Conditions

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the natural intraocular lens and can cause a decrease in vision. Cataracts often develop slowly and painlessly, so vision and lifestyle can be affected without a person realizing it. Common complaints include blurry vision, difficulty reading in dim light, poor vision at night, glare and halos around lights, and occasionally double vision.

There is no medical treatment to prevent the development or progression of cataracts. Cataract surgery, which is the removal of the cloudy lens and implantation of a clear intraocular lens (IOL), is the only definitive treatment for cataracts.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye’s optic nerve. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old. But blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment.

There are two major types of glaucoma.

1. Primary open-angle glaucoma

This is the most common type of glaucoma. It happens gradually, is painless and causes no vision changes at first.Most people with open-angle glaucoma do not notice any change in their vision until the damage is quite severe. Having regular eye exams can help your ophthalmologist find this disease before you lose vision.
Risk Factors

Age
Race: Black individuals have 3-4 times more risk than whites to develop glaucoma
Increased Intraocular Pressure (IOP)
Family History

2. Angle-closure glaucoma (also called “closed-angle glaucoma” or “narrow-angle glaucoma”)

When the drainage angle of your gets completely blocked, eye pressure rises very quickly. It is a true eye emergency, and you should call your ophthalmologist right away or you might go blind.Here are the signs of an acute angle-closure glaucoma attack:

Blurry Vision
Severe eye pain
Headache
Nausea and/or Vomiting
Rainbow-colored rings or halos around lights

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a problem with your retina. It happens when a part of the retina called the macula is damaged. With AMD you lose your central vision.

You cannot see fine details, whether you are looking at something close or far. But your peripheral (side) vision will still be normal.

Many people don’t realize they have AMD until their vision is very blurry. This is why it is important to have regular visits to an ophthalmologist. He or she can look for early signs of AMD before you have any vision problems.

Risk Factors

Age
Family History
Smoking
Caucasian (particularly with light colored eyes)
Eat a diet high in saturated fat (found in foods like meat, butter, and cheese)
Obesity

Heart Disease and High Cholesterol

There are two types of AMD

Dry AMD

This form is quite common. About 80% (8 out of 10) of people who have AMD have the dry form. Dry AMD is when parts of the macula get thinner with age and tiny clumps of protein called drusen grow. You slowly lose central vision. There is no way to treat dry AMD yet. Vitamins (AREDS 2) have been shown to reduce the risk of vision loss from AMD.

Wet AMD

This form is less common but much more serious. Wet AMD is when new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina. These vessels may leak blood or other fluids, causing scarring of the macula. You lose vision faster with wet AMD than with dry AMD.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease is a term for several eye problems that can result from diabetes. Diabetic eye disease includes:

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathyis when blood vessels in the retina swell, leak or close off completely. Abnormal new blood vessels can also grow on the surface of the retina.

Diabetic Macular Edema
- Macular Edema is when fluid builds up on the retina and causes swelling and blurry vision.
Cataract
Glaucoma
Elevated Blood Sugar can affect the shape of your eye’s lens, causing blurry vision. Your vision goes back to normal after your blood sugar stabilizes. Have your blood sugar controlled before getting your eyeglasses prescription checked.

To prevent eye damage from diabetes, maintain good control of your blood sugar. Follow your primary care physician's diet and exercise plan

People with diabetes should get annual eye exams even before they have signs of vision loss.

Dry Eyes

Our eyes need tears to stay healthy and comfortable. If your eyes do not produce enough tears or a quality tear, it can lead to dry eyes.

Symptoms

Stinging and burning.
Scratchy, gritty or feeling like something is in your eye.
Strings of mucus in or around your eyes.
Redness and Irritation. This is especially true when you are in the wind or near cigarette smoke.
Painful to wear Contact Lens
You have lots of tearsin your eyes.
- Having a lot of tears in your eyes with “dry eye” might sound odd. But your eyes make more tears when they are irritated by dry eye.

Treatment

Adding tears- Use artificial tears as often as needed. Artificial tears can be purchased without a prescription. There are many brands. Try a few until you find a brand that works best.

Saving tears - Your ophthalmologist may suggest blocking your tear ducts. This makes your natural tears stay in your eyes longer.

Increasing your tears - Your ophthalmologist might have you use a prescription eyedrop. These drops can increase your eyes natural production of tears.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an inflammatory condition of the eyelid margin and a common cause of ocular discomfort and irritation. Blepharitis is one of the most common ocular disorders encountered in clinical practice.

Ptosis (Drooping Eyelids)
Dermatochalasis
- Hooding of eyelids due to excess skin/eyelid tissue
Ectropion/Entropion
- Malposition of the lower eyelids causing irritation and tearing
Skin Cancers
Non-Malignant Skin Lesions
Skin Tags