Many eye diseases have no early symptoms. If not detected in time, they may lead to permanent loss of vision.
- Many people don’t realize they have glaucoma until the damage is irreparable.
- Cataracts cloud the lens of the eye and affect 1 in 3 people.
- Diabetes can lead to permanent vision loss from the effects of diabetic retinopathy.
- Macular degeneration can cause loss of central vision but can be spotted at its onset by an optometrist.
- Uncorrected refractive error is the inability to focus correctly. If not treated early, you can suffer permanent decreased vision.
Common Conditions
Your eyesight is critical to your everyday life. No one should have loss of vision due to eye diseases that can be prevented and treated.
Myopia
Myopia, commonly called nearsightedness, causes blurred distance vision. There is a lot of research directed towards trying to control myopia in children. We are staying on top of this and will share the latest recommendations if your child is developing myopia.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is more likely to cause blurred near vision. Prescribing glasses for farsightedness takes into account your symptoms, age and prescription. This is one of the most common visual disorders to be missed in a school or pediatrician’s screening.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism means that the cornea (the clear dome that covers the colored part of your eye) is not perfectly round, but is elliptical. Some people use an analogy of a football rather that a baseball to visualize the difference. Astigmatism causes light to focus in two different places in relationship to the retina, and the brain settles on somewhere in between.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is otherwise known as “my arms have grown too short.” Where are all our over 40 peeps? You know what we are talking about! Someone holds something close to your face and you are pushing it back to see it better. You turn on the flashlight on your phone to see a menu in a dimly lit restaurant or find your eyes are getting increasingly tired after reading. You are in good company. Presbyopia occurs when the lens of the eye grows thicker and begins to stiffen. If over the counter readers are needed, we will guide you to the correct power. If you have a distance prescription as well, we can talk about progressive lenses or the possibility of multifocal contact lenses.
Strabismus
Strabismus is a condition in which the two eyes do not work together as a team, and one eye may drift in, out, up, or down. Vision therapy, customized prism glasses, and eye alignment surgery are the most common tools we recommend to help patients with symptomatic strabismus.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia causes the eyes to not be able to see clearly even when the best eyeglass prescription is in place. Early intervention is most effective in reducing the impact of amblyopia. This is one of the key reasons we are providers for the InfantSEE program that provides a free eye examination to babies under one year of age.
Dry Eye Disease
Dry Eye Disease is a common, chronic, inflammatory eye disease that impacts the tear film. There are many underlying reasons for dry eye and several treatment options. After determining your specific type of dry eye, a customized treatment plan is recommended.
Cataracts
Cataracts are mainly discovered as a natural yellowing of the lens due to UV from the sun. Cataracts can be a result of age, medication side effects, trauma, or genetic tendencies. Cataracts keep light from fully reaching the retina and may cause glare and blurry vision. Most cataracts can be removed with surgery. If and when you need cataract surgery, we will be with you every step of the way.
Floaters
Floaters are debris suspended within the vitreous (jelly of your eye). Sometimes people are born with floaters, but others acquire floaters over time. Please let us know immediately if you experience floaters with flashes of light, a sudden release of new floaters, or a blind or blurry spot of any size that stays fixed in your vision.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a complex condition that impacts the optic nerve. It is painless and asymptomatic most of the time. A thorough glaucoma screening is one of the main reasons an adult should have a comprehensive eye examination on a regular basis, even if they do not need prescription glasses.
Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration causes the metabolism of cellular waste material in the center of the retina to slow down. The macula is responsible for clear, colorful vision when we look straight ahead. When this waste material (called drusen) builds up, distorted central vision, blur, and change in color vision can occur. If you have or are at risk for macular degeneration, we will make sure to review current recommendations with you.