Ask an Eye M.D.
Dr. Richard Bensinger

Dr. Richard Bensinger

Richard Bensinger, MD, is a comprehensive ophthalmologist practicing in Seattle. He received his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed his ophthalmology residency at Washington University in St. Louis prior to a fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Bensinger has served as ophthalmologist in chief at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and is the author and co-author of more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific articles, abstracts, book chapters and presentations. He is a media spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a recipient of the Honor Award from the Academy.

Is there another drug besides prednisone for scleritis?
 
Would the Epstein-Barre virus cause eye infections or bother the eyes at all?
 
What is the length of time an Avastin injection is effective (or, is working)?
 
Will Vitamins Help My Macular Pucker?
 
My eyelid suddenly became itchy, then painful and swollen. Do you know what may have caused this?
 
What would cause raised white tissue on the whites of the eye, near and around the iris?
 
What are the symptoms of an eye aneurysm and how is it repaired?
 
I am curious as to why I have recurring corneal ulcers in both my eyes.
 
I had a retinal reattachment operation three weeks ago. Is it OK if I drink alcohol?
 
Is my husband helping or hurting his eyes by "shaking" them for exercise?
 
My eyeball hurts and I was wondering if I should I see an ophthalmologist, an optometrist or a general practitioner? I have not sustained an injury to my eye.
 
What causes an overactive tear duct and how is it treated?
 
I have Fuchs’ dystrophy. Are there any special contacts that can help minimize glare?
 
For about a year now my vision blurs and gets distorted as though I'm looking through water droplets or tears. It does not clear up with blinking. I've had floaters for years but this is different.
 
Can a stye in one eye infect the other eye?
 
My 14-year-old daughter had trouble tracking during a routine eye exam. Her eyes jump ahead before the object is there and then she corrects.
 
My 6-year-old son tells me he sees red and orange spots—what might be causing this?
 
I have anatomically narrow angles and my doctor suggested I have iridectomies on both eyes. I do not have glaucoma. Is the surgery necessary?
 
I had LASIK eye surgery in March 2012, and a retouch in October. I need another retouch and my eye doctor prescribed dilating eye drops to use every night for two weeks. Why would I need to dilate my eyes every night?
 
I have worn glasses since grade school and I am now 62. I went to have my eyes examined and now have 20/20. How is this possible?
 
Can map dot dystrophy cause blindness?
 
After having my eyes dilated for the first time ever I was diagnosed with a raised red lesion behind one of my eyes. How concerned should I be?
 
I had cataracts removed a few years back but when I try to look in a mirror to put eye make-up on it’s impossible.
 
Will ptosis brought on by Combigan resolve when its use is discontinued?
 
Is it OK to apply my antihistamine eye drops in my eye when I have a scratched eyeball?
 
I was hit in the eye with a football and I was diagnosed with a bruised retina.
 
Do Eye M.D.s recommend surgical cosmetic eye whitening for a discolored or vein-streaked sclera?
 
Is it safe to fly when you have keratitis diagnosed?
 
I scratched my eyelid with my finger, the eyelid swelled, and seven days later, the swelling has gone, but the eyelid has drooped by half. Have I damaged a nerve? Is this curable, temporary or permanent?
 
My 2-month-old nephew rarely makes eye contact when I talk to him. He seems to hear but he is looking in a different direction. Should I be concerned?
 
If you were to blow too hard when using the Valsalva maneuver method to pop your ears (closing nostrils and blowing), could it damage the eyes?
 
My father was born with a white covering on one eye which never went away.
 
I was wondering what they use to make the glasses with transition adaptive lenses work? Is it a type of glass or a tint that is installed in the lenses?
 
My eyes hurt once I've taken out my contacts. Like something is in it, but nothing is. It hurts until I wake up in the morning. Is it something to worry about?
 
What problems can result from a smoker using contact lenses?
 
My husband's doctor said that he had two freckles in his left eye and it can be cancerous. Can you clarify this for me?
 
One of my eyes visibly swells and I get headaches which include light sensitivity when this happens.
 
My grandson is able to move one eye in a different direction to the other at will. Is this a problem?
 
What is a VEP test? (Visual Evoked Potential)
 
I'm currently taking latanoprost eye drops for high pressure in my eyes, but the pressure is still high. I also have high blood pressure that I'm trying to control with exercise and medicine.
 
What are the risks and side effects of using Avastin treatment for retinal vein occlusion with macular edema?
 
I have a gas bubble in my eye from macular hole surgery. Is there anything I can do to make the bubble go away faster—like drinking lots of water?
 
Can corneal edema get better with vitamins?
 
Is it true that the eye always stays open with Bell’s palsy or could it close also?
 
Is my macular pucker of secondary cataract causing my double vision?
 
Can astigmatism be corrected with surgery if you have cornea transplants?
 
Can astigmatism go away?
 
Do you have information on multifocal choroiditis or know where I can find more information? I have had this for over two years. Since it is also a rare disorder, I am also trying to find out how many people in the United States have been diagnosed
 
As a 31-year-old with amblyopia, is it possible to gain complete vision again?
 
I took my granddaughter to have her eyes examined today.
 
Do numerous camera flashes have a negative impact on a baby's eyes?
 
I think I have a contact lens-induced eye infection. What are these eye infections called medically and are there medications I can take prior to my appointment?
 
Is it bad for my 7-year-old daughter to wear clear, plastic, fashionable eyeglasses for fun without a prescription when she does not need them?
 
What is staphyloma?
 
I was diagnosed with degeneration of the cornea at age 14. I have not seen an eye doctor in 20 years. How is it treated today?

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