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.

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism, like near-sightedness and far-sightedness, causes your vision to be blurry without correction. Astigmatism, however, is an imperfection in your vision that causes blurriness both at distance and near. It is mostly due to an imperfection in the shape of your cornea. 

The cornea, which is the front window of the eye, is ideally shaped like a basketball cut in half. With astigmatism, the cornea is shaped like a football or an egg cut in half – more oblong than round. 

There are optical and surgical methods to correct astigmatism. Most people correct it with glasses. Over the years, contact lenses have improved in their ability to correct astigmatism. Contacts that treat astigmatism are called toric lenses. 

For those who want independence from glasses or contacts, laser vision correction or LASIK does an excellent job of treating astigmatism.  For those who have cataracts, we can now treat astigmatism during cataract surgery either using the laser or a special lens implant. 

If you are concerned about astigmatism and its treatment, make an appointment today.

Act Now to Clear Up 'Dry Eye'

If your eyes are uncomfortable, scratchy or gritty, especially after reading, being on the computer or in the evening, you may have “Dry Eye.” 

These symptoms affect 10 percent to 20 percent of the population and are most common in women older than 50 due to hormonal changes. In addition to evaluating symptoms and signs of dry eyes, we can measure the concentration of salt in the tears and can monitor therapy with a new device called Tear Lab.

Initial treatment in mild cases consists of lubricating the eye with the appropriate artificial tears to prevent drying. If this is not successful, inflammation will build up and, over time, lead to a chronic disease called Keratitis Sicca or “Dry Eye.” 

After the earliest stage, the best way to treat the symptoms is to use a medicine called Restasis to reduce inflammation, reverse damage and prevent progression. This prescription eye drop, used properly twice a day for six months, will result in improvement for 90 percent of patients. Because Restasis is a treatment and not a cure, it must be continued long-term to maintain the benefit. If your eyes are dry and uncomfortable, this prescription medication can dramatically improve the quality of your life. To find out if you have "Dry Eye," schedule an appointment with Eye Clinic of Austin today.

 

Give Your Valentine the Gift of 20/20 Vision

If you are searching for the perfect gift for your sweetheart, consider giving the gift of LASIK…and the possibility of 20/20 vision. Valentine’s Day is all about showing loved ones how much you care, and what better way to show your love than by arranging a free LASIK consultation?

LASIK eye surgery can correct the refractive errors that cause nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These are the conditions that cause people to need glasses or contact lenses to see clearly. Unfortunately, not every person is a good candidate for this procedure. The only way to determine if your loved one is a good LASIK candidate is through a comprehensive consultation and eye exam by a reputable LASIK provider.

If your loved one finds out that LASIK is right for his or her eyes, you can decide together how to proceed. There are often LASIK financing options available to help pay for the procedure, which costs, on average, $1,600 - $2,500 per eye, depending on the type of technology used. Steer clear of discount LASIK providers that advertise the procedure for less than $600 per eye – these often have hidden fees, are performed with inexperienced surgeons or use outdated technologies that can lead to vision complications.

When performed by a reputable and experienced LASIK surgeon, many LASIK patients achieve 20/20 vision – or better – after the procedure, and they often experience a visual freedom they have never had in their lives. Now that’s an amazing Valentine’s Day gift!  

Of course, risks accompany any type of surgery and LASIK is no exception. Vision changes, such as halos, glare, double vision and starbursts; dry eye syndrome; vision loss and the need for glasses after LASIK are some of the risks. Discuss these complication possibilities with your LASIK provider.

Wouldn’t it be great to gaze into your sweetheart’s eyes – without looking through glasses? Contact us at Eye Clinic of Austin today to schedule a free LASIK consultation and learn about financing options to help you afford this thoughtful gift. Visit eyeclinic2020.com or call 512-427-1100.