Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management

Conjunctivitis, more commonly known as “pink eye”, is a condition that occurs when the thin, clear layer (the conjunctiva) that covers the white of our eyes becomes inflamed. The inflammation causes the blood vessels in our eyes to dilate, making our eyes red and bloodshot.

Conjunctivitis has three main forms:

• Viral conjunctivitis is caused by a virus and is extremely contagious. Symptoms include watery or itchy eyes and significant discharge. Similar to a viral cold, viral conjunctivitis does not typically require prescription treatment, but because it is contagious, you should refrain from going to work or school and practice good eye hygiene.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by a bacterial infection and requires a prescription for antibiotics from your eye doctor. Symptoms include yellow or green discharge. This condition is contagious, so you should stay away from others until your treatment is over and your symptoms have cleared up.
• Allergic conjunctivitis is triggered by allergens such as pollen, pet dander, and dust. Symptoms include stringy white discharge and watery, itchy eyes, and may be accompanied by a stuffy or runny nose. This condition is not contagious. Allergic conjunctivitis may be either seasonal (if triggered by pollen) or year round (if triggered by pet dander or dust). Oral or ocular antihistamines may help ease symptoms.

If you suspect you have conjunctivitis, you should make an appointment to see your eye doctor as soon as possible, to determine if your condition requires treatment or is contagious. You should also avoid wearing contact lenses until your conjunctivitis has cleared.

Cataracts occur when the proteins in our natural lenses become opaque over time, clouding our vision. Cataracts occur naturally as part of the aging process.

Cataract symptoms include:

• Hazy or blurry vision
• Fading of colors
• Increased sensitivity to glare from lights, particularly during nighttime driving

Almost all of us will develop cataracts as we age, but factors such as UV exposure, smoking, and alcohol consumption can increase our chances of developing cataracts sooner than usual.

Depending on how severe your cataracts are, your eye doctor will recommend different courses of action. Minor cataracts can be worked around by using more light while reading or wearing eyeglasses with an anti-glare coating.

However, if your cataracts are significantly impacting your vision or preventing you from going about your daily routine, you may benefit from cataract surgery. Cataract surgery involves removing and replacing your cloudy lens with an artificial lens and can significantly improve your vision.

Glaucoma is the loss of peripheral vision resulting from damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is responsible for relaying visual information from our eyes to our brain. Though most cases of glaucoma occur when the pressure inside our eye is too high, it can also occur even when our eye pressure is normal.

Glaucoma does not typically have any symptoms in its early stages, making it a particularly dangerous eye disease. By the time you begin to notice vision problems, you may have already experienced irreversible vision loss.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States.

Glaucoma is preventable and treatable, but only if it is detected early and this can only be done during an eye exam. That is why all comprehensive eye exams at The Village Eye Care include glaucoma testing.

Most eye diseases are preventable, but early detection is key. When was the last time you had a comprehensive eye exam? Don’t wait.

Request your next appointment today!