• What is a Cataract?
• Who is at risk for Cataracts?
• What is the treatment for Cataracts?
• What is Glaucoma?

• How is Glaucoma diagnosed?
• How is Glaucoma treated?
• What is Diabetes and how does it effect the eye?
• Is blindness from Diabetes preventable?

A cataract is an opaque condition of the lens of the eye or of its cover. Cataracts are painless, but debilitating, because they render the eye incapable of being penetrated by light, leading to blindness. Spectacle changes can usually correct the vision during the early stages, but surgery may become necessary.

Click here for more information

Senile cataract is the most common form that usually occurs in people over 50 years of age. Beginning in the form of dark streaks or as spots in any portion, it eventually makes the entire lens opaque. As the fluid of the lens is absorbed, the lens becomes easily separated from its capsule and is considered mature, or "ripe" for operation. Later, if not extracted, the lens undergoes degenerative changes, or liquefies, and the capsule becomes thickened and opaque, making the results of operation less satisfactory.

Click here for more information

The only method of relieving senile cataract is extraction of the lens. Sight can be restored in most instances by wearing special eyeglasses or contact lenses or by a surgeon implanting an artificial lens in the affected eye.

Click here for more information

Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that have in common a characteristic optic nerve disease and associated visual field loss. Elevated pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure) is the most common risk factor for developing glaucoma. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United State with more than 2 million Americans are currently afflicted with this potentially blinding disorder.

Click here for more information

A complete dilated eye exam is essential to detect and treat glaucoma. Once glaucoma is suspected, a formal visual field test with an automated device called a perimeter should be performed.

Click here for more information

Treatment of glaucoma usually begins with topical eye drops, but if poorly controlled, may require laser surgery or advanced glaucoma surgery to lower the eye pressure.

Click here for more information

Diabetes Mellitus is a disease caused by defective carbohydrate metabolism and is due to an inability of the pancreas to secrete sufficient insulin to maintain a normal blood-glucose concentration. Diabetes mellitus affects about 16 million people in the United States, and is the #1 cause of blindness in the United States, due to the fact fact elevated blood-glucose concentrations can lead to potentially blinding conditions.

Click here for more information

Blindness resulting from diabetic complications is nearly always preventable with proper intervention and treatment! The American Diabetes Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommend yearly eye exams for people with diabetes.

Click here for more information