Dry Eye
Dry eye is a quite prevalent condition affecting as many as 1 in 3 people. Environmental factors such as dry air in buildings, wind and moving air indoors or out, age, gender, systemic medications, computers use, daily water intake, and even diet are some of the many contributors to dry eye syndrome. This condition can cause redness of the eyes, a dry and/or scratchy feeling of the eyes, intermittent blurred vision, and an inability to comfortably wear contact lenses.
Several treatment options exist including over-the-counter artificial tears, a medicated eye drop (Restasis) to stimulate healthy tear production, plugging the tear drainage system to hold the tears that are produced on the eyes longer, and the utilization of omega-3 supplements.
Dr. Sollom and Dr. Schorn use omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of dry and irritated eyes. Focused Eye Care carries a full line of Coromega products of fish oil. Coromega is unique as it does not use gel caps. Instead, it is in the form of a paste. This not only allows for better absorption in the body but also reduces the occurrence of indigestion. Ask for samples the next time you are in the office. Learn More about Dry Eye
Cataracts
Cataracts are an inevitable development of the eyes as we age but aren’t as serious a concern as many people may believe. The natural lens of the eye grows thicker throughout life by placing very thin layers of cells near its outer surface, very much like an onion has multiple layers. As the lens thickens with this process it becomes less flexible (presbyopia) and slowly becomes clouded. Clouding of the lens causes people to need brighter light to read, increased difficulty driving at night due to glare and starbursts around lights, and blurring of vision in general.
When cataracts develop to the point where they prevent a person from performing their daily tasks (i.e. driving, reading, etc.) or interfere with hobbies (i.e. sewing, golfing, etc.) cataract surgery can be performed to remove the clouded lens. An artificial lens is implanted in place of the removed natural lens correcting the vision, often dramatically, for the remainder of life.
Macular degeneration
Macular degeneration is a medical condition in which the cells in the back of the eye in the area known as the macula stop functioning normally and begin to die off slowly over time. Unfortunately, the macula is where central vision derives from; so a person with macular degeneration may slowly notice a degradation of their vision.
There are two forms of macular degeneration, dry and wet. Everyone who develops macular degeneration begins with the dry form of the disease where only minor vision changes are noticed. Fortunately, only a small percentage of these individuals will progress on to the wet form of the disease where more extensive central vision loss is possible.
Macular degeneration is an age related condition that is often genetically inherited. There are several environmental factors that can contribute to this condition, however. During yearly routine eye exams Dr. Schorn and Dr. Sollom evaluate for signs of macular degeneration. If detected, your eye doctor will prescribe nutritional supplements to aid in slowing the progress of the disease. If you have a family history of macular degeneration you may want to be proactive in preventing the condition by wearing sunglasses to prevent ultraviolet (UV) exposure to the eyes and avoid smoking which has been strongly linked to macular degeneration development.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a genetically inherited condition in which the fluid pressure within the eye elevates, usually slowly over time, leading to an irreversible loss of peripheral vision. At every eye exam your optometrist measures your eye pressure to evaluate if it is within the normal range. If it is elevated, further testing may be warranted to determine whether medicated eye drops may be necessary to lower your eye pressure into the normal range. Glaucoma is a manageable condition if caught early before damage has occurred. It is nearly impossible for individuals to “feel” the increased fluid pressure with this disease which is one of the many reasons why yearly eye exams are critical for people of all ages.
The staff at Focused Eye Care strives to provide the best medical eyecare in the Lakeville area. For additional information about the eyes and various eye conditions visit www.allaboutvision.com.
