The Eye Care You Need, When You Need It

Urgent Care & Eye Health

Serving Lake Charles, Louisiana.

High-quality Care

Eye Health & Emergency Care

Your eye health is important to us, so we offer high-quality urgent eye care and eye health management services. Dr. Menard regularly diagnoses and works with patients who have cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy – just to name a few!

No matter your age or eye care needs, we have the tools and experience to properly care for your eye health and vision!

Contact Us

Urgent Care

Urgent medical eye care is always available during normal office hours, and Dr. Menard is a phone call away after-hours for eye emergencies. Eye pain and vision issues can be serious — don’t risk losing your vision. Urgent eye problems are best evaluated and managed by an eye doctor.

Dr. Menard’s specialized equipment and expertise allow him to evaluate and manage your urgent eye needs fast and accurately. Call us at any time at (337)478-ISEE (4733).

Eye Conditions & Diseases

Many common eye problems have telltale signs that may indicate serious eye health issues. Hover over the images below to see how these common eye conditions may affect your vision. If you are experiencing changes in your vision, don’t wait to contact us.

Patients with eye diseases and conditions have better treatment outcomes when they are diagnosed and treated in the early stages. This makes regular eye exams and vision tests a crucial piece of maintaining good eye health.

For more information, visit aoa.org

Eye Diseases

Cataracts

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A cataract is a cloudy area in the normally clear lens of the eye. Depending upon its size and location, it can interfere with normal vision. Most cataracts develop in people over age 55, but they occasionally occur in younger people. Usually, cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may be worse than the other. 

GLAUCOMA

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Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the internal pressure in your eyes increases enough to damage your optic nerve and cause vision loss. The increased pressure occurs when the passages that allow fluid in your eyes to drain become clogged. The reasons the passages become blocked are not known.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

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Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in America. It results from changes to the macula, a portion of the retina that is responsible for clear, sharp vision and is located at the back of the eye.

Retinopathy

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Diabetic retinopathy 

Diabetes is a disease that interferes with the body’s ability to use and store sugar and can cause many health problems. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when small blood vessels in your eyes become damaged. These blood vessels nourish your eye’s retina, the delicate, light-sensitive lining of the back of the eye.

Hypertensive retinopathy is caused by high blood pressure, which can damage the blood vessels within the retina. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it remains at a high level, the more damage it causes to your vision. Those with the condition may experience headaches, visual disturbances and occasionally sudden vision loss.

Cataract Care at Menard Eye Center

When cataracts significantly interfere with vision, cataract removal surgery can restore clear vision.

Menard Eye Center offers pre- and post-surgery management for patients undergoing cataract surgery.

With an eye exam, Dr. Menard can diagnose cataracts and determine how advanced they are. If cataract removal surgery is indicated, Dr. Menard will explain your options and let you know what to expect after the procedure. Menard Eye Center can refer you to an eye surgeon best suited to your needs and, after surgery, Dr. Menard can provide follow-up care to help you get the most out of your new cataract-free vision.

COMMON EYE CONDITIONS

Dry Eye

The tears your eyes produce are necessary for overall eye health and clear vision. Dry eyes occur when the body can’t produce enough tears or the specific components that make up tears.

REFRACTIVE ERROR

Nearsightedness/Myopia: Close objects are seen clearly, but objects at a distance appear blurred.

Farsightedness/Hyperopia: Objects at a distance are seen clearly, but closer or near objects appear blurred.

Astigmatism: Vision appears blurry, because there is an irregularity in the shape of the cornea, or in the curvature of the lens within the eye.

Presbyopia: This is an age-related condition, affecting people age 40 and over, in which one gradually loses of the ability to focus on near objects.

STRABISMUS / CROSSED EYES

Strabismus occurs when one or both of your eyes turns in, out, up or down. Poor eye muscle control usually causes strabismus. This misalignment often first appears before a child reaches 21 months but may develop as late as age 6.

COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME

Computer Vision Syndrome is a grouping of eye and vision-related problems that can result from prolonged computer use. Symptoms can include sensations such as burning, irritated or tired eyes, and fluctuating vision.

BLEPHARITIS / MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION

Belpharitis and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction are conditions caused by an inflammation of the eyelids and eyelashes. Symptoms can include: red, irritated or itchy eyelids and the formation of dandruff-like scales on the eyelashes.

Red Eyes

Red eyes are caused by enlarged, dilated blood vessels, which can lead to the appearance of redness on the surface of the eye. Red eyes can occur for a number reasons, ranging from minor conditions to emergencies. The amount of redness does not signify the severity of the condition.

INFECTIONS
Eye infections occur when harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi or a virus enters the eye or the surrounding area. Eye infections generally affect only one eye. Symptoms can include itchy or watery eyes, and infections can lead to redness, pain, discharge, watering and light sensitivity.
Inflammations
An inflammation can occur in response to a viral or bacterial infection, allergies, environmental irritants, surgery or trauma. It is important to treat and control an inflammation to avoid any scarring or permanent damage. Even a small amount of scar tissue can cause permanent vision damage.
Allergies
Eye allergies are often hereditary and can occur with other types of allergic responses. Allergies can trigger other conditions such as, conjunctivitis or pink eye. Symptoms can include red, swollen or itchy eyes.
FLOATERS / FLASHES
Floaters or flashes are shadowy images that can appear in person’s field of vision. They are caused by particles floating in the fluid that fills the inside of the eye. Floaters or flashes are often symptoms of a retinal tear or detachment.
RETINAL TEARS / DETACHMENT
Retinal tears and detachment are a tearing or separation of the retina from the eye’s underlying tissue. This alters the way light enters the eye. Retinal tears and detachment can occur after trauma or an eye surgery. Symptoms can include floaters and flashes.