Eye Conditions
Senior Health
The surgeons at Correctvision Laser Institute have helped thousands of people enjoy better vision. Leading the way with new medications and surgical procedures, Correctvision can diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases and conditions. We're committed to providing our patients the most advanced care available.
Common Eye Conditions
External Eye Conditions
Dry eye
Itching or burning of the eyes can be caused by dry eye . Excessive watering of the eye can also be a symptom. There are many causes and a variety of treatment options for this condition.
The name "dry eye" can be a little confusing since one of the most common symptoms is excessive watering! It makes more sense, though, when you learn that the eye makes two different types of tears.
The first type, called lubricating tears, is produced slowly and steadily throughout the day. Lubricating tears contain a precise balance of mucous, water, oil, nutrient proteins, and antibodies that nourish and protect the front surface of the eye.
The second type of tear, called a reflex tear, does not have much lubricating value. Reflex tears serve as a kind of emergency response to flood the eye when it is suddenly irritated or injured. Reflex tears might occur when you get something in your eye, when you're cutting onions, when you're around smoke, or when you accidentally scratch your eye. The reflex tears gush out in such large quantities that the tear drainage system can't handle them all and they spill out onto your cheek. Still another cause of reflex tearing is irritation of the eye from lack of lubricating tears. If your eye is not producing enough lubricating tears, you have dry eye.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids. Redness of the eyelids, frequent styes or a sticky discharge may all be symptoms of this easily-treatable condition.
Cataracts
If your vision has gradually changed with age, and things don''t seem quite as sharp or in focus as they used to, you may be suffering from cataracts, a clouding of the normally-transparent lens of the eye. Cataracts can be treated with a quick, outpatient procedure.
Over fifty percent of people over the age of 60 (and quite a few younger than that) suffer from cataracts. Almost everyone develops cataracts as they grow older. Cataract formation occurs at different rates and can affect one or both eyes.
A cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye's natural lens. It interferes with light passing through the eye to the retina. Aging and other factors cause proteins in the eye's lens to clump together forming these cloudy areas. Early changes may not disturb vision, but over time cataracts typically result in blurred or fuzzy vision and sensitivity to light. People with progressed cataracts often say they feel as if they're looking through a waterfall or a piece of wax paper.
Cataracts are caused by age, eye trauma, heredity, diabetes or certain metabolic conditions, some medications including long-term use of oral steroids, ultraviolet radiation, and glaucoma
When decreased vision affects your everyday activities or hobbies, a cataract should be treated. Currently there is no medical treatment to reverse or prevent the development of cataracts. Once they form, the only way to achieve clear vision again is through cataract surgery.
Glaucoma
Open angle glaucoma often has no symptoms until after vision loss has occurred. It is a leading cause of blindness, but if caught early it can be controlled. If you are African-American, have a relative with glaucoma, are diabetic or very nearsighted, you should have your eye pressure checked every year. It is estimated that over two million Americans have some type of glaucoma and half of them do not know it. Ninety percent of glaucoma patients have open-angle glaucoma. Although it cannot be cured, it can usually be controlled. Vision loss may be minimized with early treatment.
The eye receives its nourishment from a clear fluid that circulates inside the eye. This fluid must be constantly returned to the blood stream through the eye's drainage canal, called the trabecular meshwork. In the case of open-angle glaucoma, something has gone wrong with the drainage canal. When the fluid cannot drain fast enough, pressure inside the eye begins to build.
This excess fluid pressure pushes against the delicate optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain. If the pressure remains too high for too long, irreversible vision loss can occur.
In the early stages, there are no symptoms. There is no pain or outward sign of trouble. Mild aching in the eyes gradual loss of peripheral vision (the top, sides and bottom areas of vision), seeing halos around lights, reduced visual acuity (especially at night, that is not correctable with glasses) occur in the later stages.
Glaucoma can occur in people of all races at any age. However, the likelihood of developing glaucoma increases if you are African American, have a relative with glaucoma, are diabetic, are very nearsighted, or are over 35 years of age.
Narrow angle glaucoma is much more rare and is very different from open-angle glaucoma in that eye pressure usually goes up very fast. There may be a feeling of fullness in the eye along with reddening, swelling and blurred vision. If not treated promptly, this glaucoma produces blindness in the affected eye in 3 to 5 days.
Narrow angle glaucoma is caused by a defect in the eye structure, anything that causes the pupil to dilate (dim lighting), dilation drops, certain oral or injected medications, a blow to the eye, or diabetes-related growth of abnormal blood vessels over the angle
Glaucoma Diagnosis
Everyone should be checked for glaucoma at around age 35 and again at age 40. Those considered to be at higher risk, including those over the age of 60 should have their pressure checked every year or two.
Your doctor will use tonometry to check your eye pressure. After applying numbing drops, the tonometer is gently pressed against the eye and its resistance is measured and recorded.
An ophthalmoscope can be used to examine the shape and color of your optic nerve. The ophthalmoscope magnifies and lights up the inside of the eye. If the optic nerve appears to be cupped or is not a healthy pink color, additional tests will be run.
Perimetry is a test that maps the field of vision. Looking straight ahead into a white, bowl-shaped area, you'll indicate when you're able to detect lights as they are brought into your field of vision. This map allows your doctor to see any pattern of visual changes caused by the early stages of glaucoma.
Uveitis
A red eye that does not clear up could be an indication of a condition called uveitis. Symptoms include light sensitivity, blurring of vision and pain or redness of the eye. There is a range of treatment options.
Retina
Macula
Macular degeneration is a retinal disease that occurs when the macula, an area at the retina at the back of the eye, begins to gradually deteriorate, usually because of age. A partial or total loss of central vision can occur. There are treatments available for some types of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration occurs in an area of the retina at the back of the eye that is responsible for fine detail vision. Vision loss usually occurs gradually and typically affects both eyes at different rates. Even with a loss of central vision, however, color vision and peripheral vision may remain clear.
Vitreous
Have you ever turned your head quickly, thought you saw a small bug or a floating spot, then reached out only to discover that there wasn''t really anything there? Sometimes these appear as a flash of light, rather than a spot. Flashes and floaters can be alarming. Usually, however, an eye examination will confirm that they are harmless and do not require any treatment. In some cases, a retina detachment occurs so get an eye examination.
Diabetes
Of the roughly 12 million Americans who suffer from diabetes, an estimated 90 percent will develop Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes is a disease that affects blood vessels throughout the body, particularly vessels in the kidneys and eyes. When the blood vessels in the eyes are affected, this is called diabetic retinopathy.
The retina is in the back of the eye. It detects visual images and transmits them to the brain. Major blood vessels lie on the front portion of the retina. When these blood vessels are damaged due to diabetes, they may leak fluid or blood and grow scar tissue. This leakage affects the ability of the retina to detect and transmit images.
During the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, reading vision is typically not affected. However, when retinopathy becomes advanced, new blood vessels grow in the retina. These new vessels are the body's attempt to overcome and replace the vessels that have been damaged by diabetes. However, these new vessels are not normal. They may bleed and cause the vision to become hazy, occasionally resulting in a complete loss of vision. The growth of abnormal blood vessels on the iris of the eye can lead to glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy can also cause your body to form cataracts.
The new vessels also may damage the retina by forming scar tissue and pulling the retina away from its proper location. This is called retinal detachment and can lead to blindness if left untreated.
There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. Floaters, difficulty reading or doing close work, or double vision can be observed. If left untreated, severe vision loss can occur.
Everyone who has diabetes is at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, but not everyone develops it. Changes in blood sugar levels increase the risk. Generally, diabetics don't develop diabetic retinopathy until they've had diabetes for at least 10 years.
You can reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by keeping your blood sugar under control, monitoring your blood pressure, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting an eye exam at least once a year.
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