New technology and techniques improve treatment of common disorders

A revolutionary new glaucoma surgery was recently performed for the first time in Northern California by ophthalmologist Michael Depenbusch, M.D.
“Glaucoma is an insidious disease that slowly blinds people who don’t even know they have it,” said Dr. Depenbusch, a specialist at the Santa Cruz Medical Clinic (SMSC). “This new technique is changing people’s lives.”
The procedure uses an ExPress valve, a device developed in Europe and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2002. The valve releases pressure on the eye by diverting fluid from the inside of the eye to a minuscule reservoir created under the upper eyelid.
“It takes five minutes and causes less trauma than older procedures,” Dr. Depenbusch said. “Chances of infection are reduced, fewer follow ups are needed and, with nothing to scar over, we will have excellent long term results.”
“Over time, it will be cheaper and easier than eye drops,” he noted.
Although glaucoma occurs most often in older people, it can appear in people of all ages and is more prevalent in African Americans.
This is just one of the technologically advanced corrective procedures available for common conditions that affect vision such as glaucoma, cataracts, astigmatism and diabetic eye problems.

Eliminating Cataracts

Ultrasonic energy is now used to fragment the cloudy lenses in people with cataracts. Using special equipment purchased by Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center, ophthalmologist Robert L. Block, M.D., and Dr. Depenbusch perform “clear cornea no-stitch surgery” that requires only eye drop anesthesia and the tiniest of incisions.
“Recovery is almost instantaneous,” Dr. Block enthused. “People see improvement immediately and within three days, 95% of our patients experience significant visual improvement. Healing time is faster with less discomfort than that following traditional cataract surgery.”
Artist Bill Kerr concurred.
A retired art teacher and avid ceramic painter, Kerr, 81, said his cataract surgeries in January and February by Dr. Block—one for each eye—were “the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.
“I’ve worn glasses since I was 18; now when I’m 81, I don’t have to wear them anymore. My eyes are good enough to read a book without glasses, and I just saw ‘Chicago,’ the first movie I’ve ever seen without glasses. It’s very exciting.”
“As an artist,” Kerr said, “I’ve been watching what happens to colors. I couldn’t see them well but I didn’t know it. The greens are brighter, the blues are electric, and the reddish brown I’m fond of using isn’t so reddish anymore.”

Diabetic Sight & Dry Eye

Dr. Block and Dr. Depenbusch use laser treatment to reduce vision loss by over 50% in diabetics. They also follow disease processes related to the retina in diabetics (and others) through Heidelberg Retinal Tomography, the latest in optic nerve and retinal thickness imaging.
“HRT is like a topographical map of the optic nerve in minute detail that allows us to follow changes in the eye,” Dr. Depenbusch said.
One of the more common conditions they treat is dry eye, which usually develops after age 45 and is seen most common in women. “Your eyes feel gritty and tired, especially after reading or staring at a computer screen for awhile,” Dr. Block explained. “Your eyes may tear, too. It is uncomfortable and left untreated, dry eye can damage the cornea.
“Dry eye is caused by improperly creating tears that don’t adhere to the eye,” he said. “An unusual aspect is that 15% to 20% of patients with dry eye actually come in because their eyes won’t stop tearing.”
He noted that there are two new medicated drops to treat dry eye that are a big improvement over artificial tear eye drops and will be available in late April.
Their therapies are not all strictly medical procedures or medications, though they are scientifically based. Dr. Block is a proponent of over-the-counter ocular vitamins for people with macular degenerative disease, the leading cause of vision loss in Caucasians over age 65. ”This retinal disease affects the central vision we use the most, at first distorting images so that an edge of a building looks like a curve and later obliterating central vision,” he explained.
A nine-year study by the National Institute of Health demonstrated that people with mild to moderate vision loss from macular degeneration decreased progressive vision loss by 28% after taking specific vitamins.
“We haven’t had anything to treat this disease with before, so this gives us hope and is a basic thing that is easily done for eye health.”

Both Santa Cruz Medical Clinic physicians, Dr. Block and Dr. Depenbusch are board certified in their specialty. They treat eye diseases, conditions and injuries and perform a variety of laser procedures, including refractive surgery for people who want to reduce their dependence on glasses or contacts. They administer BOTOX injections for cosmetic purposes and perform eyelid lifts for medical and cosmetic reasons.

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