Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Mississauga

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes your central vision to slowly deteriorate over time. This occurs because AMD targets the macula, the small central portion of your retina.

Your risk of developing AMD increases with age, though UV exposure and smoking both increase your risk dramatically.

There are two forms of AMD: dry and wet

• Dry AMD is more common than wet AMD and is typically less severe. Dry AMD occurs when drusen (small lipid deposits) accumulate under the macula, damaging its delicate, light-sensitive cells. There is currently no cure for dry AMD, but a large-scale nutritional study (AREDS2) found that the progression of dry AMD can be slowed by eating a balanced diet rich in select nutrients and antioxidants.
• Wet AMD is less common than its dry counterpart, but is more debilitating and progresses faster. Wet AMD causes new blood vessels to grow under the macula. Unfortunately, these new blood vessels aren’t structurally sound and tend to leak blood. This leakage can cause permanent damage to the macula’s delicate, light-sensitive cells. There is no cure for wet AMD, but its progression can be slowed with intraocular injections. However, these injections can’t restore any vision that has already been lost.

Cataracts are a natural part of the ageing process and form when the proteins in our natural lenses become cloudy. As cataracts progress, your vision becomes increasingly impaired.

Symptoms of cataracts include:

• Hazy or blurry vision
• Reduced colour vision
• Increased sensitivity to glare

Though many of us will develop cataracts eventually, factors such as UV exposure, smoking, diabetes, and excessive alcohol consumption all increase your chances of developing cataracts at a younger age.

If your cataracts only affect your vision slightly, your optometrist may suggest workarounds, such as using more light while reading or relying on a magnifying aid. However, if your cataracts are significant enough to impair your vision, you may need cataract surgery.

Conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye, occurs when the conjunctiva (the delicate, transparent membrane that covers the white of your eye) becomes irritated and inflamed. This inflammation causes the blood vessels in the conjunctiva to dilate, giving the eye a red or pink tint and giving pink eye its name.

Conjunctivitis has three main forms: allergic, bacterial, and viral.

• Allergic conjunctivitis is triggered by allergens such as dust, pollen, or pet dander. This form of conjunctivitis isn’t contagious, and can generally be managed using antihistamines.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by a bacterial infection and usually requires antibiotics. This form of conjunctivitis is highly contagious, so you should stay away from public areas, such as work or school, until your symptoms have completely subsided.
• Viral conjunctivitis, like the common cold, is caused by a virus. This form of conjunctivitis doesn’t typically require treatment, but it’s still highly contagious, so you should stay home from work or school until your symptoms have completely cleared up.

Glaucoma results from progressive damage to the optic nerve. Though glaucoma is most commonly caused by high intraocular pressure, it can also occur when your eye’s internal pressure is within normal range (a condition called normal-tension glaucoma).

Since your optic nerve is responsible for relaying information between your eye and your brain, when it becomes damaged, you may experience peripheral vision loss and eventual blindness.

Glaucoma is treatable with eye drops and surgery, but the success of treatment depends heavily on early detection. That’s why all eye exams performed at Arc Eye Care include glaucoma testing. We rely on a variety of tests, including non-contact tonometry (NCT) to detect glaucoma.

For more information about eye diseases and the available treatment options, please speak to your optometrist during your next appointment.