Laser vision correction
Laser vision correction
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Dr Monique Camacho performs both LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) and PRK (or photorefractive keratectomy). These non-invasive laser vision correction procedures change the shape of your cornea to correct your vision. Bladeless LASIK creates a flap with a femtosecond laser. The flap is then lifted, and the corneal layer underneath is resurfaced with an excimer laser before the flap is put back down. PRK, on the other hand, reshapes the cornea without creating a flap. It can treat higher prescriptions and patients who aren’t candidates for LASIK. Following a rigorous assessment, Dr Monique Camacho will recommend a laser vision correction procedure that considers your vision correction requirements and lifestyle goals.
CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Refractive cataract surgery
Cataracts – a clouding of the lens in the eye that can block or affect your vision – are common in adults 60 years and older. In fact, everyone will develop cataracts if they live long enough, since they’re the result of ageing. As cataracts get thicker and denser, you may notice that colours aren’t as bright as they once were, or that your vision is blurry even with an optimised pair of glasses. You may also experience glare and halos (rainbow-like coloured rings). Dr Monique Camacho is a refractive cataract surgery expert – she performs surgical removal of cataracts and implants an advanced multi-focal lens as an outpatient procedure in the operating room at Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital. Refractive cataract surgery is very safe and effective.
Laser vision correction
Dr Monique Camacho performs both LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) and PRK (or photorefractive keratectomy). These non-invasive laser vision correction procedures change the shape of your cornea to correct your vision. Bladeless LASIK creates a flap with a femtosecond laser. The flap is then lifted, and the corneal layer underneath is resurfaced with an excimer laser before the flap is put back down. PRK, on the other hand, reshapes the cornea without creating a flap. It can treat higher prescriptions and patients who aren’t candidates for LASIK. Following a rigorous assessment, Dr Monique Camacho will recommend a laser vision correction procedure that considers your vision correction requirements and lifestyle goals.
Dry eye and ocular allergy treatment
Dry eyes and eye allergies can be very uncomfortable and irritating. Ageing, inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and side effects from medications like the contraceptive pill can cause dry eyes, whereas eye allergies are a reaction to indoor and outdoor allergens that get into your eyes. Symptoms of dry eye and ocular allergy can vary, but the most common symptoms include - Redness of the whites of the eyes, a ‘gritty’ feeling that’s often worse in the mornings, blurred vision, a burning sensation, irritable eyelids, light sensitivity, painful eyes and excessive watering. If you’re suffering from these symptoms, Dr Monique Camacho would be happy to help come up with a personalised treatment plan for you.
Diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment
Having diabetes increases your risk for diabetic retinopathy (DR), a complication of diabetes caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). DR is generally a slow progressing disease with various stages – some that are vision-threatening and others that aren’t. While early detection is the best defense patients have against DR-related vision loss, treatment for all levels of DR has the potential to be effective. Dr Monique Camacho diagnoses and treats DR using the most advanced techniques, such as laser treatments to stop leaking blood vessels coupled with proper diet and nutrition. An early DR diagnosis can help Dr Monique Camacho work with patients to create their best personalised management plan.
Glaucoma treatment
Glaucoma is a progressive and degenerative disease of the optic nerve – the cord that connects the eye to the brain. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to irreversible vision loss, which is why regular eye exams are important. There are many different types of glaucoma, the most common being open angle glaucoma (POAG) characterised by an open, normal appearing anterior chamber angle and raised intraocular pressure (IOP) with no other underlying disease. Depending on the degree of glaucoma, Dr Monique Camacho may use medications, laser therapy and microinvasive glaucoma surgery to manage the condition. She’s committed to helping you preserve your eye health and adapt to changes in your vision as you age.
Keratoconus treatment
Keratoconus is an eye disease in which the cornea (the outer layer of the eye) deteriorates with myopia and astigmatism. The collagen fibres in the cornea are weak and cannot maintain the shape of the eye, so they tend to thin and curve forward or ‘bulge out’. Generally, keratoconus starts in adolescence and shows a progressive feature after your 20s. More progress is usually seen in one eye than the other. Dr Monique Camacho’s keratoconus treatment is aimed at improving vision and preventing progression of the disease. In the case of permanent scarring following an episode of corneal hydrops, she’ll perform a corneal transplant whereby the scar is removed and a donor cornea is placed. A corneal transplant can last decades with proper care.
Age-related macular degeneration diagnosis and treatment
Your macular health determines your ability to read, drive, watch TV, use a computer and perform other tasks that require you to see detail. Macular degeneration – also called age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) – is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. It’s a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision, causing deterioration of the small central area of the retina (the macula that controls visual acuity). While the exact cause of macular degeneration is unclear, as you get older, your risk for developing this eye disease increases. ARMD usually affects people in their 50s and 60s. Dr Monique Camacho expertly diagnoses and treats ARMD using the most advanced techniques in a modern eye care facility.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension management
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder characterised by chronically elevated intracranial pressure that causes symptoms like vision changes and headaches. Females are eight times more likely than males to develop this condition. Although IIH is an uncommon disorder, cases have been found to be increasing with the rising obesity rates, especially in Africa. Once you’re diagnosed with IIH, Dr Monique Camacho will recommend a management plan based on your condition. Management options may include medications to help improve symptoms, weight loss strategies which can be effective in treating IIH or venous sinus stenting – a safe, effective and increasingly popular treatment option for selected patients with IIH.
Pinguecula and pterygium surgery
A pingueculum is a harmless yellowish raised growth on the white part of your eye. A pterygium, on the other hand, is a fleshy wedge-shaped growth on the surface of the eye that extends onto the cornea. Most commonly, they’re due to exposure to sun, wind and dust. A pingueculum or pterygium needs to be treated only when they’re causing discomfort, affecting vision, interfering with contact lens wear or if there’s suspicion for a precancerous lesion. Dr Monique Camacho performs pinguecula and pterygium surgery as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic. If a pingueculum or pterygium is small and causing no or minor symptoms, it can be treated with eye ointments, eye lubricating drops or a short course of steroid eye drops.
Eyelid growth removal
Skin tags, cysts and xanthelasmas (yellowish deposits of cholesterol) are some of the types of lid growths that can be treated. Removing these growths not only improves the appearance of your eyes, but can also help restore your vision by eliminating excess skin. The eyelid is a delicate structure with important muscles and arteries and expert knowledge of the anatomy is crucial for achieving an aesthetically pleasing and safe result. With years of focused training, Dr Monique Camacho takes care to meticulously remove eyelid growths using state-of-the-art methods.
Uveitis
Uveitis is a group of inflammatory diseases that mostly affect the middle part of the eye, called the uvea. This form of eye inflammation can easily be mistaken for conjunctivitis, with symptoms ranging from eye pain and redness to sensitivity to light, blurred or cloudy vision and floaters – spots in the eye that look like tiny rods or chains of transparent bubbles floating around in the field of vision. With proper diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management, inflammation can be carefully controlled and your vision preserved.
