Ocular Disease Management

Your eyesight is our priority, and taking proper steps to preserve so you can get the most out of life is what we strive for. Our doctors continually stay up to date with the latest technological advancements and techniques to ensure your visit is pleasant and practical. Optometric technology continues to change in the world today. Here at Art of Optiks, we’re aware of how important it is to visit and establish a relationship with an eye doctor who has industry-leading optometry qualifications and actively pursues the latest eye care developments.

Our doctors diagnose and manage an assortment of ocular diseases from glaucoma and macular degeneration to cataracts and diabetic retinopathy through state-of-the-art technology. Identifying and diagnosing these conditions early on allows us to provide you with a treatment plan and care fitting to your unique needs meaning better outcomes in the long run. With continued outstanding advancements occurring, our doctors can take an aggressive approach to ocular diseases that previously had limited treatment options.

Cataract Surgery Co-Management

Cataracts are a disease of your eye that causes clouding in the lens of your eyeball. The development of cataracts prevents clear images from appearing on your eye’s retina, thus causing mild, moderate, or severely blurred vision. While cataracts are commonly an ocular disease associated with aging, those who smoke, have extended UV exposure, or diabetes are also at risk for developing cataracts. The lens structure of your eye changes and ages as you get older, meaning there’s a risk that cataracts will form.

During a comprehensive eye exam, our doctors will carefully examine your lens for signs of early cataract formation. If a cataract is identified and your vision has started to blur, our doctors will refer you to an industry-leading surgeon for your cataract surgery. Art of Optiks will be here for you by providing pre and post-surgical care.

Over time, metabolic changes in the natural lens fibers lead to cataract development and loss of transparency. During your cataract surgery, your eye’s natural cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a synthetic lens to restore clear vision. Cataract surgery is a quick procedure that is performed by an ophthalmologist in a surgical center or hospital. You will be given local anesthesia and experience little to no discomfort during your procedure. Recovery and outpatient care require a short time frame, and you’ll be back to normal with clear vision in no time with this minimally invasive eye care procedure.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Those diagnosed with diabetes can experience a variety of ocular diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. However, the most well-known diabetic ocular disease is diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is an ocular disease that only affects people with diabetes. Patients experience this ocular disease when the vascular network that supplies the retina begins to swell or leak. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, noticeable symptoms may be nonexistent, making it vital that those diagnosed with diabetes get a comprehensive eye exam annually.

Early signs of diabetic retinopathy include dark or black spots in your field of vision or blurred vision. These symptoms increase over time and are a result of bleeding in the back of your eye. Bleeding prevents a clear image from being transmitted from your retina to the brain. Regardless of the form of diabetes, you may have, you’re at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. Patients must keep blood sugar levels under control to prevent vision loss as the longer you have had the disease, the more you are at risk. Treatment for diabetic retinopathy can include vitrectomy and laser surgery.

Glaucoma Testing and Treatment

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable vision loss and blindness, even more than macular degeneration. While many believe glaucoma is a singular disease, it’s a group of ocular diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve due to increased intraocular pressure in your eye(s). If caught in the early stages, glaucoma can be controlled, thus preventing severe vision loss and blindness. Prevention of glaucoma is possible with early detection and treatment, so patients are encouraged to schedule regular comprehensive eye exams with glaucoma screening. Our doctors will perform an assortment of tests to measure the intraocular pressure and examine the optic nerve for early signs of glaucoma. There are many different forms of glaucoma in the world today:

• Primary Open-Angle (POAG)
• Normal-Tension or Low-Tension
• Angle-Closure
• Congenital
• Secondary
• Pigmentary

Treatment for glaucoma can include medicated prescription eye drops, pills, laser treatment, and minor surgical procedures based on your glaucoma type and stage. Our doctors are here to provide assistance and care for all your glaucoma-related needs.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is an ocular disease that affects older individuals, runs in families, and is one of the leading causes of blindness today. The macula is a part of your retina that provides sharp, central vision, and macular degeneration causes the macula to break down over time, thus leading to impaired vision or blindness. Currently, there is no known cure for macular degeneration. However, treatment options and preventative measures are available to prevent the disease from progressing to blindness. If you’re experiencing blurred central vision, it’s vital to have an open discussion with our doctors, which allows us to catch macular degeneration in its early stages. Currently, there are two basic types of macular degeneration:

• Dry Macular Degeneration: Known as the less aggressive form of this ocular disease, dry macular degeneration progresses slowly, and the level of eyesight damage you may experience is less severe. Our doctors will detect dry macular degeneration during your comprehensive eye exam, making it incredibly important to schedule these appointments annually. Dry macular degeneration can be treated with high doses of zinc and antioxidants, which have been proven to slow the deterioration of your vision.

• Wet Macular Degeneration: If you experience your central vision suddenly worsening and becoming blurry, you may be experiencing symptoms of wet macular degeneration, which is the more severe form of this ocular disease. It’s encouraged to schedule an emergency visit with one of our doctors if this occurs. Abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage cause scar tissue to develop, thus leading to macular degeneration. This ocular disease can be treated with laser surgery or directly injecting light-sensitive dyes and macular degeneration medication.