HOW TO TREAT EYE DISEASE

The four most common conditions - cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related degeneration are leading causes of vision impairment. It not only reduces your quality of life but is linked to more falls, car accidents and even a shorter life span. Eye exams should begin regular every year or two beginning at age 65. You can be tested by an ophthalmologist (M.D.), a doctor trained to diagnose and treat eye disorders. Cataracts are cloudy areas in an eye's lens as we age and lead to hazy, blurry vision and sensitivity to glare. A professor of clinical ophthalmology at Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital says "If an older person can read and watch TV, they don't generally have to have their cataract removed. Its an individual decision." There is insufficient evidence from studies to know whether tinted-lens implants might also be linked to problems. Millions of adults suffer from diabetic retinopathy which includes damage to the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye causing vision loss. Blood can sometimes leak into the retina blurring vision. Surgery can stabilize vision and reduce the risk of blindness by 90 percent, according to the National Eye Institute. Doctors can inject intravenously and identify blood vessels in the retina to detect any problem areas. Blood leaking into the retina often happens during sleep. That is why people with diabetes should get a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year. A dye injected intravenously is used to identify blood vessels in the retina and detect problem areas. Laser surgery can stop blood leakage and stabilize vision and reduce the risk of blindness by 90 percent. Severe bleeding may require surgery. A tiny incision in the eye can drain the bloody fluid and replace it with a salt solution and patients can usually return home the same day.

If an eye disease leaves you or someone you care for with weakened vision, ask your doctor about accommodations and devices that may enhance the remaining vision and information on community groups that offer special services.