Diabetic Eye Disease – Golden Eye Optometry https://goldeneyeoptometry.com The Best Optometry in Hesperia Thu, 15 Aug 2024 10:48:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-goldeneye-150x89.png Diabetic Eye Disease – Golden Eye Optometry https://goldeneyeoptometry.com 32 32 Can an Eye Exam Detect Disease? https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/2024/09/30/can-an-eye-exam-detect-disease/ https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/2024/09/30/can-an-eye-exam-detect-disease/#respond Mon, 30 Sep 2024 08:01:47 +0000 https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/?p=7896

Eye exams are commonly associated with checking vision and updating prescriptions for glasses or contact lenses. However, an eye exam can reveal much more than just how well you can see. In fact, your eyes can serve as windows into your overall health. Regular eye exams can help detect a range of diseases and conditions, sometimes even before you notice any symptoms. Here’s how an eye exam can uncover potential health issues beyond your vision.

1. Eye Diseases and Conditions

The primary purpose of an eye exam is to assess the health of your eyes and detect any eye-related diseases.

  • Glaucoma: This condition is characterized by increased pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve, potentially leading to vision loss. An eye exam can measure intraocular pressure and detect early signs of glaucoma, even before symptoms appear.
  • Cataracts: Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy, leading to blurry vision. An eye exam can easily detect cataracts, often well before they start affecting your vision significantly.
  • Macular Degeneration: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the central part of the retina, leading to vision loss in the center of your visual field. During an eye exam, your eye doctor can detect signs of AMD through a retinal examination.

2. Systemic Diseases Detected Through the Eyes

Your eyes can also show signs of systemic diseases—conditions that affect your entire body. An eye exam can sometimes be the first indication of these health issues.

  • Diabetes: One of the most common systemic diseases detected through an eye exam is diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy, a condition caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina due to high blood sugar, can be identified during a retinal exam. Early detection is crucial for preventing further damage and managing the condition.
  • High Blood Pressure: Hypertension can cause changes in the blood vessels in the eyes, such as narrowing or bleeding. These changes can be observed during an eye exam, indicating the need for further investigation and management of high blood pressure.
  • High Cholesterol: Deposits of cholesterol in the blood vessels of the retina can be visible during an eye exam. A yellowish ring around the cornea, known as arcus senilis, can also be a sign of high cholesterol, particularly in younger individuals.
  • Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation in various parts of the eye, leading to symptoms like dry eyes, uveitis, or scleritis. An eye exam can reveal these issues, prompting further testing and treatment.

3. Neurological Disorders

The health of your eyes is closely connected to your brain and nervous system, so an eye exam can sometimes detect neurological conditions.

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS can cause inflammation of the optic nerve, a condition known as optic neuritis. Symptoms include pain, blurred vision, and even temporary vision loss. An eye exam can detect optic neuritis, leading to further neurological evaluation.
  • Brain Tumors: Certain types of brain tumors can cause increased pressure within the skull, which can lead to swelling of the optic nerve (papilledema). An eye doctor can detect this swelling during a routine eye exam, which may indicate the need for immediate medical attention.
  • Stroke: Eye exams can sometimes detect signs of a stroke, such as changes in the visual field, sudden loss of vision in one eye, or abnormalities in eye movements. These symptoms may require urgent medical evaluation.

4. Thyroid Disease

Graves’ disease, a type of hyperthyroidism, can cause bulging eyes, a condition known as exophthalmos. An eye exam can identify changes in eye appearance or function that may suggest thyroid problems.

5. Infectious Diseases

Certain infections, like toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus (CMV), can cause inflammation in the retina or other parts of the eye. An eye exam can detect these infections, which are sometimes associated with weakened immune systems.

Conclusion

Eye exams are a crucial part of maintaining not just eye health, but overall well-being. By looking into your eyes, eye care professionals can detect a variety of diseases and conditions, some of which may be asymptomatic or unrelated to vision. Regular eye exams are essential, especially as you age or if you have risk factors for certain conditions. Early detection through an eye exam can lead to timely treatment and better outcomes for many systemic and eye-related diseases. So, don’t wait until you have vision problems—schedule regular eye exams to safeguard your health.

Make your appointment today

To make your appointment, simply give us a call (760)-948-3345Call usorA sign with "click here to Schedule an appointment" text

At Golden Eye Optometry, we view good vision care as front line protection at every age. A routine eye exam can detect more than poor vision. It can shed early light on glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetes.

Information received through Golden Eye Optometry social media channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.  

]]> https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/2024/09/30/can-an-eye-exam-detect-disease/feed/ 0 Presbyopia, Bifocals, and Progressives https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/2023/11/27/presbyopia-bifocals-and-progressives/ https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/2023/11/27/presbyopia-bifocals-and-progressives/#respond Mon, 27 Nov 2023 08:01:26 +0000 https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/?p=5034

Presbyopia is farsightedness caused by the increasing rigidity of the lens in the eye as we age.

It affects nearly everyone older than 65, and for the 42 percent of Americans who are already nearsighted, this creates a complication. People who previously had 20/20 vision can just grab a pair of reading glasses to combat presbyopia, but nearsighted people will need to either pair reading glasses with contact lenses for their nearsightedness or else upgrade their single-prescription glasses to bifocals, trifocals, or progressives.brown-framed eyeglasses with bifocal lenses on top of opened book

The Pros and Cons of Bifocals

Bifocals are fairly self-explanatory. One area corrects for nearsightedness and the other area corrects for presbyopia or farsightedness. As presbyopia worsens, it may become necessary to have a middle range for things like reading a computer screen, which is where trifocals come in. They are a simple, effective solution, but not without their flaws.

The hard line between the prescription sections can be very jarring and create an image jump effect in the wearer’s field of vision. And just as having braces carries a connotation of immaturity because most orthodontic patients are teens, bifocals and trifocals have a connotation of advancing age that many would rather avoid.

Progressive Lenses: The Modern Solution for Presbyopia

Anyone who feels that the drawbacks of bifocals outweigh the benefits might do better with progressive lenses. Where bifocals and trifocals are multiple lenses put together like puzzle pieces, a progressive lens is a single lens in which the prescription gradually changes from distance vision at the top to near vision at the bottom, with a middle section if needed in between. Depending on how they tilt their heads, the wearers are able to see clearly at all distances.

The Adjustment Period with Progressive Lenses

With every new lens prescription comes an adjustment period, particularly for your first pair of progressive lenses. Here are a few quick tips to adjust quickly:

  • Practice looking at objects at different distances by reading a book and watching TV at the same time.
  • Practice moving your head instead of your eyes to see things at different distances.
  • Make sure the glasses fit properly so that the corridor of power in the middle of the lens stays where it needs to be.
  • Keep wearing your new progressive lenses instead of switching back and forth to your old glasses. Doing that resets the clock on getting used to your new glasses and makes it take longer to get used to them!

Have Questions or Need an Adjustment?

If you’d like to learn more about progressive lenses or if you’re having trouble with yours, give us a call! We want to make sure all our patients are happy with their glasses and able to see comfortably and clearly.

Sources:

Make your appointment today

To make your appointment, simply give us a call (760)-948-3345Call usorA sign with "click here to Schedule an appointment" text

Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, all eyewear services are currently by appointment only. Please call to make an appointment.

At Golden Eye Optometry, we view good vision care as front line protection at every age. A routine eye exam can detect more than poor vision. It can shed early light on glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetes.

]]> https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/2023/11/27/presbyopia-bifocals-and-progressives/feed/ 0 Surprising Conditions That Eye Doctors Find First https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/2022/05/23/surprising-conditions-that-eye-doctors-find-first/ https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/2022/05/23/surprising-conditions-that-eye-doctors-find-first/#respond Mon, 23 May 2022 08:01:48 +0000 https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/?p=4365

Did you know that an eye exam can be as effective as a physical in determining your health? Unfortunately, many Americans put off going to the eye doctor if they feel like their vision has not changed. Comprehensive eye exams are important for many reasons. Your eyesight may change very gradually over time, and you may not even know that you need a stronger prescription. Your eye doctor will also perform several tests during the eye examination that will rule out eye disorders such as glaucoma, cataracts or retinal problems.CONDITIONS THAT EYE DOCTORS FIND FIRST

Hosts of the hit TV show ‘The Doctors’ share surprising information about what your eye doctor might discover about your blood pressure, cancer and more.

The importance of regular eye exams

Blood pressure? Check. Weight? Check. Pee in a cup? Check. Seeing an eye doctor regularly?

Along with eye-related concerns, eye doctors may even be able to detect other health issues during a comprehensive eye exam. In fact, you may even find yourself leaving the eye doctor with a referral to another specialist because of a specific test that your ophthalmologist performed during your comprehensive eye exam. Here are just a few health issues that may be discovered during an eye exam:

Cancer

An eye exam may save your life. We can find everything from brain tumors to breast and lung cancers that have spread to the eye, says Joseph Pizzimenti, an optometrist and associate professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry Eye Care Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Certain types of bleeding in the retina can signal leukemia. Eye doctors can diagnose brain tumors based on changes in a patient’s field of vision. Malignant melanoma can strike in back of the eye, and patients often don’t know it is there unless the cancer is in the very center of their field of vision, Pizzimenti says.

Diabetes

One of the first clues for type 2 diabetes may be a small amount of bleeding in the retina, which is a symptom of diabetic retinopathy. “I see patients every day who have this damage and who haven’t yet been diagnosed with diabetes,” says Pizzimenti. Left untreated, the condition can lead to blindness, but managing it cuts this risk in half. When diabetic retinopathy is detected early, lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and losing weight can help prevent further damage.

High blood pressure

Blood vessel damage, including weakening and narrowing of the arteries, can signal high blood pressure, says Jessica Ciralsky, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Multiple large-scale studies have found links between heart disease and narrowing of small blood vessels in the retina, according to a paper in the American Journal of Medicine. These connections are particularly strong in people without traditional heart disease risk factors. When it comes to other body parts, these are the 10 surprising conditions your hands might predict.

Multiple sclerosis

Optic neuritis—inflammation of the optic nerve—can be a harbinger of MS, a degenerative disease of the nervous system, says Mitchell Munson, president of the American Optometric Association. Optic neuritis occurs in 75 percent of patients with MS and is the first symptom of the disease in up to 25 percent of cases. (A diagnosis of optic neuritis doesn’t automatically mean you have MS; it could also be the result of an infection or other causes.) “Patients with optic neuritis often have blurred vision, but I have diagnosed this in some people with no symptoms at all,” Munson says.

Rheumatoid arthritis

About 25 percent of RA patients have eye issues; dry eye is the most common. Another clue: “If a patient has two bouts of iritis—painful inflammation of the iris, or the colored part—in a year, or three in 18 months, we suspect rheumatoid arthritis,” Munson says. People with RA, an inflammatory disease that affects small joints in the hands and feet, have high levels of inflammatory chemicals in their blood.

Sources:

  1. 6 Shocking Diseases That Eye Doctors Find First, Apr. 30, 2019
  2. 7 Health Problems Eye Exams Can Detect

Make your appointment today

To make your appointment, simply give us a call (760)-948-3345Call usorA sign with "click here to Schedule an appointment" text

Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, all eyewear services are currently by appointment only. Please call to make an appointment.

At Golden Eye Optometry, we view good vision care as front line protection at every age. A routine eye exam can detect more than poor vision. It can shed early light on glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetes.

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