Senior Vision

Some vision conditions affect us from birth because they’re related to irregularities of the cornea. Others like cataracts and presbyopia creep up on us as we age.

Cataracts

Intraocular Lens Implants

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an eye disease involving inflammation of the eyelids. Symptoms can include redness, itching and irritation in one or both eyes. Blepharitis is sometimes confused with conjunctivitis. It is also often mistaken for "dry eye" because of the gritty sensation that accompanies it; however, eye drops rarely improve the condition. If you are diagnosed with blepharitis, your doctor will recommend an ongoing eyelid hygiene program. Severe blepharitis may require topical and oral medicine and nutritional supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids.

• Upper and lower lid blepharoplasties

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to reshape the upper or lower eyelid by removing or repositioning excess tissue and strengthening surrounding muscles. When upper eyelid skin protrudes over the eyelashes it causes loss of peripheral vision and difficulty driving or reading. Patients with less excess skin can have the procedure performed for cosmetic reasons. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is usually done to improve "bags" and reduce wrinkles.

Blepharoplasty can take one to three hours depending on the type of surgery.

Flashes and Floaters

Flashes and floaters are very common occurrences and usually not a cause for concern. However, they could be a symptom of a more serious eye condition that would need treatment.

Flashes

Flashes or streaks of light could mean that the jelly-like fluid which fills the eye is shrinking and might be detaching from the inside of the eye or retina. A severe headache sometimes causes flashes, but it is important to have your eyes checked.

Floaters

Floaters can be specks, spots, threads or even cobwebs when you are looking at a plain light background like a blank wall or the sky. If you try to focus on them they’ll move with your eye.

Floaters can occur as part of the aging process and some eye conditions or injuries can cause floaters.

Most people find that floaters are temporary but if you lose any peripheral vision, it could be a sign of something which requires treatment and you should consult your doctor immediately.

Fuchs' Dystrophy

Fuchs' dystrophy is a slowly progressing corneal disease that usually affects both eyes, occurring more often in women than in men. Although doctors can often see early signs of Fuchs' dystrophy in people in their 30s and 40s, the disease rarely affects vision until people reach their 50s and 60s.

The early sign of this condition will be blurred vision on awakening that will gradually clear during the day. As the cornea retains fluids while we sleep it is normally thicker in the morning causing blurred vision. These fluids evaporate once we are awake. As the disease worsens, this swelling will remain constant and blurred vision will continue without clearing.

Treatment can include:

- Eye drops or ointments to reduce the amount of fluid in your cornea.
- Use of a warm hair dryer at arm's length two or three times a day to evaporate excess fluid in the cornea.
- Wearing soft contact lenses to improve vision and reduce discomfort.
- Receiving a corneal transplant

If you suspect you have symptoms of Fuch’s dystrophy, schedule an eye examination immediately.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve and involves loss of vision due to a buildup of pressure inside the eye (intra-ocular pressure).

Glaucoma has been nicknamed the "sneak thief of sight" because the loss of vision normally occurs gradually over a long period of time and is often only recognized when the disease is quite advanced. Once lost, this damaged visual field can never be recovered. Worldwide, it is the second leading cause of blindness. Glaucoma affects 1 in 200 people aged fifty and younger, and 1 in 10 over the age of eighty.

If the condition is detected early enough it is possible to arrest the development or slow the progression with medical and surgical means.

Glaucoma can be divided roughly into two main categories, "open angle" and "narrow angle" glaucoma.

• Open Angle Glaucoma

  Open angle, chronic glaucoma tends to progress more slowly and the patient may not notice that they have lost vision until the disease has progressed significantly.

• Narrow Angle Glaucoma

  Closed angle glaucoma can appear suddenly and is often painful; visual loss can progress quickly but the discomfort often leads patients to seek medical attention before permanent damage occurs.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina caused by diabetes, which can eventually lead to blindness. It is an eye condition which affects up to 80% of patients who have had diabetes for 10 years or more. Research indicates that at least 90% of these cases could be reduced with proper treatment and regular eye exams.

Floaters can be a sign of diabetic retinopathy. Sometimes difficulty reading or doing close work can indicate that fluid is collecting in the macula, the most light-sensitive part of the retina. This fluid build-up is called macular edema. Another sign is double vision. If you experience any of these signs, contact us immediately. Diabetics should see their eye doctor at least once a year for a dilated eye exam.

High blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the retina, causing them to leak fluid or bleed. This causes the retina to swell and form deposits. In later stages, new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina causing serious vision problems.

Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with laser photocoagulation – using laser surgery to seal off leaking blood vessels and remove unwanted tissue. Laser photocoagulation is painless and is performed as an outpatient procedure.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a medical condition which usually affects older adults resulting in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina. It is a major cause of visual impairment in the elderly. Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life.

Macular degeneration can be treated with laser coagulation, and with medication that stops and sometimes reverses the growth of blood vessels.