Glaucoma – Glaucoma describes eye disorders that involve damage to the optic nerve, which sends visual signals from your eye to your brain. This loss of nerve tissue can result in loss of vision. Primary open-angle glaucoma is one of the most common disorders. It results from an increased pressure inside the eye, which can cause damage to the optic nerve. A damaged nerve can lead to vision loss or even blindness. This pressure can build slowly and be difficult to detect in everyday life. It may start by affecting only your peripheral vision.
Cataracts – Cataracts are a leading cause of vision issues for people over 40 and are one of the main causes of blindness. A cataract is a clouding of the eye, specifically in the eye’s lens behind the pupil, caused by proteins clumping together. There are different kinds of cataracts, and they can have different causes. Aging or other medical conditions can contribute to the development of cataracts in your eyes.
Dry Eye Syndrome – Dry Eye Syndrome is part of a larger condition known as ocular surface disease. This occurs when the eyes do not produce enough quality tears or they evaporate too quickly, causing discomfort, burning, gritty, stinging, red and even blurry vision. Our tear film is made up of three layers. We have a water (aqueous) layer, oil (meibum) layer and mucous (mucin) layer that all contribute to quality of vision and comfort of our ocular surface. If one or more of these layers are compromised, then that can lead to symptoms of chronic dry eyes.
Diabetic Retinopathy – a complication that arises from high blood sugar damaging retinal blood vessels, leading to leakage, swelling and sometimes abnormal blood vessel growth. Early stages may even lack symptoms but can progress to blurred vision, floaters and loss of vision.
Hypertensive Retinopathy – damage to the retinal blood vessels caused by high blood pressure, often resulting in narrowing of the arteries, hemorrhages and retinal swelling. This condition is usually asymptomatic until advanced stages, making regular eye exams crucial for detecting vascular changes and risk for vision loss.
Macular Degeneration – a progressive eye disease affecting the central retina, called the macula, that can cause blurred vision, wavy or blind spots within central vision. Early stages may not have any symptoms but with progression it can lead to difficulty with reading, driving, adjusting to change in lighting conditions, etc. There is no cure for this disease; however, there are treatment options available to slow progression.