Medical eye care in Sterling Heights

What a medical eye visit covers

Many eye problems do not need a hospital, but they do need a doctor who can see the eye up close. Common reasons for a medical visit include pink eye and other infections, allergies, a scratch or something stuck in the eye, styes and other eyelid bumps, contact lens irritation, dry or burning eyes, and new floaters. Dr. Ghaleb examines the eye under magnification, identifies the cause, and can treat many of these conditions with prescription eye drops, oral medication or specific home care. Once the opening is under way, we aim to offer same-day visits for problems like these when the schedule allows.

Glaucoma and diabetic eye exams

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, usually without symptoms early on, and about half of people who have it do not know. Lost side vision does not come back, but treatment can slow or stop further loss, which is why regular checks matter if you are over 60, have a family history, are Black or Hispanic and over 40, or have high eye pressure. A pressure check alone cannot confirm glaucoma; the doctor also examines the optic nerve and may test your side vision. Michigan optometrists can diagnose glaucoma and start treatment with drops, and consult a physician if it does not respond.

Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina long before vision changes. The American Diabetes Association’s 2026 Standards of Care recommend a dilated, comprehensive eye exam at diagnosis for type 2 diabetes and within five years of diagnosis for type 1. After that, yearly exams are typical; if there is no retinopathy and blood sugar is on target, every one to two years may be considered. If retinopathy is present, exams should be at least yearly and more often if it is changing. People with diabetes who are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant should have an exam before pregnancy and in the first trimester. We send results to your physician so your care stays connected.

Referral and co-management

Michigan law lets optometrists diagnose and treat many eye conditions with medication, but not perform lasers, injections or any procedure involving an incision. If you need cataract surgery, retinal treatment, glaucoma laser or surgery, or injections for macular degeneration or diabetic eye disease, the doctor refers you to an ophthalmologist and shares the findings. In many cases you can return here afterward for follow-up visits and routine care, coordinated with your surgeon. If anything suggests a problem elsewhere in the body, such as signs of high blood pressure in the retina, the doctor lets you and your physician know.

When to seek urgent care

Some eye symptoms are emergencies. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away if you have any of the following:

• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, even if it comes back
• A curtain or shadow moving across part of your vision
• A sudden burst of new floaters, or new flashes of light, with or without floaters
• A chemical splash in the eye: rinse the eye with plenty of clean water right away (tap water is fine, keep rinsing) and then call 911 or go to the emergency room. Do not try to neutralize the chemical.
• An eye injury, especially a cut or puncture or something stuck in the eye: do not rub, rinse or try to remove the object; cover the eye with a shield or cup without pressing on it, and get emergency care
• Severe eye pain with redness and blurred vision
• Halos around lights with headache, nausea or vomiting
• Blood in the clear front part of the eye, a pupil that suddenly looks different, or an eye that bulges or cannot move normally

Our online appointment requests are not monitored for emergencies. Do not use the contact form for any of the symptoms above.