Deepan Selvadurai M.D.

Is love blind, or does it just need cataract surgery?

Could not resist:)

Dr Deepan Selvadurai will be on the radio Saturday morning at 11 AM discussing glaucoma. You can tune in on 96.5 FM or 1080AM if you care to listen in. Thank you.

Let’s Go Buffalo!!!

Glaucoma comes in all shapes and sizes. Today, my youngest patient was 19 and my oldest patient was 84. We had 9 separate glaucoma procedures involving the use of five different glaucoma devices(MIGS and conventional), including 2 surgeries that were revisions of surgery performed by other surgeons because the devices had become exposed or clogged. Today’s menu of devices included OMNI, Xen, ExPRESS, Ahmed and Clearpath valves and shunts. Some were also combined with laser assisted cataract surgery and premium lens implants, when appropriate for the patient. We no longer live in an era of one size fits all and you want your surgeon to have a broad skill set to pick the best option for your specific problem. Be safe and well!

As I wrap up week 3 in my new digs, I cannot tell you how happy I am with what we are building at Buffalo Ophthalmology Orchard Park. From weeks of construction and late deliveries, assembling chairs/furniture, to my first patient at Buffalo Ophthalmology(below), to building new relationships and encountering patients I saw 8 years ago when I left OP, to being part of a new family at Buffalo Ophthalmology and having a new work boss(my amazing wife), it’s been a fun ride that is just getting started. Thank you to those who have trusted me with your health, those that continue to trust me and those I see on the schedule that are going to give me a shot! Down the road, I’ll be back in Williamsville and we’ll keep OP going strong. Thank you everyone for everything!

I’m happy to announce that I’ve joined the team of experienced physicians at Buffalo Ophthalmology! Click here to learn more about this outstanding practice: https://www.buffalo-ophthalmology.com/

It’s always a privilege to be part of the solution and be part of the innovation that can help fight blindness... this is a wonderful article written by Mr Scott Scanlon of the Buffalo News about a procedure I was able to help introduce to Western New York six months ago. The results to date have allowed me to avoid more dangerous, and complicated glaucoma procedures that typically require months of rest and recovery with one that sometimes involves near instant recovery. ...As of mid-September I have performed over 120 individual cases and I could not be happier with the results. While this procedure may not be for every patient with glaucoma, I have reduced the number of tube shunt surgeries performed this year by almost a factor of 3. Please take the time to read this excellent piece and contact me if there is anything I can do to help you or a loved one. See more

2020... The Year of Change (understatement)... more to come... stay posted..

I recently found out that I was nominated by fellow physicians in our area as a Top Ophthalmologist for our Western New York area. It’s been a tough year with a lot of changes and big ones to come for me and my career and family over the next few weeks as you will soon see... this is a nice moment for me and personally one that I am very grateful for... thank you!

Busy surgery day today... these are just the cataracts... one down, many to go.... always feel fortunate to have the trust of so many... and to be able to help them...

A day at the office

I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with some influential people, including the director of product development at Reichert, one of the worlds leading ophthalmic equipment manufacturers based right here in Buffalo. With 150 staff, they produce the gold standard tonopens and phoroptors that almost anyone who had had an eye exam has likely come across in the world. I also was lucky enough to get a private tour of their production floor and get an ophthalmic equipment history lesson. The nerd in me is satisfied. Have a nice weekend! (Thanks to Nicholas and Mark Notarius that helped set up the visit).

Feel fortunate to be able to help... #feelingblessed

So I had the pleasure of meeting this very nice man who travelled over 2 hours to see me. He had no insurance, one eye(lost the other at age 3 in an accident), had a dense cataract without legal driving vision and an eye pressure 3.5 times normal with imminent loss of vision in his one and only eye. With the help of my office manager Ellen, we were able to get an American Glaucoma Society Grant for his costs and I was able to get Alcon Surgical to donate supplies for his surgery. I operated on him this week and I am offering all my services for him pro bono. His recovery won’t be easy but his pressure was down to single digits and everything looks good early on. It’s early and we can’t take anything for granted but keep him in your thoughts and prayers #controlwhatyoucaninlife #lastchance #preventativehealth #payitforward

Two days ago, I operated on a young 40 year old patient who had lost her vision in her right eye due to a rapidly forming cataract. It was her dominant eye and she was struggling significantly with daily tasks. White cataracts can be very dangerous and at times unpredictable from a surgical standpoint. She was scheduled for surgery the week we had to shut down ambulatory surgery here in WNY due to COVID-19. After patiently waiting almost 3 months, I was finally able to operate Friday morning and on her day one after surgery visit(Saturday morning), her vision had recovered to where she could legally drive home with that eye alone (24 hours from surgery). Suffice it to say, we are both very pleased with the outcome:) #smilingthroughmasks

Here is an interesting article on how low light smartphone reading may be associated with a transient rise in eye pressure in normal pressure glaucoma patients. While this likely does not impact most glaucoma patients at a significant level. I guess mom was right: Don’t read in the dark. (Summary: small study(78 patients), 25% increase in eye pressure after 30 min of low light smartphone reading in the glaucoma drop treated group vs 10% in the prior glaucoma surgery group)

To all my patients, I hope that you are all faring well in these difficult times. I do miss seeing you and all of our interactions. I would like to let you know that I am currently seeing patients if there is an emergency or concern that your vision may be affected in a negative way. In the office, we are following guidelines and recommendations set out by our local and national agencies. Should you need to come into the office for any reason, we have made many changes to... the flow of the office and are now seeing roughly 5% or less of our typical volume with the goal of limiting the spread of COVID and to provide the safest possible environment for any patient that needs to come in for an appointment. Please do not ignore any problems you may be having as some changes to vision, if not treated promptly, may leave you with permanent loss of vision or other irreparable changes to your eyes. I can also provide a telemedicine consultation for certain conditions. So, if in doubt, do not hesitate to call the office for more information. Stay Safe, Happy and Healthy. Godspeed! See more

Here is a new FDA approved glaucoma treatment. It consists of an injection of a biodegradable injection of Lumigan into the eye that can last several months and avoid the need for drops(single agent). Cost, coverage and whether this is the correct option for every patient has yet to be determined but it is certainly nice to have novel options. Good health to everyone and their loved ones!

Love my alma mater.

Amid all the chaos, it happens to be Glaucoma Awareness week. This video is from one of my mentors during my fellowship at the University of Toronto. Once we emerge from our current health crisis, don’t forget to get your eyes checked. I wish you all good health. Be safe and well.