Our entire staff is dedicated to your eye health. We have the experience and equipment necessary to diagnose and treat nearly all eye diseases and are here to help you every step of the way. If you ever have any questions, we are always happy to answer them. We never want you to feel confused or overwhelmed.

Here are some of the most common eye disease conditions:

Dry Eye

To keep your eyes healthy, you need to have tears to provide moisture and lubrication. This is not only for your comfort but also for your vision. Tears are secreted by glands around your eyes. When you do not make enough tears, you have a condition called dry eye.

There is no cure for dry eye. Instead, we have ways to make you more comfortable. There is a product called artificial tears. This comes in the form of drops or ointments. Depending on your needs, one may work better for you.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma describes eye disorders that involve damage to the optic nerve, which sends visual signals from your eye to your brain. This loss of nerve tissue can result in loss of vision.

Primary open-angle glaucoma is one of the most common disorders. It results from an increased pressure inside the eye, which can cause damage to the optic nerve. A damaged nerve can lead to vision loss or even blindness. This pressure can build slowly and be difficult to detect in everyday life. It may start by affecting only your peripheral vision.

Pressure is not the only indicator of glaucoma, as high pressure does not always lead to glaucoma and glaucoma can develop in spite of normal eye pressure. Anyone can develop glaucoma, although it is most common in people over 40.

Acute angle closure glaucoma is not as common, but can develop much more quickly. If you are experiencing intense eye pain, redness in your eye, blurred vision, or nausea, you may need immediate medical attention. This form of glaucoma is an emergency and needs to be treated right away.

AMD

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration, or Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), is a medical condition in which your macula, located in the center of eye, begins to deteriorate.

The macula is a small area at the back of the eye that allous us to see fine details clearly and is responsible for the sharp, central vision needed to read and drive.

Becuase the macula is effected central vision loss can occur. AMD is the leading cause of sever vision loss in adults over the age of 50. It is estimated that over 1 million people have AMD and another 3 million are at a substantial rist of vision loss.

Two Types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration:

• “Dry” – AMD can occur in two forms: “dry” (atrophic) and “wet” (exudative). Most people with macular degeneration have the dry form, for which there is no known treatment.This form is quite common.
  About 8 out of 10 people who have the dry form. Dry AMD is when parts of the macula get thinner with age and tiny clumps of protein called drusen grow. This is typically found by your eye doctor during your annual eye exam.
• “Wet” – AMD is when new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina. These vessels may leak blood or other fluids, causing scarring of the macula.

Diabetes

Diabetes can affect more than just your blood sugar. It can also do some damage to your eyes if you are not careful.

Diabetic eye disease can cause vision loss if you are not careful. It can cause you to have trouble with everyday tasks even if you have regular glasses or contacts. It can even cause blindness.

If you have diabetes, you really need to monitor your vision. If you have blurry vision; see spots, flashing lights, or dark spots; or have trouble seeing out of the corner of your eye, you need to get help as soon as possible. You also need to be seen if you have any kind of pain or pressure in your eyes.

People with diabetes often have more eye problems than those who are not affected by the disease. They can also get some diseases at a much younger age. Many diabetics have cataracts or cloudy eyes. They can also be affected by glaucoma, which is increased eye pressure that can damage the optic nerve and cause you to go blind. They may also have nerve damage in the eyes.

Conjunctivitis

What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the thin transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye. Conjunctivitis, often called “pink eye,” is a common eye disease, especially in children. It may affect one or both eyes. Some forms of conjunctivitis can be highly contagious and easily spread in schools and at home. While conjunctivitis is usually a minor eye infection, sometimes it can develop into a more serious problem.

What are the symptoms?
People with conjunctivitis may experience these symptoms in one or both of their eyes: an itching or burning sensation, excessive tearing, discharges, swollen eyelids, pink discoloration to the whites of the eyes, or increased sensitivity to light.

What causes conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis can sometimes be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, derived in some cases from poor hygiene (touching the eye with unclean hands), especially when one has the common cold and readily spreads those germs into the eye. It can also occur due to an allergic reaction to irritants in the air like pollen and smoke, chlorine in swimming pools, and ingredients in cosmetics or other products that come in contact with the eyes. Some people who wear hard or rigid contacts too long, or do not replace soft contact lenses often enough, may experience this condition.

How is it diagnosed?
Conjunctivitis can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. Testing, with special emphasis on evaluation of the conjunctiva and surrounding tissues, may include: looking at patient history, measuring visual acuity, evaluation of the conjunctiva and external eye tissue, and evaluation of inner structures of the eye.

How is it treated?
Mild to moderate conjunctivitis will usually clear up on its own, but if treatment is required, it is largely dependent on the cause: bacterial conjunctivitis may require prescription antibiotic eye drops; allergic conjunctivitis may be treated with prescription eye drops containing antihistamines; viral conjunctivitis will have to run its course, but symptoms can be treated with cool compresses, artificial tear solutions, and topical prescription steroid drops.

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