Ocular Disease
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A comprehensive dilated eye health and vision exam
includes a lot more than just finding your unique prescription. In
some case Ocular disease can threaten vision.
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Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a sight-threatening condition caused by a pressure
increase inside the eye. Glaucoma is a serious concern in eye
care because it can sneak up on a patient without their knowing.
Patients with Glaucoma can not tell that their vision is being
damaged by until most vision is permanently lost. Glaucoma
is also painless and can only be detected by a thorough eye
exam. |
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve.
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Cataracts
Cataracts are defined as an opacity of the crystalline lens.
Once the lens becomes clouded with a cataract, patients will
experience poor visual acuity. Cataracts are a common problem
in patients over age 65. Premature cataracts can occur at younger
ages and are typically caused by excessive sun exposure. Cataract
surgery is usually recommended when best corrected visual acuity
is worse than 20/40. Cataract surgery is done on an outpatient
basis and is the most common surgical procedure in the United
States. |
Excessive sun exposure can accelerate cataract formation.
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Macular Degeneration
The macula is the portion of the retina responsible for the vast
majority of all vision including, central vision, color vision,
and high acuity vision. In some patients over the age of seventy
the tissue around the macula begins to break down. New research
findings have shown that good nutrition can play an important
role in preventing or delaying macular degeneration. |
Slit lamp view of a healthy macula.
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Corneal Neovascularization
Neovascularization (New Blood Vessel Growth) on to the cornea
is typically a sign of hypoxia (oxygen starvation) and is most
often associated with excessive contact lens wear. This abnormal
finding is common in patients who wear their lenses more than
14 hours a day, wear a conventional (nondisposable) soft contact,
and in patients who sleep over night in a daily wear contact
lens. Patients should never sleep in a contact lens unless
it is an extended wear contact approved by an eye care professional. |
Sleeping in contact lenses is a common cause of corneal
hypoxia.
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Binocular Vision Problems
Headaches, eyestrain, fatigue, blurred and double vision are
common symptoms for someone with a binocular vision problem.
A perfectly healthy eye with 20/20 vision can still have a
disorder of the focusing system or the extra-ocular muscles.
Binocular vision problems can be a major problem for young
students and can impact reading and learning.
Vision therapy can effectively treat and relieve the symptoms of most binocular
vision problems. All children should have a professional eye exam before
30 months, to rule out any possible binocular vision problems. |
Headache sufferers should have an eye exam to rule out
binocular vision problems, even if they have perfect vision.
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