Cataracts

What is a cataract?
When the normally clear lens within your eye becomes cloudy or opaque, it is called a cataract. Cataracts vary from extremely small areas of cloudiness to large opaque areas that cause a noticeable loss of vision.

Who gets cataracts?
Cataracts most often develop in people over the age of 55, but they are also occasionally found in younger people, including newborns.

What causes cataracts?
Many factors can contribute to the development of cataracts. Chemical changes can occur within the lens in your eye that cause it to become cloudy. This may be due to advancing age or it may be the result of heredity, an injury or a disease . Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, present in sunlight, cigarette smoking or the use of certain medications, are also risk factors for the development of cataracts.

Can cataracts be prevented?
Currently, there are no proven methods to prevent cataracts from forming. However, reducing exposure to sunlight, decreasing or discontinuing smoking and eating a balanced diet may be helpful in preventing their development.

What are signs/ symptoms of cataracts?
Cataracts usually develop slowly and without pain. Some indications that a cataract may be forming include blurred or hazy vision, decreased color perception, or the feeling of having a film over the eyes. A temporary improvement in near vision may occur, and increased sensitivity to glare, especially at night, may be experienced. Cataracts usually develop in both eyes, but often at different rates.

How are cataracts diagnosed?
A comprehensive eye examination by a doctor of optometry can determine if you have a cataract forming.

How are cataracts treated?
If a cataract develops to a point that your daily activities are affected, you will be referred to an eye surgeon who may recommend the surgical removal of the cataract. The surgery can generally be done in the surgeon's office using a local or topical anesthesia. Using a small incision, the surgeon will remove the clouded lens and, in most cases, replace it with an intraocular lens implant. A medication is generally placed in the eye after surgery and the eye may be patched.

What happens after cataract surgery?
You will need to have several follow-up evaluations by your optometrist to monitor the healing process. When completed, eyeglasses or contact lenses may be prescribed to provide the most effective post-cataract vision.

Is surgery the only way to treat cataracts?
Your optometrist can prescribe changes in your eyewear that will help you see more clearly until surgery is necessary. When eyewear no longer provides adequate eyesight, surgery is the only proven means of effectively treating cataracts. Surgery is relatively uncomplicated and has an excellent success rate.

When will I need to have cataracts removed?
Cataracts may develop slowly over many years or they may form rapidly in a matter of months. Some cataracts never progress to the point that they need to be removed. Your optometrist can help you decide on the appropriate time for removal. Most people wait until the cataracts interfere with daily activities before having them removed.

This information was provided by the American Optometric Association (AOA). To find out more information visit their web site at www.aoanet.org/aoanet

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that prevents your body from making or using insulin to break down sugar in your bloodstream.

How does diabetes affect the eye?
Diabetes and its complications can affect many parts of the eye. Diabetes can cause changes in nearsightedness, farsightedness and premature presbyopia (the inability to focus on close objects with age). It can result in cataracts, glaucoma, strabismus (a lack of eye alignment) and decreased corneal sensitivity. Visual symptoms of diabetes include fluctuating or blurring of vision, occasional double vision, night vision problems and flashes and floaters within the eyes. Sometimes early signs of diabetes are detected in a thorough optometric examination. The most serious eye problem associated with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy.

What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when there is a weakening or swelling of the tiny blood vessels in the retina of your eye, resulting in blood leakage, the growth of new blood vessels and other changes. If diabetic retinopathy is left untreated, blindness can result.

Can vision loss from diabetes be prevented?
Yes, in a routine eye examination, your optometrist can diagnose potential vision threatening changes in your eye that may be able to be treated to prevent blindness. However, once damage has occurred, the effects are usually permanent. It is important to control your diabetes as much as possible to minimize your risk of developing retinopathy.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy can be treated with laser therapy. A bright beam of light is focused on the retina, causing a burn, which seals off leaking blood vessels. In more advanced cases, surgery inside the eye may be necessary. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy is crucial.

Are there risk factors for developing diabetic retinopathy?
Several factors that increase the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy include poor diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure and pregnancy.

How can diabetes related eye problems be prevented?
Monitor and maintain control of your diabetes. See your physician regularly and follow instructions about diet, exercise and medication. See your optometrist as recommended for a thorough eye examination when you are first diagnosed with diabetes. Have a thorough eye examination at least annually thereafter.

This information was provided by the American Optometric Association (AOA). To find out more information visit their web site at www.aoanet.org/aoanet

What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the internal fluid pressure of your eye rises to a point that the optic nerve is damaged. The pressure that builds up is usually due to inadequate drainage of fluid normally produced in your eyes. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the US

What causes glaucoma?
The exact cause of glaucoma is not known. For some reason, the passages that normally allow fluid within your eye to drain out become clogged or blocked. This results in fluid building up within your eye and increasing pressure on the optic nerve. The nerve fibers and blood vessels in the optic nerve can easily be damaged by this pressure, resulting in loss of vision. An injury, infection or tumor in or around the eye can also cause the pressure to rise.

Who gets glaucoma?
Glaucoma most frequently occurs in individuals over the age of 40, and there is a hereditary tendency for the development of the disease in some families. It is estimated that over 2 million Americans have glaucoma and this number is expected to rise as more of our population grows older. Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease. It occurs more frequently in African Americans than in Caucasians, causes damage at an earlier age and leads to blindness at a much greater rate. There is also a greater tendency for glaucoma to develop in individuals who are nearsighted or who have diabetes. For those over 35, regular optometric examinations are particularly important as a preventive eye care measure.

How is glaucoma harmful to vision?
The optic nerve, at the back of the eye, carries visual information to the brain. As the fibers that make up the optic nerve are damaged, the amount and quality of information sent to the brain decreases and a loss of vision occurs.

Will I go blind from glaucoma?
If diagnosed at an early stage, glaucoma can often be controlled and little or no further vision loss may occur. If left untreated, first peripheral vision and then central vision will be affected and blindness may result.

How can I tell if I have glaucoma?
The signs or symptoms of glaucoma can vary depending on the type. Primary open angle glaucoma often develops slowly and painlessly, with no early warning signs. It can gradually destroy your vision without you knowing it. The first indication may occur after some vision has already been lost. Acute angle closure glaucoma, which results from a sudden blockage of drainage channels in your eye, causes a rapid build up of pressure accompanied by blurred vision, the appearance of colored rings around lights and pain and redness in the eyes.

How is glaucoma detected?
A comprehensive optometric examination will include tests for glaucoma. A simple, painless procedure called tonometry measures the internal pressure of your eye. Your optometrist will also look into your eye to observe the health of the optic nerve and measure your field of vision.

How is glaucoma treated?
Glaucoma is usually effectively treated with prescription eye drops and medicines that must be taken regularly. In some cases, laser therapy or surgery may be required. The goal of the treatment is to prevent loss of vision by lowering the fluid pressure in the eye.

Will my vision be restored after treatment?
Unfortunately, any vision loss as a result of glaucoma is usually permanent and cannot be restored. This is why regular preventive eye examinations are so important. Low vision rehabilitation services, that include the use of specialized optical devices and training, may benefit individuals with severe vision loss. Can glaucoma be prevented? No, but early detection and treatment can control glaucoma and reduce the chances of damage to the eye and a loss of sight.

This information was provided by the American Optometric Association (AOA). To find out more information visit their web site at www.aoanet.org/aoanet

What is Macular degeneration?
Macular degeneration is an eye disease that occurs when there are changes to the macula. The macula is a small portion of the retina that is located on the inside back layer of the eye. It reduces central vision and makes seeing details for close work, like reading or sewing, difficult or impossible. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss among people over age 50.

What causes macular degeneration?
There are two types of age-related macular degeneration. In the "dry," or atrophic type, the tissue of the macular becomes thin and stops functioning properly. This is thought to occur as part of the aging process and vision loss is usually gradual. "Wet," or exudative macular degeneration is less common and results when fluids leak from newly formed blood vessels under the macula and blur central vision. Vision loss from the "wet" form can be rapid and severe.

What are signs/symptoms of macular degeneration?
Some signs/symptoms of macular degeneration are:
- A gradual loss of the ability to see objects clearly
- Objects appear to be distorted in shape and straight lines appear wavy or crooked
- A loss of clear color vision
- A dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision

In the early stages, signs/symptoms of macular degeneration may not be noticeable, so regular eye examinations are important in early detection.

How is macular degeneration diagnosed?
The signs/symptoms of macular degeneration can also indicate other eye health problems, so if you experience any of them, you should contact your doctor of optometry immediately. In a thorough eye examination, your optometrist can perform a variety of tests to determine if you have macular degeneration or other eye health problems.

How is macular degeneration treated?
There is no cure for "dry" macular degeneration; nor can central vision lost to macular degeneration be restored. However, doctors now believe that there is a link between nutrition and the progression of "dry" macular degeneration. They suggest that a low-fat diet, rich in dark green leafy vegetables, including spinach, some types of leaf lettuce and broccoli, can slow vision loss due to macular degeneration. There are also nutritional supplements that may be beneficial. Ask your doctor of optometry about your individual case. Since macular degeneration does not affect side vision, low vision aids such as telescopic and microscopic lenses, magnifying glasses, illuminated magnifiers and closed circuit television systems can be prescribed to help make the most effective use of remaining vision.

If It is detected early, the "wet" form of macular degeneration can be treated with laser treatment, often referred to as photocoagulation, in which a highly focused beam of light is used to seal the leaking blood vessels that damage the macula. This is not a permanent cure, but it can be used to slow the rate of central vision loss. Low vision aids can also be prescribed for people with this form of macular degeneration.

This information was provided by the American Optometric Association (AOA). To find out more information visit their web site at www.aoanet.org/aoanet

What is "dry eye?"
The tears your eyes normally produce are necessary for overall eye health and clear vision. Dry eye occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears or produce tears that do not have the proper chemical composition.

What causes "dry eye?"
Dry eye symptoms can result from the normal aging process, exposure to environmental conditions, problems with normal blinking or from medications such as antihistamines, oral contraceptives or antidepressants. Dry eye can also be symptomatic of general health problems, or other diseases or can result from chemical or thermal burns to the eye.

What are signs/ symptoms of "dry eye?"
The most common signs/symptoms include stinging, itchy, scratchy and uncomfortable eyes, and sometimes having a burning feeling or a feeling of something foreign within the eye. You may experience increased dry eye symptoms on awakening. Some people experience an overly wet eye. This is a natural reflex to comfort a dry eye.

How is " dry eye" diagnosed?
During the examination, your doctor of optometry will ask you questions about your general health, your use of medications and your home and work environments to determine any factors which may be causing dry eye symptoms. This information will help your doctor decide whether to perform dry eye tests. These tests use diagnostic instruments, which allow a highly magnified view of your eyes and usually use special dyes. These tests allow your doctor to evaluate the quality, the amount, and the distribution of tears to detect signs of dry eyes.

Can "dry eye" be cured?
Dry eye cannot be cured, but your eyes' sensitivity can be lessened and measures taken so your eyes remain healthy. This most frequent treatment is the use of artificial tears or tear substitutes. For more severe dry eye, ointment can be used, especially at bedtime. In some cases, small plugs may be inserted in the corner of the eye lids to slow drainage and loss of tears

Will "dry eye" harm my eyes?
If dry eye is untreated, it can harm your eyes. Excessive dry eye can damage tissue and possibly scar the cornea of your eye, impairing vision. Dry eye can make contact lens wear more difficult due to increased irritation and a greater chance of eye infection. To keep dry eye symptoms in check, you and your doctor of optometry need to work together. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. If you have increased dryness or redness that is not relieved by the prescribed treatment, let your optometrist know as soon as possible.

This information was provided by the American Optometric Association (AOA). To find out more information visit their web site at www.aoanet.org/aoanet

What are spots and floaters?
Spots (often called floaters) are small, semi-transparent or cloudy specks or particles within the fluid inside the eye that become noticeable when they move within the line of sight. They may also appear with flashes of light.

Does everyone have spots?
Almost everyone sees a few spots at one time or another. They can occur more frequently and become more noticeable as you grow older. If you notice a sudden change in the number or size of the spots, you should contact your doctor of optometry right away for an examination to be sure they are not the result of a more serious problem.

What causes spots?
The inner part of your eye is filled with a clear, jelly-like fluid known as the vitreous. Occasionally, small flecks of protein and other matter become trapped during the formation of the eye before birth and remain in the vitreous body. Spots and floaters may also be caused by the age-related deterioration of the eye fluid or its surrounding parts, or by certain injuries or eye diseases.

What do spots look like?
Spots are generally translucent specks of various shapes and sizes. They may also appear as threadlike strands or cobwebs within the eye. Since they are within the eye, they move as the eye moves and often seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly.

Can these spots cause blindness?
Most spots are normal and are not a cause of blindness. But, sometimes, spots can be indications of more serious problems and, if you see them, you should have a optometric examination to determine the cause.

How are spots diagnosed?
In a comprehensive eye examination, your doctor of optometry will look into your eyes with special instruments such as a slit lamp (biomicroscope) and an ophthalmoscope. Your optometrist uses these instruments to examine the health of the inside of your eyes and may also observe the spots within your eyes. This is often done after your doctor puts special drops in your eyes to make the pupils larger (called dilation) to allow a larger view of the inside of your eyes.

This information was provided by the American Optometric Association (AOA). To find out more information visit their web site at www.aoanet.org/aoanet