When you speak to LASIK experts in Los Angeles about ocular diseases, you will learn that there are many different types and that some of them have very similar symptoms. The best way to evaluate your eye health is to attend yearly eye examinations and consult your eye care professional about any recurring symptoms. However, it can be helpful to learn a little about common ocular conditions and what differentiates them from each other.
Eye health is important to monitor, especially if you are considering a procedure like LASIK to correct your vision. When you visit a LASIK eye center in Los Angeles such as Excel Laser Vision Institute, Doctor Moosa, the clinic’s LASIK surgeon, will perform a thorough evaluation of your eye before he determines that you are a viable candidate. Some of the common ocular diseases that can be discovered in an examination are glaucoma, dry eye, pink eye (conjunctivitis), diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. Many of these conditions can manifest as a result of injury or natural aging processes.
In order to maintain proper eye health, these ocular diseases need to be identified early, monitored, and treated in order to relieve symptoms. Some may be more difficult to manage than others, depending on the severity. Here are some of the most common ocular diseases.
Macular Degeneration
The condition known as macular degeneration involves the break down of the macula, which is a collection of cells in the retina. This deterioration makes an individual’s central vision blurry. Typically, treatment will depend on the kind of macular degeneration (wet or dry) that a person has. Dry macular degeneration can be helped with vitamin and mineral supplements while wet macular degeneration is usually treated with medication.
Dry Eye
LASIK experts commonly deal with patients that have dry eyes because it affects nearly 7 percent of adults. Dry eye occurs when the eye isn’t producing enough tears or isn’t producing the right quality of tears. Tears should be made up of three components, oil, water, and mucus. An unbalanced mixture can lead to blurry vision, itchy eyes, burning or stinging sensations, gritty sensation, and pain. There are some over-the-counter drops that can help relieve the symptoms of dry eye. If your condition is more severe, your eye care professional in Los Angeles might prescribe drops or medication.
Glaucoma
Another common ocular disease is glaucoma, which occurs as a result of increased pressure on the optic nerve. This can result in blindness for many older patients. Milder forms of this disease may be treated with eye drops and more severe forms require some type of laser surgery.
For many of these ocular conditions, it is important to identify them early on. This allows time for an eye care professional to assess the level of severity and recommend some treatment options in order to manage the course of the disease. Many patients are able to reverse or minimize their ocular disease by breaking bad habits, integrating a healthy diet, and using any recommended drops or medications to relieve immediate symptoms. As long as you are conscious of your eye health, you will be better equipped to preserve your vision clarity.
