Suncoast Eye Surgery Institute of Citrus River, Florida

This places pressure on the optic nerve and its blood supply that can cause serious irreversible damage.A blockage in the drainage system (and the resulting increase in pressure) can be caused by eye injury, tumor, hemorrhage, or infection.

Chronic open-angle glaucoma may develop as a result of gradual aging, causing a decreased drainage capacity. When drainage is reduced, pressure within the eye slowly mounts, harming the optic nerve.

During a comprehensive eye health examination an instrument called a tonometer is used check the level of pressure in the eye. It is a simple painless test that takes a fraction of a second to perform.

As part of your eye examination, your eyecare professional can also determine the health of the optic nerve by examining the inside of the eye.

In addition, visual fields are performed to determine the presence of blind spots or shrinkage in the peripheral field of vision.

Some diseases that impact the entire body, such as diabetes, anemia, or hardening of the arteries, increase the risk of the condition. Persons who do not actually have diabetes, but have a strong family history of the problem, should have their eyes checked frequently for early development of the disease.African-Americans tend to develop glaucoma more frequently than other racial groups.

The goal of glaucoma treatment is to prevent further damage and to preserve the highest possible level of vision. Glaucoma is treated by reducing the pressure within the eye. Medications, both pills or eye drops, are used to lower pressure either by causing better drainage of liquid or by decreasing liquid production. Medication usually must continue for life and must be taken regularly to effectively reduce eye pressure.

If medication does not reduce pressure, surgery may be recommended to correct drainage problems. The goal of surgery may be either to form a new drainage channel or open the old channel.

Everyone over the age of 35 should be tested for glaucoma every 1-2 years or whenever problems arise.

Any damage to the macula will result in some or even total loss of central vision. Since peripheral vision is not affected, people with macular degeneration can adapt to the loss of central vision by learning to use their remaining peripheral vision. To focus on a particular object, the person must turn his head to the angle required to bring peripheral vision into play.

Most cases of macular degeneration develop after age 50. For this reason, the disease is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration or ARMD. There are two types of macular degeneration: The Dry Form and The Wet Form.

At this time, effective medical treatments are limited. Along with certain low-vision aids and devices, the best treatment is learning to use the remaining peripheral vision to compensate for loss of central vision.

Lasers have been used in treating this form of ARMD, but usually the best result is a slowing down of the deterioration process. The laser is used to cauterize the leaking blood vessels and/or “tack” the detached retina back into place. A diagnostic procedure used to determine the best course of treatment allows the doctor to tell if there is hemorrhaging in the retina. It is known as a fluorescein angiogram. Both procedures are virtually painless.

As with all eye disorders, early detection leads to more effective treatment. A thorough annual eye exam is the best protection for your vision.

There are two types of diabetic retinopathy: background diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The proliferative type is the advanced stage of the disease and fortunately affects only about 5 percent of all diabetics, mostly those who have had diabetes for 25 years or more.

One of the complications of diabetes is the weakening of tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. When this happens, some of the blood vessels begin to leak fluid (serum) and blood, thereby reducing the nourishment provided to the retina. Some may also hemorrhage or leak fatty or protein deposits. When this occurs in the peripheral areas of the retina, the loss of vision is usually gradual and treatable. In the early stages, the individual may be unaware of the presence of the disease until a regular eye examination has been performed. However, if the macula is affected, serious vision problems can develop. Although it is only about one-forth inch in diameter, the macula is responsible for all of the eye's central vision functions. The rest of the retina performs peripheral vision requirements. With proliferative diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may leak into the vitreous humor, the clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inner cavity of the eye. This leak can cause a cloudiness of vision. Another problem is created when connective scar tissue forms from damaged blood vessels. Over time, this tissue can shrink and exert a pulling effect on the retina. This can result in a retinal detachment, another serious side effect of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

With all serious eye disorders, early detection by regular eye examinations results in more effective treatment, especially for a disease that is progressive in nature, such as diabetic retinopathy. If you have diabetes mellitus, you should have a thorough eye examination at least once a year. It is important to note that such factors as pregnancy, high blood pressure, smoking and diets rich in fats increase the chances of developing diabetic retinopathy. When you come in for your examination, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have and provide more information on this relatively common eye problem that can become serious in nature as the years progress.