Comprehensive Medical Exam

Medical Eye Exam

Diabetic Exam: 

Everyone with diabetes should have a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year. If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may need an eye exam more often. Those with proliferative retinopathy can reduce their risk of blindness by 95% with timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care. Studies have shown that better control of blood sugar levels slows the onset of progression of retinopathy. Diabetics who kept their blood sugar levels close to normal also had much less kidney and nerve disease. Better control also reduces the need for sight-saving laser surgery. 

“This level of blood sugar control may not be best for everyone, including some elderly patients, children under age 13, or people with heart disease. Be sure to ask your doctor is such a control program is right for you.”

Other studies have shown that controlling elevated blood pressure and cholesterol can reduce the risk of vision loss. Controlling these will help your overall health and protect your vision. We work hand in hand with your primary care physician concerning the health of your eyes and communicate all findings. 

Cataracts: 

A cataract is a clouding that develops in the lens of the eye, occurring in varying degrees of opacity. When a cataract develops, it begins to obsucre the light filtered to the lens, preventing the lens from focusing properly causing vision loss. 

Cataracts occur during the aging process when proteins in the lens begin to clump together forming a cloud over the lens. While a cataract begins as a small clump, you may feel your vision affected minimally. One of the most common signs is a slight blurring in vision. As more proteins begin to clump, the cataract grows making seeing difficult. Other symptoms include a loss in contrast sensitivity so the shadows and colors may appear less vivid. 

Glaucoma: 

Glaucoma is a category of eye disorders linked to a dangerously raised internal eye pressure. The buildup in eye pressure can damage the optic nerve disrupting the transmission of visual information to the brain. Early stages of untreated glaucoma includes a loss of your peripheral vision and progressed eyed damage that could lead to blindness.

Most cases of glaucoma are not typically associated with pain and produce no noticeable symptoms until vision loss occurs. Due to this, many cases go unnoticed until irreversible optical nerve damage has occurred along with a range of permanent vision loss.