Issue 34.14
You may have heard of some of the following eye conditions, but did you know if left untreated they can lead to vision loss and blindness? Some of these diseases and disorders may have very few or even no early warning signs or symptoms. Regular, annual eye exams are really your best protection. If your eye care professional discovers an eye problem early, there are steps you can take to keep your eyesight.
Cataracts are cloudy areas in the eye’s lens causing blurred or hazy vision. Some cataracts progress slowly and don’t change your eyesight a lot. Others become quite cloudy and reduce vision. Cataract surgery can restore good vision. It is a safe and common treatment. If you have a cataract, your eye care professional will watch for changes over time to see if you would benefit from surgery.
Corneal diseases and conditions can cause redness, watery eyes, pain, problems with vision, or a halo effect of the vision (things appear to have an aura of light around them). Infection and injury are some of the things that can hurt the cornea. Some problems with the cornea are more common in older people. Treatment may be simple—for example, changing your eyeglass prescription or using eye drops. In severe cases, surgery may be needed.
Dry eye happens when tear glands don’t work well. You may feel itching, burning, or other discomfort. Dry eye is more common as people get older, especially for women. Your eye care professional may tell you to use a home humidifier, special eye drops (artificial tears), or ointments to treat dry eye.
Glaucoma often comes from too much fluid pressure inside the eye. If not treated, it can lead to vision loss and blindness. People with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain. You can protect yourself by having regular dilated eye exams. Glaucoma can be treated with prescription eye drops, lasers or surgery.
Retinal disorders are a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Retinal disorders that affect aging eyes include:
Age-related macular degeneration or AMD. AMD can harm the sharp vision needed to see objects clearly and to do common things like driving and reading. During a dilated eye exam, your eye care professional will look for signs of AMD. There are treatments for AMD. If you have AMD, ask if special dietary supplements could lower your chance of it getting worse.
Diabetic retinopathy. This problem may occur if you have diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy develops slowly and with no early warning signs. If you have diabetes, be sure to have a dilated eye exam at least once a year. Keeping your blood sugar under control can prevent diabetic retinopathy or slow its progress. Laser surgery can sometimes prevent it from getting worse.
Retinal detachment. THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. When the retina separates from the back of the eye, it’s called a retinal detachment. If you see new floaters or light flashes, or if it seems like a curtain has been pulled over your eye, go to your eye care professional right away. With surgery or laser treatment, doctors can often prevent loss of vision.
Richens Eye Center is a multi-specialty vision care center with state of the art technology available to provide you with the best treatment plans available. If you would like to schedule your annual eye exam or are experiencing any of the symptoms above, please call 435.986.2020 or visit www.richenseyecenter.com for more information.