Eye Problems and Diseases
People often overlook the importance of their eye site. Can you imagine how life would change if you were to suddenly lost your vision?
At Master Optics Optical, we can detect numerous eye problems and diseases including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, cornea disease and more.
Here are some facts about some of the most common eye diseases and eye problems.
People often overlook the importance of their eye site. Can you imagine how life would change if you were to suddenly lost your vision?
At Master Optics Optical, we can detect numerous eye problems and diseases including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, cornea disease and more.
Here are some facts about some of the most common eye diseases and eye problems.
Cataracts
Cataracts are a common age related vision problem that is generally surgically treated. A cataract is the clouding of the crystalline lens inside the eye. At birth the lens is clear allowing lots of light (wave lengths) to enter the eye, facilitating clear vision. However, as we age the lens becomes gradually cloudy, blocking some of the light wave lengths and the eye is less able to see clearly.
Cataracts are a common age related vision problem that is generally surgically treated. A cataract is the clouding of the crystalline lens inside the eye. At birth the lens is clear allowing lots of light (wave lengths) to enter the eye, facilitating clear vision. However, as we age the lens becomes gradually cloudy, blocking some of the light wave lengths and the eye is less able to see clearly.
Symptoms and Signs of Cataracts
A cataract starts out small, and at first has little effect on your vision. You may notice that your vision is blurred a little, like looking through a cloudy piece of glass or viewing an impressionist painting. However, as cataracts worsen, you are likely to have trouble driving at night, blurred vision that is not corrected my a new prescription or new glasses, or colors may begin to appear faded. |
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders leading to progressive damage to the optic nerve, and is characterized by loss of nerve tissue resulting in loss of vision. The optic nerve is a bundle of about one million individual nerve fibers and transmits the visual signals from the eye to the brain. The most common form of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, is associated with an increase in the fluid pressure inside the eye. This increase in pressure may cause progressive damage to the optic nerve and loss of nerve fibers. Vision loss may result. Advanced glaucoma may even cause blindness. Not everyone with high eye pressure will develop glaucoma, and many people with normal eye pressure will develop glaucoma. When the pressure inside an eye is too high for that particular optic nerve, whatever that pressure measurement may be, glaucoma will develop.
Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders leading to progressive damage to the optic nerve, and is characterized by loss of nerve tissue resulting in loss of vision. The optic nerve is a bundle of about one million individual nerve fibers and transmits the visual signals from the eye to the brain. The most common form of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, is associated with an increase in the fluid pressure inside the eye. This increase in pressure may cause progressive damage to the optic nerve and loss of nerve fibers. Vision loss may result. Advanced glaucoma may even cause blindness. Not everyone with high eye pressure will develop glaucoma, and many people with normal eye pressure will develop glaucoma. When the pressure inside an eye is too high for that particular optic nerve, whatever that pressure measurement may be, glaucoma will develop.
Symptoms and Signs of Glaucoma
Most types of Glaucoma typically cause no pain and produce no symptoms. For this reason, glaucoma often progresses undetected until the optic nerve already has been irreversibly damaged, with varying degrees of permanent vision loss. But there are other forms of the disease, where symptoms of blurry vision, halos around lights, intense eye pain, nausea, and vomiting occur suddenly. If you have these symptoms, make sure you immediately see an eye care practitioner or visit the emergency room so steps can be taken to prevent permanent vision loss. |
Macular Degeneration
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over age 50. Caucasians are at higher risk for developing AMD than other races. Women also develop AMD at an earlier age than men. This eye disease occurs when there are changes to the macula, a small portion of the retina that is located on the inside back layer of the eye. AMD is a loss of central vision that can occur in two forms: “dry” or atrophic and “wet” or exudative.
Most people with macular degeneration have the dry form, for which there is no known treatment. The less common wet form may respond to laser procedures, if diagnosed and treated early.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over age 50. Caucasians are at higher risk for developing AMD than other races. Women also develop AMD at an earlier age than men. This eye disease occurs when there are changes to the macula, a small portion of the retina that is located on the inside back layer of the eye. AMD is a loss of central vision that can occur in two forms: “dry” or atrophic and “wet” or exudative.
Most people with macular degeneration have the dry form, for which there is no known treatment. The less common wet form may respond to laser procedures, if diagnosed and treated early.
Symptoms and Signs of Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration usually produces a slow, painless loss of vision. Early signs of vision loss associated with AMD can include seeing shadowy areas in your central vision or experiencing unusually fuzzy or distorted vision. In rare cases, AMD may cause a sudden loss of central vision. An eye care practitioner usually can detect early signs of macular degeneration before symptoms occur. Usually this is accomplished through a retinal examination. |