Eye Group of Connecticut, LLC, Comprehensive Eye Care, Laser Eye Surgery, Laser Surgery, Lasik Eye Surgery

Blepharitis

Blepharitis (blef-uh-RI-tis) affects the skin of the eyelids, and it usually involves the part of the eyelid where the eyelashes grow (lid margins). Commonly, blepharitis occurs when tiny oil glands located near the base of the eyelashes malfunction. When these oil glands malfunction, bacterial overgrowth can result, leading to inflamed, irritated and itchy eyelids. Blepharitis is often a chronic condition that is difficult to treat. Although it's uncomfortable and may be unattractive, blepharitis rarely causes permanent damage to eyesight.

Blepharitis can be difficult to treat. Good hygiene — regular cleaning of the area — can control signs and symptoms and prevent complications. But if your condition doesn't improve, we may prescribe an antibiotic cream or ointment. In some cases, eyedrops containing antibiotics and steroids may be prescribed. If your blepharitis is linked to an underlying cause such as dandruff or rosacea, treating those conditions may alleviate the blepharitis.

Blepharitis rarely disappears completely. Even with successful treatment, relapses are common. Paying extra attention to good hygiene at those times may help bring the condition back under control.

Cataracts

In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.

The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred.

Cataracts are an opacity or clouding of the normally crystalline lens of the eye, caused by the natural aging process, metabolic changes, injury, various forms of radiation, toxic chemicals and certain drugs. The leading cause of vision loss among adults age 60 or older, cataracts impair vision, making everyday activities increasingly difficult.
In most cases, daily activities, such as driving and reading, can be resumed almost immediately, usually within a day or two. In simple terms, a cataract is usually part of the normal aging process that changes the natural, clear lens of the eye into a cloudy, opaque structure that inhibits or diminishes the passage of light to the retina. The condition can be compared to a window that is frosted or "fogged" with steam. Treatment of cataracts today is an outpatient, surgical procedure that takes only a short time.

Symptoms:
Patients with cataracts often experience the following symptoms:

Blurring of vision.
Glare, or sensitivity to light.
Double vision in one eye.
Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription.
Difficulty in reading in low light.
Declining night vision.
Fading or yellowing of colors.

Detection:

Adults over the age of 50 should schedule routine eye examinations on an annual basis to determine whether cataracts or other eye disorders are present. A thorough examination by an ophthalmologist usually includes:

A visual acuity test to measure clarity at various distances.
Pupil dilation to examine the lens and retina for other eye problems.
Tonometry, a standard procedure to measure fluid pressure inside the eye.

Diabetic Retinopathy

A common complication of diabetes in which high levels of blood sugar damage the blood vessels in the retina. Since the retina is essential to vision, this is a serious and vision-threatening condition. Patients who control their diabetes may reduce the chances of diabetic retinopathy. In mild cases, laser treatment is applied to seal the blood vessels. Advanced cases may require surgery to remove the vitreous gel in the eye.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of vision loss, involves progressive and irreversible damage to the optic nerve (the “eye nerve”).

The nerve damage is most often from high pressure caused by poor drainage of a fluid (aqueous humor) which supplies nutrients to the cornea and lens. Treatment involves medications, laser procedures and/or surgery to lower internal eye pressure by opening drainage passageways for the trapped fluid. A complete annual eye exam is the best and earliest means to detect glaucoma.

Fortunately, glaucoma is highly treatable. The key to preventing serious vision loss or blindness from glaucoma is early detection. An annual, fully dilated eye examination is recommended.

There are two basic types of glaucoma. They include:

Open-angle glaucoma, the most common type that occurs in approximately 90 percent of those who suffer from the disease. This condition can develop gradually and undetected for years, slowly damaging vision. In early stages of open-angle glaucoma, medicated eye drops are usually prescribed to lower the eye's pressure. If the condition worsens, a laser procedure called a trabeculoplasty is performed to lower pressure further. Laser therapy usually takes approximately 10 minutes and has achieved excellent success rates in select patients.

Angle-closure glaucoma, which is much more rapid in the onset, affects less than ten percent of glaucoma patients. Symptoms occur suddenly and are much more severe, but vision can be preserved with prompt, effective treatment. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma, or narrow-angle glaucoma, is generally initiated with laser iridotomy to open the drainage channels of the eye.

How do I know if I am at risk for glaucoma?
There are several segments of the general population are at risk for glaucoma. They include advancing age, particularly individuals over the age of 60; African Americans; siblings or children of glaucoma patients; people who are extremely nearsighted or farsighted; and patients with diabetes.

Can glaucoma be prevented?
No. However, if glaucoma is detected early enough, the damage to the eye can be stabilized.

Can glaucoma be treated?
Yes. With early detection and treatment, we can usually prevent serious vision loss or blindness from glaucoma.

Does glaucoma testing take long?
Not at all. You can be screened for glaucoma in less than 30 minutes.

Does glaucoma testing hurt?
No. The tests are painless and leave no after-effects.

What if the screening shows that there is a problem?
At that point, further examination is recommended to confirm glaucoma. If the diagnosis of glaucoma is confirmed, the sooner we begin treatment, the better.

What are the treatment options for glaucoma?
That's the good news. There are a number of highly effective treatment options for glaucoma patients. Most patients are started on eye drops as the initial treatment. Laser therapy may be appropriate for certain forms of glaucoma. Finally, if medical or laser therapy fails to control the disease, surgical therapy may be necessary. Fortunately, with early detection, most forms of glaucoma can be successfully treated and visual loss may be halted.

Macular Degeneration

Definition: Macular degeneration is an age-related degradation of the retina. The area of the retina which is responsible for the center of vision, called the macula, is preferentially involved in this disease, while other parts of the retina are generally spared. Macular degeneration is classified as “Dry” or “Wet.” In Dry Macular Degeneration, pebble-like calcifications in the retina, called drusen, may form in the retina, and the retinal cells may slowly waste away through a process called atrophy. In Wet Macular Degeneration, new blood vessels may begin to grow under the retina, causing swelling and scarring of the retinal tissues.

The leading cause of poor vision among seniors, this condition is caused by the breakdown of the macula, the center part of the retina. It can cause gray, hazy or missing areas in the vision. For persons over 60, age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of poor vision.

Cause: The cause of macular degeneration is unknown. It occurs almost exclusively in older people. Smoking, high cholesterol or having family members with the disease may increase a person’s risk of developing macular degeneration.

Symptoms: Macular degeneration causes a decreased function of the central retina, the part which is used to see when looking directly at an object. A patient may notice that objects they are looking at are becoming distorted. Later, parts of the object may appear to be missing. Sometimes, lines that should be straight, such as door frames, suddenly become wavy or blurred.

Treatment: While there is no cure for macular degeneration, there are a number of medical and laser treatment options available that may slow or even halt the process. A new class of drugs has shown great promise in helping prevent further damage from Wet Macular Degeneration. A specific formulation of vitamins, studied by the National Institutes of Health, has also been shown to slow the progression of Dry Macular Degeneration in patients with moderate to severe disease. For more information on eye vitamins, please visit http://www.nei.nih.gov/amd/

Prognosis: Macular Degeneration is typically slowly progressive. Most patients will suffer only mild to moderate degrees of visual loss over a long course of time. However, if Wet Macular Degeneration develops, vision loss can occur more quickly and be more severe. Patients may occasionally regain a little vision with laser and drug treatments, but generally, vision that is lost cannot be restored. Fortunately, even in advanced ARMD, peripheral vision is usually retained, so that most patients can remain independent.