Just because you have perfect eyesight doesn't necessarily mean your eyes are in perfect health. Many eye health conditions can start developing for months or years without showing symptoms. This is why a regular eye exam with an eye doctor is so essential for your health! At Eye Care Specialists in Kissimmee, FL, our team has the tools and expertise to evaluate and manage a range of eye health conditions.
Glaucoma
Known as the "thief" of sight, glaucoma is a classic example of how a vision-threatening condition can go unnoticed for a long time unless detected early during an eye exam with an optometrist. Glaucoma causes progressive vision loss due to damage to the optic nerve. Typically associated with increased inner eye pressure, this condition can be managed with medications or in some cases surgery.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
The macula is the center of your retina and is important for helping you see fine detail in the center of your visual field. Sometimes, this spot can degrade over time in what's known as "wet" or "dry" AMD—the wet type is caused by abnormal leaking blood vessel growth on or behind the macula, and the dry type is caused by abnormal growth of small deposits behind the macula. Depending on your type of AMD, we can provide medications, nutritional supplements, and corrective eyewear to compensate for vision loss.
Cataracts
As you age, the lens inside your eye can sometimes become opaque (due to structural changes in the lens protein and fibers). This is how cataracts develop, which can lead to vision loss and the appearance of halos around bright lights in advanced stages. If they become big enough to impair vision, cataracts can be removed and replaced in a relatively simple surgery.
Astigmatism, Nearsightedness, Farsightedness
The shape of our eyeballs, corneas, and lenses influence the way light enters (refracts) the eye. An irregularity here may lead to a refractive error like nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia). We can correct these errors with prescription glasses or contacts.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss in people with diabetes (a chronic condition related to dysfunctional blood sugar control). Because of chronically high levels of blood sugar, the blood vessels in and around the retina leak fluids and can cause scarring on the retinas.
Have You Seen an Eye Doctor Recently?
Contact Eye Care Specialists in Kissimmee, FL, for more information or to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor.
