Your proactive partner in eye health
Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about our eyes—that is, until something goes wrong. Eye health issues can be scary, particularly when you don’t know what’s going on or what to do next.
The optometrists at Optical Eyeworks are your source for primary eye care. We offer preventive care to keep your eyes healthy for longer, as well as eye disease management if you ever develop an issue.
With advanced diagnostic technology and experienced eye doctors, we can take a proactive approach to your ocular health.
Request your appointment today with our optometry team.
Eye exams are key to ongoing eye health
You might think that if your eyes have an issue, you’ll notice symptoms, so as long as you don’t have symptoms, you don’t need to see an optometrist. Unfortunately, this is very untrue.
Many serious eye diseases like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration develop very slowly without noticeable symptoms. By the time a patient does notice symptoms or changes to their vision, it is often too late: their eyes are irreparably damaged.
The best and only way to detect many eye diseases in their earliest stages is through regular eye exams. Learn more about the importance of eye exams, or book yours now.
Common eye diseases & conditions
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, which transmits information from the eyes to the brain. The damage is often related to intraocular pressure, but not in every case.
When glaucoma is detected early, your optometrist can usually manage the condition to prevent significant vision loss. Unfortunately, glaucoma usually develops without symptoms, so you’re most likely to get a diagnosis through regular eye exams.
One type of glaucoma, called acute angle-closure glaucoma, develops very quickly and usually comes with the sudden onset of symptoms like nausea, eye pain, headache, excessive flashes, and excessive floaters. Angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.
The macula is a small area in the middle of your retina responsible for your central vision. Central vision allows you to read, recognize faces, and see fine details.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that progressively damages the macula, reducing central vision. There are 2 forms of this disease:
- Dry AMD develops when fatty deposits called drusen accumulate around the macula, damaging macular cells and resulting in some loss of central vision.
- Wet AMD occurs when the delicate blood vessels in the retina become weak or damaged due to age. This can lead to bleeding or scarring around the macula, causing loss of some central vision.
Much like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration often develops without noticeable symptoms. The best way to detect and treat AMD early is through regular eye exams.
Inside your eye, there is a lens made of proteins. As you age, these proteins restructure, causing the lens to become increasingly opaque. This is called a cataract.
Cataracts are a natural part of aging; most people will develop them eventually. However, certain factors like smoking, excessive UV exposure, and laser eye surgery may increase your risk of developing them sooner.
Cataracts will increasingly impede your vision as they progress. Once their development reaches a certain point, you can have them surgically removed and replaced with a prosthetic lens. This procedure is relatively routine and generally produces good results.
Your eyes need tears for lubrication, protection, and hydration. Without enough high-quality tears, your eyes can become sore, red, and irritated. Without treatment, dry eye disease can lead to corneal abrasion, serious infections, and even vision loss.
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a common inflammation of the conjunctiva, the very thin membrane covering the outside of your eye and the inside of your eyelid.
There are several different types of conjunctivitis:
- Allergic conjunctivitis develops when the body detects an allergen like pet dander and creates an immune response. Antihistamines can help alleviate the itching, excessive tears, and redness that come with allergic conjunctivitis.
- Viral conjunctivitis develops due to a viral infection in the eye. The same virus that causes a cold, for example, could infect the eye. Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis include watery or stringy discharge, sensitivity to light, redness, and swelling.
- Bacterial conjunctivitis occurs when bacteria infect the eye. This infection is highly contagious and can cause symptoms like thick, yellowish discharge, swelling, and eyes crusting shut overnight. Your optometrist can treat this type of conjunctivitis with medication.
Each type of conjunctivitis requires a different treatment. Rather than attempting to self-diagnose, be sure to visit your optometrist for an accurate diagnosis and the appropriate course of treatment.
