Aging Eyes: Causes and Treatment of Cataracts

Part of the aging process involves changes in vision, so it's important to monitor ocular health as part of a comprehensive health plan. Luckily, many vision impairments, such as cataracts, are easy to identify and treat.

What Are Cataracts?

A cataract is a clouding of the natural, internal lens of the eye, leading to increasing blurriness in sight. Cataracts are painless, but if they progress without cataract surgery, they can lead to blindness.

Causes of Cataracts

Cataracts are caused by a buildup of protein in the lens of the eye, making it difficult to see. As new lens cells are produced, the old ones become compressed in the center, resulting in the cataract. Cataracts are typically related to growing older, as more than 50 percent of Americans over the age of 65 have them. However, other factors such as diabetes, smoking, UV radiation, and eye injuries can also contribute to cataracts.

Treatment

Often, simply prescribing glasses is enough to restore vision to a cataracts patient. However, cataract surgery is sometimes necessary. This procedure is one of the safest surgeries performed and is often done on an outpatient basis.

Why Visiting the Ophthalmologist is Important When Living With Diabetes

Diabetes can affect more than just blood sugar. In some patients, it can also cause diabetic retinopathy, which affects vision by damaging the small vessels located at the back of the eye. Glaucoma and cataracts are also a danger. That is why it is so important that patients with diabetes have their eyes checked by an ophthalmologist.

To protect eyes from the damaging effects of diabetic retinopathy, regular appointments with an ophthalmologist are necessary. These special doctors are trained to diagnose and treat all eye ailments. They are both medical doctors and surgeons. A general physician will not do extensive tests to catch these conditions.

Routine checks should include dilation of the eye, making it possible to see the back of the eyeball where the blood vessels are located. Not only will the doctor be able to tell if there is damage, but he or she can also check for other diseases that may be caused by diabetes.

Those who keep their blood sugar levels close to normal and routinely have their eyes checked by a licensed ophthalmologist are less likely to have complications. 

Ask An Ophthalmologist About Glaucoma Causes And Treatments

Glaucoma is a serious condition that can affect the optic nerve. Your optic nerve is responsible for transmitting images to your brain. Optic nerve damage can lead to vision loss, and optic nerve destruction can cause permanent blindness, so it is important to see an ophthalmologist regularly to screen for this condition.

Causes

Aqueous fluid in the eye is meant to flow through a mesh-like channel to drain. If the fluid does not circulate in a usual manner, pressure can build up. This is called intraocular pressure, and it puts a major strain on the optic nerve. The reasons for these blockages are not yet known. However, there are certain risks factors that can lead to glaucoma.

Treatments

There are three main treatments for glaucoma – eye drops, laser surgery, and microsurgery.

Eye drops can increase the outflow of fluid or simply reduce it from forming. Taken several times daily, sometimes in conjunction with pills, eye drops can produce results by stymieing early-onset glaucoma.

More advanced glaucoma may require laser surgery from an ophthalmologist, such as a trabeculoplasty which eliminates the actual fluid blockages in the eye, or an iridotomy which consists of a hole made in the iris that allows fluid to flow more freely.

Microsurgeries, such as a trabeculectomy, create new channels for fluid drainage, which, in turn, releases glaucoma-related pressure.

With early intervention and proper treatment, most patients maintain their vision and lead normal lives.

Contacts & Glasses vs. LASIK: Which is the More Affordable Solution?

Americans spend almost $30 billion a year on eye care visits and prescription services alone. While most people rely on glasses or contacts to correct their vision, many patients are considering a permanent solution such as LASIK as a more affordable route. Typically, LASIK ranges from $1,000 to $4,000 per eye. Assuming that the total cost of laser surgery is $4,500, which is the most affordable option?

Contacts: In addition to visits with an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, people typically spend about $250 a year on contacts. Of course, this varies widely, as some patients with astigmatism or other conditions will pay more. Over 20 years, a patient will have spent $4,500 on contacts, making LASIK the more affordable solution over time.

Glasses: Naturally, people who use glasses save more than those who purchase contacts. Most people will spend an average of $196 on a pair of glasses, replacing them every two to three years. Someone who replaces their glasses at this rate over the course of two or three decades would only spend around $2,000—the cost of LASIK for one eye.

Of course, the decision to undergo LASIK surgery is up to the individual. In addition to advice from ophthalmologists, you should do significant research before opting for any type of permanent vision surgery.