Treating and Managing Ocular Diseases
If left untreated, many ocular diseases can lead to serious damage to your eyes, including loss of vision. As part of your annual eye exam at Independent Optical, we'll check for any sign of cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration. Using the latest technology, we'll create a treatment plan with your specific needs in mind.
To schedule an exam, give us a call at (605) 206-3981. We're a proud family-owned practice with over 45 years of experience caring for patients in the Rapid City, SD area.
All About Cataracts
Cataracts are formed by the thickening and clouding of the natural lens within your eyes. Most people deal with this process, starting in their mid-50s until surgery is performed. Symptoms include blurred vision, glare difficulties at night and loss of detail for tasks up close.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a hereditary disorder of the macula, which is a small spot in your retinal tissue that creates most fine-detail vision. It causes a buildup of cellular debris in the macula, creating a barrier for nutrients to reach the tissue, leading to atrophy and causing the barrier itself to die.
The result is a blurred spot in the middle of your vision. This is why your macular health should be checked annually starting at age 60 or even earlier if you have a history of macular degeneration in your family.
Understanding Glaucoma
With glaucoma, the optic nerve becomes damaged and causes progressive loss of peripheral vision. This disease is often undetectable by patients in its early stages, which is why we recommend a peripheral vision test as part of your annual eye exam at Independent Optical. It can occur at any age, though becomes more likely as you become older. Glaucoma can also be a hereditary disease.
Specialized testing, monitoring of changes to your eye, detailed visual field testing and eye pressure evaluation are all used to manage the potential of glaucoma.
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