Normal Eye Anatomy
CATARACTSA cataract is a clouding of all or part of the normally clear lens within your eye, which results in blurred or distorted vision. Cataracts are most often found in persons over age 55, but they are also occasionally found in younger people.
Because cataracts form gradually, the symptoms are often difficult to spot. Perhaps you have noticed increased difficulty when driving toward the sun, find it harder to see traffic lights against a bright sky, or find it takes longer for your vision to return to normal after passing an oncoming set of bright headlights.
Symptoms include reduced depth perception, diminished color perception, annoying glare in sunlight, and poor night vision. Headaches, eye fatigue, burning, and watering of the eyes when exposed to bright light are also some other symptoms attributed to cataracts.
TREATMENT
One should consider cataract surgery when your cataracts have progressed enough to affect your daily life. Many people consider poor vision an inevitable fact of aging, but cataract surgery is usually a fast and painless procedure to regain vision. Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, with over 2.4 million cataract surgeries done each year.
During surgery, we remove the clouded lens, and replace it with a clear, artificial replacement lens. In most cases, the surgery is done on an outpatient basis. Upon arrival for surgery, you will be given eye drops and perhaps medications to help you relax. A local anesthetic will make the operation painless.
At Queens Eye Care, we offer the most advanced options to customize your vision after cataract surgery, based on your individual lifestyle needs. Based on our findings during your upcoming examination, we will inform you of which intraocular lens is the best option for you.
GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma is an eye condition known as the "silent thief of vision”. It consists of increased pressure in the eye that can destroy the sensitive optic nerve. This nerve acts like an electric cable with over a million wires. It is responsible for carrying images from the eye to the brain.
- There are no noticeable symptoms such as redness or pain.
- Glaucoma affects approximately 2% of the population over the age of 35.
- Glaucoma can cause permanent and serious vision loss, leaving you with tunnel vision.
Who is most at risk?
- People with a family history of glaucoma
- People with systemic diseases such as diabetes, anemia or hardening of the arteries
- African Americans and Hispanics
Because glaucoma is such an elusive disease, early detection and treatment is imperative.
During your examination, your eye pressure and the condition of the optic nerve will be measured. If signs of glaucoma exist, more tests will be conducted, and we will create a glaucoma treatment plan to maintain the best possible vision.
DIABETIC EYE DISEASE
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.
In some people with diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision.
If you have diabetic retinopathy, at first you may not notice changes to your vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.
How does diabetic retinopathy cause vision loss?
Blood vessels damaged from diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss in two ways:
- Fragile, abnormal blood vessels can develop and leak blood into the center of the eye, blurring vision. This is proliferative retinopathyand is the fourth and most advanced stage of the disease.
- Fluid can leak into the center of the macula, the part of the eye where sharp, straight-ahead vision occurs. The fluid makes the macula swell, blurring vision. This condition is called macular edema. It can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy, although it is more likely to occur as the disease progresses. About half of the people with proliferative retinopathy also have macular edema.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
To prevent progression of diabetic retinopathy, people with diabetes should control their levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol.
Proliferative retinopathy is treated with laser surgery. This procedure is called scatter laser treatment. Scatter laser treatment helps to shrink the abnormal blood vessels. Because a high number of laser burns are necessary, two or more sessions usually are required to complete treatment. Although you may notice some loss of your side vision, scatter laser treatment can save the rest of your sight. Scatter laser treatment may slightly reduce your color vision and night vision.
Scatter laser treatment works better before the fragile, new blood vessels have started to bleed. That is why it is important to have regular, comprehensive dilated eye exams. Even if bleeding has started, scatter laser treatment may still be possible, depending on the amount of bleeding.
If the bleeding is severe, you may need a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy. During a vitrectomy, blood is removed from the center of your eye.
