Changes in your vision
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| See Presbyopia for more details. |
As time passes, your body changes. Hair colors change. Skin textures change. Voices change. And inevitably, your vision changes. However, changes in your vision don't have to mean a change in your lifestyle. A program of preventive eye examinations and prompt treatment of problems can keep your eyes at their best throughout your life.
PRESBYOPIA
If you're near the age of 40, you may have already experienced problems with reading anything closer than arm length. If so, you probably have presbyopia.
Presbyopia, caused by a rigidity of the crystalline lens, robs the lens of its ability to properly focus light passing though the eye. Presbyopia is usually noticeable around age 40 and becomes more pronounced with time. You may need glasses only for reading, sewing or close work unless other vision conditions also affect your eyes. Many vision conditions, including presbyopia, can also be corrected with contact lenses. Laser Vision itself does not correct for presbyopia. We will recommend what is right for your vision condition.
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| The Crossword puzzle on the right is how someone would see who is developing presbyopia, and needs reading glasses. Often people say they are using less quality ink, or printing things smaller. | ||
TREATMENT
- Glasses
- Single vision or bifocals
Contact Lenses
- Monovision (one lens for near and one lens for far)
- Bifocal contacts
- Combination of both
CATARACTS
The leading cause of reversible blindness in the United States, cataracts cloud the eyes normally clear transparent lens, thus blurring the vision. Like presbyopia, cataracts commonly occur with aging. A vast majority of all over 70 will have at least one cataract in their lifetime.
If you live long enough, you will probably get cataracts. They may not have to be treated , however.
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| Notice the picture on the right, the bean shaped object (lens) is yellow or cloudy (cataract) | ||
A patient whose vision is impaired by cataracts may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- A gradual, painless blurring or dimming of vision,
- “halo” or haze around lights, especially at night,
- double (or multiple) vision, or
- Trouble driving at night
- Loosing the golf ball more often
- Reading or sewing becomes more difficult
- In younger patients, vision that is worse in bright sunlight.
Cataracts may be caused by accidents, diseases, or infections. However, the most common for is senile cataracts, which result from aging. Senile cataracts cannot be prevented with medicine or other therapy. They can, however, be removed surgically when ones vision becomes too blurry. An artificial lens can be implanted to restore clear vision without the necessity of thick glasses. Sometimes glasses are needed only for reading small print! With a skilled surgeon, cataract surgery is relatively uncomplicated and has a very high success rate. See Cataracts for more details.
GLAUCOMA
One out every 50 people over the age of 35 suffers form glaucoma, making it one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Glaucoma is classically caused by a progressive increase of pressure within the eye, which causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve.
However, there are forms of glaucoma where the pressure inside the eye is normal. If you are African American , or suffer from diabetes, anemia, or hardening of the arteries, migraines, sleep apnea, or have a family history of glaucoma, your chances of developing glaucoma are even higher.
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| Notice the picture on the right, the bean shaped object (lens) is yellow or cloudy (cataract) | ||
Because most types of glaucoma develop gradually and painlessly, damage can be extensive before it is noticeable to the patient. Glaucoma can be treated, but nothing can repair nerve damage once it occurs. That is why annual preventive eye examinations are essential after age 40.
Glaucoma is detected by a variety of tests.
We have invested in all the diagnostic instrumentation found in the leading hospitals and glaucoma clinics including tonometry which measures your intraoccular pressure, visual fields which measures vision loss, GDX and OCT, which can measure beneath the eye and diagnose glaucoma up to 5 years earlier that previously possible. See Glaucoma for more details.
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| Dr. Skowron discussing glaucoma treatment options |
MACULAR DEGENERATION
Another condition which may affect the aging eye is macular degeneration. This occurs when the central point of focus on the retina (called the macula) is damaged.
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Signs of macular degeneration are…
- Blurred or distorted vision
- loss of color visual clarity, and
- A dark empty area or in the center of the visual field.
One reason macular degeneration often goes unnoticed is because it usually affects only one eye. In this case, the “good” eye compensates for the affected eye, allowing the problem to go unnoticed by the patient. This one reason annual eye examinations are recommended after age 40. Treatment of macular degeneration may includes the use special eye vitamins, medicine placed within the eye, laser surgery, and finally magnification devices. See Macular Degeneration for more details.
DRY EYE
There are hundreds of tiny glands in the eyelids that produce the tears. Dry eye, is a condition where these glands don't produce the proper quality or quantity of tears causing a whole array of symptoms from stinging, burning, scratchiness, grittiness and TEARING. Yes, having dry eye can cause your eyes to tear or water. It can also be the cause stringy mucus, and red eyes which is made worse by irritation from smoke or other irritants (wind, low humidity).
While dry eyes is definitely age related, it may also be caused by many prescription, and non prescription medications including antihistamines, beta-blockers, decongestants, diuretics, oral contraceptives, sleeping medications, tranquilizers, and tricyclic antidepressants. Check with us or a pharmacist if you suspect that a medication is causing dry eyes.
Dry eyes may not sound like a serious problem. However, if inadequately treated, chronic dryness may lead to corneal damage and scarring.
Dry eyes can usually be treated very successfully. A humidifier placed in the house or in the bedroom is a good start. Ordinary tear-replacement drops can control mild problems. More severe problems are treated with prescription medications including the use of short tem steroids and Restasis. Special, tiny removable plugs can be inserted into the tear ducts to prevent any tears that you produce from draining. See Dry Eye for more details.
Of Course there are many other conditions that occur as we age. These are the most common.
