Our team offers the following services at our St. Joseph location:

Cataract Surgery

Cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. Most cataracts develop due to advancing age, although early onset cataracts can develop due to medical conditions like diabetes or lifestyle factors such as smoking. When cataracts significantly interfere with vision, surgical removal may be necessary. During cataract surgery, the surgeon removes the eye’s natural lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens implant (IOL) to restore clear vision.

IOLs

Wiles Eye Center offers several different types of IOLs. Some IOLs restore vision at a single distance (e.g., near or faraway) and others restore vision at multiple distances. Certain IOLs also correct pre-existing vision disorders such as astigmatism or presbyopia. Our team uses the Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA) system to ensure every patient receives the IOL that is best for his or her eyes’ unique characteristics.

Macular Degeneration Treatment

Macular degeneration is a disease affecting the macula, the part of the retina responsible for clear central and detail vision. Although macular degeneration cannot be cured, there are ways to stop the progression of the disease, such as taking nutritional supplements containing special antioxidants. Laser treatment and intravitreal injections can also help reduce the number of abnormal blood vessels in the retina.

Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is a disease affecting the optic nerve, which transmits information from the eye to the brain. It occurs when fluid builds up inside the eye, causing intraocular pressure to spike. Eventually, this pressure can press on and damage the optic nerve, causing irreversible vision loss. Glaucoma treatments aim to reduce pressure in the eye. Treatments include special eye drops, laser treatment or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) to help increase fluid filtration. At Wiles Eye Center, we have found great success with MIGS using the iStent. This tiny device creates a bypass between the front of the eye and the natural drainage system to increase fluid flow.

Dry Eye Treatment

Dry eye disease occurs when the eyes do not produce a sufficient amount of tears, or the tears they produce are of poor quality. Dry eye disease can cause symptoms like itchy eyes, a stinging or burning sensation, sensitivity to light, excessive tearing and blurry vision. Managing dry eye disease depends on the cause of the disease as well as the symptoms and severity of the symptoms. Common treatments include prescription eye drops, antibiotics, special inserts to plug the tear ducts and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, minimizes signs of aging around the upper and lower eyelids. By removing excess skin and fat and tightening loose skin and muscles, the surgery can improve the appearance of droopy or saggy upper eyelids and puffy or wrinkled lower eyelids. In patients where excess eyelid skin spills over the lashline and obscures the line of sight, eyelid surgery can remove the obstruction for a clearer visual field.

Eye Exams

Regular eye exams are critical to eye health. The exams allow eye doctors to check for signs of diseases that may not cause any noticeable symptoms; without detection, these diseases can advance and eventually cause irreversible vision loss. The eyes are dilated during eye exams to allow the doctor a clear view into the internal structures of the eyes.

LASIK

LASIK is a laser vision correction surgery that reduces or eliminates the need to wear glasses or contact lenses. LASIK uses laser energy to carefully reshape the eye’s cornea; the goal is to improve the way light passes through the eye and is focused on the retina. The procedure is very quick, lasting just a few minutes per eye.

Other Available Ophthalmology Services

We also offer the following services at our St. Joseph location:

  • Refractive lens exchange surgery
  • Contact lens fittings
  • General eye care
  • Treatment of common eye disorders, including:

Our St. Joseph, MO Ophthalmologists

Stephen Wiles, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the founder and president of Wiles Eye Center. With many years of experience, he is widely known for his expertise in cataract procedures and intraocular lens implants. Dr. Wiles is also one of the only eye surgeons in the Midwest trained in iStent implant surgery for glaucoma.

Erin Gilliland, M.D., is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a member of organizations such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He has been published in several medical journals and has presented for the University of Kansas Medical Center Research Symposium.

To book an appointment with a member of our St. Joseph, MO team to discuss your individual eye care needs, we invite you to call 816-279-7015 or fill out our online contact form.