Charles’ Cataract Patient Story

“I enjoyed Dr. Spagnolo and the experience at BW Eye Center. I was scared about cataract surgery and his staff made everything comfortable from start to finish. Keep up the great work.”

--Charles A. had Laser Cataract Surgery with Astigmatism Correcting Lens Implants

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare, or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Fitness & Exercise Reduces Glaucoma Risk

Did you know that meeting fitness guidelines can actually help reduce your risk of glaucoma? A recent clinical study reported in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) examined if there was an association between physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness and the incidence of glaucoma. Thorough epidemiological data was reviewed and demonstrated that compared with low fitness, those patients with high levels of fitness had a significantly lower risk of glaucoma. By far the lowest risk of glaucoma was found in those patients who had both high fitness levels and met physical activity guidelines recommended by ACSM.

The message is clear-you can lower your risk of glaucoma by being active in accordance with the guidelines and maintaining a high level of fitness. If you or someone you know is concerned about their risk of glaucoma, please schedule an eye exam and glaucoma testing at Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Stephen’s LASIK Experience

“I had LASIK done at Baltimore Washington Eye Center. I cannot express how happy I am with my decision. Dr. Spagnolo and his staff are amazing. Everything was explained to me and the procedure went smooth…everything I expected and more!” –Stephen K.

If you or some you know is tired of the hassle of glasses or contact lenses for seeing at distance and would like to find out if LASIK might be a good vision correction option, please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Cataract Surgery Helps Avoid Car Accidents

Improved Vision After Cataract Surgery Helps Avoid Car Accidents

Did you know that the improved quality of vision obtained after cataract surgery can lower your risk of a car accident by 9% according to new information published in the journal Ophthalmology? Cataracts typically develop with age and result in a clouding of the lens inside the eye. As the lens gets progressively cloudy and more opaque it limits the amount of light entering the eye as well as reduces contrast and clarity. People who develop cataract complain of symptoms that might include decreased visual acuity, impaired color vision, glare, dim vision and particular trouble seeing at night. Not all cataracts need to be removed. But when a cataract impairs your safe mobility-especially for driving-it is time to consider cataract surgery and lens implants. Results from the JAMA Ophthalmology study show that drivers with cataracts who get surgery to have them removed may lower their risk of getting into traffic accidents.

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Sleep Apnea, Eye Diseases & Problems

What does sleep apnea have to do with eye problems and diseases? Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common condition that affects some 3-7% of the overall population in the U.S.. You are even at greater risk for OSA if you are middle aged or older, male, overweight or obese, have a family history of OSA,  are menopausal,  have any nasal or sinus irregularities or are a smoker or consume alcohol. If you know anyone with OSA you know they have poor nighttime sleep and are very tired, sleepy and fatigued during the day. Did you know that OSA also increases your risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and even diabetes? Results of the SLE.E.P.Y. Study show OSA either increases your risk for several eye disorders and problems including glaucoma, eyelid, corneal and retinal problems such as macular disease or seems to be associated with them at a much higher rate than the normal population.

If you or someone you know suffers from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) they should be sure to have regular eye exams. Please schedule an eye exam at Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Steps to Lower Your Risk of Eye Disease

5 Steps to Lower Your Risk of Eye Disease

By age 65, one in three Americans will have a vision-impairing eye disease. Many sight-robbing conditions can be effectively treated if detected early enough, in many cases limiting or eliminating the damage to eyesight. Four eye diseases-age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts-account for most cases of adult blindness and low vision among people in the U.S. Because these eye diseases cause no pain and often have no early symptoms, they do not automatically prompt people to seek medical care. But a thorough eye exam can detect them in their earliest stages allowing early treatment which is vital because it can slow or halt disease progression or, in the case of cataracts, restore normal vision. A thorough eye exam can also detect other health conditions, such as stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, sexually transmitted diseases and some cancers. Here are some steps to helping preserve your eye health and vision:

Get a Comprehensive Medical Eye Exam at Age 40-Early signs of disease or changes in vision may begin at this age. If you have not already had one, a comprehensive medical eye exam is an opportunity to carefully examine the eye for diseases and conditions that may have no symptoms in the early stages.

Know Your Family History-Certain eye diseases can be inherited. If you have a close relative with macular degeneration, you have a 50 percent chance of developing this condition. A family history of glaucoma increases your glaucoma risk by four to nine times. Talk to family members about their eye conditions. It can help you and your eye doctor evaluate your risk.

Eat Healthy Foods-A diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, benefits the entire body, including the eyes. Eye-healthy food choices include citrus fruits, vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables and cold water fish.

Stop Smoking-Smoking increases the risk for eye diseases such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Smoking also raises the risk for cardiovascular diseases which can indirectly influence your eye health. Tobacco smoke, including second-hand smoke, also worsens dry eye.

Wear Sunglasses-Exposure to ultraviolet UV light raises the risk of eye diseases, including cataract, fleshy growths on the eye and cancer. Always wear a hat and sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection while outdoors.

If you have not had a comprehensive medical eye exam be sure to schedule one by calling Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Weight Loss Surgery & Eye Pressure (IOP)

Did you know that an indirect benefit of weight loss surgery turns out to be a lowering of eye pressure, or IOP, in patients with ocular hypertension? According to a study reported in Acta Ophthalmologica patients who had bariatric or weight loss surgery and successfully reduced their weight by a significant amount demonstrated a marked IOP reduction. Thus, the researchers believe that significant weight loss could have beneficial effects on IOP in obese individuals with ocular hypertension which might help them avoid having to use glaucoma eye drops.

If you or someone you know is contemplating bariatric weight loss surgery and has a high eye pressure they should schedule an eye exam with glaucoma testing. Schedule an eye exam at Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Mary’s Cataract Story

“I had surgery with Dr. Betancourt and everything went well. He explained everything to me that made it easy. I would recommend the surgery to anyone.” –Mary R. had Laser Cataract Surgery with a Toric Lens Implant for Astigmatism in both eyes.

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy, foggy vision, glare, or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Terrie’s LASIK Experience

“I had LASIK with Dr. Spagnolo and my vision is now clearer than it has ever been. The procedure took about 20 min. I was explained everything from start to finish. With the post-op, Dr. Spagnolo made sure to keep my eyes healthy….only regret not doing this sooner!!”-Terrie D.

If you or some you know is tired of the hassle of glasses or contact lenses for seeing at distance and would like to find out if LASIK might be a good vision correction option, please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Eat Chocolate for Good Vision!

Did you know that eating chocolate is good for your vision? Not just any chocolate but dark chocolate! According to a study in JAMA Ophthalmology, eating dark chocolate resulted in small improvements in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity for at least 2 hours. While this might seem kind of silly, there is a reason to believe the result is due to the presence of substances called flavanols which may enhance blood flow to the central and peripheral nervous systems, and actually improve cardiovascular function. Since your eye, and in particular the retina, is a highly vascular structure it is no real surprise that the flavanols could have an impact. Certainly more research needs to be done-but in the meantime keep eating that dark chocolate!

Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter. Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Risky Contact Lens Behaviors

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) there are more than 41 million contact lens wearer above 18 years of age and the majority engage in behaviors that put them at risk for serious eye infections. Further, there are more than 3.5 million adolescents 12-17 years of age of which 85% admit to at least one behavior that exposes them to increased risk of a contact lens related eye infection. The clearly risky behaviors include sleeping in lenses, exposing lenses to water, not adhering to replacement schedules, and reusing disinfecting solution. Contact lens related eye infections, which can lead to serious outcomes, including blindness, are preventable with good hygiene and wearing habits such as replacing the storage case regularly, not sleeping or even napping in lenses, not swimming in lenses and especially not exposing them to lake or pond water and preferably not even tap water.

If you or someone you know is a contact lens wearer please make sure they use the necessary behaviors and care of their lenses to prevent risking an eye infection. To learn more call us at

Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Taking Aspirin Makes AMD Worse?

Most seniors and other people who suffer from vascular, heart, blood clotting problems or even arthritis are well aware of the benefits of taking a daily aspirin. In fact many people have been prescribed aspirin as part of their overall care by their primary care or other specialty physicians. Seniors are also well aware that age related macular degeneration (AMD) continues to be a leading cause of vision loss. Until recently there was some confusion and disagreement regarding whether it was safe or even risky for those who have AMD to take aspirin as it could increase bleeding risk in the retina and worsen AMD. A very careful review of information was reported in the journal Retina and gave us good insight into the conclusions that overall, the types and size of studies showing the positive benefits of aspirin use for cardiovascular health were quite a bit better that the smaller limited studies showing a possible adverse effect of aspirin use in relation to AMD. The benefits of aspirin usage include preserving the duration and quality of life by decreasing stroke and heart attack risk. These benefits seem to far outweigh the theoretical risks of possibly exacerbating wet AMD, which we can now control reasonably well with anti-VEGF injection therapy with Eylea®, Lucentis® and other available medications.

If you or someone you know takes aspirin and has or has been recently diagnosed with age related macular degeneration (AMD), it appears safe and beneficial to follow your physician’s prescribing instructions and not worry about any increased risk of worsening AMD. If you have questions or need to schedule an eye exam please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or www.facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Closed Angle Glaucoma Diagnosis Improvements

Closed Angle Glaucoma Diagnosis with Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence

Closed Angle Glaucoma is a sight threatening medical emergency that can cause catastrophic vision loss in a short time if not treated quickly. It is possible to use a number of tests during your eye exam to determine whether you might be at risk. If you are, we can provide an in office laser treatment to easily decrease your risk of Closed Angle Glaucoma. One of these tests is Optical Coherence Tomography, also called AS-OCT short for Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography which allows us to create digital images that are cross-sectional pictures of the eyes’ anterior chambers. Researchers are now developing a fully automated database for screening for AS-OCT screening for Closed Angle Glaucoma using machine learning artificial intelligence that will make the diagnosis very reliable and consistent and readily performed by our staff as part of your eye exams if you are at risk.

If you are someone you know has not had a recent eye exam and glaucoma testing please schedule an appointment at Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Karen’s and Lucenna’s Cataract Patient Stories

“I have been really pleased with my treatment and the results. Everyone at Baltimore Washington Eye is caring and helpful. Dr. Spagnolo explained the steps to me and made me at ease about the surgery. During the surgery, everyone in the surgery center had me at ease. Great place!”
-Karen K. had Laser Cataract Surgery with a Toric Implant for Astigmatism

“Dr. Betancourt did my cataract surgery. I am so please with the Multifocal IOL Implant he recommended….the staff is so friendly and caring that they made sure I understood the procedure and answered my questions. I am just so pleased with everything.”
-Lucenna H. had Laser Cataract Surgery with a Multifocal Implant

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare, or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Pterygia “Surfer’s Eye” & Melanoma Skin Cancer Risk

Does a Pterygium or "Surfer's Eye" Increase Melanoma Risk?

A pterygium (pronounced “tuh-RIJ-ee-uhm”) is an elevated, wedged-shaped bump of tissue on your eyeball that starts on the sclera or white of your eye-most often on the side near your nose and can extend to the cornea. Although a pterygium is commonly referred to as "surfer's eye" because being around bright sunlight for long periods of time-particularly the harmful UV reflected light from water such as the ocean-can increase your risk. But, there are other causes as well and you don't have to be a surfer or ever see the ocean to get a pterygium. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun appears to be the primary cause for the growth of pterygia, but exposure to dust and wind along with dry eye disease are very common causes. Pterygia usually develop in 30- to 50-year-olds, and are rarely are found in children. If you have a light skin complexion and light eyes you have a greater chance of getting a pterygium.

Recently, researchers reporting in the British Journal of Ophthalmology reported the results of a study that considered whether people who had pterygia were at greater risk of melanoma skin cancer. They felt that since pterygia seemed to me more common in light skinned, light eyed people who were exposed to a lot of sunlight, that maybe they had greater melanoma skin cancer risk. They found that having a pterygium indicates a significantly increased risk of developing a melanoma of the skin and that eye care providers who see patients with developing pterygia should advise these patients of this increased risk and recommend regular skin surveillance with a dermatologist. Further, we know that if a pterygium becomes inflamed and affects the cornea, excision- pterygium surgery-may be necessary to avoid vision changes from corneal distortion or even scarring.

If you or someone you know has a pterygium, please schedule an eye exam at Baltimore Washington Eye Center 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Google+ or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061 serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.