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The Healthy Eye
In order to understand eye disease, it is important
to understand how a healthy eye functions.
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, pupil and lens. These light rays are focused directly onto the retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye.
The retina converts light rays into impulses; sent through the optic nerve to your brain, where they are recognized as images. |
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Nutrition and Sight: Seeing Well As You Grow Older
Latest studies show that fruit and vegetables of green and yellow colors are beneficial for retina health because they contain zeaxanthin and lutein, which are pigments with a strong healing effect. The most important foods for preventing macular degeneration are ones that are rich in the antioxidants beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein and zeaxanthin, plus zinc and omega-3 fats.
~Carrots-Mom was right! Carrots are loaded with beta carotene, an antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of macular
degeneration and cataracts.
~Bell Peppers, Broccoli & Brussels Sprouts-These three Bs provide a blast of Vitamin C, another key antioxidant shown to specifically protect the eyes.
~Turkey-Turkey is rich in zinc-- one of the critical ingredients for maintaining healthy eyes.
~Spinach-Spinach provides four eye -protecting ingredients! Vitamin C, beta carotene and large amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin.
~ Wild Salmon & Sardines-Yes, omega-3 fats EVEN help your eyes. Studies have shown that regularly eating foods rich in omega-3 fats can help protect tiny blood vessels buried within the eyes.
Glaucoma
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Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. Although the most common forms primarily affect the middle-aged and the elderly, glaucoma can affect people of all ages.
There are more than 4.2 million U.S. adults who have glaucoma, but only half know it, according to the National Institutes of Health. Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in the world, and accounts for 12 percent of blindness in the United States. |
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“The best defense against glaucoma is early detection”, advises Dr. Ronald Frenkel, Glaucoma and Macular Disease specialist in Stuart.
“Knowing you have glaucoma is one of the most important factors in preventing vision loss”, says Frenkel. “So many people are losing their sight and simply do not realize it. Glaucoma is a treatable disease. Vision loss can be minimized. Those who are potentially at risk must take the first step and get an eye exam”. Those at high risk for glaucoma include: African-Americans older than 40, Hispanics, people with a family history of glaucoma, anybody older than 60, those with adverse health conditions, such as diabetes, those who have experienced a serious eye injury and those who are severely nearsighted.
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. When damage to the optic nerve fibers occurs, blind spots develop in the peripheral/side vision but usually go undetected until the optic nerve is significantly damaged. Clear liquid called aqueous humor circulates inside the front portion of the eye. To maintain a healthy level of pressure within the eye, a small amount of aqueous humor is produced constantly, while an equal amount flows out of the eye through a microscopic drainage system—the trabecular meshwork. With glaucoma, aqueous humor does not flow through the trabecular meshwork properly. Over time, eye pressure increases, damaging the optic nerve fibers.
While there are over 50 identified types of glaucoma, the two main categories are open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma.
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Open-angle glaucoma
In Open-angle glaucoma the trabecular meshwork becomes less efficient at draining aqueous humor. Intraocular pressure (IOP) builds up, which leads to damage of the optic nerve. Damage to the optic nerve occurs at different eye pressures among different patients. Typically, glaucoma has no symptoms in its early stages. |
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Closed-angle glaucoma
In Closed-angle glaucoma the drainage angle of trabecular meshwork becomes blocked by the iris (the colored part of the eye). IOP builds up very quickly. Symptoms include severe eye or brow pain, redness of the eye, decreased or blurred vision. This tye of glaucoma must be treated as a medical emergency—see your eye doctor immediately if you have these symptoms. |
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Glaucoma Treatment at East Florida Eye Institute includes the most advanced procedures available.
See our treatment options for Glaucoma on our Advanced Treatment page.
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Macular Degeneration (AMD)
In Macular Degeneration (AMD), the macula is disrupted by deposits called drusen, or other age-related changes. These changes, if severe enough, may cause vision to deteriorate. When the macula breaks down, you lose your central vision, but it does not affect your peripheral (side) vision. Associated with the aging process; the macula may lose effectiveness over time. Early AMD may be hardly noticeable, and may only occur in one eye. You may notice blurring of words on a page, difficulty recognizing people’s faces, dark or empty areas in the center of your vision, and/or distortion of straight lines.
There are two types of Macular Degeneration:
- Atrophic (“dry”) macular degeneration and
- Exudative (“wet”) macular degeneration.
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Atrophic or Dry AMD is caused by aging and thinning of macular tissues or when drusen are present. It is the most common form of macular degeneration, affecting over 12 million Americans. Vision loss is usually gradual and less severe than in Wet AMD. While there is no current treatment for Dry AMD, good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle may slow its progression.
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Exudative or Wet AMD is caused when abnormal blood vessels form underneath the retina. These vessels leak blood and or fluid and blur the central vision. Vision loss may be rapid and severe. Treatment options for Wet AMD have made unprecedented advances in the last 3 years with the introduction of Anti-VEGF therapy (a drug treatment that works to slow down and reverse the abnormal blood vessel development). Macular degeneration treatment at East Florida Eye Institute includes the most advanced procedures available. See our treatment options for Macular Degeneration on our Advanced Treatments page.
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Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some cases, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. The blood vessels may leak blood and cause a retinal detachment.
If you have diabetic retinopathy, at first you may not notice changes to your vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes. |
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Diabetic retinopathy has four stages:
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Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy.
At this earliest stage, microaneurysms occur. They are small areas of balloon-like swelling in the retina's tiny blood vessels.
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Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy.
As the disease progresses, some blood vessels that nourish the retina are blocked.
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Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy.
Many more blood vessels are blocked, depriving several areas of the retina with their blood supply. These areas of the retina send signals to the body to grow new blood vessels for nourishment.
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Proliferative Retinopathy.
At this advanced stage, the signals sent by the retina for nourishment trigger the growth of new blood vessels. This condition is called proliferative retinopathy. These new blood vessels are abnormal and fragile. They grow along the retina and along the surface of the clear, vitreous gel that fills the inside of the eye. By themselves, these blood vessels do not cause symptoms or vision loss. However, they have thin, fragile walls. If they leak blood, severe vision loss and even blindness can result.
All people with diabetes--both type 1 and type 2--are at risk for developing retinopathy. That's why everyone with diabetes should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get diabetic retinopathy. Between 40 to 45 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have some stage of diabetic retinopathy. If you have diabetic retinopathy, your doctor can recommend treatment to help prevent vision loss.
Macular edema can develop without symptoms at any of the four stages of diabetic retinopathy. You can develop both proliferative retinopathy and macular edema and still see fine. However, you are at high risk for vision loss. Your eye care professional can tell if you have macular edema or any stage of diabetic retinopathy. Whether or not you have symptoms, early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.
If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may need an eye exam more often. People with proliferative retinopathy can reduce their risk of blindness by 95 percent with timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care. Better control of blood sugar levels slows the onset and progression of retinopathy. The people with diabetes who kept their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible also had much less kidney and nerve disease. Better control also reduces the need for sight-saving laser surgery. 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 as well as help protect your vision.
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Treatment for diabetic retinopathy is based on the type of retinopathy present. At East Florida Eye Institute, we are utilizing ground breaking therapies to treat this condition. To learn more, click on the Advanced Treatment page.
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Dry Eye Disease
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic dry eyes; many don’t even know they have it. They chalk up their discomfort to allergies, weather conditions or advancing age. Symptoms of dry eye disease include red eyes, burning, itching, sandy/gritty feeling, light sensitivity, watery/tearing eyes, contact lens discomfort, eye soreness and/or blurry/fluctuating vision.
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Your eyes need healthy tears = a complex mixture of oil, proteins, mucous, and other components that are essential for ocular health and comfort.
Underlying changes to the health of the tear-producing glands can result in a change in the quantity and quality of tears you make. Even if you are able to make tears, they may not be healthy tears. Unhealthy tears can no longer provide enough nourishment or protection to the surface of the eye. Unhealthy tears can lead to damage to the eye’s surface. |
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Why can tearing be a symptom of dry eye disease? When the eye is irritated from dryness, the lacrimal gland produces a large volume of tears that can overwhelm the tear drainage system and overflow from your eye.
What causes dry eye disease? Some causes of Dry Eye Disease are age, autoimmune disorders, eyelid problems, eye surgery, and/or environmental stresses. Prescription and over-the-counter medications may be the culprit, as well; such as high blood pressure medications, diuretics, beta-blockers, allergy medications, antihistamines, sleeping pills, anxiety medications or antidepressants, pain relievers, and preservatives in eye drops – OTC or Prescription i.e., glaucoma drops.
Tear production normally decreases as we age. Although dry eye can occur in both men and women at any age, women are most often affected, especially during and after after menopause. Other factors such as wind, air pollution, low humidity, air conditioning / heating, lack of sleep, too much caffeine/poor diet, use of computer terminals, prolonged reading, decreased blink rate and contact lens wear.
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Healthy Tears
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Unhealthy Tears
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At East Florida Eye Institute, we offer the most advanced treatment options available from the Treasure Coast’s only member of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society – Dr. Allison Toler. Click on our Advanced Treatments page to find out more!
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Cataract
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. Looking through a cloudy lens is like trying to see through a frosty or fogged-up window.
Clouding of the lens is a normal part of aging. About half of Americans older than 65 have some degree of clouding of the lens. After age 75, as many as 70 percent of Americans have cataracts that are significant enough to impair their vision. Cataract s can also be caused by diabetes, certain medications- such as steroids or trauma. |
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Healthy Lens
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Cataract Lens
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Symptoms of a cataract include: clouded, blurred or dim vision, increasing difficulty with vision at night, sensitivity to light and glare, halos around lights, the need for brighter light for reading and other activities, frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription, fading or yellowing of colors or double vision in a single eye. If you have a cataract, light from the sun, lamps or oncoming headlights may seem too bright. Glare and halos around lights can make driving uncomfortable and dangerous. You may experience eyestrain or find yourself blinking more often to clear your vision
Most cataracts develop slowly. But as clouding progresses, cataracts eventually interfere with your vision. In the early stages, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help you deal with any vision problems you may have. But at some point, if impaired vision interferes with your daily activities, you might need surgery. Fortunately, cataract removal is one of the safest, most effective and most common surgical procedures.
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The only treatment for a cataract is surgery to remove the clouded lens, which usually includes replacing the lens with a clear lens implant. To learn about cataract surgery at East Florida Eye Institute, click on our treatments page.
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