Blog Archive

Whether you’re undergoing eyelid surgery for cosmetic or practical reasons, the preparation and rehabilitation are the same. Before going under the knife, you’ll need to make certain arrangements. This includes stopping certain medications and stocking up on groceries and therapeutic items like cool compresses.  At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo,...

You’ve probably known about floaters since you were a kid; these little squiggles appear as moving shadows on your retina, floating around aimlessly. As children and young adults, floaters are of no consequence. They can grow in number and shape as the years go by, eventually impeding your vision.  At...

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...

Regarding vision loss, cataracts are one of the few problems with straightforward symptoms and a permanent cure. The prospect of vision loss as you age can be frightening, but modern medicine and advancing technology have made cataracts one of the less concerning threats to your sight.  At Ventura Eye Institute...

Botox® can be an amazing tool for helping you look and feel younger. But is it the best solution for your specific problem? Understanding the pros and cons can help you make an informed decision about whether or not Botox is right for you. At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo,...

Contrary to popular belief, Botox® wasn’t always the cosmetic kingpin it is today. Before being approved for use on forehead and eye wrinkles, ophthalmologists used it to treat eye conditions like strabismus and muscle spasms. However, if you need Botox injections around the eye area for any reason, you’re best...

It’s normal for your eyes to feel dry and scratchy after doing certain things, like staring at a screen or driving for hours. However, certain factors can put you at risk of chronic dry eye, and limiting them wherever possible might alleviate your symptoms. With professional treatment and lifestyle changes,...

In recent years, LASIK has been mistaken for LASEK, a slightly different procedure with the same objective. Depending on the shape and thickness of your corneas, you might be a more appropriate candidate for one than the other. A specialist can perform a thorough examination to determine which will provide...

While your risk of losing your sight increases as you age, this doesn’t mean blindness is inevitable. Cataracts can be both prevented and cured, allowing you to maintain your vision well into your golden years. With proper protection and routine eye exams, you can prevent and detect damage before it...

Does the skin of your upper eyelids sag so severely that it impedes your view of the world? Fortunately, there is a special surgery that can fix this problem for you and bring your surroundings back into focus. At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, our professional team of eye care specialists can help...

It’s not unusual for your vision to degrade as you age, especially if you’ve had children, suffer from diabetes, or have a family history of cataracts. Double vision is a common complaint among those with cataract issues, but it’s important to determine what kind of double vision you’re experiencing, and...

Headache pain can be devastating for people who suffer from frequent headache or migraine episodes. Many patients can’t find a solution that works dependably for them, or that doesn’t cause side effects like gastrointestinal upset or grogginess. At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, our professional team of eye care...

LASEK, short for laser sub-epithelial keratomileusis, is a refractive surgery procedure. It is used to treat both myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism.  At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, Michael Ragen, MD and our professional team of specialists can diagnose your myopia and/or astigmatism, and tell you if you are a...

Dry eyes are a common complaint, especially if you live in a dry area or spend a lot of time looking at a computer or TV screen. Medicated eye drops can sometimes provide lubrication and solve the problem, but if your eyes are still itchy and dry after such conservative...

It’s been estimated that as many as 24 million people in the US have cataracts. For most of those people, if the cataracts are caught early enough and there are no other serious eye-related complications, cataract surgery can restore sight and eye health. At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California,...

When first introduced, corrective eye surgery seemed too good to be true. Using lasers to reshape the cornea was an intimidating concept, and many people were unsure. Years of great results have banished fears, however. Now, with two safe and reputable laser procedures to choose from, more and more people...

Having constant episodes of pain in your head, face, jaw, and neck can make life miserable. People who suffer from migraine or cluster headaches often go through years of trying different medications without relief. Fortunately, a well known cosmetic injectable could prove the best solution of all.  At Ventura Eye Institute in...

Getting upper & lower eyelid surgery can fix a multitude of flaws, from cosmetic problems like sagging and bagging under the eyes to medical issues like droopy upper lids that obscure your vision.  At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, our professional team of eye care specialists provides upper & lower lid surgery by...

Droopy lids and bags under the eyes make you look tired and old, even if you don’t feel like either. Getting upper & lower lid surgery (blepharoplasty) can make you look younger, fresher, and more alert. At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, our professional team of eye care specialists...

Diabetes is a common health condition in the United States. Many people go for years without knowing they are diabetic, while the effects pile up. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to a host of health conditions, including damage to your eyes.  At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, our...

Dry eyes are a common complaint across demographics and age groups. Fortunately, there are many treatments for dry eyes. The first thing you need to do is figure out the cause of your dry eyes, and then you can start to rectify the situation. At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo,...

Visible fine lines and wrinkles on your face are part of aging, and they’re due to many factors. However, that doesn’t mean you have to live with them. Michael Ragen, MD, FACS, and the cosmetics team at Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, can provide effective injections of collagen fillers and Botox® to freshen up your...

Aging comes for us all, and fragile, thin skin is the first to start succumbing to the effects of gravity. In many cases, this means eyelids begin to sag and droop, leading to a hooded look above your gaze and unsightly bags below your eyes. At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, our...

Dry, itchy eyes are a common complaint, and it’s rarely a cause for concern. However, if you wear contact lenses, work in dry or dusty conditions, or have a medical condition that makes your eyes even dryer, chronic inflammation can put you at risk for permanent damage.  That’s why it’s...

Cataracts can cloud your vision and make it difficult to do many basic activities, such as reading, cooking, driving a car, or recognizing faces. However, there are ways to spot cataracts early and options for surgical intervention to help prevent blindness from this common eye condition. At Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo,...

LASIK, short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is the most common type of laser refractive surgery, with around 9.5 million people in the United States undergoing the procedure annually. However, many people hesitate to sign up for LASIK because they don’t know what to expect from recovery. At Ventura Eye...

There are a lot of frightening statistics surrounding glaucoma, but getting a diagnosis is actually the first step toward improving your situation. With monitoring and appropriate treatment, you can preserve your remaining eyesight.  It’s important to find an ophthalmologist who makes you feel comfortable with regular checkups and also keeps...

Injectable cosmetics have become a massive industry, but Botox® is the name that started it all. Since it was approved for cosmetic use in 2002, people have been seeking out Botox injections to correct wrinkles, especially those around the forehead and eyes. If you’re beginning to see crow’s feet, Botox...

As you age, your eye undergoes changes, and your vision does too. Some of these changes are expected, like slow deterioration of the ability to read text without reading glasses, or eyes that get tired easily.  However, if you have black spots or floaters in your vision, you need to...

As we get older, our chances of experiencing vision loss begin to increase exponentially. For many people, the question is not when their vision will deteriorate, but what will cause it.  Glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and presbyopia are all common conditions among seniors, and maintaining your sight often...

Were you excited to get glasses or contacts, thinking blurry vision would be a thing of the past, but then you realized you still had blurriness? You’re not alone. Approximately one-third of the population has astigmatism, which is an imperfection in the curvature of the eye’s cornea or lens. It...

When LASIK emerged as a surgical alternative to prescription lenses, many people were skeptical. While achieving great vision without glasses or contacts is a tall order, the LASIK procedure has improved over the years and often fills the bill.  LASIK, short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, still has its limits,...

Botox® isn’t the only injectable on the market. Collagen injections serve a completely different purpose. If your wrinkles are deeply set and sagging, it’s a sign that you need to replace your skin’s lost volume.  Fillers supply your body with a fresh dose of collagen, which plumps areas of your...

Eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, but they’re also one of the first things people notice about you.  If your eyes are framed by dark bags and drooping eyelids, strangers might assume you’re tired or sleepy. If you feel self-conscious about your eyes, a blepharoplasty can...

Suffering dry eyes is a common problem, especially among those who wear contacts or work in windy environments. However, not all cases of dry eye are the same.  Severe cases of itchy, dry eyes can lead to hours of frustration and even permanent damage. In these cases, you need diagnosis...

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, and it can’t be reversed. If you suffer from glaucoma and plan on undergoing cataract surgery, you might be eligible for iStent inject®, a small implant that helps manage intraocular pressure.  This device can help slow down and prevent the progression of glaucoma....

Many people are wary of laser eye surgery because the idea can seem frightening. However, laser technology has improved significantly in the past decade, and eye surgery is safer and more effective than ever.  If you’re hesitant about a procedure, gaining a better understanding of how it works can ease...

Your risk of developing cataracts increases with every decade of your life after age 40, with more than  24 million Americans suffering from the condition. When cataracts occur, surgery can allow for replacement of the clouded lens.  However, not every artificial lens is the same, and you might benefit from...

Visible aging is a normal part of getting older, but you can suffer from volume loss and wrinkles even when you’re young. Regardless of your age, injectables like collagen fillers and Botox® can help fill in and hide these wrinkles.  If you’re unhappy with your appearance and spend hours fretting...

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that commonly occurs in adults over 50. It’s one of the leading causes of permanent vision loss in adults.  There is no cure for AMD, but early detection can improve your chances of retaining your vision. This is why it’s important for...

Most people (correctly) associate Type 2 diabetes with excess body weight, a lack of exercise and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. Most people understand that diabetes involves your ability to process blood sugar, and that your body doesn’t respond well to the important hormone insulin.  What many people don’t realize, however,...

Seeing stars isn’t all that uncommon. Whether you stood up too quickly, completed a super tough workout, went too long without eating, or looked directly at the sun, there’s a good chance you’ve had temporary disturbances in your vision.  Heck, just squeezing your eyes closed tightly can cause constellation-like images...

Even if you have perfect eyesight, you’re probably familiar with LASIK vision correction. This procedure grew popular in the early 2000s after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in the mid-1990s. The approval of LASIK made national news and created buzz for years.  In the 25 years since...

If you have blurry vision and keep putting off your visit to the eye doctor, consider this your friendly nudge to get a check-up. Dr. Michael Ragen, ophthalmologist at Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, encourages everyone to start a preventive eye health plan to avoid or slow down damaging...

What do you think of when you think of Botox®? Ageless celebrities with high cheekbones, taut jawlines, and virtually no wrinkles? Botox can definitely help you achieve that youthful appearance (when it’s done right, that is), but the injectable is good for so much more than aesthetics.  Dr. Michael Ragen...

Blepharoplasty: That’s a funny word, right? Despite its funny name, blepharoplasty — more commonly known as eyelid surgery — involves removing excess or sagging tissue around your eyelids. It’s a minimally invasive procedure, but you will need some time (typically a couple of days) to rest and recover.  What might...

It’s Sunday morning. You grab a steaming cup of coffee, sit down in your favorite chair, and cozy up with your favorite blanket and a new novel.  You open to page one and … not again! You forgot to grab your reading glasses!  Tired of getting comfortable, only to realize...

Cataracts are primarily an age-related type of vision loss that involves the degeneration of proteins in your eye’s lens. Your natural lenses are extremely important to the vision process because they refract light rays that enter your eye.  As you get older, proteins in your lens begin to break down,...

Experiencing “floaters” can be confusing and even a little bit scary — what are those strange spots floating around in your vision, anyway?  While floaters can sometimes occur due to medical emergencies such as a torn or detached retina, they’re age-related more often than not. Most of the time, they’re...

When most people think of diabetes, they think of Type 1 (autoimmune) diabetes and Type 2 (adult-onset or diet-related) diabetes. But there’s a third type of diabetes that often goes without the same scrutiny of care: gestational diabetes.    Gestational diabetes is diagnosed when a woman who has never previously...

You’re just hanging out, getting some work done, minding your own business. … And suddenly, your eyelid starts twitching uncontrollably. Confusion sets in — what’s happening?  Although many people experience eyelid twitching from time to time, it’s not always clear why your eyelids seem to suddenly revolt against you. Blepharospasm...

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition, usually degenerative, that can lead to blindness. In fact, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in people over the age of 60. Glaucoma damages your optic nerve, a very important nerve that transmits images to your brain.  Vision loss from glaucoma...

Botox® is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments for facial lines and wrinkles. But, did you know that it has other benefits? This injectable medication can treat numerous conditions, from facial tics and twitches to migraines and more. Botox contains a purified toxin, onabotulinumtoxina, which works as a muscle...

When people look at you, usually the first thing they notice is your eyes. Eyes hold much of the expressiveness of your face, and when made up well, they can contribute to your looking beautiful. With all the festive holiday gatherings coming up, you want to look your absolute best!...

Whipping out your reading glasses at a restaurant to read a menu is a telltale sign of middle age. This age-related vision condition is nearly a universal issue that affects people over age 40.  Many people just accept the fact that having trouble reading medication labels, menus, and more is...

LASIK — minimally invasive eye surgery that can help you see well without glasses or contact lenses — has been around for more than 20 years. The freedom from having to wear glasses or contact lenses can add significantly to your quality of life. Yet despite its long history of...

As you age your risk for macular degeneration increases. In fact, about 14 million Americans have the disease right now. While no one knows exactly what causes this condition, our team at Ventura Eye Institute wants to help you decrease your chances of developing macular degeneration.  Living with macular degeneration...

Is your vision ever cloudy or blurry, like you’re looking through a foggy window or the world has turned into an impressionist painting? If so, you may have cataracts. Although not dangerous, cataracts can make it hard to go about your daily life as they make common tasks, like driving...

Vision is a precious gift. It allows us to see the world in vivid hues and provides meaningful context to our life. Vision impairment--whether by trauma, infection, or inflammation--is associated with tremendous loss of human potential and productivity. My mission as an ophthalmologist is to restore vision for those most...

Practicing international ophthalmology is my passion. There is tremendous gratitude in volunteering my time and expertise to improve a person's quality of life through vision-correcting eye surgery.  In the spring of 2019, I traveled to Mandeville, Jamaica with a team of 17 volunteers comprised of ophthalmologists, anesthetists, and nurses to perform small-incision,...

Are you from Southern California? Then you know the dangers sun rays can pose on your skin. Which is why you wear sunscreen, hats, and stay indoors when the sun is at its highest point. You probably wear SPF lip gloss, right? But what about eye protection? What are you...

Have you been on the fence about LASIK? If so, it might help to learn a little more about the procedure and why it’s the choice of vision correction surgery for hundreds of thousands of people every year. At Ventura Eye Institute, Inc., Dr. Michael Ragen performs this safe and...

Do you often notice gray or black strings or cobwebs when you look at a bright background? These specks of light are a common occurrence caused by a substance inside your eye that changes its consistency as you age, going from gel-like to watery, causing what are known as floaters....

Blepharoplasty: It isn’t an easy word to say (or spell), but it’s a relatively straightforward surgical procedure that improves the appearance of your eyes and may also help your vision. As you age, your eyelids may become saggy, wrinkled, folded, puffy, or baggy. When this happens, you may look older...

When it comes to your eyes, no one knows them better than your ophthalmologist, and that not includes your actual eyes, but everything around them. So when it comes time to improve the wrinkles and fine lines that develop around your eyes with age, who better to turn to than...

Age-related macular degeneration, also called macular degeneration or AMD, can rob you of your vision, and it is the leading cause of blindness among people 50 and older. Unfortunately, there is no cure for AMD. But the good news is that you can reduce your risk for developing this devastating...

Glaucoma can silently rob you of your sight. It can sneak in without causing any symptoms, discomfort, or vision problems and cause permanent vision loss. This January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and Dr. Ragen and our care team at Ventura Eye Institute want you to know some essential information about...

There’s a good reason why eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) consistently ranks among the top five most popular cosmetic procedures. The changes made during eyelid surgery immediately make you look younger, more vibrant, and alive. How can one procedure make such a significant difference? Because your eyelids age long before the rest...