Your eyes are made up of the cornea, pupil, iris, lens, retina, optic nerve, tear ducts, and various blood vessels. When there is a defect in any part of the eye, it can cause different types of ocular diseases. At Advanced Family Eye Care, we have been providing residents of St. Joseph, South Haven, Benton Harbor, and Stevensville, MI with ocular disease treatment services.
Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears to adequately lubricate your eyes. It can also occur if your tears evaporate quickly due to poor quality. This condition causes uncomfortable symptoms that can affect your vision. There are several treatment options available including artificial tears, eye inserts, medication to help you produce more tears, and plugs to keep your tears from draining too quickly. The treatment our eye doctor chooses will depend on the severity of your condition.
Glaucoma
There are two types of glaucoma. The first is open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common. It occurs when the fluid drains from the eye slowly, causing an increase in eye pressure, which can damage the optic nerve. This form shows no early symptoms and causes peripheral vision loss.
Angle-closure glaucoma is the second type, and it occurs when the fluid won't drain at all, causing a rapid spike in eye pressure and severe symptoms. Although there is no cure for glaucoma, our optometrist can provide treatment methods to slow the progression of the disease and preserve your vision.
Cataracts
Cataracts occur when protein deposits build up on your eye's lens, causing cloudy vision and various other vision issues. Cataracts can occur at any age, but the older you are, the greater your chances are. This condition is treated by removing your eye's natural lens before replacing it with an artificial interocular lens.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is caused by the thinning of the macula. It often occurs in both eyes and progresses over time. There is no cure for macular degeneration, but our eye doctor can help you slow the progression of the disease. We will also suggest lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and staying at a healthy weight. If severe vision loss has occurred, our optometrist can prescribe low vision aids to improve your vision.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that occurs when abnormal blood vessels form in your eyes which can bleed or leak fluid. This condition is most common in people who have had diabetes for many years and people who don't have proper control of their diabetes. Although there is no cure for this disease, your eye doctor can provide treatment options to slow the progression and improve your vision. The most common treatments are medication injections to prevent the growth of new blood vessels and laser surgery.
Contact Our Optometrist for Ocular Disease Treatment in St. Joseph, South Haven, Benton Harbor, and Stevensville, MI
For more information on ocular diseases or to schedule an appointment with our optometry professionals, contact Advanced Family Eyecare today at (844) 398-4022.