What is a cataract?
A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye. A normal lens is clear. It focuses light on the back of the eye (retina). A cataract blocks some of the light making the vision blurred.
What are the signs of cataracts?
Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy or filmy vision. Changes in the way you see colors. Problems driving at night because headlights seem too bright. Problems with glare from lamps or the sun. Frequent changes in your eye prescription. Double vision. Apparent improvement in near vision.
How are cataracts diagnosed?
A regular eye exam is all that is needed to find a cataract. Your vision will be checked and you probably will get eye drops to dilate (enlarge) the pupils. This helps us to see the inside of your eyes. Instruments such as the ophthalmoscope and slit lamp are used to detect cataracts and other eye diseases.
How are cataracts treated?
Sometimes a change in glasses is all that is needed. But that is usually temporary. As a cataract increases and vision becomes dim, surgery may be necessary. This involves removing all or part of the lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma results when the pressure (IOP) inside the eye is elevated. This high pressure pinches and kills part of the optic nerve. When the optic nerve fibers die, permenant vision loss results. Three things are needed to diagnose glaucoma: high IOP, optic nerve loss, and visual field loss.
Who is at risk to develop glaucoma?
People over the age of 45. Myopes or near-sighted people. People with a family history of glaucoma. People of African descent.
How is glaucoma treated?
One of the most difficult problems faced by glaucoma patients is that of having to take medications which may have both ocular and systemic side effects to control a disease which is usually painless and has no symptoms. Eyedrops which help to open the drain and increase the rate of fluid flow out of the eye can be used to lower the pressure in the eye. If these drops are not effective, then surgical treatment can help. Some doctors use a laser for this. Treatment is designed to keep the glaucoma from progressing and resulting in further vision loss. There is no treatment for the actual disease itself.
What is macular degeneration?
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness affecting more Americans than cataracts and glaucoma combined, for those aged 55 and older in the United States, affecting more than 10 million Americans. Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina's central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail.
Who develops macular degeneration?
Although it's more common for people over 60, it is possible to develop symptoms in your 40's or 50's. Macular degeneration often runs in families. Symptoms can include: blurry or fuzzy vision straight lines, such as sentences on a page, telephone poles, and sides of buildings, appear wavy a dark or empty area appears in the center of vision.
How is macular degeneration treated?
Unfortunately, the cause of macular degeneration is unknown. The goal is to help the patient see better and stabilize the condition. Some feel that zinc or antioxidants may play a rolse in slowing down the disease. Some patients will benefit from out-patient laser therapy.
Are eyes affected by diabetes?
Approximately 14 million Americans have diabetes mellitus, but many of them don't know that they are affected. In addition to causing numerous systemic complications such as kidney failure, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness among working-age Americans. Diabetes is a disease that affects not only the blood sugar levels, but also the blood vessels. The damaged blood vessels also tend to leak, producing swelling within the retina. This disease of the retinal blood vessels is known as diabetic retinopathy.
Is diabetes treatable?
The treatment of diabetic retinopathy in any particular case depends upon multiple factors, including the type and degree of retinopathy, associated ocular factors such as cataract or vitreous hemorrhage, and the medical history of the patient. Treatment options include: laser photocoagulation, cryotheraphy (freezing), and vitrectomy surgery (removal of the vitreous gel along with blood, scar tissue, etc.)
Blindness due to diabetic eye disease is preventable in most cases. Strategies for preventing diabetic retinopathy include: careful control of blood sugar levels through attention to diet, exercise, and medications, monitoring for and control of high blood pressure, and avoid smoking early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
What are the types of refractive surgery?
The basic types of refractive surgery are:
RK (radial keratotomy) - this procedure is used to help people with mild to moderate myopia (nearsightedness). RK has been used for many years and is very reliable. During the procedure, tiny spokelike incisions are made in the cornea. When these incisions heal, the center of the cornea flattens.
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy)
This relatively new and exciting procedure is used to help people with mild to moderate myopia, with or without astigmatism. During PRK, a special computer-controlled laser (called an excimer laser) delivers a preprogrammed number of ultraviolet light pulses which removes a microscopic layer of tissue from the cornea's surface to flatten it.
LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis)
Lasik is similar to PRK. However, a flap from the top section of the cornea in the center of the eye is created and opened. Then the excimer delivers a programmed number of ultraviolet light pulses to remove a microscopic layer of the cornea. After reshaping, the flap is closed.
Has anyone ever gone blind from Excimer laser eye surgery?
More than 1 million patients in 52 countries have improved their vision as a result of excimer laser technology. No cases of blindness have ever been reported from either the PRK or LASIK procedures.
Does the procedure hurt?
You will not have any pain or discomfort during the procedure itself. With new techniques, less than one in ten patients has pain after the procedure, which is treated with pain medication for 24 to 48 hours. Most patients experience only some irrigation, light sensitivity, and watering of their eyes for a few days.