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 Please select from the following ophthalmic conditions to better understand your diagnosis
AstigmatismAstigmatism is an optical defect that interferes with the eye's ability to focus sharply, so it can result in unclear vision. It occurs because the shape of the cornea (the clear focusing surface that overlies the colored iris) is not perfectly round like a marble, but more oval like a spoon. Almost everyone is born with some astigmatism, though the amount may be so small that it isn't important. Heredity is the most common cause of astigmatism. It does not come from reading or using your eyes "too much" or reading in dim light. What It's Like to Have Astigmatism?Astigmatic images are never sharp and crisp, either close up or in the distance. If you have a large amount of astigmatism, your vision may be very blurred. Straight lines running in one direction may be more blurred than lines running in another; for example, only the vertical edges of a window may appear out-of-focus. As you try to overcome the blur and see more clearly, you might get a headache from continually contracting the muscles around your eyes and furrowing your brows (actions that may be so automatic that you aren't aware of them). CataractWhat is a cataract?A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. It can be compared to a window that is frosted or "fogged" with steam. Cataract surgery is very successful in restoring vision. In fact, it is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, with more than 3 million Americans undergoing cataract surgery each year. Nine out of 10 people who have cataract surgery regain very good vision, somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40.During surgery, the surgeon will remove your clouded lens and in most cases replace it with a clear, plastic intraocular lens (IOL). Fixed Focus Intraocular Lens has been used for the last 30 years and corrects vision to a single point, usually distance.Patients with this lens may see well at a distance without glasses, but usually require glasses for reading and near tasks. This lens gives the best vision at a distance and excellent quality of vision, but glasses are required for reading, and possibly distance as well. Multifocal Intraocular Lenses) are like trifocals and focus at several distances at the same time.These lenses focus near and distant objects in the eye at the same time and give excellent near vision. While the near vision with multifocal lenses is better than that with accommodating lenses, patients with these lenses will have some loss of contrast in the distance and may see some glare and halos when driving at night. Unlike accommodating lenses, the eye muscle is not involved, therefore the increased near vision occurs quickly after surgery. Multifocal lenses give the best reading vision, but many patients have some glare and halos that may interfere with night driving.There are many misconceptions about cataract. It is
Common symptoms of cataract include
The amount and pattern of cloudiness within the lens can vary. If the cloudiness is not near the center of the lens, you may not be aware that a cataract is present. Normal sightA cataract may cause hazy or blurred vision. What causes cataractThe most common type of cataract is related to aging of the eye. Other causes of cataract include:
How is cataract treated?Surgery is the only way your ophthalmologist can remove the cataract. However, if symptoms from a cataract are mild, a change of glasses may be all that is needed for you to function more comfortably. There are no medications, dietary supplements, exercises or optical devices that have been shown to prevent or cure cataracts. Protection from excessive sunlight may help prevent or slow the progression of cataracts. Sunglasses that screen out ultraviolet (UV) light rays or regular eyeglasses with a clear, anti-UV coating offer this protection. Corneal TransplantsWhat conditions may require corneal transplants?
Diabetic RetinopathyDiabetes can affect sightIf you have diabetes mellitus, your body does not use and store sugar properly. Diabetes can cause high blood-sugar levels, excessive thirst and urination. It can also cause changes in the body's blood vessels, the veins and arteries that carry blood throughout your body.
Because diabetes affects your body in these ways, it can affect vision by causing cataracts, glaucoma and, most importantly, damage to blood vessels inside the eye. What is diabetic retinopathy?Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the eye. The retina is a nerve layer at the back of the eye that senses light and helps to send images to your brain. When blood vessels in the retina are damaged, they may leak fluid or blood, and grow fragile, brush-like branches and scar tissue. This can blur or distort the images that the retina sends to the brain. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new blindness among adults in the United States. People with untreated diabetes are said to be 25 times more at risk for blindness than the general population. Diabetes damages blood vessels in the retina, and can cause then to leak or grow abnormally. The longer a person has diabetes, the more the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases. About 80% of the people who have had diabetes for at least 15 years have some blood vessel damage to their retina. People with Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes are more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy at a younger age. If you have diabetes, it's important to know that today, with improved methods of diagnosis and treatment, only a small percentage of people who develop retinopathy have serious vision problems. Vision loss is largely preventable If you have questions or would like further information, contact our office for an appointment with Dr. Lehr, Retinal Specialist. GlaucomaGlaucoma damages the optic nerveThe optic nerve is the part of the eye that carries the images we see to the brain. If your vision seems blurry, contains blank spots, or if you have eye pain or see rainbow-colored halos around lights, call your Eye M.D. right away. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Early treatment can often prevent loss of sight. Learn more about the risk factors for glaucoma Symptoms and DiagnosisThe optic nerve is made up of many nerve fibers that carry images to the brain. It's like an electric cable containing numerous wires. When glaucoma damages the optic nerve fibers, blind spots develop. If the entire nerve is destroyed, blindness results. Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma in the United States. Typically, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms in its early stages, and vision remains normal. As the optic nerve becomes more damaged, blank spots begin to appear in your field of vision. You typically won't notice these blank spots in your day-to-day activities until the optic nerve is significantly damaged and these spots become large. If all the optic nerve fibers die, blindness results.
Some people are born with the iris (the colored part of the eye) too close to the drainage angle. In these eyes, which are often small and farsighted, the iris can be sucked into the drainage angle and block it completely. Since the fluid cannot exit the eye, pressure inside the eye builds rapidly and causes an acute closed-angle attack. Regular eye examinations by your M.D. at the Magruder Eye Institute are the best way to detect glaucoma. There are five common tests for glaucoma: tonometry and ophthalmoscopy are considered more routine, but the visual field test, pachymetry and gonioscopy are also used in diagnosis. Some of these tests may not be necessary for everyone. These tests may need to be repeated on a regular basis to keep track of any changes in your condition. Hyperopia (Farsightedness)A condition in which light rays are focused behind the retina resulting in blurry images at near. The laser concentrates on the central cornea to flatten it therefore placing light rays directly on the retina. Macular DegenerationWhat is macular degeneration?Macular degeneration is damage or breakdown of the macula of the eye. The macula is a small area in the back of the eye that allows us to see fine details clearly. When the macula doesn't function correctly, we experience blurriness or darkness in the center of our vision. Macular degeneration affects both distance and close vision, and can make some activities - like threading a needle or reading - impossible. Although macular degeneration reduces vision in the central part of the retina, it does not affect the eye's side, or peripheral, vision. For example, you could see the outline of a clock but not be able to tell what time it is. Macular degeneration alone does not result in total blindness. People continue to have some useful vision and are able to take care of themselves. What causes macular degeneration?Many older people develop macular degeneration as part of the body's natural aging process. The two most common types of age-related macular degeneration are "dry" (atrophic ) and "wet" (exudative): "Dry" macular degeneration (atrophic) "Wet" macular degeneration (exudative) How is macular degeneration treated?Despite ongoing medical research, there is no cure yet for "dry" macular degeneration. Some doctors believe that nutritional supplements may slow macular degeneration, although this has not yet been proven. Treatment of this condition focuses on helping a person find ways to cope with visual impairment. The newest therapy for Wet Macular Degeneration is centered around medical treatment with injectable medications such as Lucentis and Avastin. Photodynamic therapy still plays a role in treatment as well With new clinical trials that are presently underway at Magruder Eye Institute, there will be new medicines released to further expand our treatment of both wet as well as dry macular degeneration. Because side vision is usually not affected, a person's remaining sight can be very useful. Often, people can continue with many of their favorite activities by using low-vision optical devices such as magnifying devices, closed-circuit television, large-print reading materials, and talking or computerized devices. Click here: LUCENTIS (ranibizumab injection) Macular Degeneration Treatment Click here: Anti-VEGF medicines for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) Myopia (Nearsightedness)A condition in which light rays are focused in front of the retina resulting in blurry images at distance. The laser concentrates on the peripheral cornea to help steepen the cornea therefore focusing incoming light directly on the retina. PresbyopiaPresbyopia (pres-bee-oh-pee-uh) is a loss in focusing ability that comes with getting older, and everyone must put up with it eventually. (The word is from the Greek and means "old sight.") Most people are between the ages of 40 and 50 when they first become aware that they are losing the ability to see objects or reading matter close to their eyes. The print in the telephone book becomes "too small" to read. They have to hold the newspaper farther from their eyes to see it clearly . At the same time, their focus for distant objects remains normal. Presbyopia is certainly a nuisance, but it is not dangerous. It is a normal, inevitable part of reaching middle age, and it is no more abnormal than gray hair. Try to think of it as "growing up." What Causes Presbyopia?In young people, the lens within the eye is soft and flexible. Its shape can change readily-which changes its optical power-to enable the eye to accommodate (change focus) quickly and automatically between close-up and faraway objects. With increasing age, the lens gradually loses its flexibility, which results in a decreased ability to focus at close range. At the same time, there is a progressive decline in the strength of the focusing muscle within the eye, and this adds to the difficulty in seeing close-up objects clearly. Optical CorrectionWhenever the time comes that your eyes can no longer generate enough extra optical power to focus up close, you will need optical help. As focusing ability continues to decline, you will probably need to have the lenses changed every few years. Then, sometime between the ages of 65 and 70, just about all the near focusing power will be gone. From then on, your prescription for reading will stay pretty much the same. People sometimes notice that their presbyopia gets "worse" after they start wearing reading glasses, and they believe that the glasses are responsible. The fact is, presbyopia will "worsen" whether you wear glasses or not, and putting off the use of corrective lenses will not slow down the presbyopia. For additional information or if you don’t see your diagnosis, try www.webmd.com. |
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