This condition is a leading cause of legal blindness in people over 60. A person with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) can gradually or suddenly lose vision in the central part of the retina, called the macula. AMD doesn’t hurt, so it’s important to have regularly scheduled eye exams to determine if you are experiencing vision loss. You should be particularly concerned if you are over age 60, have high blood pressure (hypertension), smoke, or have a family history of AMD.
The exact causes of AMD are not known, but research indicates that the pigment in the macula becomes depleted over time. This may be caused by free radicals found in high concentrations in the macula that can harm cell membranes. Researchers believe that antioxidant compounds found in certain foods (kale, collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, broccoli, yellow corn, persimmons, tangerines) and ocular vitamins reduce the effect of free radicals on the macula. There are two types of AMD, called “dry” and “wet.” Most people who have AMD develop the dry form of the disease and will not lose central vision. However, the dry form of macular degeneration can lead to wet. Although only about 10% of people with AMD develop the wet form, they make up the majority of those who experience serious vision loss.
There is no cure, but the disease can be managed. Our practice is experienced in monitoring your eye health and recommending treatment if it is needed. Good eye health-care can minimize the damage that AMD can do to your vision.
Blepharitis (ble-fa-ri-tis) is a condition of the eyelids. Both the upper and lower eyelids become coated with oily particles and bacteria near the base of the eyelashes. It may cause irritation, itchiness, redness, and stinging or burning of the eye. Often, this condition occurs in people who have a tendency towards oily skin, dandruff or dry eyes. Blepharitis also is associated with meibomitis, which is inflammation of the nearby oil glands of the eyelids (called meibomian glands).
It’s normal to have bacteria on the surface of your skin, but in some people, bacteria thrive at the base of the lashes. Large amounts of bacteria around the eyelashes can cause dandruff-like scales and particles to form along the lashes and eyelid margins.
The lens is a tissue located behind the pupil that is responsible for focusing light into the retina (the back of the eye). A cataract usually forms as you get older. As a cataract grows and clouds more of the lens, you may find that performing normal tasks, such as reading and driving, become more difficult.
The most common type of cataract occurs as we age. There are also cataracts that develop in babies (congenital cataracts), cataracts that occur as a result of disease (diabetes, for example), taking certain medications or exposure to toxic substance, and cataracts that form after an injury to the eye. Cataracts occur when there is a buildup of protein which makes the lens cloudy. No one knows what causes the buildup of protein, although research indicates that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, diet, smoking, consuming large amounts of alcohol, and exposure to air pollution, may be factors.
Cataracts are removed during surgery. Cataract surgery is the most common operation performed in the U.S. and is considered one of the safest. Nearly 98% of all cataract surgeries are completed each year without serious complications. During cataract surgery, the surgeon removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a plastic lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL).
The IOLs implanted today usually provide very good vision. After cataract surgery is completed, you are likely to be less dependent on eyeglasses. Cataract surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient operating room, so you don’t have to stay in the hospital. Surgeons usually don’t remove cataracts in both eyes at the same time. You will be scheduled for separate surgeries.
Learn more about cataracts and cataract surgery.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes, you should be concerned about diabetic eye disease. This group of eye problems, including cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy (the most common), affects those with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness, but there are often no symptoms in the early stages. More than one-third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not receive the recommended vision care. As soon as you are diagnosed with diabetes, you should have a complete dilated examination, and this should be repeated at least once a year.
The high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage the blood vessels inside the retina, located in the back of the eye. This leads to the leakage of fluids into the retina and the obstruction of blood flow. Both may result in vision loss. Diabetes can also cause cataracts and glaucoma. If you have diabetes, you may get cataracts at a younger age, and your chances of developing glaucoma are doubled.
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy focuses on prevention. You can help avoid damage to the retina by keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure levels near normal. This can slow the process of retinopathy and prevent vision loss. In advanced cases of diabetic retinopathy, laser treatment (photocoagulation) and/or surgical removal of the fluid in the eye (vitrectomy) can reduce the chance of severe vision loss and blindness. This surgery does not cure diabetic retinopathy or restore vision that has already been lost. Future vision loss can only be prevented if diabetes or blood pressure is well controlled.
No, there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy, but prevention can greatly minimize any visual effects of the disease. Be sure to visit your internist or family physician as recommended and follow the program to control your diabetes. Come to this office for a dilated eye exam at least once a year to monitor any possible effects on your eyes.
Make an appointment promptly if you experience any of these symptoms:
Floaters that affect only one eye, last more than a few days, or are not associated with changes in blood sugar.
Our tears are produced by the glands in and around the eyelids. As we grow older or sometimes as a side effect of a medication or an environmental condition, tear production is diminished and rapid tear evaporation may occur. As a result, dry eye symptoms or a chronic condition known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) may occur. Improper tear drainage may also be a contributing factor to dry eyes.
Most often, dry eyes are a natural result of the aging process, especial after age 65. Women are also prone to developing a dry eye condition during pregnancy or menopause or as a result of contraceptive use. Medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and antidepressants, may also influence a reduction in tear production, along with medical conditions ranging from diabetes to rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term prescription contact lens use, as well as refractive eye surgeries such as LASIK, may also decrease tear production. When it comes to the environment we live in, factors affecting our eyes include pollution, smoke, wind, and dry climates. Even staring at a computer screen for a prolonged amount of time and not blinking enough may affect tear production.
If you suspect that you may suffer from dry eyes, schedule an eye exam to test and evaluate the quantity and quality of your tears, along with tear drainage. Mild cases are often treated with over-the-counter artificial tear solutions. If needed, your eye care specialist may recommend prescription drops or nutritional supplements. In some cases to conserve tears, surgery or “plugs” may be used to unblock tear ducts. While dry eyes may not seem like a life-threatening condition, without treatment, vision may become impaired and the front surface of the eye may become damaged.
Many of the same allergies that affect your sinuses, nose, or lungs can affect your eyes. The eye is one of the most sensitive organs in the body and as airborne allergens or other particles come in contact with the surface of your eyes, a number of symptoms occur in response.
Eye allergies, sometimes known as allergic conjunctivitis, are like chain reactions. When an “allergen” comes in contact with your eye, it causes the cells to release histamine and other chemicals/substances, which, in turn, swell the blood vessels that make your eyes feel itchy, red, and watery. Allergen triggers are found outdoors and indoors. Outdoor allergens are more seasonal and commonly include grass, tree, and weed pollens. If you wear contacts, allergens may even become embedded on the lenses. Year-round indoor triggers are pet hair or dander, dust mites, and molds. Irritants, such as cigarette smoke, cosmetics, perfumes, and diesel exhaust, may also produce similar symptoms.
Most treatments involve common sense, along with over-the-counter medications. OTC eye drops and non-prescription allergy medicine may relieve many symptoms. However, if symptoms continue, you should seek advice from a physician and/or eye care specialist.
Try to stay inside with air conditioning on high-pollen count days; install high-quality furnace filters that trap allergens and change them frequently; keep pets off furniture; invest in special pillow/mattress covers; and vacuum regularly to rid the bedroom of dust mites.
Everyone should be concerned about glaucoma because the symptoms of this serious disease are "silent." Glaucoma is nearly always painless and slowly robs you of vision- without you being aware of it. Only regular visits to a qualified eye doctor will reveal the signs that you are at risk for glaucoma or already have the disease.
Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged. It is associated with elevated pressure inside the eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP). That’s why we measure your IOP with a tonometer every time you come for a routine checkup. The increase in pressure happens when the passages that normally allow fluid to flow through your eyes become clogged or blocked. The reasons that the passages become blocked are not known. When the internal pressure increases, the nerve fibers in the optic nerve become damaged, and vision is affected. Another way we evaluate glaucoma is by measuring your visual fields. We use a computerized instrument that projects spots of light, and you indicate during the test which spots you see. A visual fields test helps us determine how much your vision has been affected.
Treatment often includes the use of a drop or drops, which you must place in your eyes every day. These drops can help control your eye pressure. Sometimes the dosage is adjusted, or the type of drop will be changed, so the drops are more effective in controlling IOPs. This, in turn, will minimize the damage caused to the optic nerve. Side effects of glaucoma drops may include allergy, redness of eyes, brief stinging or visual blurring, and irritated eyes. There is also laser surgery and microsurgery for glaucoma. Laser surgery slightly increases the outflow of the fluid from the eye or eliminates fluid blockage. Microsurgery is performed to create a new channel to drain the ocular fluid; this form of glaucoma surgery sometimes needs to be repeated. Some people are considered ’glaucoma suspects.’ This means you are more likely to develop glaucoma. We will check your IOP more often, and pay close attention to any change. The purpose is to begin medication as soon as it is needed, so that your vision is not affected. You might be a glaucoma suspect if you are over the age of 45, have a family history of glaucoma, are African American, have diabetes, or are extremely nearsighted.
There is no cure for glaucoma, but the disease can be managed over time. Our practice has quite a few glaucoma patients, and we are experienced in prescribing the appropriate medications and monitoring your eye health. Good eye health care can minimize the dangerous effects of glaucoma on your vision.
Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) is a common condition that occurs in about 75 percent of people over the age of 65. As people get older, the vitreous, a jelly-like substance inside the eye, changes. This can cause a PVD. Many people are not aware that they have developed a PVD but some notice symptoms such as “floaters” or “flashes.” Floaters may appear to be little dots, circles, lines, clouds, cobwebs, or perhaps one large floater. Flashes occur when the vitreous pulls on the light-sensitive retina. PVD does not in itself cause permanent vision loss. The only threat to vision is the small chance of a retinal tear leading to retinal detachment, which rarely occurs.
The vitreous humor fills the eye behind the lens. It is attached to the retina. Over time the vitreous changes, shrinking and developing liquefied pockets. Similar to the way a gelatin dessert shrinks or detaches from the edge of the pan over time. In rare cases, the vitreous may peel away from the retina, causing a tear or detachment.
There is no treatment for PVD. Usually, people find that the symptoms calm down after about six months, and you will likely adjust to the floaters. You should come to our office for a comprehensive eye exam at the time you notice floaters or flashes, and your eye doctor will assess whether you are at risk for a retinal tear or detachment.
There is no cure for PVD, as the condition is a natural part of the aging process. Most of the time, it does not cause vision loss.