is managed primarily by an ophthalmologist who specializes in the retina. Dr. Karin Sletten and Dr. Nicholas Carducci at the Brighton Vision Center have special expertise in managing this condition.

A retinal vein occlusion can be treated in many different ways. Some retinal vein occlusions do not require any treatment, while others can require treatments including injections into the eye and laser procedures. Our retina specialists, Drs. Karin Sletten and Nicholas Carducci, are experts in retinal vein occlusions, and would be happy to discuss your treatment options with you. At Brighton Vision Center, we provide the most up to date treatments for retinal vein occlusions, including injections of Avastin (bevacizumab), Lucentis (ranibizumab), Eylea (aflibercept), Ozurdex (dexamethasone implant), and Triescence (Triamcinolone). They also can perform laser procedures such as focal laser photocoagulation and panretinal photocoagulation if these are necessary in your specific case.

We are happy to assist you in any of your needs for vitreo-retinal care. Please call today for an appointment with Dr. Sletten or Dr. Carducci.

810-494-2020

The Corneal Crosslinking (CXL) procedure was approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2016. This procedure attempts to prevent worsening and reduce corneal curvature (steepness) in patients with certain forms of keratoconus and post-refractive surgery corneal thinning (ectasia).

The cornea is the clear, outer layer of your eye. The middle or stromal layer is the thickest part of the cornea. It has mostly water and a protein called collagen, which is similar to the collagen in your skin but specialized for the eye. Collagen in the cornea is strong and flexible. It also helps the cornea keep its round, regular shape. This healthy cornea focuses light so you can see clearly.

CXL is an eye treatment that is usually performed in the office. The FDA-approved treatment involves the instillation of anesthetic eye drops to aid in the removal of the corneal surface layer; instillation of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) eye drops over 30 minutes; followed by treatment of the cornea with ultraviolet light. The FDA-approved treatment takes about 1 hour. A bandage contact lens and various eye drops are used afterwards for comfort and to facilitate healing of the surface. The vitamin eye drops and UV light work together to make the collagen stronger. The cornea becomes stiffer and usually stops bulging.

Corneal surgeons have extensive experience with corneal crosslinking for keratoconus and post-refractive surgical ectasia in Europe and worldwide. Dr. Farjo has participated in clinical trials of the procedure in the United States and has been performing the procedure since 2012. We have been working with medical insurance companies attempting to help cover the cost of the procedure. As with all surgical procedures, there are risks involved and not everyone benefits from the procedure.

If CXL is among the treatment options suitable for your problem, we will provide you with more specific information about it and your options during your appointment with Dr. Farjo.

If you believe you or a family member has keratoconus or corneal ectasia, contact us to schedule an appointment today. We look forward to caring for you, please call today.

810-494-2020

Dr. Farjo has performed thousands of laser vision correction procedures over the past 25 years.

Laser vision correction procedures reshape the outermost layer of the eye, the cornea, to allow better focusing of light onto the back of the eye. This reduces dependence on glasses and contact lenses.

The procedures can be very successful if you are a good candidate and we will perform a thorough evaluation at your visit to make this determination. It is important to keep in mind that laser vision correction does not correct presbyopia (the loss of your focusing ability, resulting in the need for reading glasses generally over the age of 40). It is important to discuss your goals for your vision during your visit and have realistic expectations.

Learn more about LASIK at the FDA website.

Call today to schedule a consultation:

810-494-2020

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your primary care doctor will recommend that you have your eyes examined at least once per year in order to check for problems related to diabetes. Diabetes affects the smallest blood vessels in the body first, including the eyes, fingertips, toes, and kidneys. In some cases, an ophthalmologist can find evidence of diabetes even if you did not know you had diabetes. The really is a window to the rest of your body and can help you and your doctor guide your treatment. Our doctors are trained to look for diabetic damage in the eyes and are happy to communicate that information to your primary care physician.

Diabetes can have many effects on the eye and increases the risk for cataracts and glaucoma. Most people with diabetes don’t have any eye symptoms, which is why an examination by one of our eye doctors is crucial for appropriate management. Some people with diabetes can have blurry vision or, in extremely rare cases, complete loss of vision due to their eye disease. If you have any of these symptoms, please call our office for an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists.

In rare cases, people with diabetes may need to have eye injections or laser procedures in order to better control the diabetes in their eye and prevent further damage. Our retina specialists, Drs. Karin Sletten and Nicholas Carducci, are experts in managing diabetic retinal damage to the eye. At Brighton Vision Center, we provide the most advanced treatments for diabetic eye problems, including injections of Avastin (bevacizumab), Lucentis (ranibizumab), Eylea (aflibercept), Byooviz (ranibizumab-nuna), Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa), Ozurdex (dexamethasone implant), and Triescence (Triamcinolone). They also can perform laser procedures such as focal laser photocoagulation and panretinal photocoagulation in order to better manage diabetic eye disease.

Please call today for an evaluation with our doctors today.

810-494-2020

Floaters are an extremely common eye condition, that affect millions of Americans. Floaters can come alone, in pairs, or as a shower, and can sometimes be associated with flashing lights, blurry vision, a curtain in your vision, or a missing part of your vision. If you have any of these symptoms, one of the eye doctors at the Brighton Vision Center would be happy to examine you to help figure out the cause.

The most common cause of a new floater is a posterior vitreous detachment, also known as a PVD. A posterior vitreous detachment is a normal part of growing older for most people and is rarely associated with a specific cause. Most posterior vitreous detachments occur on their own, without any prior symptoms. They occur when the jelly inside of your eye (the vitreous) breaks down due to age and separates (detaches) from the back of your eye. In some cases, this can be associated with tears in the retina. Only an eye doctor can make this diagnosis, so any new floaters should be examined right away by an ophthalmologist like those here at the Brighton Vision Center.

We are happy to assist you in any of your needs for vitreo-retinal care. Please call today for an appointment with Dr. Sletten or Dr. Carducci.

810-494-2020

Informed consent is more than just signing a form. It is important for you to understand the procedures that you may be considering for your eyes. All procedures have risk and, while generally unlikely, some procedures can even lead to chronic pain, loss of vision, or even blindness. Please ask questions about the procedure, its risks, benefits, and alternatives with your physician so that you can know your options before deciding to have the procedure performed.

Forms will be added to this section in the near future.

Instructions for the procedures below are general guidelines and specific directions will be given to you at the office. If you are experiencing progressive decreased vision, pain or redness, call our office immediately: 810-494-2020. If this is a medical emergency please call 911 or proceed to your nearest Emergency Room.

Cataract surgery

• Do not rub, touch, blot, itch, wipe or scratch your eye
• Be careful around children and animals as they may bump the eye accidentally
• Avoid heavy lifting for 7-10 days after surgery. Normal lifting and bending are fine, but be careful not to bend and hit the eye. Light exercise is also okay but please do not take unnecessary risks
• Do not swim or get anything dirty in your eye for two weeks after the surgery. You may take a shower but avoid letting the direct stream of water hit the operated eye
• Avoid makeup (including eyeliner, mascara, foundation, eye shadow) near the eye for at least two weeks, but preferably as long as you are on drops, as makeup increases your risk of infection whether applying or removing it


• Only one eyedrop into the inside of lower eyelid is necessary but if you are unsure then add another drop
• If you have a difficult time putting the eyedrop in: Lay flat, close your eye and put the drop in the inner corner of the eye. Afterward, open your eye and allow the drop to roll in
• Separate each drop by 1 – 3 minutes before putting in the next one to avoid rinsing out the first drop
• You may use artificial tear drops as needed for dryness, irritation, gritty sensation or feeling that something is in the eye
• You may take Tylenol (regular or extra strength) every 4 hours as needed for pain or headache
• You may typically resume your normal medications
• Sunglasses may be used for eye protection
• The eye shield should be placed over the operative eye at bedtime. Please wear this for at least the first couple nights after surgery. Avoid sleeping or putting pressure on your eye. Use paper tape if your skin becomes irritated
• Many can resume work and driving (carefully) the day after surgery


More procedures will be added to this section in the future.