Ophthalmology & Optometry

As the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul, but they also serve sthe important function of allowing us to look out on to the world around us and experience all there is to see. There are two fields of medicine that deal specifically with the eyes: ophthalmology and optometry. Ophthalmology deals primarily with diseases (such as pink eye) of the visual pathways between the eyes and brain. Optometry concerns itself with vision problems (such as farsightedness and nearsightedness). Many people visit an optometrist once a year to make sure that their vision is functioning properly and that their eyes are healthy. Ophthalmologists are generally only sought for the treatment of eye problems broader than those just concerning vision.

Cataract

A cataract is an ocular opacity, partial or complete, of one or both eyes, on or in the lens or capsule, especially an opacity impairing vision or causing blindness. Cataracts typically progress slowly to cause vision loss and are potentially blinding if untreated. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

Dry Eye

Dry eye occurs when the tear ducts located in the eyes do not produce enough tears to adequately lubricate the eyes. It can lead to dry, itchy, stingy eyes that get worse as the day progresses. Causes include old age, arthritis, lupus, diabetes and other environmental factors such as weather. Dry eye is more common in women, especially after menopause.