Locations
Office
Arlington, WA
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
UnitedHealthcare
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Ophthalmology
Languages spoken
English, Mandarin, Russian, Ukrainian
Doctor Q&A
37 Answers
2 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Need eye exam.: Your problems are best evaluated by an eyemd. They are too complex to answer without a comprehensive exam.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 55-year-old male asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
High quality: I don't recommend a prescription fish oil. I personally take icelandicformula4 fish oil (no financial interest). It is 100% omega 3. I also like barle... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Need dilation exam: Contacts cannot migrate into your eye. Floaters are serious sometimes, so a dilated exam from an eye care professional is required. The irritation is ... Read More
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Excitement: Excitement causes adrenaline release, and adrenaline causes pupillary dilation.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Blueberries: Blueberries and purple grapes contain anthocyanins, proven to help prevent age related macular degeneration. They protect delicate capillaries in the... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
See an EyeMD.: "poofy" eyelids may be from allergies, if so cold compresses are helpful. If due to clogged oil glands (meibomitis), then hot compresses are better. ... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Ingrowth can scratch: If eyelashes are ingrown (trichiasis), they can scratch the corneas, causing damage. Epilation is only temporary. Electrolysis is effective 75% of th... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
No: Other medications can cause miosis (pupillary constriction), such as narcotics, for example.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Check optic nerve!: Please see an eyemd to rule out any retinal condition. Thyroid eye disease does not cause hallucinations, but can cause optic nerve compression. A vis... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Clean sock, raw rice: Use a sock to do hot compress. Put rice in the sock (uncooked) then microwave about 30 seconds. The heat lasts 10-15 minutes. Good for styes, meibomit... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Yes, due to dry eyes: Tv viewing or intense computer or video game use may lead to decreased blink frequency and secondary dry eye.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
See strabismologist: If the vision is good in the wandering eye, strabismus surgery (eye muscle surgery) may help. If the vision is poor in the wandering eye (amblyopia),... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Artificial tears: Computers exacerbate dry eye syndrome. You may increase tear volume by drinking more fluids, supplement with preservative free artificial tears; impr... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Inflammation: Styes cause inflammation which dilates blood vessels, resulting in release of histamine, which causes itching. Make a hot pack with a sock filled with... Read More
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Check blood pressure: A broken blood vessel on the white part of the eye, called conjunctival hemorrhage, is typically benign. In the setting of pregnancy with dizziness, t... Read More
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Depends on the cause: Check thyroid function, rule out eyelid infection (blepharitis), if lashes don't grow within 1 month consider Latisse (bimatoprost) (prescription).
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Yes.: Cross eyes can be cured with strabismus (eye muscle) surgery. See an adult strabismologist for help (type of ophthalmologist).
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Alcohol free OK: Aloe vera fresh from the plant leaf should be safe, just avoid products containing alcohol.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Diagnose b4 treat: Allopathic eye drops are submitted to the fda for approval, whereas over the counter remedies such as ayurvedic eye drops are not regulated. There are... Read More
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Usually not.: Eye twitching can be due to essential blepharospasm (see blepharospasm.Org), stress (myokymia), other nerve problems such as aberrant regeneration. Se... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
No: Hypothyroidism, associated with goiter, however, may cause dry skin.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Culture for MRSA: Most common infection in plucked eyebrows is MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus), a superbug once limited to hospitals and nursing homes is comm... Read More
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Muscle imbalance: Double vision is due to the eyes pointing in different directions. Cover either eye and the image becomes single. Ghosting is typically due to astigma... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Ignore: Flute body. Breathe in and out. Music you are.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Tunnel vision.: Many causes for tunnel vision. Retinal dystrophies such as retinitis pigmentosa, degenerative conditions such as advanced stage glaucoma, vascular co... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Check for stye: Stye is a common cause of eyelid swelling, and eye or face pain. Try hot pack (clean sock plus raw rice in microwave x 30 seconds) several times a day... Read More
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Need exam: Many causes for red eye. Need an exam to be sure of the cause.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Consider Reditabs: Claritin (loratadine) reditabs (loratidine) are dissolvable under the tongue, and a good systemic non-sedating anti-histamine i often use for both all... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
No.: Sinusitis does not increase eye present, but sinus medications can. Steroids can elevate pressure in open angle patients, antihistamines and deconges... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Need eye exam: Need to rule out uveitis (inflammation) in eyes, but probably due to migraine since noise hurts as well!
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Hair don't feel pain: Hair roots can feel pain, or pain can be referred from skin, nerves or bone. Get checked for sinusitis, other infections or inflammations, if all norm... Read More
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Depends.: Many types of keratitis. Many can be cured with medicine (infectious types) or surgery (corneal transplant). There is hope. See an eye surgeon, corn... Read More
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 62-year-old male asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
20/200 best correct: Legal blindness in the usa is 20/200 with the best lenses in the better eye. A severely constricted visual field can also qualify.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Some more than other: People with extreme myopia (nearsightedness) may have progressive elongation of the eyeballs. Tight eyelids in youth may cause astigmatism (vertical),... Read More
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Bruce Ballonanswered
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Contact dermatitis?: Did someone play a prank on you? Capsaicin can cause these symptoms. If someone put it in your underwear, it could cause fire down under, then if you ... Read More
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
49
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Thanks for your helpful opinion on a problem I had. You're a credit to the profession, Doctor. #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Ballon is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Ballon is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thank you I will schedule eye exam
HealthTap member
TYVM dr. Bruce. Query in relation to social security filing
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Graduated 1988MD
Residency
Duke Eye Center
Residency
North Carolina Memorial Hospital
Awards
Top Doctor, Third Place, Everett Region, WA - Summer
2013
Top Ophthalmologist , Second Place, Washington - Summer
2013
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
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