Medical Eye Services for Your Vision Wellness
EYE DISEASE DETECTION & MANAGEMENT
​
Our doctors are experienced and licensed in the treatment and management of ocular diseases and to treat any eye emergency that you may be experiencing. In addition, our office is equipped with the latest advancement in technology to detect and manage any potential eye disease. Common eye disease and conditions are:
​
​​
GLAUCOMA
​Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that lead to progressive damage to the nerve that connects the eye to the brain called the optic nerve. People with glaucoma can lose nerve tissue, resulting in vision loss. Not everyone with high eye pressure will develop glaucoma, and some people with normal eye pressure will develop glaucoma. When the pressure inside a person's eye is too high for a particular optic nerve, whatever that pressure measurement may be, glaucoma will develop.
Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in the U.S. It most often occurs in people over age 40, although an infant (congenital) form of glaucoma exists. People with a family history of glaucoma, African Americans over the age of 40 and Hispanics over the age of 60 have an increased risk of developing glaucoma. Other risk factors include thinner corneas, chronic eye inflammation and taking medications that increase the pressure in the eyes.
Glaucoma cannot currently be prevented. But if it is diagnosed and treated early, it can usually be controlled. Medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss. However, vision already lost to glaucoma cannot be restored. That is why the American Optometric Association recommends an annual dilated eye examination for people at risk for glaucoma. Depending on your specific condition, your doctor may recommend more frequent examinations.
DIABETIC
RETINOPATHY
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that may occur in people who have diabetes. It causes progressive damage to the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is a serious sight-threatening complication of diabetes.
Diabetes interferes with the body's ability to use and store sugar (glucose). The disease is characterized by too much sugar in the blood, which can cause damage throughout the body, including the eyes. Over time, diabetes damages small blood vessels throughout the body, including the retina. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when these tiny blood vessels leak blood and other fluids. This causes the retinal tissue to swell, resulting in cloudy or blurred vision. The condition usually affects both eyes. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
-
Seeing spots or floaters
-
Blurred vision
-
Having a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision
-
Difficulty seeing well at night
​
Patients with diabetes who can better control their blood sugar levels will slow the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy.
CATARACTS
A cataract is a cloudy or opaque area in the normally clear lens of the eye. Depending upon its size and location, it can interfere with normal vision. Most cataracts develop in people over age 55, but they occasionally occur in infants and young children. Usually cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may be worse than the other.
The lens is located inside the eye behind the iris, the colored part of the eye. Normally, the lens focuses light on the retina, which sends the image through the optic nerve to the brain. However, if the lens is clouded by a cataract, light is scattered so the lens can no longer focus it properly, causing vision problems. The lens is made of mostly proteins and water. Clouding of the lens occurs due to changes in the proteins and lens fibers.
Cataracts generally form very slowly. Signs and symptoms of a cataract may include:
-
Blurred or hazy vision
-
Reduced intensity of colors
-
Increased sensitivity to glare from lights, particularly when driving at night
-
Change in the eye's refractive error, or prescription
There is no treatment to prevent or slow cataract progression. In age-related cataracts, changes in vision can be very gradual. Some people may not initially recognize the visual changes. However, as cataracts worsen, vision symptoms increase.
MACULAR
DEGENERATION
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over age 50. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1.8 million people have AMD and another 7.3 million are at substantial risk for vision loss from AMD.
This eye disease occurs when there are changes to the macula, a small portion of the retina that is located on the inside back layer of the eye. AMD is a loss of central vision that can occur in two forms: "dry" (atrophic) and "wet" (exudative).
Most people with macular degeneration have the dry form. While there is no specific treatment for dry AMD, studies have shown a potential benefit from vitamin supplements a Mediterranean diet and cessation of smoking. The less common wet form may respond to intraocular injections of anti-VEGF medications if detected and treated early.
In its early stages, the following signs of macular degeneration can go unnoticed.
-
Gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly.
-
Shape of objects appears distorted.
-
Straight lines look wavy or crooked.
-
Loss of clear color vision.
-
A dark or empty area in the center of vision.
If you experience any of the above signs or symptoms, contact your doctor of optometry immediately for a comprehensive eye examination. Your optometrist will perform a variety of tests to determine if you have macular degeneration or any other eye health problems.
EMERGENCY EYE CARE
​
​
We treat and triage eye issues that you may be experiencing. Eye drops or oral medications may be prescribed depending on the condition and severity.
Examples include:
​
-
Red Eyes
-
Dry & Itchy Eyes
-
Eye Infections
-
Ocular Allergies
-
Foreign Body Removal
-
Light Sensitivity
-
Seeing Flashes or Floaters