Top 5 Worst Eye Conditions That Can be Treated and Prevented
There are a number of eye conditions that can be treated or prevented with care from your doctors at Pacific Vision Institute. We have named the top five, and what can be done about each one.
Cataracts
What it is?
Cataracts are a condition that causes clouding in the lens of the eyes. There are proteins that are crucial to keeping the eye lens clear. When these proteins break down, the lens no longer remains clear, and vision problems occur. Cataracts most often occur in people over 45 years old.
How it can be prevented
Cataracts can be prevented by avoiding smoking and protecting your eyes with sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB light. Prevention of cataracts includes controlling your blood pressure, watching your weight, and managing diabetes as well.
How it’s treated
If the problem is caught at an early age, you may not need surgery right away. However, surgery is the only way to ultimately treat cataracts successfully.
Glaucoma
What it is
Glaucoma is caused by elevated levels of fluid pressure in the eyes. This condition can potentially damage the fragile fibers of the optic nerve. Once this damage occurs, it is irreversible, and it can even lead to blindness.
How it can be prevented
Have frequent exams and checkups with your eye doctor to ensure your eye pressure is well-controlled.
How it’s treated
Glaucoma is treated by lowering your eye pressure, which may be done in a number of different ways, including prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery, or a combination of any of these.
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)
What it is
This eye condition is a common complication of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in American adults aged 20–74 years. Patients with DR experience progressive damage to the blood vessels of the retina, and this condition usually affects both
eyes.
How it can be prevented
Early diagnosis of DR is an extremely important part of reducing the risk of vision loss. If you have diabetes, get yearly dilated eye exams to detect diabetic eye problems early. It is also important to control blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipid abnormalities.
How it’s treated
The sooner this condition is found, the easier it is to treat and the more likely it is that your vision will be saved. We can directly treat retinopathy with a laser, or a surgical procedure called vitrectomy.
Macular Degeneration
What it is
Also called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), this condition is the main cause of blindness in the elderly. There are two types of AMD–dry and wet. Dry AMD occurs when the macula blood vessels thin, which is due to age. The condition affects almost 90-percent of older people. Wet AMD occurs when irregular blood vessel growths drain fluid and blood in the eyes. This causes loss of vision and can even lead to blindness.
How it can be prevented
Macular degeneration can be prevented by avoiding smoking, which doubles your risk of macular degeneration as you age. Exercise regularly and control your blood pressure and cholesterol. Eat lots of leafy greens and fish.
How it’s treated
While there is no cure for this condition, there are treatments that can greatly slow it down and preserve your vision for much longer. One treatment that has been beneficial is a supplement formula that has vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper. Eye medication, laser
surgery, photodynamic laser therapy are all successful treatments for macular degeneration.
Refractive errors
What it is
Your eyeball, cornea, and lens must have a particular shape for light rays to bend (refract) and land on your retina in the exact right way. When the shape of your eye isn’t quite right, the vision blurs. This condition may not technically be the worst eye condition, but it is certainly one of the most common and constant concerns for people. It includes nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
How it can be prevented
Refractive errors cannot be prevented. Instead, they can be diagnosed by your eye doctor and treated. These errors are best to catch early on. Before age 18 and after age 65, have annual eye exams. From 19-64 years old, have an eye exam every two years.
How it’s treated
Refractive errors can be treated with corrective glasses, contact lenses, or LASIK surgery.
Blurred Vision
What it is
There are many causes of blurred vision besides refractive errors. Blurred vision usually includes trouble seeing in dim light conditions, and less intensity of color.
How it can be prevented
While some types of blurred vision aren’t preventable, others can be. And it’s always a good idea to follow these tips for healthy eyes:
- Wear sunglasses with broad-spectrum protection.
- Eat dark, leafy greens, fish, and foods high in vitamin A, such as carrots or sweet potatoes.
- Don’t smoke.
- Wash your hands before touching your eyes.
- Have regular eye exams.
How it’s treated
The treatment depends on what exactly is causing your blurred vision. If cornea swelling is the cause, we may prescribe eye drops to remove excess water from your cornea. If cataracts are causing blurred vision, surgery is the only way to cure it.
When should you see a doctor?
If you’re experiencing any changes in your vision, whether large or small, you should see your doctor. It’s also important to have your regularly scheduled eye exams and checkups since early detection of negative eye conditions often mean the treatment can be more effective, and your vision has a higher chance of being successfully treated and preserved.
Advanced Custom Wavefront and Topography-guided LASIK and PRK at Pacific Vision Institute
Pacific Vision Institute puts patients and their needs first. We are dedicated to providing clients the very best, and we stay abreast of the latest developments and advancements in the field. Our world-class surgeons at Pacific Vision Institute offer the latest generation of state-of-the-art diagnostic and vision correction technology to address a wide range of vision problems and eye conditions, including the more difficult-to-treat cases. To find out more, call today for a consultation.