New Perspective Eye Care at Formica Optical

Glaucoma

• Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve where there is a loss of nerve tissue over time.
• When the disease progresses, peripheral vision is affected. In end stages, central vision can be decreased.
• Treatment typically includes eye drops or surgical procedures.
• We screen for glaucoma at every yearly eye exam by checking eye pressure and by assessing the optic nerve and visual field.
• We have testing equipment that can monitor the progression of glaucoma to ensure treatment is working to slow the disease.

Macular Degeneration

• The macula is an area of the retina that is responsible for our clear central vision.
• Macular degeneration is an age-related disease that disrupts this area and can cause mild to severe central vision loss.
• There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry and wet.
• The dry form is most often treated with vitamins to slow the progression and prevent the conversion to wet form.
• Wet macular degeneration is treatable with injections, but vision already lost cannot be restored.
• When caught and treated early, wet macular degeneration can be controlled before major vision loss occurs.
• We assess the health of the macula at every yearly eye exam and can do additional testing to specifically diagnose and monitor the condition.

Floaters

• Floaters appear as black or clear spots (or sometimes strings) in our vision.
• They tend to be more noticeable on plain bright backgrounds like white walls and blue skies.
• They are typically the result of jelly strands in the back of our eye floating as a result of something called vitreous degeneration.
• New floaters however can indicate a serious eye problem such as a hemorrhage or a retinal detachment.
• Due to this risk, it is extremely important to see an eye doctor ASAP if noticing new or worsening floaters.

Cataracts

• Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye (located behind the pupil) starts to cloud over time.
• Almost everyone will develop mild cataracts in their lifetime.
• Increased glare and decreased vision are the main symptoms.
• When cataracts are removed via surgery, a clear lens implant is used to replace the focusing power of the eye’s lens.
• This lens implant can be used to correct vision to reduce need for glasses.
• There are specialty lens implants that can correct vision at multiple distances.
• Dr. Arlow is an experienced cataract surgeon. He explains the cataract surgery process here.

Keratoconus

• Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea which is the clear area that goes over the iris and pupil.
• In this disease, the cornea becomes very steep in one area, which is referred to as the “cone”.
• This causes distorted vision to varying degrees due to irregular astigmatism.
• When diagnosed early, a procedure known as corneal cross-linking can be used to slow the progression.
• Specialty contacts such as hybrid or scleral lenses can be used to regulate the corneal surface and achieve best vision when glasses cannot.
• In advanced cases, corneal transplant may be necessary.

Diabetic Retinopathy

• Diabetes can cause many eye complications varying from fluctuating vision to blindness.
• Diabetic retinopathy describes changes in the back of the eye resulting from the weakening of blood vessels.
• Often there will be no symptoms of this condition until very late in the disease process which is why yearly diabetic eye exams are so important.
• Laser surgery or injections are indicated in severe cases.
• Learn more about diabetes and the eye here.