- GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damages the nerve connecting the eye to the brain. Left untreated, glaucoma can result in permanent blindness in just a few years. The seriousness of this common eye disease underscores the importance of having regular eye exams.
- Macular DegenerationAge-related macular degeneration — abbreviated as AMD — is a disease of the retina, the light-sensitive portion of your eye. The retina is located at the back of the eye, and the macula is a small area near the very center. Your macula is responsible for your central vision.
- Laser Eye SurgeryThis is also true for laser eye surgery, such as LASIK, where DES symptoms may develop due to an increased corneal sensitivity following the surgery.
- CataractsEven though AMD is common among older people, it’s not as well known as cataracts — another eye disease that occurs more often with age. But while cataracts can be treated and “cured,” there’s no cure for AMD. Instead, people who have AMD require treatments that help slow the progression of the disease, which is why early detection is very important.
- Cataract SurgeryCataracts are probably the most well-known eye condition associated with age. By the age of 80, more than half of all people living in the US either have a cataract or have undergone cataract surgery.
- Eye ExamAny routine eye exam should always include a careful look at the retina, which is located at the back of the eye, to screen for abnormalities or disease. The sensitive tissue that makes up the retina is susceptible to a variety of diseases that can ultimately lead to partial loss of vision or even complete blindness. Early detection of any retinal abnormality is thus crucial. Previously, this screening was done by dilating the pupils, a procedure that many patients found uncomfortable, inconvenient and time-consuming.
- Diabetes Care
- Thyroid
- Diabetic RetinopathyAccording to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third of adults over the age of 40 with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy. And the rates are even higher among African- and Mexican-Americans.
- Radiation TherapyComplications from certain medical procedures, including eye surgery and radiation therapy, will very often result in DES. Radiation therapy to treat head and neck cancers, cancer of the eye socket or whole brain radiation for brain cancer, often damages the lacrimal glands. The glands may decrease tear production and cause dry eye symptoms.