Asja Pinkham, OD
Specialty Contact Lenses | Scleral Lenses | Dry Eye Care | Comprehensive Eye Care
Dr. Asja Pinkham is an optometrist at NH Eye Associates with experience in specialty contact lenses, scleral lenses, dry eye treatment, and comprehensive eye care. She provides care for patients with routine and complex eye care needs, including patients with keratoconus and other corneal conditions who may require specialty contact lenses.
Dr. Pinkham also has a special interest in the evaluation and treatment of dry eye disease. She utilizes advanced diagnostic and treatment options, including Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and LipiFlow® thermal pulsation, to develop individualized treatment plans based on the underlying causes of a patient's dry eye symptoms.
In addition to specialty contact lenses and dry eye care, Dr. Pinkham provides primary eye care, glaucoma care, diabetic eye examinations, and evaluation of urgent eye problems.
Specialty Contact Lenses & Scleral Lenses
Dr. Pinkham has extensive experience fitting specialty contact lenses for patients with irregular or complex corneas. These lenses can help improve vision and comfort when traditional glasses or soft contact lenses do not provide adequate results.
Specialty lens options include:
- Scleral contact lenses
- Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses
- Hybrid contact lenses
- Specialty lenses for keratoconus
- Contact lenses for other corneal diseases and irregular corneas
Scleral lenses are larger-diameter lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera, or white portion of the eye. The fluid reservoir beneath the lens can provide excellent optical correction for an irregular cornea while also helping some patients with significant ocular surface disease.
Patients with keratoconus, corneal irregularity, difficult-to-correct vision, or problems wearing conventional contact lenses may benefit from a specialty contact lens evaluation.
Dry Eye Evaluation & Treatment
Dr. Pinkham sees patients in the Dry Eye Clinic and provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for dry eye disease.
Because dry eye can have multiple causes, determining why a patient's eyes are dry is an important part of developing an effective treatment plan. Treatment may vary depending on whether symptoms are related to tear deficiency, inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, or other ocular surface problems.
Advanced treatment options available may include:
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
- LipiFlow® thermal pulsation
- Prescription dry eye medications
- Eyelid and meibomian gland treatments
- Scleral lenses for appropriate patients
- Additional advanced dry eye therapies when indicated
The goal is not simply to temporarily relieve symptoms but to identify and treat the factors contributing to chronic dry eye whenever possible.
Comprehensive Eye Care
In addition to her specialty areas, Dr. Pinkham provides comprehensive optometric care for a wide range of eye health and vision needs.
Her clinical services include:
Dry Eye Care
Comprehensive evaluation and individualized treatment of dry eye disease and ocular surface conditions.
Specialty Contact Lenses
Fitting of scleral, rigid gas permeable, hybrid, and other specialty contact lenses for patients with complex visual or corneal conditions.
Primary Eye Care
Routine eye examinations, vision correction, and ongoing monitoring of eye health.
Glaucoma
Evaluation and ongoing care for patients with glaucoma or those at increased risk for developing glaucoma.
Diabetic Eye Exams
Comprehensive eye examinations to identify and monitor retinal and other ocular changes associated with diabetes.
Urgent Eye Care
Evaluation of eye problems requiring timely attention, including sudden changes in vision, eye redness, discomfort, and other acute symptoms.
Education & Clinical Training
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Science | Simmons University
Doctor of Optometry: Pennsylvania College of Optometry | Salus University
Primary Eye Care Externship: Concord Family Vision Center
Ocular Disease & Glaucoma Externship: New York Department of Veterans Affairs | Brooklyn and St. Albans, New York
Contact Lens Externship: Wills Eye Hospital
Pediatric Eye Care Externship: The Eye Institute at Salus University
Certification
National Board of Examiners in Optometry
Professional Organizations
Dr. Pinkham's professional affiliations include:
- American Optometric Association
- New Hampshire Optometric Association
- Contact Lens and Cornea Section, American Optometric Association
- Scleral Lens Education Society
Community Involvement
Dr. Pinkham has participated in programs focused on expanding access to eye care and vision screenings.
While attending optometry school, she participated in a Student Optometric Service to Humanity (SOSH) mission trip to El Salvador, where students provided eye care to people living in remote areas with limited access to vision services.
She has also participated in Special Olympics vision screenings and school vision screenings for preschool and kindergarten-aged children.
About Dr. Pinkham
Dr. Pinkham grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire. After spending several years in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City while pursuing her education and clinical training, she returned to New Hampshire to be closer to family.
Outside the office, Dr. Pinkham enjoys hiking New Hampshire's 4,000-foot peaks, running, and traveling with her husband and daughter.
Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Pinkham
Whether you need a routine eye examination or more specialized care for dry eye, keratoconus, an irregular cornea, or specialty contact lenses, our team can help determine the appropriate next step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Asja Pinkham
Who is DrWhat does Dr. Asja Pinkham specialize in?
Dr. Pinkham is an optometrist with particular experience in specialty contact lenses, scleral lenses, keratoconus, corneal disease, and dry eye care. She also provides primary eye care, glaucoma care, diabetic eye exams, and evaluation of urgent eye problems.
Does Dr. Pinkham fit scleral contact lenses?
Yes. Dr. Pinkham fits scleral contact lenses as well as rigid gas permeable and hybrid lenses. Scleral lenses may be particularly helpful for patients with keratoconus, irregular corneas, certain corneal diseases, and some forms of significant ocular surface disease.
Does Dr. Pinkham treat keratoconus?
Dr. Pinkham provides specialty contact lens care for patients with keratoconus and other conditions that cause an irregular corneal surface. Specialty lenses, particularly scleral and rigid gas permeable lenses, can help improve vision when glasses or conventional soft contact lenses do not provide adequate correction.
Does Dr. Pinkham treat dry eye?
Yes. Dr. Pinkham evaluates and treats dry eye disease and uses both traditional and advanced treatment approaches based on the cause and severity of a patient's condition.
Does Dr. Pinkham offer IPL for dry eye?
Yes. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is among the advanced dry eye technologies Dr. Pinkham utilizes for appropriate patients. IPL may be recommended for certain patients with meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye.
Does Dr. Pinkham offer LipiFlow?
Yes. LipiFlow thermal pulsation may be used for appropriate patients with meibomian gland dysfunction. The treatment applies controlled heat and gentle pressure to the eyelids to help address obstructed meibomian glands.
Does Dr. Pinkham perform diabetic eye exams?
Yes. Dr. Pinkham provides diabetic eye examinations to evaluate the eyes for changes associated with diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.
Does Dr. Pinkham see patients for glaucoma?
Yes. Dr. Pinkham provides evaluation and ongoing eye care for patients with glaucoma and patients considered at increased risk for developing the disease.
Where did Dr. Pinkham attend optometry school?
Dr. Pinkham earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. Her clinical training included externships in primary eye care, ocular disease and glaucoma, specialty contact lenses, and pediatric eye care.
Is Dr. Pinkham accepting patients for specialty contact lens and dry eye evaluations?
Patients interested in specialty contact lenses, scleral lenses, or a comprehensive dry eye evaluation can contact NH Eye Associates to learn about current appointment availability with Dr. Pinkham.