Ophthalmology & Optometry

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises. However, with early treatment, a person can often protect the eyes against serious vision loss. It is the damage to the optic nerve that steals sight from people with glaucoma. Anyone can develop glaucoma, but it is five times more likely to occur in African Americans than in Caucasians.

Macular Degeneration

Most vision loss in people over the age of 55 is due to macular degeneration, a condition that affects 10 million Americans. Because the condition usually develops with age, it is generally referred to as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). There are two types of ARMD: dry and wet. Dry ARMD occurs when the cells of the macula simply begin to break down. This process is usually slow and results in a blurred spot in the center of the field of vision. Wet ARMD is rarer than the dry form, but the results are much worse. It occurs when blood vessels behind the retina begin leaking blood and fluid behind the macula. As fluids fill the macula, one’s vision changes shape, causing straight lines to appear curved and the picture to blur.