Preserving Your Family’s Visual Health

When you think about your eyes, you may only think about the quality of your vision and how it can change throughout your life. Questions like, “do I need glasses?” or “should I wear contact lenses,” are common among our patients, but there is one question we always encourage them to ask:

“How healthy are my eyes?”

Eye health is one of the most important things we check during your eye exam because many eye diseases can develop for years without showing any obvious symptoms. However, with our eye doctors, we can detect these issues before they can affect your vision, and all you have to do is book your appointment.

We’re ready to help you today!

Preserve Your Eye Health

Common Eye Diseases & Conditions

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is not one eye disease, but several. These diseases all affect your optic nerve, the collection of nerves your brain uses to read and understand the images you see. As glaucoma develops, you can experience vision loss.

Glaucoma is often referred to as “the silent thief of sight” because it often progresses with no obvious symptoms. However, any damage glaucoma does to your vision is permanent.

If detected early enough, our doctors can recommend prescription medications or surgery to manage your symptoms.

Some of the most common types of glaucoma are:

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma in the United States. It’s known as open-angle glaucoma because the drainage angle between your cornea and iris remains open, but blockages prevent intraocular fluids from draining.

As intraocular fluids build up inside your eye, your internal eye pressure rises. Rising intraocular pressure can eventually damage your optic nerve, leading to vision loss.

Closed-Angle Glaucoma

Closed-angle, or angle-closure, glaucoma is not as common as open-angle, but it’s much more severe. If the drainage angle between your iris and cornea closes, it can prevent intraocular fluids from draining entirely and result in a rapid increase of intraocular pressure.

If your intraocular pressure rises quickly, it can lead to sudden vision loss, eye pain, redness, and nausea. Closed-angle glaucoma is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately.

Normal-Tension Glaucoma

Normal-tension glaucoma is one of the more mysterious types of glaucoma because it can develop without changing your intraocular pressure. While doctors aren’t sure how it develops, eye exams can detect normal-tension glaucoma by observing your optic nerve.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD, affects adults over 55 and is considered one of the leading causes of age-related vision loss in the United States.

There are 2 different types of AMD, and though they both can deteriorate the macula, they do so in different ways:

Dry AMD

Dry AMD, the most common of the 2, occurs as the macula slowly thins over time. While doctors aren’t sure how dry AMD develops, some evidence suggests that tiny, yellowish deposits of lipids called drusen may be responsible for thinning the macula as you age.

Even though age increases your risk of developing AMD, you may have a higher risk if you smoke, have diabetes, maintain a poor diet, or have a family history of the disease.

Wet AMD

Wet AMD is far less common than its dry counterpart, but it’s responsible for 90% of AMD-related vision loss. Optometrists believe the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the macula is one of the possible causes of this disease, as these blood vessels can break and leak fluid under your macula, causing it to swell and lead to vision loss.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes can increase your risk of several eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, open-angle glaucoma, and more.

Please visit our Diabetic Eye Exams for more information about how diabetes can affect your vision.

Cataracts

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the United States and one of the most common age-related eye conditions. Cataracts develop when proteins in your eye’s lens clump together over time, causing the lens to become rigid and opaque.

As the lens becomes rigid, it can develop a milky, hazy color that restricts the amount of light entering your eye, eventually impairing your vision. Prescription lenses and contacts can correct early vision problems caused by cataracts, but severe cases can lead to total vision impairment.

In some instances, cataract surgery can remove cataracts and restore your vision. The cataract is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens matched to your needs during the procedure.

Why Eye Exams Are Important

Eye disease is one of the most crucial reasons to have an eye exam. Our team has the tools, technology, and training to detect some of the slightest signs of these issues and provide you with the help you need.

Get started today by booking your appointment!

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Our practice is in the Lake Elsinore Town Center shopping plaza between the Threading Lounge and Union Acupuncture Clinic. We offer plenty of parking with accessible options out front.