Coping with Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina, which senses light and translates it into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted to the brain, where they are interpreted as images. When macular degeneration occurs, this most sensitive area of the retina begins to deteriorate and loses its function, eventually causing complete loss of the central part of your field of vision.

Symptoms

When the macular degeneration begins, you may not experience symptoms right away. As it progresses, you may notice the following in your central field of vision:

•    Blurred or decreased vision
•    Blind spots
•    Distortion (straight lines look bent, color looks different)

Because macular degeneration can occur in one or both eyes, these symptoms might be less severe or absent on one side compared to the other.

Living With Vision Changes

Vision loss can feel frightening, but there are steps you can take to limit the impact of this condition on your daily routines and activities.

•    Rely on your hearing: books on tape, screen-reading software, sounds in your environment, auditory traffic signals, etc.
•    Use your sense of touch: use a cane to help you feel potential obstacles and dangers while walking, learn the textures of clothing items to make organization and dressing easier
•    Use low vision aids: magnifiers, talking appliances, closed-circuit TVs
•    Enhance peripheral vision: find the area in your field of peripheral vision that’s strongest, and practice favoring that area

There are different forms of macular degeneration.Doctors can sometimes take steps to slow the advancement of this condition, but symptoms are usually not evident until degeneration has progressed. This makes early detection critical for the best possible outcome. For more information on an eye doctor in Chula Vista, visit this website.

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Eye Exams for Children

A doctor should examine your child’s eyes as early as birth, and then every couple of years for the rest of their lives. It’s important to prepare your child for what to expect during an eye exam so they’re as comfortable as possible.

Many people often associate good eye health with the ability to clearly recognize letters or numbers for the purposes of reading. Eye health, however, is comprised of many components outside of blurred vision, and even children who have yet to learn to read can experience blurred vision that will only worsen as they begin to learn their letters and numbers. Without a clear idea of your child's eye health, you may end up delaying their learning as they enter kindergarten.

Eye exams should begin at birth, though at this age they are usually performed by the baby's normal doctor. If eye infections or vision problems are suspected, then the child will be referred to an eye specialist that can better evaluate the problem. In the first two years of life, babies will be tested to see how they respond to light, how their eyes follow movement, and any presence of nearsightedness or farsightedness.

Once the child is three years old, an eye doctor will begin testing their vision using pictures and images known as LEA symbols. Eye doctors will examine eye alignment and observe whether the child is able to focus properly when objects move closer or further away. A retinoscopy, or a test to measure the reflection in the retina, is a useful tool when dealing with patients who are too young to provide subjective judgments on what they see. Another condition optometrists will be on the lookout for is amblyopia, or the presence of a lazy eye. Like most eye problems, this condition stands a better chance of being treated if caught early on in the child’s life.

When the child reaches school age, examinations should be done every two years. At this age, the optometrist will begin to rely on the child to help determine the best prescription for their eyes by reading an eye chart. An eye doctor will also screen for proper depth perception using a test called Random Dot Stereopsis.  Images are viewed through a stereoscope and the child identifies when they perceive depth.

If your child is at risk of developing eye problems as determined by early testing, it may be necessary to schedule an eye exam every year instead. Even though schools sometimes do eye screenings, it’s still important for you to keep up with your child’s eye health on your own.

Other screenings may involve the use of eye drops, which can make some children uncomfortable. Consult your eye doctor in advance so you know how best to prepare your child for their exam. If you have any questions, or you’d like to schedule an appointment for your child, visit this website for more information on a pediatric optometrist in Chula Vista.

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What Is Glaucoma, and How Can It Be Treated?

Glaucoma is a condition that usually occurs when the eye is unable to maintain balance between intraocular fluid – or fluid inside the eye – and that which drains away. Intraocular fluid keeps your eye functioning properly and helps to maintain its spherical shape. But when too much fluid pressure builds up, glaucoma develops as the eye pushes on and eventually causes permanent damage to the optic nerve.

Glaucoma occurs in two forms. Narrow-angle glaucoma is a rare, acute condition that requires immediate treatment to save the patient’s vision. Open angle glaucoma, the more common form of the condition, is degenerative, meaning that it worsens over time.

A recent research breakthrough revealed that the impairment caused by the latter condition actually begins in the brain, as the optic nerve begins to lose connectivity, and travels back to the retina. In some people, glaucoma can occur even without high intraocular pressure; in these cases, unusually sensitive optic nerves break down even under normal amounts of pressure.

Open angle glaucoma treatment focuses on preventing further loss of vision, which is permanent once it occurs. Treatment options include:

·         Medications to slow the production of fluid

·         Drops that are absorbed directly into the eye to help with fluid regulation

·         Surgery to create an opening from which excess fluid can drain

·         Laser surgery to help the eye’s drainage system function more effectively

In the U.S., doctors typically treat patients with medications and eye drops before suggesting more invasive techniques such as traditional or laser surgery.

To learn more about taking an eye exam in Chula Vista visit this website.

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Choosing the Right Contact Lenses for You

Many people with vision problems prefer contact lenses for a variety of reasons. They correct your vision without altering your appearance, they can’t be dropped and broken, and they don’t interfere with most daily activities. Once you’ve decided to give contact lenses a try, you will have some choices to make. Some contact lens options include:

Rigid Gas-Permeable

·         “Hard contacts”made of rigid plastic that allows oxygen to flow through to your eye

·         Provide the sharpest vision correction among different lens types

·         Comfortable to wear and easy to adapt to

·         Can be used for most vision problems

·         Long lasting and easy to care for

·         Can be used to alter eye color

·         Available in bifocals

·         Can slip out of place more easily than other lens types

·         Have a greater tendency to get debris trapped under them

Daily Wear Soft

·         Made of soft plastic

·         Allow for the flow of oxygen to the eye

·         More comfortable and less likely to slip around than hard contacts

·         Easy to adapt to

·         Available in bifocals and tints

·         Less effective than hard contacts

·         Require follow-up with a professional.

Planned Replacement

·         Soft contacts that are replaced at regular interval

·         Simple to clean and disinfect

·         Not available for all vision impairments.

·         Can be somewhat difficult to handle

·         Less visual acuity than hard contacts

Extended Wear

·         Extremely convenient

·         Can be worn for up to a week without removal or cleaning

·         Increased risk of complications

·         Require regular consultation with a professional

Extended Wear Disposable

·         Similar to extended wear, but discarded after removal rather than cleaned

·         Risk of eye infection is minimal

·         Not available for all vision problems

·         Less visual acuity than hard contacts

To find out more about contact lenses in El Cajon, visit this website.