Ask the Doc: Important eye conditions to know about
Three of the most important eye conditions to be aware of are: cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. All of these can cause serious loss of vision – in persons of any age.
Dr. Patrick Mardesich, a Board Certified Ophthalmologist at Carolina Eye Care and the only fellowship trained glaucoma specialist in the tri-county area, has provided information on this very important topic.
According to Dr. Mardesich, the key point for these eye conditions is that early detection and proper management are essential to preserve vision. The loss of vision from cataracts is reversible with cataract surgery. The loss of vision from diabetes can be irreversible and the loss of vision from glaucoma is always irreversible. Hence, it is important for anyone at risk for these conditions to become established with an ophthalmologist as soon as possible according to Dr. Mardesich.
Cataracts are a clouding or opacification occurring in the lens of the eye.
The eye is actually a “two-lens optical system.” In other words, Dr. Mardesich states, each eye has a clear front surface to focus light as well as an internal lens which also focuses light. A cataract means the internal lens is cloudy. It is not a “film” on the surface of the eye. An ophthalmologist who performs cataract surgery removes the cloudy part of the lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens. This artificial lens stays inside the patient’s eye for the rest of their life. Today there are special lens implants called premium intraocular lenses that can give both distance and near vision without glasses.
Dr. Mardesich is currently the only ophthalmologist performing cataract surgery at Clarendon Health Systems in Manning.
Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the optic nerve gets damaged by eye pressure. Half of the people with glaucoma do not realize they have this condition. As noted above, the optic nerve damage creates irreversible loss of vision.
For this reason early detection and proper management is essential. Dr. Mardesich states that most ophthalmologists don’t perform much if any glaucoma surgery.
According to Dr. Mardesich, glaucoma is best managed by a fellowship trained glaucoma and cataract specialist, since cataracts and glaucoma are often present in the same patient. All treatments for glaucoma are designed to lower the eye pressure and to relieve structural problems in the eye which are elevating the eye pressure.
Diabetic eye disease is one of the most frequent causes of lost vision. According to Dr. Mardesich, in many cases vision is permanently lost if the right laser treatment is not given in time. Dr. Mardesich states that only ophthalmologists (eye MD’s) can legally perform laser treatment on the eye. Eye MD’s are specifically trained to recognize and treat diabetic eye disease.
All patients should become established with an ophthalmologist as soon as they are diagnosed with diabetes. Many patients will have early signs of diabetic retinopathy at a very young age. Patients who do not control their blood sugar and their blood pressure can develop severe diabetic eye disease in just a few years. Even patients with well controlled blood sugar can still get eye disease and may need laser treatment.
There are many other conditions, according to Dr. Mardesich which may require the treatment of an ophthalmologist, the most highly trained eye care providers.
As patients age and develop cataracts, or if they have conditions like diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, they should become established with an ophthalmologist. That way the ophthalmologist can better judge changes in their eyes and determine if surgery or laser is needed.
I would like to thank Dr. Patrick Mardesich for contributing information on these very important eye conditions that can adversely affect one’s vision.
This is Dr. Beryl Bachus-Keith reminding you that prevention is the key to good health and wellness, so make a vow and commit to good health. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
