Conditions that Affect Eye Health
Each person’s eyes are unique, just like their fingerprints. Along with that line, each person’s eye health is unique. Eye health is affected by age, genetics, lifestyle, occupation, and underlying medical conditions. At Central Valley Eye Medical Group we’ve helped thousands of patients with various conditions that affect their eyes. We strive to stay on the cutting edge of new technology and techniques to continually improve outcomes for our patients.
Conditions Affecting Eye Health
Refractive Eye Errors
The condition most people associate with their eye doctor, refractive errors are simply the eyes directing the incoming light at an incorrect angle. This incorrect angle creates difficulty focusing either up close or far away, far sightedness or near sightedness. These refraction errors are easily correctable with glasses, contact lenses, or LASIK surgery.
Cataracts
When a person develops cataracts, protein builds up in the lenses, making them cloudy. As time advances, the condition worsens, and vision becomes more and more cloudy. Cataracts develop slowly, and often the person doesn’t even realize his or her vision is degrading. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in older people. Heredity plays a role in the development of cataracts, as does diabetes, sun exposure, and radiation exposure. Surgical replacement of the clouded lens is the only treatment for cataracts. This surgery is very simple and today’s lens options are remarkable.
Glaucoma
Pressure inside the eye is not good. With glaucoma, pressure increases in the eye and over time. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and causes permanent damage. Glaucoma doesn’t show symptoms early on, and that’s the problem. Once symptoms start to show, the patient’s vision has already been damaged. Fortunately, glaucoma is easily diagnosed, hence the importance of regular eye exams.
Vitreoretinal Disorders
These are disorders that affect the retina and cause loss of vision. Diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, vitreomacular adhesion, and other retinal diseases are in this category.
Macular Degeneration
This age-related disorder mostly affects people over 60 and those with certain medical conditions like diabetes. Macular degeneration affects the central vision. This is where the central area of the patient’s vision becomes blurry, while the peripheral areas remain clear. The condition is not curable, but treatment manages the condition and slows its progression.
If there is one common thread through each of these conditions, it’s the need for an early diagnosis. Call the team at Central Valley Eye Medical Group, 1-800-244-9907, to schedule your exam.
Posted in: Eye Conditions
