Types of Glaucoma and the Risk Factors

Glaucoma is a “multifactorial chronic disease of the eye leading to a characteristic optic neuropathy which results in permanent loss of vision.” Wow, that’s a mouthful! Basically, there are two main types of glaucoma. The common kind is called chronic open angle glaucoma which makes up about 98% of the glaucoma we see. The other kind is called narrow angle glaucoma and it occurs about 2% of the time.

Two percent of people 50 years old have glaucoma and the percentage goes up every decade. At 80 years of age, 16% of the population will have glaucoma -- affecting 2.2 million Americans only half of whom know they have it. It must be detected early so that it can be treated to prevent vision loss. Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be regained.

Risk factors are: age over 55; thinner corneas; larger, hollowed out areas in the optic nerve head; and higher ocular pressure. If you have one of these risk factors, you may be at risk for glaucoma. If you have more than one risk factor, and especially if you have higher pressures, you may be at significant risk for loss of nerve tissue that takes away eyesight.

With glaucoma, you will not notice any symptoms. You cannot “feel” increased pressures in the eye and it does not initially affect your vision in the same way as cataracts or macular degeneration. Late in the disease, after much damage is done that could have been prevented, dark areas of peripheral vision may be noticed. The only way to know if you are at risk of losing your sight to glaucoma is to have a thorough eye examination by your ophthalmologist. Particularly if you are over 55, an annual exam is important. If you are concerned about your vision, please make an appointment to see us today.

Who Needs Cornea Transplants & Why?

When the cornea has lost its transparency due to scarring from previous injury or infection, abnormal corneal shape (keratoconus), or an inheritable swelling called Fuch’s Dystrophy, a corneal transplant is needed.

Corneal transplants are the most successful form of transplant. Traditionally, the surgeon completely removes the cloudy cornea and sutures a donated clear cornea into place. For certain conditions, the surgeon replaces only the diseased portion of the cornea, which provides a faster recovery. Corneal transplants are an outpatient day surgery and are not painful. Vision recovery takes weeks to months depending on the patient.

The primary symptom of corneal disease is loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contacts. Cataract and retinal disease may cause similar vision loss and annual eye exams can determine the correct cause and treatment. Corneal transplants may be required at any age.

Corneas are usually available with no wait due to the excellent eye bank system in the U.S. Most people can be donors, so please consider donating your eyes so someone else can regain their sight. And, if you are concerned about your vision, please make an appointment to see us today.

Macular Degeneration Can Be Hereditary

Macular degeneration has a very strong genetic risk factor, accounting for about 70 percent of the lifetime risk for developing vision loss. 

Risk factors include older age, female, overweight, fair coloring, smoking, lifetime sun exposure and, most important, nutrition. 

Most people don’t need genetic testing; however, in some cases it may be desirable to know your particular risk. A simple cheek swab can determine your risk profile for vision loss up to age 80. Your risk profile could be as low as 3 percent (which is the risk for the average person) up to 80 percent in the highest-risk population. 

The value of knowing your risk is that you can modify as many of the risk factors as you can. You can lose weight, stop smoking and wear good sunglasses and/or a hat every time you are outdoors. And a Rotterdam study showed that with appropriate nutrition, you are significantly less likely to progress to vision loss even with genetic risk. 

If you are worried about macular degeneration, make an appointment with your ophthalmologist and find out what’s the plan for you.

After Cataract Surgery: It is Possible to Be Independent of Glasses

In the past, even after cataract surgery, patients with astigmatism would still experience blurred or distorted vision without glasses because a standard lens implant cannot correct pre-existing astigmatism. High quality vision – the kind you need to be independent of glasses -- is not regained unless the astigmatism is also corrected.  

Today, if a patient elects to have laser cataract surgery, the astigmatism can be corrected at the same time. And, laser surgery combined with premium lenses may allow patients to be independent of glasses for all but the finest close work. 

With laser cataract surgery and a Crystalens implant, all light is focused into one point that should focus near and distance like your eyes did in your early 40’s. Premium lenses can be implanted during traditional cataract surgery as well. Multifocal lenses like ReSTOR and TECNIS focus light from near and distant objects simultaneously on the retina. All of these lenses work best when astigmatism is corrected at the time of the surgery and when the surgeon is able to get incision accuracy as close as possible to perfect – and it is the new laser technology that helps surgeons do both of these things. 

 Most of us develop cataracts as we age and most of us have some degree of astigmatism.  Modern laser cataract surgery and premium lens implants can improve your quality of life and reduce the aggravation of using glasses for hobbies, outdoor activities, and simple activities like driving, reading the paper, using the computer, or shopping for groceries. 

Eye Clinic of Austin is one of the first clinics in Austin to offer laser cataract surgery. Please contact us today to schedule your consultation to determine if laser cataract surgery can free you from your glasses.