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When it comes to the health of our eyes and vision, we can’t afford to let certain signs and symptoms be brushed under the rug. Our eyes don’t recover like a broken arm does, and sometimes we don’t get second chances to restore their health. Being aware of the symptoms and treatment options for common eye conditions can help you identify, catch, and treat these conditions before it is too late. At Kung Eye Center in Staten Island, NY, and East Brunswick, NJ, we offer comprehensive eye care as well as specialized treatment for common eye conditions.
Cataracts develop as we age when the proteins in the eye’s lens begin to break down, clumping together gradually causing the lens to become hard and cloudy. This can cause your vision to become hazy, blurry, or less colorful. Cataracts can develop at any age but are more common in older adults.
Symptoms of cataracts include the following:
If your cataracts are mild enough, symptoms may be relieved with a new eyeglass prescription. Moderate to severe cataracts can only be corrected with surgery. Surgery may be the best option when your cataracts keep you from doing the things you enjoy. Laser cataract surgery or manual cataract surgery are both options for removing your cataracts and replacing the lens.
There are many ways you can prevent cataracts, most of which include simple adjustments to your daily routines. Protecting your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses, preventing injury by wearing eye protection, avoiding smoking, and making healthy nutritional choices are some of the ways you can maintain good ocular health.
Diabetic Eye Disease is a collection of treatments that are commonly found in those diagnosed with diabetes. They include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema (DME), cataracts, and glaucoma. Each of these conditions is serious and, if untreated, can lead to vision loss.
This condition can be diagnosed in anyone with type 1 or 2 diabetes and is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina. This damage can cause leaking fluid or blood into the retina leading to gradual eye and vision problems.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
Diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed during a dilated eye examination. This condition can be treated with injections, laser treatment, or surgery. Depending on your symptoms and the progression of the disease, your doctor will make a suggestion that is best for your unique situation.
Age-related macular degeneration is related to central vision loss in individuals over 50 years of age. It can cause blurry vision or complete central vision loss. This condition affects the portion of the eye called the macula. The macula is the part of the retina responsible for central vision and detailed vision. There are two forms of AMD, dry and the more advanced form, wet.
Symptoms of age-related macular degeneration include:
There is no cure for age-related macular degeneration, but certain measures can be taken to slow its progression. Vision rehabilitation and special vision devices can be used to build vision skills. You can also adjust your routine to make performing daily tasks with macular degeneration more manageable.
Living a healthy lifestyle by quitting or not smoking is a great way to prevent age-related macular degeneration. Monitoring, as well as lowering, your cholesterol can also help to prevent AMD. Including essential supplements and vitamins in your nutritional routine is another way to prevent AMD from forming or progressing.
Glaucoma is a disease that causes abnormally high pressure in the eye and can lead to damage to the optic nerve and retina. It is the second leading cause of blindness but, if caught early, can be treated rather effectively. This disease can develop in any individual at any age but is more common in older adults.
Symptoms of glaucoma include:
In most cases, glaucoma is detected during a routine eye exam. While it cannot be cured, and vision loss cannot be restored, there are ways to slow the progression and manage the symptoms of glaucoma. Depending on the severity of your glaucoma, treatment can range from eye drops to surgery. At Kung Eye Center we offer glaucoma treatments like ECP treatment, iStent, Kahook Dual Blade®, and The Xen® Gel Stent.
The best prevention method for preventing glaucoma is getting regular eye exams, especially if you are over the age of 35. This is when an eye doctor is most likely to detect and diagnose glaucoma. Being knowledgeable of your family’s eye health history will also determine if you are at a higher risk of having glaucoma. Protecting your eyes from the sun or possible irritants can also prolong the health of your vision.
Do you have questions or concerns about any of these common eye conditions, or need to schedule your routine eye exam? Request an appointment online by filling out our contact form and take control of your eye health today.
Please call our New York office at (929) 429-2928 or our New Jersey office at (732) 724-2535 with any questions you may have.
STATEN ISLAND, NY EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ
