Welcome to Northwestern Ophthalmology

Key Ophthalmology Services

Northwestern Ophthalmology offers a broad range of eye care services, all of which are performed by our board-certified provider, Dr. Brophey. These services include but are not limited to:

Topical Anesthesia for Eye Surgery

Northwestern Ophthalmology recognizes the anxieties eye surgery patients may have regarding anesthetic needle injections near the eye.  Dr. Brophey is one of only a few ophthalmologists in the state of Vermont to offer topical anesthesia for eye surgery patients.  Unlike injections, topical anesthesia is non-invasive and avoids unsightly, post-operative physical effects.

Guide to Healthy Eyes

Maintaining healthy eyes and eyesight is an important factor in maintaining a high quality of life as you age. Every year, countless individuals experience complications with their vision. Many of these issues can be corrected or even avoided if treated in a timely manner. However, leaving them untreated or undiagnosed can lead to partial vision loss or even permanent blindness. 

• Protect Your Eyes
  From skiing to woodworking, it is important to wear the protective eyewear certain activities call for. Eyes that are not properly shielded are subject to dryness, irritation and redness. It is also important to be wary of damaging UVA and UVB rays in the summer and winter months. Wearing sunglasses with polarized lenses will help deflect harmful sun rays and protect your eyesight.
• Take a Break
  Like the rest of your body, your eyes can tire and need regular breaks.  If your job requires you to view a computer monitor for multiple hours, you will want to give your eyes a rest if they become dry or your vision becomes blurry. If you have trouble focusing on elements on the screen, try improving your immediate environment by increasing text size or adding additional light - avoid squinting.
• Diet
  Maintaining a healthy diet and weight are essential to good eye health.  Foods containing rich amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish and leafy greens) support vision and help thwart diabetes.  Weight issues such as obesity have been associated with the development age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy -  all of which can lead to blindness.
• Smoking
  Smoking is harmful to all areas of the body, especially your eyes! If you are a smoker looking for help quitting, visit our Wellness Calendar to look for our next smoking cessation workshop.
• Hygiene
  Avoid the transfer of bacteria to your eyes by keeping hands clean and away from your face.  If you have contact lenses, always make sure to properly clean your hands and lenses prior to inserting them into your eyes. Proper sanitation can prevent eye infections such as pink eye or eyelid inflammation.