MACULAR DEGENERATION

Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss, affecting more than 10 million Americans, accounting for more cases than cataracts and glaucoma combined. Macular degeneration is incurable ocular disease caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, called the macula. The macula is responsible for focusing vision, seeing fine details and colors.

Visual signs can include but not limited to, distorted vision, slow recovery of visual function after exposure to bright light, decrease in vision, blurry vision, and lost of contrast sensitivity.

Lifestyle factors that can increase your chances of developing macular degeneration are smoking, exposure to blue light, and obesity. If you are one of the millions of Americans suffering from hypertension and high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) schedule an appointment and get screened for macular degeneration today.

DRY EYE

Dry eye syndrome is caused by a chronic lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture to the ocular surface. Dry eye may sound simple but it is multifaceted. Dry eyes can be a result of systemic medications; therefore it is crucial you disclose any and all medications, environmental factors, hormonal changes, ocular hygiene, lacrimal gland inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and systemic conditions. A recent poll revealed that nearly half (48%) of Americans ages 18 and older regularly experience dry eye symptoms. Here are some of the most common signs:

intermittent blurry vision, red eyes, itchy eyes, fatigued/sore eyes, photophobia, foreign body sensation, and teary eyes. Most of the time the lubricating drops you are using over the counter may not be enough, schedule an examination today.

Source: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-dry-eye

GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is a group of ocular diseases that cause irreversible damage to your optic nerves leading to vision loss and blindness. The eye produces a natural fluid that flows throughout the eye however if pressure builds up in the front compartment of the eye it can therefore push towards the back causing damage the Optic Nerve.
First signs, which are often overlooked by the patient(s), are a decrease in peripheral vision; our team of Doctors can screen for this with a Humphrey visual field test. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in patients over 60 years old. A patient with family history increases his/her chances of developing glaucoma exponentially. Blindness cannot be reversed but prevention can be achieved through early detection.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20372839

DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Diabetic Retinopathy is a medical condition that occurs to the the retina and is the leading cause of blindness, accounting for 12% of all new cases in the United States. Treatment can help but the condition itself can not be cured. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the chances are of developing diabetic retinopathy. In its early stages called Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) often times signs are not visible to the patients because 20/20 vision can still be achieved. With a dilated fundus examination (DFE) our doctors can detect microaneurysms, commonly referred to as dot-blot hemorrhages, and begin to manage the condition before there is permanent vision loss. With an optical coherence tomography (OCT) our team can see any retinal thickening due to fluid accumulation. Schedule a screening today.

For more information, refer to https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-diabetic-retinopathy.