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Upneeq®: Revolutionary Treatment for Acquired Ptosis

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Upneeq® offers revolutionary eye-lifting technology in the convenience of daily drops. Upneeq® has received FDA approval to be safe and effective in the treatment of a condition called low-lying lids, or acquired ptosis. This method of treatment is preferred to those seeking non-invasive, surgery-free eye treatment options.

Acquired ptosis is an eyelid dysfunction characterized by abnormally low upper eyelids. A major contributing issue is the loss of elasticity in the levator muscle of the eyelid, causing the eyelid to droop and begin to cover the pupil. Acquired ptosis is considered comorbidity in patients with other diseases and disorders.

Many seek treatment via the surgical route. Upneeq® is unique in its function in that it is non-surgical and effective.

Who is Eligible For Upneeq®?

The decision to treat ptosis in this measure should be a decision between you and your ophthalmologist or another specialized medical doctor. Upneeq® drops are a 0.1% concentration of oxymetazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic solution available through RVL Pharmacy.

Upneeq® can affect your blood pressure and is not advised to be used by patients with heart disease or blood pressure issues. There are a few drug interactions to avoid using this treatment. Be sure your medical professional reviews your entire medical history to prevent any drug interactions with your current prescriptions.

Making the Call

Before you and your physician decide to treat acquired ptosis with Upneeq® be sure to read all safety and health material provided by RVL Pharmacy and on Upneeq.com. You can call 844-RVL-EYES and talk to a qualified pharmacist with any questions or concerns.

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Will LASIK Correct My Vision?

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The acronym LASIK stands for laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis which is a refractive surgery. LASIK is also an umbrella term for the varying specific types of laser eye surgery. This eyesight correction method is among the most popular in the US, having a 96% success rate in the 10 million Americans that have undergone this treatment. LASIK corrects vision by altering the cornea and causing light to be focused at the back of the eye.

With all things, just because LASIK works for most, doesn’t mean it’s meant for all.

LASIK has been proven to correct the vision of those with these sight conditions:

  • Myopia – nearsightedness, issues seeing objects far off
  • Hyperopia- farsightedness, issues seeing objects near
  • Astigmatism- blurred distorted vision due to misshapen eye surface

Surgical Method

Before any operation is done to the eye, eye numbing drops are given as a precaution. LASIK is one of the few surgeries that can be done while the patient is awake. The technical procedure for LASIK is quite simple in that a specialty laser is directed at your cornea in pulses and slowly reshapes the cornea. Often the surgeon will initially open up a flap in the cornea to allow for more precise corneal adjustments.

Though LASIK is minimally invasive and yields high efficacy rates, it is not suggested for individuals diagnosed with degenerative eye diseases. LASIK yields the highest success rates for those who have minimal refractive error.

Things To Consider Before Making Your LASIK Appointment

Before LASIK surgery is confirmed as a treatment for your vision, your doctor and surgeon will be sure to thoroughly examine your medical history and eye health. LASIK can result in complications for individuals who have certain health issues and is therefore not typically suggested for those with:

  • Eye diseases that affect the health of your cornea(e.g., keratoconus)
  • Inflammation in the eye (e.g., uveitis, herpes simplex, keratitis)
  • Injuries to the eye or disorders affecting the eyelid
  • Abnormally large pupils
  • Glaucoma
  • Cataracts
  • Dry eyes

Your general health is a factor in the outcome of your LASIK corrective eye treatment. These categories can make the effectiveness of LASIK less predictable:

  • Diseases that affect the immune system
  • Immunosuppressive medicines
  • Diabetic Conditions

Talk to your medical professional today to see if LASIK vision treatment is for you.

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When You May Need Cataract Surgery

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Deciding to have cataract surgery in Columbia, SC, is a very personal decision. If you’ve been considering this procedure, there are a few things to remember. Cataracts affect each person differently, and you may only want to undergo the procedure if cataracts are interfering with your daily life. Always discuss your options with your doctor at The Eye Center in Columbia before making a final decision.

What is Cataract Surgery?

Surgery is a permanent option for cataract treatment in Columbia, SC. After the procedure is complete, your vision should greatly improve in just a few days! During the surgery, the doctor will remove your clouded lens and replace it with a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL). It’s typically an outpatient procedure performed under anesthesia, and there’s little risk for serious complications when performed by an experienced surgeon at a Columbia eye center.

When to Get Cataract Surgery

Everyone experiences cataracts differently, so your decision should be based on your level of comfort and your doctor’s recommendations. Some questions to ask yourself when considering cataract surgery at The Eye Center in Columbia, SC include:

  • Can you see well enough to drive?
  • Can you comfortably read and watch television?
  • Can you still carry out daily activities, like cooking and climbing stairs?
  • Can you retain the same level of independence as you used to?
  • Can you see with bright lights shining?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, it might be time to consider cataract surgery.

What to Expect Afterwards

After you undergo surgery for cataract treatment in Columbia, SC, expect your vision to still be a bit blurry at first. Don’t worry – this is just part of your eyes healing and adjusting! For a couple of days, it’s normal to feel some mild discomfort or itchiness. Your doctor may prescribe eye drops or other medication to help with this, but it should disappear within a few days.

Cataract surgery successfully restores vision in most cases, with very few complications. To learn more, discuss your options with your eye doctor today!

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Imagine an EYE-OPENING Lift with a Daily Drop of Upneeq

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Tired of those tired, sleepy appearing, droopy eyelids? We are pleased to now prescribe Upneeq. This is a nonsurgical treatment that can help you look more awake, alert, and youthful. It is a daily eyedrop that can make a big impact in some patients. If you think Upneeq may be a good choice for you, please come see us. 

The Eye Center is proud to offer Upneeq, the only FDA-approved prescription eye drop for acquired ptosis (low-lying lids) that lifts your upper eyelids to open your eyes.

Acquired ptosis (low-lying lids) is a common medical condition that:

  • Can develop later in life
  • Affects adults of all ages, but occurs more often with increased age
  • Usually occurs when the muscles in the eyelid stretch and weaken, causing the lid to droop
  • May be caused by other issues, such as cataract surgery, contact lens wear, or an underlying medical condition. It could be a sign of a more serious medical condition.

What can Upneeq do for you?

Lifts eyelid(s) quickly.

  • Most patients in clinical trials had a lift in their eyelids in as little as 2 hours
    • 84% of patients had some form of improvement
    • 74% of patients had more than a 50% improvement
  • In one study, some patients saw a lift in their eyelids as fast as 5 minutes after the first dose

Significantly improves upper field of vision.

  • In clinical trials, Upneeq helped patients with acquired ptosis see more—on the first day of treatment!
    • 87.8% of patients had some form of improvement
    • 40.8% of patients had at least a 50% improvement on Day 14 (2 hours after applying Upneeq)

About the Eye Center

The Eye Center is the leading refractive practice in South Carolina, providing full-service eye care and specializing in Refractive Surgery – Lasik, AST, PRK, PRELEX, as well as Corneal Transplant and Cataract Surgery.

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Have Questions? Feel free to contact us and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

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2021 Kiawah Eye Meeting Sees Record Attendance

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Recently, Dr. Matthew Clary, from The Eye Center of Columbia, had the honor of delivering the first lecture of the 2021 Kiawah Eye Meeting. This three-day event, held at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, is an annual Continuing Medical Education (CME) symposium where leading physicians, researchers, and industry representatives discuss the latest advances in the field of ophthalmology. Last year’s conference was canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic, but resumed this year and saw record attendance. 

In his lecture, Dr. Clary spoke on the benefits and successes of DURYSTA in their patients. Many glaucoma patients have difficulty administering their pressure-reducing eye drops properly, or suffer side effects from their eye drops. Without daily use of eye drops, these patients are at a much higher risk of vision loss.

The DURYSTA glaucoma implant provides an alternative to eye drops. This tiny implant, measuring just 1mm in length, is inserted painlessly into the eye. As the implant slowly biodegrades over a 6-12 month period, it releases a glaucoma medication that reduces pressure within the eye. Thanks to DURYSTA, the first implant of its kind approved by the FDA, drops are no longer needed to deliver glaucoma medication. Patients, along with their families and physicians, can now be confident that medication is being delivered consistently on a daily basis.

If you or your loved one struggle with either the administration or side effects of eye drops for glaucoma, please contact The Eye Center to discuss if DURYSTA can help reduce or eliminate the need for drops. Our doctors provide the best glaucoma treatment in Columbia.

About The Eye Center

The Eye Center is the leading refractive practice in South Carolina, providing full service eye care and specializing in Refractive Surgery – Lasik, AST, PRK, PRELEX, as well as Corneal Transplant and Cataract Surger

Get In Touch With Us
Have Questions? Feel free to contact us and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

803.256.0641
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Wearing Contacts When You Have Astigmatism

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Many of the people who visit an ophthalmologist in Columbia, SC, express concerns about astigmatism, a condition that causes people to experience distorted or blurry vision. Many people who have astigmatism also experience either nearsightedness or farsightedness, requiring the use of either glasses or contact lenses. Luckily, there are some contact lenses offered at a Columbia eye center that are perfect for those with astigmatism!

What Kind of Contact Lenses Are Best for Astigmatism?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology, or the AAO, recommends that people with astigmatism wear rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses. This type of lens, usually offered at a Columbia, SC ophthalmology practice, is harder than most contact lenses to offer sharper vision. If you don’t find RGP lenses comfortable, the AAO suggests that you try soft toric lenses, instead. These fit a person’s unique eye shape to be as effective as RGP lenses.

Brands & Lenses for Astigmatism

Your ophthalmologist in Columbia, SC, will likely be able to recommend a specific brand of lenses meant for people with astigmatism. The surgeons at The Eye Center use both the Acrysof Toric lens from Alcon and the Tecnis Toric lens from Abbott. They have had great success with both and customize each patient’s lens choice. 

Contact Your Doctor for Recommendations

Everyone is different, so everyone experiences astigmatism differently. For specific recommendations on the type of contact lenses you should wear, visit your Columbia, SC, ophthalmology practice to get a comprehensive eye exam and ask your doctor for their advice.

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A Call to Action: Schedule Your Routine Eye Exam

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As South Carolina emerges from the coronavirus epidemic and doctor offices begin reopening fully, the public is encouraged to catch up on any routine doctor exams that may have been skipped during the last 18 months. This includes your routine eye exam. Adults over the age of 40 are encouraged to have an eye exam conducted every 1-2 years, and a doctor may recommend more frequent visits depending on family history and if the doctor finds something of concern during the exam.

According to the CDC, an estimated 93 million US adults are at a high risk of vision loss, but only half of this population visits their eye doctor for a routine eye exam. Due to the rising age of the US population, the number of visually impaired and blind people is expected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050.

The routine eye exam provides an opportunity to identify eye issues early, potentially avoiding the need for more aggressive treatments in the future, and potentially preventing loss of eyesight. A robust eye exam includes more than just checking visual acuity to determine the need for glasses or contact lenses. The ophthalmologist will also run tests to confirm the health of eye muscles and nerves. The eye will be examined through a microscope to look for early signs of diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

The Eye Center in Columbia is more than just a leader in the medical treatment of serious eye diseases. They are also one of South Carolina’s largest providers of routine eye examinations. New and returning patients are encouraged to call The Eye Center to schedule their next eye exam. Making this call is important to maintaining healthy eyes for the rest of your life.

About The Eye Center

The Eye Center is the leading refractive practice in South Carolina, providing full service eye care and specializing in Refractive Surgery – Lasik, AST, PRK, PRELEX, as well as Corneal Transplant and Cataract Surgery.

Get In Touch With Us
Have Questions? Feel free to contact us and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

803.256.0641
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The Eye Center Now Offers the Vivity® Intraocular Lens

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The doctors at The Eye Center discuss the new Vivity® intraocular lens, a new option for the treatment of cataracts.

The skilled ophthalmologists at The Eye Center in Columbia are excited to announce that they are now offering a new option for patients who experience cataracts and are considering cataract surgery in Columbia, SC. The recently FDA-approved Alcon AcrySof IQ Vivity® is the first range of multifocal intraocular lenses in the United States to offer a non-diffractive extended depth of focus, which helps to improve patients’ vision at both close and far distances.

The Vivity® intraocular lens creates an extended focal range in the eye with the use of X-Wave technology, which shifts and stretches the wavefront into several different focal points. This revolutionary advancement in cataract treatment in Columbia, SC allows the artificial lens to use all of the light available in an area, which helps patients to maintain the same visual quality offered by a monofocal intraocular lens. The advantage over a monofocal lens is immediate sharper vision at all distance ranges, near and far.

Patients concerned about the glare that usually comes along with cataract surgery in Columbia, SC will be happy to hear that Vivity® will not show any increased glare once it is implanted. This makes this intraocular lens an ideal choice for those with active lifestyles, or for those who have hobbies or jobs that require focusing on objects that are close to the eyes.

The new Vivity® intraocular lens is often also a good option for those who wish to receive cataract treatment in Columbia, SC, but are not good candidates for traditional options due to conditions such as macular puckers, macular degeneration, and several others. If you have a condition that makes traditional options for cataract surgery unfeasible, ask your doctor at a Columbia eye center if Vivity® might work for you.

The experienced and skilled ophthalmologists at The Eye Center have been offering many options for both cataract treatment and cataract surgery for years, and Vivity® is just one of their newest offerings. To learn more about this revolutionary cataract treatment, or to get more information on all of your treatment options, contact the doctors at this Columbia eye center and make an appointment today.

About The Eye Center

The Eye Center is the leading refractive practice in South Carolina, providing full service eye care and specializing in Refractive Surgery – Lasik, AST, PRK, PRELEX, as well as Corneal Transplant and Cataract Surgery.

Get In Touch With Us
Have Questions? Feel free to contact us and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

803.256.0641
Contact Us

Dr. Clary discusses DURYSTA™ at 2021 Kiawah Eye Meeting

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marketing@etgroup.net

Last week, Dr. Clary had the honor of delivering the first lecture of the 2021 Kiawah Eye Meeting. He spoke on the benefits and successes of DURYSTA™ in our patients. If you or your loved one struggle with either the administration or side effects of eye drops for glaucoma, DURYSTA™ may be able to help you reduce or eliminate the need for drops. Contact us to learn more or schedule your appointment today.

Dr. Clary had the honor of delivering the first lecture of the 2021 Kiawah Eye Meeting

About the Eye Center

The Eye Center is the leading refractive practice in South Carolina, providing full-service eye care and specializing in Refractive Surgery – Lasik, AST, PRK, PRELEX, as well as Corneal Transplant and Cataract Surgery.

Get In Touch With Us
Have Questions? Feel free to contact us and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

803.256.0641
Contact Us

Three Reasons To See An Ophthalmologist

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marketing@etgroup.net

Seeing an ophthalmologist in Columbia, SC is essential to ensure that your eyes and vision are healthy and normal. However, many people don’t realize just how important taking care of their vision really is! A visit to an ophthalmologist is an important part of maintaining your overall health, and they can often catch and treat eye problems before they become severe. Below are three of the most important reasons to regularly schedule an appointment at a Columbia, SC eye clinic.

When You’re Due for a Comprehensive Exam

Having a routine comprehensive eye exam done at a Columbia eye center is an important step in preventing and treating many eye conditions that can cause permanent damage in the future. When your ophthalmologist performs this exam, they’ll be able to detect any underlying eye conditions that you may not be aware of. The frequency at which you should visit the eye doctor for a comprehensive exam varies by age:

  • Adults 40 and under: Every 2-3 years
  • Adults over 40: Every 1-2 years
  • Adults 65 and older: Once per year

Regular exams at a Columbia, SC eye clinic ensures the longevity of your vision and helps you maintain optimal eye health.

If You Need or Wear Corrective Lenses

An ophthalmologist in Columbia, SC can diagnose nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism and prescribe corrective eyewear as needed. If you’ve noticed that your vision isn’t as good as it used to be, visit an ophthalmologist to see if you need eyeglasses or contact lenses.

You’ve Noticed Changes in Your Vision

Recent changes or fluctuations in your eyes should not be ignored. These can indicate serious ocular conditions, and should always be reported to a doctor at a Columbia eye center. Some of the changes to keep in mind include:

  • Blurred or double vision
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Itching, burning, or discharge from the eyes
  • Swelling or redness around the eyes
  • Any changes in your visual quality

If you experience these or any other sudden changes, make sure to visit a medical professional as soon as possible. Visiting the ophthalmologist is an important part of maintaining your overall visual health, so make sure to take care of your eyes as needed.

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The most exciting part of modern cataract surgery is the opportunity to customize your post-operative vision. When the cloudy natural…

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A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which sits behind the iris and the pupil. For those…

March 9, 2026

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Selecting the right eye care provider is one of the most important health decisions you will make. With so many…

Get In Touch With Us
Have Questions? Feel free to contact us and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

803.256.0641
Contact Us