Would you like to decrease your dependency on glasses or contact lenses? This is now an option with the use of premium lifestyle lens implants. Individuals suffering from cataracts previously had only a monofocal lens implant option after surgery. NEW multifocal IOL technology provides multiple ranges of vision: near, intermediate and far, giving you the opportunity to reduce or even eliminate your dependency on glasses!
Did you know there is now advanced testing available for diagnosing macular degeneration? Macular Risk® is a DNA test that identifies genetic markers associated with Macular Degeneration. By analyzing these genetic markers along with smoking history, we can identify who needs more frequent eye examinations and who may benefit from eye vitamins.
NEW TECHNIQUES IN TREATING MACULAR DEGENERATION
Have your hearing tested while at your eye doctor’s appointment. Our trained hearing specialist will perform a full hearing screening and can fit you with the most advanced hearing aids available today.
HAVE YOUR HEARING TESTED AT YOUR NEXT VISIT
The physicians and staff at the Kaufman Eye Institute take great pride in helping less fortunate countries receive the eye care that is much needed. Click here to learn about our most recent medical mission.
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. Sometimes called the silent thief of sight, glaucoma can damage your vision so gradually you don't notice any loss of vision until the disease is at an advanced stage. The symptoms are usually unnoticeable as glaucoma is usually painless until the disease has reached it’s full potential and has completely damaged the optic nerve and a loss of vision has occurred.
Glaucoma is an eye condition that develops when too much fluid pressure builds up inside of the eye. The fluid is called the aqueous fluid. This increase in pressure of the aqueous fluid, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve, which transmits images to the brain. If damage to the optic nerve from high eye pressure continues, glaucoma will cause loss of vision. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause total permanent blindness within a few years.
When the eye becomes damaged, the optic nerve fibers can be destroyed, making it hard for the optic nerve to send messages to the brain from the retina and this is how vision can be lost. There many types of Glaucoma, but the two main categories are open angle glaucoma and closed angle glaucoma. The most common form is the open angle glaucoma. It is important to have routine eye exams because the open angle glaucoma is famous for not having any symptoms until the disease has reached its full potential which can lead to a loss of vision. An eye exam can detect the disease early, and the earlier detected, the better. Although there isn’t a cure for Glaucoma, there are treatments available to keep the fluid in the eye from building pressure, which can protect the optic nerve from any further damage. Closed angle glaucoma is far less common but this form can grow much more rapidly than open angle glaucoma and can be much more painful.
In both forms of glaucoma, when the optic nerve fibers are damaged and tissue loss becomes significant, the peripheral vision is affected first. If not treated, blindness can occur. Other types of glaucoma include, primary open angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, angle closure glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma, and angle recession glaucoma.
It hasn’t been determined why glaucoma forms in some eyes rather than other eyes. Doctors believe that the disease is caused by an abnormality of the drainage system of the eye. The drainage system is referred to as the trabecular meshwork and it is located in the front of the eye where the cornea and the iris meet. The trabecular meshwork acts like a cleansing system for the eye, and is constantly draining eye fluid and without this working properly, the pressure can build up causing the optic nerve damage.
Unfortunately when vision is loss due to glaucoma, it cannot be restored and that is why it is extremely important to have an eye exam to determine whether or not glaucoma is present before the disease progresses. If you or a loved one have not had a routine eye exam in a while, please call the Kaufman Eye Institute to schedule an exam today and take the next step in maintaining complete eye health. To learn more about glaucoma and your options, please click on the links below.
