Senior Eye Health FAQ's
Glaucoma
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a progressive disease of the optic nerve associated with gradual loss of side vision and loss of nerve tissue. It is usually, but not always, associated with an elevation in the pressure within the eye.
Who is at risk?
The risk for glaucoma increases with age. This risk increases significantly if there is a family history of glaucoma. African Americans and people of Asian descent have a much higher risk of developing glaucoma.
Should I be checked?
All people over the age of 40 should be screened for glaucoma every few years and patients over 60 should be screened every one to two years. People with increased risk should seek screening earlier and more frequently. Your eye doctor can help determine if your are at risk for glaucoma and how often you should be checked.
Can glaucoma be treated?
Yes! Although glaucoma can be a serious threat to vision it can be successfully controlled if diagnosed before vision loss has occurred.
What are the symptoms?
In the early stages of glaucoma there are usually no symptoms. There is typically no pain and by the time vision loss occurs it is usually permanent. This underscores the importance of early detection. Some types of glaucoma present with pain and blurred vision but these are less common.
How is glaucoma treated?
Often eye drops will be prescribed and these are often very effective in controlling the glaucoma. In patients where drops are not sufficient there are other options including laser treatment and conventional surgery.
Diabetic Eye Disease
Who develops diabetic eye disease?
Both patients with the adult and juvenile onset types of diabetes are at risk for diabetic eye disease.
How often should diabetic patients be checked?
Patients with diabetes should have yearly eye examinations with a dilated evaluation of the retina.
How does diabetes affect the eyes?
Diabetes causes changes in the blood vessels in the retina. It can lead to damage of the capillaries causing them to leak fluid in the retina causing blurring of the central vision (diabetic macular edema). It can also lead to areas of poor circulation in the retina which results in the development of abnormal blood vessels (neovascularization). These abnormal blood vessels may bleed and scar resulting in the loss of vision and retinal detachment.
Can it be treated?
Yes! Both diabetic macular edema and neovascularization can be treated. Many studies have proven the value of retinal laser treatments to decrease the chances of visual loss from diabetic eye disease.
What are the main risks for developing diabetic eye disease?
The most important risk factor is probably the duration of the diabetes. The longer that diabetes has been present, the greater the risk of eye disease. Having good blood sugar control is related to less risk for eye disease. High blood pressure and elev- ated cholesterol and blood lipids can increase the risk of eye disease.
Cataracts
What is a cataract
The eye is a complex structure that captures an image and sends it to the brain. Often compared to a camera, the eye has a lens that works to focus an image onto the back of the eye. The retina sends the image through the optic nerve to the visual center of the brain. Cataract is the most common condition to impair transmission of the light image to the retina and is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. Cataract causes the natural lens to become cloudy, greatly impairing a person's ability to see clearly.
What causes cataracts?
Often cataracts are a part of the aging process of the eye. It has been estimated that 80% of people over the age of 60 will develop some degree of cataract. Less commonly, cataracts may develop due to eye injuries or other diseases such as diabetes or inflammatory conditions of the eye. Certain medicines have also been shown to increase the risk of cataract formation. For many people this leads to a gradual loss of the ability to see clearly and, if left untreated, can lead to complete loss of vision. Although cataracts can not yet be prevented or reversed, they can usually be treated successfully with the more modern techniques of cataract surgery.
What are the symptoms of cataract?
The most common first symtom of cataract is a gradual blurring of vision. This may take the form of increasing difficulty reading or seeing street signs while driving. Colors may become more difficult to distinguish or look washed out and glare from sunshine or headlights may become increasingly bothersome. Most people with cataracts describe at least one of the following symptoms:
- Hazy, cloudy or blurred vision
- Glare or halos around lights
- Difficutly with depth perception
- Difficulty reading or driving
If you experience any of these symptoms, a complete eye exam can help determine if you are developing cataracts.
How are cataracts treated?
In the earlier stages cataracts may cause changes in the way the eye focuses light that can be helped with glasses. Sunglasses may be recommended for the less severe glare symptoms. When cataracts progress to the point where normal activities are affected and vision is impaired, surgery may become necessary to restore normal visual function. Fortunately, modern advances in cataract surgery, like those used by the experienced surgeons at the St. Cloud Eye Clinic, allow rapid return of normal vision in the vast majority of patients.
Cataract surgery involves removal of the clouded natural lens and implantation of a clear plastic intraocular lens (IOL). This is typically performed on an outpatient basis and seldom requires a hospital stay. Most patients are allowed to return home within an hour or two of their surgery. Typically this is performed with a local anesthetic but is also frequently done using topical anesthesia, simply using anesthetic drops. After the anesthetic, a small 3 millimeter (about 1/8 inch) incision is made in the front of the eye. A fine instrument is placed into the eye to rapidly remove the cataract using ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves liquefy the cataract so that it can be easily aspirated from the eye. After the cataract is completely removed, a tiny intraocular (IOL) lens is placed into the normal position of the natural lens to restore the focusing power of the eye. Because of the small incision size used in modern cataract surgery, sutures are almost never required. Most patients are able to resume most of their normal activities within a few days of their surgery. Recovery is usually complete in 3 to 4 weeks. Typically, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops are prescribed during the post-operative period to prevent infection and speed recovery. New glasses, if necessary, are usually prescribed in the third or fourth week after surgery.
What is an intraocular lens (IOL)?
Intraocular lenses are small prescription plastic lenses which are placed in the normal position of the natural human lens after removal of a cataract. This helps restore the normal focusing properties of the eye after cataract surgery. They have been successfully used in millions of people in the last 20 years. Prior to IOLs, patients having cataract surgery would be forced to wear thick glasses or contact lenses to restore their vision. Unlike contact lenses, IOLs are permanently placed in the eye. Patients can not feel or see their IOL after surgery and they normally never need to be removed or changed. Prior to cataract surgery, ultrasonic measurements are made of the size and curvature of the eye. These measurements are used to select the proper prescription of the IOL. Because an IOL is a prescription lens, most patients attain excellent vision and often reduced need for glasses after surgery, even if they required strong glasses for nearsightedness or farsightedness before their surgery. The modern generation of IOLs, like those used at St. Cloud Eye Clinic, are made of foldable plastics that allows them to be placed in the eye through the tiny incisions used in modern sutureless cataract surgery. Newer IOLs are now available that can correct astigmatism and for some patients a multifocal (bifocal) IOL can be an option for restoring both distance and near vision.