Preventing Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in patients and it’s irreversible. It affects more than 10 million Americans alone. The retina helps you to see. The retina’s central area (the macula) is tasked with focusing central vision. It controls our ability to read, drive and recognize colors and faces (along with many other abilities). Macular degeneration is the loss of your central field of vision. Your retina tissue has many light-sensitive cells. The macula is the part of the retina with the most light-sensitive cells. This part of your eye stops working or is damaged by blue light over time, making it so those light-sensitive cells don’t work.

A gray spot in the center of your vision will continually increase without treatment. You can have age-related macular degeneration that is genetic. The onset us around age 55 or older. Or, you can develop macular with too much blue or ultraviolet-light exposure. Always wear protective sunglasses when outside and use computer glasses (that block blue light rays) when using electronic or smart devices.
 

Diabetic Retinopathy Is No Joke

Did you know that certain diseases and conditions can affect your vision? If you have diabetes (either type), make sure to be extra vigilant about watching for changes in your vision. High blood sugar levels in your body damage blood vessels, especially in your eyes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that those blood vessels can leak, swell or even close, stopping your blood flow. This will eventually cause you to go blind.

You can keep diabetic retinopathy under control if you see your eye doctor frequently. Even though the American Optometric Association recommends seeing your eye doctor every 2 years, people with this condition should see their eye doctor 1 or more times a year. Your doctor can monitor your vision and provide the right treatment and prescriptions to save your vision.
 

Preventing Glaucoma and Common Eye Problems

Glaucoma is also a major eye disease that leads to irreversible blindness if left untreated. This is the term given to a group of eye problems that damage the optic nerve. Some forms of glaucoma come on suddenly and some come on overtime. This eye condition isn’t painful and often has no symptoms. 5% of people over 65 gets it. You can stop glaucoma progression if you visit the eye doctor often. They can see your delicate eye tissues changing before blurry vision or blindness progresses. Surgery, medicines and laser trabeculoplasty can all help glaucoma.

Seeing the eye doctor is vital to preventing common eye problems and stopping their progression. See your eye doctor at least every 2 years if your eyes are healthy. Come visit us every year if you already have vision problems. If it has been some time since your last eye exam, call Optical Masters today at (720) 780-8881!