There are a number of common eye diseases, especially age-related diseases, that increase your risk for vision disturbances and loss. At Swift Creek Eye Center in Midlothian, Virginia, the experienced team of optometrists specializes in early diagnosis of eye diseases, like macular degeneration and glaucoma, to protect your eye health and the quality of your vision. Whether you have concerns about changes in your sight or noticeable cloudiness within the lens of your eye, you can schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Swift Creek Eye Center online or by calling the office.
Eye Disease Q & A
What are common eye diseases?
Eye disease can affect people of all ages but risk factors of developing eye disease are increased in people over 40. Some of the most common eye diseases include:
Cataracts
Cataracts describe a clouding of the natural lens of the eye that can lead to vision loss and blindness.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that causes damage to the optic nerve due to high pressure in the eye. Pressure stems from a buildup of fluids behind the eye that fails to drain properly.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a side effect of diabetes that causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Blood vessel damage becomes progressive and can lead to blindness.
Macular degeneration
Macular degeneration is a disease that affects your central vision due to the deterioration of the macula. The macula is the center part of the retina that gives you the ability to see fine details. In a wet type of macular degeneration, blood vessels form abnormally around the retina and under the macula, leaking fluids that damage surrounding structures.
In dry macular degeneration, the macula thins due to age-related changes, causing blurred vision and the increased risk for vision loss.
What services are available for eye disease?
The optometry team at Swift Creek Eye Center takes an integrative approach to treating existing eye disease. If you have any changes in your vision, you should schedule a consultation without delay.
After a review of your personal and family medical history and a discussion of your symptoms, you can expect a thorough diagnostic evaluation of your overall eye health. The Swift Creek Eye Center team is fully equipped with the latest technologies to determine the cause of your symptoms.
The optometrists tailor custom treatment plans that focus on preserving your vision and your long-term eye health. They offer several on-site eye disease treatments and can refer you for surgery if necessary.
Additionally, the specialists at Swift Creek Eye Center perform preventive eye screenings to reduce your risk of developing eye disease.
Why are eye disease preventive screenings important?
Preventive screenings are valuable for preserving your sight. The team at Swift Creek Eye Center uses in-house preventive screening technologies to identify your risk factors for certain eye diseases and to detect eye disease in the earliest stages when treatment is most effective.
Noninvasive macular pigment optical density (MPOD) tests are available for evaluating your risk factors for macular degeneration. On-site glaucoma tests help the Swift Creek Eye Center team routinely monitor the pressure in your eye.
You also benefit from the digital photography technologies the providers use to capture real-time images of the back of your eye to track changes each year.
If you have risk factors for certain eye diseases or experience changes in your vision, schedule an eye evaluation today at Swift Creek Eye Center online or by phone.