Life After a Glaucoma Diagnosis
Receiving a glaucoma diagnosis can be upsetting, but a range of effective treatments can help protect your remaining vision. People with glaucoma can enjoy a full life. Here’s what you need to know.
Today’s seniors are embracing life in Arizona. They’re doing it all: hitting the links, hiking beautiful desert trails, strolling through museums, taking scenic drives, and enjoying their post-retirement years with family and friends.
Your senior years are even more enjoyable if your eyes are healthy and your vision is good. With that in mind, the team at Advanced Laser & Eye Center of Arizona, home of MyEyesToday.com, are committed to helping you keep your eyes in the best possible shape as you age.
Our eye care specialists don’t want you to miss a single moment of your senior years because of vision problems. Here, we highlight some of the common age-related eye conditions you should be aware of and also offer insights (forgive the pun) into how age-related eye problems can be treated if they occur.
Glaucoma is the name used for a group of eye diseases that occur when pressure within your eye damages your optic nerve. Over time, optic nerve damage can lead to loss of sight. Most common types of glaucoma typically present no symptoms, but your doctor can discover this condition during a routine eye exam.
If glaucoma is caught early, treatment with medicated drops can help protect your remaining vision and reduce pressure in your eyes.
Cataracts are a condition in which the lens of your eye becomes cloudy. Symptoms of cataracts include blurred vision, sensitivity to light, double vision, trouble seeing at night (especially when driving), and noticing that colors seem faded.
Cataracts can be corrected with cataract surgery, which is a very commonly performed procedure in older adults. During cataract surgery, your cloudy lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens.
Our practice is proud to offer an innovative approach to cataract surgery known as dropless cataract surgery. To learn about the benefits of this procedure that doesn’t require medicated eye drops afterward, read our recent blog on the topic.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that can cause you to lose your central vision. It’s one of the most common causes of age-related vision loss. AMD has several possible causes, including genetics and smoking.
Depending on how far AMD has progressed, your doctor may treat it with medications, laser treatment, or dietary supplements.
Diabetic eye disease, also known as diabetic retinopathy, is a type of vision loss that can develop in people with diabetes. It can happen when blood vessels in your eyes are damaged, and it’s most likely to occur in people who have trouble controlling their blood sugar.
Believe it or not, allergies can develop at any time of life — even in your 60s, 70s, or beyond. Allergies can lead to eye discomfort such as dry eyes, runny eyes, or itchy eyes, as well as symptoms that affect other parts of your body.
Our allergy specialist, Thomas Willim, PA-C, provides expert allergy diagnosis and treatment — including allergy drops, which can reduce or even eliminate your allergies over time.
One of the best ways to take care of your eyes and your vision during your senior years is to have regular eye examinations. Seeing an eye care professional on a regular basis helps ensure that any eye problems are caught early, when they’re most treatable or preventable.
Generally, our providers recommend yearly eye exams, but some of our patients benefit from more-frequent checkups. Be sure to ask your provider how often you should schedule an exam.
The eye care professionals at Advanced Laser & Eye Center of Arizona — with offices in Gilbert, Chandler, and Queen Creek, Arizona — want to help you enjoy healthy eyesight well into your senior years. To schedule an eye exam or specialized eye care, call one of our offices directly or book an appointment online.
