Issue 6.10

Images seen by the eye are transmitted to the brain for interpretation via a nerve called the optic nerve.  This process is called ‘vision’.  Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve resulting in vision loss.  In fact, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States.  The good news is that with regular eye exams, early detection and appropriate treatment, you can preserve your vision.

The eye is filled with a clear fluid called the aqueous humor.  This fluid is constantly being produced by the eye and drained at an equal rate.  The pressure inside the eye depends on the amount of fluid in the eye.  In most types of glaucoma, the eye’s drainage system becomes clogged so the fluid cannot drain properly.  As the fluid builds up, it causes pressure to build inside the eye.  This high pressure damages the sensitive optic nerve causing vision loss.  This process is called glaucoma.

There are several different types of glaucoma but the process is very similar in all of them: something inside the eye causes pressure to increase resulting in vision loss.  Interestingly, recent research has changed our understanding of the mechanism behind glaucoma.  It was traditionally thought that high pressure inside the eye was the only cause of optic nerve damage.  However, we now know that other factors are also involved because people with “normal” eye pressure can also experience vision loss from glaucoma. 

In the most common form of glaucoma there are no painful symptoms and vision loss occurs so gradually that affected individuals often do not notice vision loss until it is too late.  Because of the lack of symptoms, a comprehensive eye exam is necessary to diagnosis glaucoma.  If evidence of glaucoma is found, proper treatment will be started.

Unfortunately, at the present time, there is no cure for glaucoma.  However, with early diagnosis and initiation of treatment glaucoma can often be controlled and vision loss prevented.  Anyone can develop glaucoma but certain individuals are at a higher risk.  These risks factors include:

Over age 60

People of African descent

Relatives of people with glaucoma

People with diabetes

Very nearsighted

People with extensive steroid use

Vision loss from glaucoma can be prevented, so see your eye doctor to make sure you are not at risk.

Jason W. Hendrix, M.D. is a local Eye Physician and Surgeon who specializes in cataract surgery and diseases of the eye including the treatment of glaucoma.  He is located at the St. George Eye Center, 676 South Bluff Street, Suite 208, Saint George, Utah.  Contact him at 435-628-4507 or visit www.stgec.com.

Issue 48.09

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes then most likely your primary care doctor has instructed you to undergo a yearly eye exam.  Hopefully, you are following this recommendation.  Why?  Because diabetes can have a significant damaging impact on eyes and subsequently your vision. 

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness.  It occurs when tiny blood vessels inside the retina are damaged by diabetes.  The retina acts like the film in a camera.  It is the part of the eye that takes the picture and passes that information on to the brain.  When the retina is damaged, vision loss occurs.

Diabetic retinopathy causes vision loss in two main ways.  First, fragile blood vessels grow and leak blood into the eye blurring vision.  This is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy.  Second, fluid can leak from compromised blood vessels into a part of the retina called the macula.  This condition is called macular edema and can dramatically reduce vision.  Both of these conditions can be treated if discovered soon enough.  Laser treatments to the retina are the traditional way to treat both proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.  However, new treatments are being study such as injecting steroid into the eye or utilizing compounds called VEFG inhibitors which destroy the problematic abnormal blood vessels.

All people with diabetes are at risk for developing retinopathy whether or not insulin is used.  In fact, 40 to 45 percent of Americans with diabetes develop diabetic retinopathy.  As diabetic retinopathy begins to develop, there are often no warning signs.  This is why it is so important to undergo an annual dilated eye exam if you have diabetes.  Your eye physician can detect subtle changes occurring in the retina and provide education and treatment in an effort to prevent vision loss.

Diabetic retinopathy can be a disastrous disease.  Fortunately, there are ways to lower your risk of developing it and treatments to minimize its damaging effects.  If you have questions regarding diabetic retinopathy or other issues related to the eye, please feel free to contact me at the Saint George Eye Center. 

Jason W. Hendrix, M.D. is a local Eye Physician and Surgeon who specializes in cataract surgery and diseases of the eye including the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.  He is located at the St. George Eye Center, 676 South Bluff Street, Suite 208, Saint George, Utah.  Contact him at 435-628-4507 or visit www.stgec.com.

Issue 43.09

Will I go blind from age-related macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration alone does not cause total blindness.  In fact, the majority of patients with age-related macular degeneration maintain functional vision.  Even in the worst cases, macular degeneration only affects the central vision and leaves the peripheral vision intact.  This good side vision enables people to see to get around and perform other tasks.  However, when central vision loss occurs, performing tasks such as reading, driving, watching television and recognizing faces becomes extremely difficult. 

Is age-related macular degeneration hereditary?

Although specific genes have not been definitively identified, family history does appear to play a role in macular degeneration.  Those with immediate family members affected by macular degeneration have a higher risk of developing it as well.  Also, women are more at risk than men. 

Is age-related macular degeneration treatable?

There is no treatment available at this time that cures macular degeneration.  There are treatments available to stop the progression of wet macular degeneration but these do not typically restore vision; they simply attempt to keep it from getting worse.  These treatments include injecting medications into the eye or using a laser to destroy the bad blood vessels.  These treatments are most effective when applied early in the course of wet macular degeneration that is why it is so important to see your eye doctor immediately should you notice any visual changes.

Should I take supplements?

Studies have shown that specific vitamins and minerals in specific doses may slow down the progression of macular degeneration in patients with moderate to severe disease.  They have not been shown to prevent someone from developing the disease or have any benefit in mild cases. 

I have macular degeneration, what should I do now?

It is important that you maintain regular care with your eye doctor.  Subtle changes can occur that you might not notice, but are important for your doctor to be aware of. 

Macular degeneration is a frustrating and scary disease that affects millions of people.  However, proper understanding of the disease can decrease your anxiety, help you cope with the disease and help you find ways to potentially minimize vision loss and maximize the vision you still have.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.  I would be happy to discuss macular degeneration or any other eye conditions with you.

Jason W. Hendrix, M.D. is a local Eye Physician and Surgeon who specializes in cataract surgery and diseases of the eye including the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.  He is located at the Saint George Eye Center, 676 South Bluff Street, Suite 208, Saint George, Utah.  Contact him at 435-628-4507 or visit www.stgec.com.

Issue 37.09

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of central vision loss in people over the age of 50 in the United States.   Many people both with and without macular degeneration do not really understand the disease.  Although there is much about this disease that we do not know, we do have some understanding of its development and implications.  Here I attempt to answer, ten frequently asked questions regarding age-related macular degeneration.

1. What is age-related macular degeneration?

The retina is much like the film in a camera.  Light entering the eye strikes the retina (or film) and forms an image.  The macula is the part of the retina responsible for your central vision and is used to see fine detail.  Age-related macular degeneration is a disease associated with aging that causes the macula to deteriorate resulting in impaired central vision.  This makes it difficult to see objects clearly and greatly impairs one’s ability to read, drive and perform other visual tasks.

2. What is DRY age-related macular degeneration?

More than 85% of patients with age-related macular degeneration have the dry type.  This occurs when the light sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down.  Drusen are the earliest sign of the dry type.  They are yellow deposit found in the macula.  Drusen do not usually cause vision loss but indicate that the disease process has started.  Over time, the dry type results in gradual blurring of central vision.  You may have difficulty recognizing faces or reading and performing other tasks.  The vision loss in the dry type is usually less severe than the wet type.

3. What is WET age-related macular degeneration?

This occurs when new blood vessels began to grow beneath the macula.  These blood vessels are very fragile and leak blood into the retina causing rapid and severe vision loss.  This vision loss is generally considered permanent.

4. Can the DRY form turn into the WET form?

Yes, at any point the dry type can transform into the wet type.  This is why it is extremely important for you to see your eye doctor should you notices any changes.  These changes may be due to development of the wet form of macular degeneration.  There is no way to tell if and when the dry type will turn into the wet type.  However, there are certain findings on examination of the macula that may indicate you are at greater risk for this transformation occurring.  Most people never develop the wet form of macular degeneration.

5. What are the symptoms?

As mentioned before, the dry type usually causes a slow deterioration of your central vision.  An early symptom of the wet type is that straight lines appear wavy.  This occurs when blood and fluid leak out of the fragile blood vessels and distort the macula.  Rapid vision loss is also a symptom of wet macular degeneration.  Many people with macular degeneration have no visual impairment.

In Jason’s next article he will give the remaining 5 questions people ask about Macular Degeneration.

Jason W. Hendrix, M.D. is a local Eye Physician and Surgeon who specializes in cataract surgery and diseases of the eye including the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.  He is located at the Saint George Eye Center, 676 South Bluff Street, Suite 208, Saint George, Utah.  Contact him at 435-628-4507 or visit www.stgec.com.

Issue 33.09

Images seen by the eye are transmitted to the brain for interpretation via a nerve called the optic nerve.  This process is called ‘vision.’  Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve resulting in vision loss.  In fact, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States.  The good news is that with regular eye exams, early detection and appropriate treatment, you can preserve your vision.

The eye is filled with a clear fluid called the aqueous humor.  This fluid is constantly being produced by the eye and drained at an equal rate.  The pressure inside the eye depends on the amount of fluid in the eye.  In most types of glaucoma, the eye’s drainage system becomes clogged so the fluid cannot drain properly.  As the fluid builds up, it causes pressure to build inside the eye.  This high pressure damages the sensitive optic nerve causing vision loss.  This process is called glaucoma.

There are several different types of glaucoma but the process is very similar in all of them: something inside the eye causes pressure to increase resulting in vision loss. 

In the most common form of glaucoma there are no painful symptoms and vision loss occurs so gradually that affected individuals often do not notice vision loss until it is too late.  Because of the lack of symptoms, a comprehensive eye exam is necessary to diagnosis glaucoma.  During this exam your eye doctor measures the eye pressure, evaluates the optic nerve for evidence of damage, assesses the complete field of vision, and examines the drainage structures of the eye for proper functioning.  If evidence of glaucoma is found, proper treatment will be started.

Unfortunately, at the present time, there is no cure for glaucoma.  However, with early diagnosis and initiation of treatment glaucoma can often be controlled and vision loss prevented.  Treatment usually consists of simply instilling eye drops on a daily basis.  In some cases, a laser procedure is performed.  Surgery can also be performed if medications and laser are not helping.

Anyone can develop glaucoma but certain individuals are at a higher risk.  These risks factors include:

Over age 60

People of African descent

Relatives of people with glaucoma

People with diabetes

Very nearsighted

People with extensive steroid use

The Glaucoma Research Foundation recommends that people at high risk for glaucoma, especially people of African descent over age 35 and all people over age 60, receive a comprehensive eye exam every year.  Vision loss from glaucoma can be prevented, so see your eye doctor to make sure you are not at risk.

Jason W. Hendrix, M.D. is a local Eye Physician and Surgeon who specializes in cataract surgery and diseases of the eye including the treatment of glaucoma.  He is located at the St. George Eye Center, 676 South Bluff Street, Suite 208, Saint George, Utah.  Contact him at 435-628-4507 or visit www.stgec.com.

Issue 20.09

With the arrival of Spring, many of us will be increasing the amount of time we spend outdoors.  This in turn equates to more exposure to the sun.  We are all aware of the damaging effects sunlight has on our skin, but what about our eyes?  Should we be concerned with how much sunlight our eyes are exposed to?  The answer is yes.

The sun emits invisible, high energy rays called ultraviolet radiation.  This ultraviolet radiation (or UV radiation) serves no visual purpose and provides no benefit to the eyes.  Since it may take years for UV light to actually damage the eye, it is difficult to prove a direct cause and effect link between UV light and eye diseases.  However, animal studies and other population bases analyses have strongly implicated UV light in the development of specific eye diseases.

The most documented problem resulting from UV exposure is skin cancer which can occur on the skin surrounding the eyes and on the eyelid.  In addition, cancerous lesions can also develop on the external surface of the eye itself. 

One specific lesion known to result from exposure to UV radiation is called a Pterygium.  These lesions grow onto the cornea which is the clear, dome-shaped, window-like structure through which light must pass when entering the eye.  As a pterygium grows over the surface of the cornea it can affect vision by distorting the shape of the cornea and also blocking light from entering the eye. 

Numerous studies have shown that exposure to UV light may also cause cataracts.  Cataracts occur when proteins in the natural lens of the eye change causing cloudiness of the lens.  This cloudiness results in decreased vision.  Cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss worldwide.

Researchers have also speculated that chronic exposure to UV radiation may contribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration.  Again, this has not been proven definitively, but evidence does exist suggesting a strong link. 

Regardless of age, sex or race, everyone is at risk for eye damage from exposure to UV light.  We should all be taking precautions to minimize our UV exposure, and it is never too early or too late to initiate preventative measures.  When outside for extended periods of time, UV blocking sunglasses or UV blocking prescription glasses should be worn.  Wide brimmed hats can also limit sun exposure.  For those who have had cataract surgery, the lens implant now in your eye should have UV blocking properties. 

Washington County is a beautiful place with countless outdoor activities to enjoy.  Get out and enjoy this wonderful place we live in, just don’t forget to protect your eyes.

Jason W. Hendrix, M.D. is a local Eye Physician and Surgeon who specializes in cataract surgery and diseases of the eye including the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.  He is located at the Saint George Eye Center, 676 South Bluff Street, Suite 208, Saint George, Utah.  Contact him at 435-628-4507 or visit www.stgec.com.

Dry eye is an extremely common condition affecting millions of people across the nation.  It is especially common in hot, dry climates like Southern Utah.  Dry eye occurs when the body’s tears fail to properly lubricate the eye.  This usually occurs due to one of two reasons:  1) The eye is not making enough tears, or 2) the tears are unhealthy and thus unable to perform their lubricating functions.

Although present in people of all ages, Dry Eye Syndrome becomes more prevalent with increasing age.  Women are also more likely to be affected by Dry Eye Syndrome then men.  Air conditioning, allergies, medications, smoking and contact lens use can all contribute to dry eye syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome is characterized by many different symptoms.  Some of the most common are burning, irritation, redness and pain.  Often the eyes will have a persistent gritty sensation or just simply feel uncomfortable, strained, or tired.  These symptoms are often more noticeable as the day goes on or after periods of reading, watching television or working on a computer.  Blurry vision, discharge, and tearing can also result from dry eye syndrome.  Many people complain that their eyes feel like something is constantly in them.

Although unlikely to cause blindness, dry eye can have serious effects.  It can cause blurry vision and is associated with a decreased ability to perform daily activities such as reading, driving and working.   The constant pain and discomfort of dry eye can significantly decrease ones quality of life and psychological health.  Severe dry eye can lead to corneal scarring, ulceration or infection, any of which can lead to permanent vision loss.  

Several options exist for treating dry eye syndrome.  First line treatment usually consists of artificial tears.  These are eye drops formulated to lubricate the eye in a manner similar to healthy, natural tears.  Often, this is the only treatment required.  In more severe cases, prescription anti-inflammatory medications are required.  These are especially important in situations when the eye is inflamed or showing evidence of damage secondary to the dryness.

The ducts draining the tears from the eye can also be closed by placing small plugs into the drain opening.  This enables the tears to remain on the surface of the eye longer and more effectively lubricate the cornea.  Recent research suggests that certain nutrients/supplements might improve the health of one’s natural tears.  In addition, modifying certain lifestyle factors may also help with dry eye

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms mentioned above, dry eye syndrome is likely the cause.  Diagnosing dry eye is usually fairly simple and could significantly improve both the health of your eyes and your quality of life.  With the many treatments available today, you should not have to suffer from dry eyes.

Jason W. Hendrix, M.D. is a local Eye Physician and Surgeon who specializes in cataract surgery and diseases of the eye including the treatment of age-related macular dry eye syndrome.  He is located at the Saint George Eye Center, 676 South Bluff Street, Suite 208, Saint George, Utah.  Contact him at 435-628-4507 or visit www.stgec.com.