Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Edson

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease where the central part of your retina, called the macula, deteriorates. The macula is responsible for your central vision, and AMD causes vision loss as your macula thins with age, while your peripheral vision remains unaffected.

AMD comes in 2 forms:

• Dry AMD is the more common form and occurs gradually over time
• Wet AMD is less common but more severe, with symptoms occurring suddenly

Cataracts are caused by a buildup of protein on the normally-clear natural lens in your eye. As a cataract grows, it can become cloudy and interfere with your vision. Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process and usually occur in people over the age of 60.

Conjunctivitis, otherwise known as red eye or pink eye, is caused when the clear membrane that covers the white part (sclera) of the front of your eye and underneath your eyelids becomes inflamed. Conjunctivitis can cause itchiness, irritation, and dry eye.

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease associated with type 1 and 2 diabetes. Due to increased blood glucose levels, people with diabetes are at higher risk of experiencing damage to the blood vessels in their retina. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness.

Dry eye disease is caused when you don’t produce enough tears or the tears you do produce don’t properly lubricate your eye surface. Dry eye can cause irritation, itchiness, and a gritty feeling that can be uncomfortable and challenging to manage.

Floaters appear across your visual field as small transparent shapes, while flashes can appear as sudden bursts of light. Floaters are typically a normal part of your vision, however, if they suddenly increase and are accompanied by flashes it can be a sign of a more serious problem like retinal detachment.

Glaucoma is the number one cause of blindness among Canadians. The most common form of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, is caused by a buildup of fluid at the back of the eye which puts pressure on the optic nerve. We use a few different methods to diagnose glaucoma by measuring intraocular pressure:

• Non-Contact Tonometry: uses a puff of air to flatten your cornea and measure intraocular pressure

• Perkins Tonometer: is a hand-held device that, after administering an anesthetic, comes in direct contact with the eye surface to measure intraocular pressure

• iCare Tonometer: is another device that provides accurate intraocular pressure measurement without the need for local anesthetic