Eye Diseases

Our ocular health evaluation usually includes Optomap® retinal imaging or Dilation eye drops. We also do further testing via Visual Field and OCT/Ultrasound imaging of the retina when neccessary.  This allows the doctor to examine the internal structures in the back of the eye. The eye health evaluation can lead to the detection and management of eye diseases such as:  

• Diabetes/Diabetic Retinopathy- People with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. This is when high blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels can swell and leak. Or they can close, stopping blood from passing through. This causes damage to your retina which causes a loss in your vision.

• Glaucoma- Glaucoma is a disease that causes damage to your eye’s optic nerve. It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over 60 years old. But blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment.

• Cataracts- Inside our eyes, we have a natural lens. The lens bends light rays that come into the eye to help us see. A cataract occurs when the lens becomes cloudy or foggy which leads to decrease in vision. The most common cause of a cataract is due to age. Other causes can be congenital, trauma, certain medications or other health related issues that causes a change in the lens.

• Age Related Macular Degeneration- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that can cause severe vision loss. It happens when a part of the retina called the macula is damaged. With AMD you lose your central vision. You cannot see fine details, whether you are looking at something close or far. There are two types of AMD, the Dry form which is more common and the Wet form which is less common but more severe.

• Retinal Detachment- A detached retina is when the retina lifts away from the back of the eye. The retina does not work when it is detached, making vision blurry. A detached retina is an emergency as there is potential for blindness.

• Dry Eye Syndrome- Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface charac­terized by a loss of normal function of the tear film. This causes various ocular symp­toms such as tearing, irritation, inflammation and ultimately dryness.