The human eye is an immensely complicated organ, filled with many different parts and pieces that can have their own problems and impact your ability to see effectively. However, the Gainesville Eye Center is proud to offer information about the various eye conditions that people might experience, helping them make more informed decisions about when to seek help for correcting their vision.
One of the most insidious vision problems is known as Glaucoma, which is characterized by the gradual loss of vision as pressure builds up within the eye. Due to the way vision actually works, Glaucoma is extremely difficult for the average person to notice until it is very advanced - so advanced, in fact, that it has already caused permanent damage to the optic nerve. This is enough of an issue that every responsible institution has integrated a check for glaucoma into its standard eye exam, helping to significantly reduce the number of people that are affected by this devastating ailment. Fortunately, if detected in a timely manner, Glaucoma is a completely treatable condition and crisp vision can be fully maintained.
Diabetic Retinopathy is less common than Glaucoma, but a real concern for anyone who has had diabetes for an extended period of time. Just like Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy can lead to permanent vision loss, though through a somewhat different method - the deterioration of blood vessels and high levels of blood sugar caused in the eye region can damage the retina of the eye and harm vision that way. Diabetic Retinopathy can be checked for during an annual exam, and if detected, several different treatment options are available. At times, it may be that no treatment is needed at all, though this is highly dependent on individual circumstances and the progression of the problem.
Macular Degeneration is a condition that comes in "wet" and "dry" forms, each of which have their own characteristics and ways of being treated. However, unlike many other forms of vision problems, Macular Degeneration isn't actually associated with complete loss of vision; instead, those afflicted are usually quite able to move around without hitting things, but have serious trouble with fine details (facial features, reading, and so on). Like most vision problems, Macular Degeneration can be treated if detected in a timely manner, and current studies suggest that it's a more common condition as people age.
These are only a few of the many different vision problems that can develop in the human eye, but the state-of-the-art Georgia eye center that Gainesville has created remains dedicated to providing as much information about different conditions as possible. After all, the key to retaining vision is often detecting problems early, and knowing the warning signs can help people save their eyesight from permanent damage. With prior knowledge about the different conditions that exist and effective treatment when problems are detected, patients can be sure of getting the best possible care.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This page is meant only for informative purposes and should not be considered to be professional medical advice about specific ocular problems. Even if your symptoms match what is described here, you may have a different condition. Only a professional diagnosis can tell you what your problem actually is. Be sure to tell your eye doctor about any medical conditions you have, as these conditions may have associated vision problems that the eye doctor should be checking for.
