At Van Eeden & Le Roux, we are committed to ensuring that your eye health remains at its optimal best. Besides preventative care, our optometrists are trained to help diagnose and manage specific eye disorders that can disrupt your vision.
Here are some of the eye diseases that we provide screening for at our optometry practice.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that cause intolerable pressure within the eye, resulting in permanent damage to the optic nerve. This condition typically affects older adults but may occur at any age, and is one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness.
Glaucoma progresses gradually and often has no warning signs, so many patients only notice a change in their vision once the condition reaches the later stages. Unfortunately, once glaucoma is in its later stages, the damage is permanent and cannot be reversed.
This is why we encourage all our clients, especially those over 40 years of age, to come in for regular glaucoma screenings. A complete eye examination is the only sure way to fully screen for glaucoma. Early diagnosis is key to slowing the progression of the disorder through various treatment methods.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Most people don’t realise that diabetes can actually cause vision loss and blindness. This condition is known as diabetic retinopathy, and it is caused by increased blood sugar damaging the blood vessels in and around the eyes.
You might not have any symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, and your vision might not alter until the condition worsens. As the illness progresses, you may notice rings, flashing lights, or blank patches in your vision, double or hazy vision and dark or floating spots, as well as reduced overall vision.
Managing your diabetes carefully will help prevent future vision loss. However, if you are diagnosed with diabetes, it’s crucial to have regular eye exams. If you do develop diabetic retinopathy, early treatment may stem the damage and prevent blindness.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people over the age of 50. This eye disorder affects central vision and the ability to see finer details as a result of the retina being damaged. It rarely causes blindness, but if left untreated, it can cause an individual to lose their ability to drive, see faces and read smaller print.
There two primary types of age-related macular degeneration are wet and dry. Dry macular degeneration is more common and does less damage to your vision, whereas wet macular degeneration can lead to serious vision loss.
Contact us at 023 342 5827 today to make your routine eye appointment.
