Vision and Eye Conditions
Check Yearly - See Clearly! An annual eye exam should be part of your regular health check ups. During an eye exam we are looking at many different aspects of your eye health. Vision is more than just being able to see the small letters on the eye chart. We can evaluate your peripheral vision, depth perception, binocular vision skills, color vision, and contrast sensitivity. We look at your eyelids, tear film, ocular surface, and the structures inside your eye such as the lens, vitreous, and retina. A peripheral vision screening is really testing the health of your nerve pathway from your eye to your brain. You will be screened for the risk factors for glaucoma and signs of other ocular diseases. We look for damage from systemic medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid problems, and many more. Here is some basic information about a few common eye concerns.
Accommodative Dysfunction: An eye focusing problem resulting in blur up close and/or far away, frequently found in children or adults who have extended near work demand.
Anterior uveitis: An inflammation of the middle layer of the eye. This middle layer includes the iris (colored part of the eye) and adjacent tissue (known as the ciliary body). If untreated, glaucoma, cataract or retinal edema can develop and cause permanent loss of vision. It usually responds well to treatment, but inflammation can recur.
Astigmatism: A vision condition that causes blurred vision due either to the irregular shape of the cornea (the clear front cover of the eye) or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye.
Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelids and eyelashes causing red, irritated, itchy eyelids and dandruff-like scales on the eyelashes.
Cataract: A cloudy or opaque area in the normally clear lens of the eye located behind the iris.
Chalazion: A slowly developing lump that forms due to blockage and swelling of an oil gland in the eyelid.
Color Vision Deficiency:
The inability to distinguish certain shades of color. The term "color blindness" is also used to describe this visual condition, but very few people are completely color blind.
Computer Vision Syndrome: A group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer use.
Conjunctivitis: Swelling or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye. Causes may or may not be infectious.
Convergence Insufficiency: An eye coordination problem in which the eyes drift outward when reading or doing close work.
Corneal Abrasion: A cut or scratch on the cornea (the clear, front portion of the eye), resulting in pain, light sensitivity and tearing with a possibility of infection.
Crossed Eyes (strabismus): This is a condition in which both eyes do not look at the same place at the same time. It usually occurs in people who have poor eye muscle control or are very farsighted.
Diabetic Retinopathy: A condition occurring in people with diabetes. It causes progressive damage to the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye.
Dry Eye: A condition in which there are insufficient tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. This is a very common condition and can cause symptoms of burning, stinging, redness, variable blurred vision and ocular discomfort. There are many treatment available for this condition.
Eye Coordination:
Eye coordination is the ability of both eyes to work together as a team. Each of your eyes sees a slightly different image. Your brain, by a process called fusion, blends these two images into one three-dimensional picture. Good eye coordination keeps the eyes in proper alignment. Poor eye coordination results from a lack of adequate vision development or improperly developed eye muscle control.
Farsightedness (Hyperopia): A vision condition in which distant objects are seen clearly, but close objects are blurred. Can cause strain and fatigue to the vision if not corrected.
Floaters:
The shadowy images that appear in the field of vision caused by particles floating in the fluid that fills the inside of the eye.
Glaucoma: A group of disorders leading to progressive damage to the optic nerve. It is characterized by loss of nerve tissue that results in vision loss. Early detection is important to slow down or stop this damage.
Hordeolum (Stye): Infection of an oil gland in the eyelid.
Keratitis:
Inflammation or swelling of the cornea, the clear front cover of the eye.
Keratoconus: An eye disorder causing progressive thinning and bulging of the cornea, the clear, front portion of the eye, resulting in high astigmatism and blurred vision that may need to be corrected with a specialty contact lens.
Lazy Eye (Amblyopia): Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is the loss or lack of development of clear vision in one or both eyes. This can be caused by an eye turn (strabismus), a high prescription that has gone uncorrected with glasses or contacts, or an ocular structural abnormality.
Macular Degeneration: An eye disease affecting the macula (the center of the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye), causing loss of central vision. Early detection is important for taking steps to slow down or stop this disease.
Migraine with Aura: A type of severe headache accompanied by various visual symptoms.
Myokymia: Myokymia of the lid is a unilateral and uncontrollable lid twitch or tic that is not caused by disease or pathology. It is thought to be brought on by stress and other similar issues.
Nearsightedness (Myopia):
A vision condition in which close objects are seen clearly, but objects farther away are blurred.
Nystagmus:
A vision condition in which the eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements, often resulting in reduced vision.
Ocular Allergies: The abnormal response of sensitive eyes to contact with allergens and other irritating substances.
Ocular Hypertension: An increase in the pressure inside the eye above the range considered normal without any detectable changes in vision or damage to the structures of the eye. This is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma.
Ocular Migraine: Visual disturbance is similar to what can occur with a migraine but without the headache.
Pinguecula: Abnormal growth of tissue on the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white of the eye.
Presbyopia: An age-related vision condition in which the eye gradually loses the ability to focus on near objects. The lens inside the eye becomes less flexible and we begin to notice near tasks becoming blurred or strained.
Pterygium: Abnormal growth of tissue on the conjunctiva (the clear membrane that covers the white of the eye) and the adjacent cornea (the clear front surface of the eye).
Ptosis: Drooping of the upper eyelid.
Retinal Detachment: A tearing or separation of the retina (the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye) from the underlying tissue. This can result in permanent vision loss so detecting this early is very important. Common symptoms are sudden increase in flashes of light, sudden increase in floaters, or a dark curtain coming across your vision.
Retinitis Pigmentosa: A group of inherited disorders of the retina (the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye), which cause poor night vision and a progressive loss of side vision.
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage:
An accumulation of blood underneath the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye.
