General Eye Care
Comprehensive Eye Exams
At Eyecare Associates, we offer comprehensive eye exams to meet the needs of all of our patients. Whether you have difficulty seeing in a distance, up close or both, our team of doctors will thoroughly exam your eyes to ensure your ocular health. If glasses are prescribed, please be assured that a vast selection of eyewear is available through the Looking Glass. Any patients who are interested in wearing contacts will be delighted to know that Eyecare carries all major brands of contact lenses.
Many times individuals schedule appointments, complaining of poor vision, thinking that they are in need of new prescription eyewear. In most instances, they are correct; however, there are times when these symptoms are caused by other more serious conditions. You can be assured that our doctors will determine the cause of your visual problem and offer the appropriate treatment and care. For example, Glaucoma can cause vision loss if left untreated. Cataracts affect a patient’s ability to see well.
Patients are also examined for trauma and diseases of the eye that require proper treatment to ensure that no permanent damage is sustained. Injury to the eye may cause problems with the retina. Allergies and infections can develop into more complicated problems if left untreated.
After a through examination by one of our doctors, you can be assured of your total ocular health.
Treatment for Vision Problems
Treatment for vision problems can be divided into two categories:
Non-surgical and Surgical.
Non-surgical treatments such as glasses, contacts or medication are more commonly used by most individuals; however, with today’s latest technologies many of these visual problems can now be treated surgically as well.
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
Myopia is caused by an elongated cornea. Individuals with myopia have difficulty seeing in a distance because their corneas are too long. The longer cornea causes the eye to incorrectly focus light on the retina. Glasses or contacts are used to correct this problem non-surgically. For those individuals who would like to permanently correct their vision, Laser Vision Correction such as LASIK is an alternative.
Hyperopia is caused by a shortened cornea. Persons with hyperopia do not see well near or far. Light is incorrectly focused on the retina because of the flatter, shorter shape of the cornea. Again glasses or contacts are used to non-surgically correct this problem. Laser Vision Correction such as LASIK is an excellent surgical treatment for those individuals who would like permanent results.
Astigmatism is usually caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. Instead of the cornea being spherically as it is when someone has good vision, an individual with astigmatism has a cornea shaped similar to a football – pointed instead of round. This causes the person to experience blurred or double vision. This condition can also be treated non-surgically with glasses or contacts and surgically with Laser Vision Correction such as LASIK.
Presbyopia is caused by the inability to focus on near objects as we age. Individuals who have never experienced difficulty seeing clearly suddenly find, as they approach their mid-forties, they are unable to read the newspaper or a book clearly. This is part of the natural aging process caused, as we age, by the inflexibility of the muscles surrounding the lens. Non-surgical treatment includes glasses or contacts. Surgical treatment includes various forms of permanent surgical procedures such as LASIK, CK or INTACTS.
Eye Allergies
The eyes are one of the most sensitive and vulnerable organs of the body. Airborne allergens and other particles can land directly on the surface of the eye, causing irritation and redness. Although tears constantly wash the eyes, they can’t always keep out allergens like pollen or pet dander. Because of this ocular allergies are common.
What Are Ocular Allergies?
Eye allergies are no different than those that affect your sinuses, nose or lungs. When an allergen comes in contact with your eyes, your body releases histamine, a chemical produced in reaction to a substance that the immune system can’t tolerate. Special cells called mast cells make histamine. These cells are present throughout the body but are highly concentrated in the eyes.
Ocular allergies tend to be airborne. The most frequent allergic trigger are pollen, pet hair or dander, dust and some medications.
Other triggers that irritate the eyes but are not true allergies are cigarette smoke, perfume and diesel exhaust.
Treatment
If you have ocular allergies or any kind of allergic disease, the most effective treatment is prevention. Try to avoid the allergens that trigger symptoms. This is not always an easy task, especially if your triggers are airborne, such as pollen.
When ocular allergies can’t be controlled, there are several medications that may help to relieve symptoms. Most of these treatments are topical, such as eye drops or ointment.
Allergic Conjunctivitis and conjunctivitis caused by an infection can be hard to distinguish. They both manifest themselves by an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the membrane lining under the eyelids). Both have similar symptoms, such as redness, itching and swelling in the eye area. However, when conjunctivitis is caused by allergies, both eyes are usually affected. Viral or Bacterial Conjunctivitis, also known as “pink eye”, can affect either a single eye or both eyes.
Common symptoms of Allergic Conjunctivitis are:
- Redness and itching under the eyelid
- Excessive watering
- Swelling of the eyeball
Common symptoms of conjunctivitis associated with infection are:
- Feeling that eyelids are “glued” shut upon waking
- Sensitivity to light
- Pus on the surface of the eye
- Burning sensation
It is important to determine whether someone has conjunctivitis because of allergies or infection since each treatment is different. Because of this reason, it is necessary to schedule an appointment with your doctor so that he can accurately diagnosis your condition and prescribe the proper course of action to ensure your ocular health.
