Glaucoma

Produces a painless increase of the pressure inside the eye which "silently" destroys the optic nerve - eventually resulting in loss of vision and blindness. Through early intervention, most cases can be controlled and the risk of additional visual loss and blindness reduced. High-risk individuals include those with a family history of glaucoma, the elderly, Blacks, diabetics, those who had a significant eye injury in the past, and those on long-term steroids.

Cataracts

A clouding of the lens of the eye. It is estimated that 95% of those over 65 years of age have some degree of cataracts which may or may not cause blurring of vision. If a cataract causes vision loss that interferes with important activities, the cataract can be surgically removed, resulting in an improvement of vision in the majority of cases.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Threatens vision by changing the retinal blood supply in the eye. The longer a person has been diabetic, the greater the likelihood of developing this complication. Careful control of diabetes may help lessen the risk of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy. Regular eye exams are an important part of diabetic health care.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

A leading cause of new cases of vision loss among older adults. The degeneration affects the macula, the central area at the back of the eye that is responsible for reading vision. As a result, the ability to see fine details is impaired. Treatment can be effective for a few types of macular degeneration, but it is best undertaken early in the course of the disease.

©1998 Optima Inc./ 9/30/04 / mail@optima-hyper.com