Eye Disease Management

Cataract

Inside the eye is a lens which helps us focus light to see. This lens gradually becomes yellow and cloudy as a normal part of the aging process. This cloudiness is called a cataract when it becomes dense enough to reduce vision.

Cataracts are due to a chemical change in the lens material which aging and sunlight contribute to. Occasionally cataracts are due to trauma to the eye, diabetes, steroid medications, or a congenital condition.

Symptoms of cataract formation include blurred or hazy vision, needing more light for reading, and glare.

Cataracts can only be treated by surgery. Lasers and medications are unable to treat cataracts. During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed from the eye and a clear plastic lens is put in its place.

Your optometrist will evaluate your cataracts at every eye examination and when they are ready for surgery you will be referred to an ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract surgery. The surgery is done in a hospital but you do not have to stay overnight. The actual surgery only takes 6 minutes! One eye is done at a time and you will have to take eyedrops for a month after the surgery.

The implant used to replace your cataract will have your prescription. Some people choose to have the lens focus far away so they may not need glasses to drive after the surgery. Others choose to have the lens focus close so they can see to read in bed without glasses after the surgery. Some people are able to have lenses that focus for both distance and near. These lenses cost more; the government does not pay for this type of lens. You can discuss your lens options with your optometrist and with your ophthalmologist.

You will return to your optometrist for a post-op examination usually 1 month after your surgery. At that time the health of your eye and your prescription are measured and reported to your surgeon.

Cataract surgery does not need to be repeated in the future.

Glaucoma

There are many different types of glaucoma but they all damage the optic nerve which carries the information from your eye to your brain so you can see. If not treated, glaucoma will eventually lead to blindness.

Anyone can get glaucoma and the risk increases with age. Some children have glaucoma from birth but this is rare. Blood relatives of glaucoma patients have a greater chance of developing glaucoma. Previous eye trauma, steroids and diabetes are also risk factors.

Most people with glaucoma do not notice any problems until they have lost over half of their vision. This is why it is so important to have regular eye examinations, especially for people with a risk factor for glaucoma. Only one type of glaucoma presents with a painful, red eye, blurred vision and nausea. This is caused by a complete blockage of fluid drainage from the eye and leads to blindness very quickly if not treated with laser immediately.

Fortunately, we have good treatments for glaucoma. We are not able to cure the disease, or return vision that has already been lost, but with treatment it is usually possible to slow or stop the vision loss from progressing. Treatments include eye drops, laser and surgery.

If you have glaucoma, you need treatment. You also need to have regular eye examinations including dilation, OCT scans, visual field tests and pressure measurements. These examinations will help determine if your treatment is working or if it needs to be changed.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of new blindness in working-age adults in North America. Diabetes damages the small blood vessels throughout the whole body. In the eye this damage causes blood vessels of retina (at the back of the eye) to leak and bleed which is called Diabetic Retinopathy.

Finding Diabetic Retinopathy requires a full eye examination by your optometrist, as there are no symptoms at the early stages. Eventually, as the bleeding increases, fluid collects in the central part of the retina, which is used for detailed vision, causing your vision to be distorted.

The best way to prevent DR is to control your blood sugar with diet, exercise and mediation. Treatment for DR is most effective if delivered before you notice any vision loss. Therefore, annual eye examinations are required for all patients with diabetes.

When your DR reaches the point that it requires treatment, your optometrist will refer you to a retinal specialist. The retinal specialist will decide if the best treatment for you is injections of medication or laser treatment. Both treatments reduce the leaking and bleeding of blood vessels in the retina.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Macular degeneration is also called Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) because it affects 30% of people over age 70. The macula is the portion of the retina used for detailed, central vision such as driving, reading and recognizing faces. When you turn your eyes to look directly at something, you are putting the image on your macula. AMD does not cause total blindness as it does not damage your side vision.

There are two forms of AMD, dry and wet. The dry form which accounts for approximately 90% of the cases, is slower to progress and is treated by AREDS 2 vitamins, MacuMira therapy, stopping smoking and wearing sunglasses.

Wet AMD causes sudden central vision loss but can be treat in the form of medicine injected into the eye monthly. If this is done early, your sight may improve. In order to find wet AMD early patients are given an Amsler Grid to use at home in monitoring their central vision for changes. If a change in central vision is noticed on the grid, immediate attention is required.

Some common symptoms are a gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly, distorted vision, a gradual loss of color vision and a dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision. If you experience any of these, contact your optometrist immediately for a full eye examination. Your SPECTRUM Optometry doctor will test for AMD at every ocular health examination.