Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in America for people in their mid-sixties and older. Macular degeneration starts with degeneration of the macula, which is part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision, which is needed for driving and reading. Macular degeneration occurs as either dry (without neovascular) or wet (neovascular). The dry form is more common and the wet form leads to more serious vision loss. Macular degeneration usually produces a slow, or rarely, sudden painless loss of central vision. Early signs of vision loss include shadowy areas or unusually fuzzy, distorted vision in central visual field.

Eye care practitioners often detect early signs of macular degeneration before symptoms occur. Besides the age factor, macular degeneration occurs in whites and females in particular. The disease tends to run in families and can be a result of side affects from some drugs. New evidence strongly suggests that smoking and high levels of dietary fat may be high risk factors.

Cataracts

A cataract happens when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. The natural lens is behind the iris and the pupil. This lens is responsible for focusing the light onto the retina and letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. A cataract starts out small, and at first has little effect on your vision. A person with a cataract may notice their vision is blurred and is like looking through a clouded piece of glass. A cataract may cause an increased amount of glare while driving at night or in the bright light during the day. Colors may not appear as bright as they once did. Many studies suggest that exposure to ultraviolet light (UV light) is associated with cataract development. Wearing sunglasses and using UV coating can reduce the amount of UV light exposure. Other factors responsible for cataract development are diabetes, long-term steroid use, diuretics, cigarette smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption.

When a cataract becomes mature or the vision becomes too cloudy, cataract surgery can restore vision. During the surgery, the clouded lens is removed and is replaced with a clear intraocular lens (IOL). Cataract surgery is very successful in restoring vision. Nine out of ten people who have cataract surgery regain very good vision.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a collection of eye diseases associated with a dangerous buildup of internal eye pressure (IOP) which can damage the eyes optic nerve causing peripheral vision loss. Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” because in the majority of cases there is no pain or vision disturbance until the later stages of the disease.

During a routine eye exam, your eye care provider uses an instrument (tonometer) to measure your intraocular pressure (IOP). An abnormally high IOP reading indicates a problem with amount of liquid in the eye. Another instrument used in a routine eye exam is an ophthalmoscope to view the inside of the eye and evaluate the health of the optic nerve which is important for glaucoma screening. People with family history of glaucoma, diabetics, steroid use, African Americans, and people with high pressure are at high risk for developing the common form of glaucoma. The treatment can be medical, surgical, or with use of a laser.