- AMD
- Learning-Related Vision Problem
- Glaucoma
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Loss of Clear Central Vision
AMD causes no pain, but gradually takes away one's central vision with little or no symptoms in the early stage. Central vision allows us to see colors and details when we directly look at an object. It is one of the leading causes of vision loss, especially for the elderly.
Traditionally, doctors would examine patient’s retina by dilation to look for signs of AMD, but it is difficult to track the progress of AMD. With newer technology, doctors can take a digital retinal photo of patient’s retina without dilation in most cases. This helps doctors to document the progress of AMD by comparing photos taken. Yet with today’s newest technology, Infinity Eye Center proudly presents Optical Coherence Tomography(OCT) that is able to analyze and monitor the AMD progression precisely in micrometer.
Be aware of AMD, and DO NOT neglect your routine eye exams. Early detection is the key to prevent and minimize vision loss.
Learning-Related Vision Problems
-source: Optometric Extension Program Foundation
A large part of learning is done visually. Reading, spelling, writing, chalkboard work, and computer work are among the tasks students tackle all day long, day after day. Each involves the visual abilities of seeing quickly and understanding visual information which is frequently less than arm's length from the eyes.
Many students' visual abilities just are not up to the level of the demands of these types of classroom learning situations.
Clear eyesight is not all that is required for close vision tasks. Youngsters must have a variety of scanning, focusing, and visual coordination skills for learning and for getting meaning from reading. If these visual skills have not been developed, learning is difficult and stressful, and youngsters typically react in one of a variety of ways:
- Avoiding near visual work entirely, or as much as possible
- Attempting to do the work anyway, but with lowered understanding
- Experiencing discomfort, fatigue, and short attention span
- Adapting by becoming nearsighted, or by suppressing the vision of one eye
Visual stress reactions can help explain the discomfort, fatigue, changes in behavior, altered eyesight, and declining academic performance that often indicate a learning-related vision problem.
Behavioral optometrists may help their patients deal with visual stress by prescribing "stress-relieving lenses". These make it much easier for a child or adult to benefit from near vision work. Another fundamental approach is visual training/therapy. This is a sequence of activities prescribed by an optometrist in which the child builds visual skills and the ability to efficiently take in, understand, and use visual information
Behavioral optometrists find that many children with learning-related vision problems have 20/20 distance eyesight, but have great difficulty doing vision tasks less than arm's length away.
Most school screenings test just the sharpness of distance eyesight, so many vision problems that affect learning go undetected. But parents and teachers who understand and can identify the signs and symptoms can spot learning-related visual problems in a child.
Glaucoma
The silent killer of our vision
January is national glaucoma awareness month. Glaucoma is currently the second leading cause of blindness in our nation. It is a complicated eye disease in which the progressively damaged optic nerves lead to irreversible vision loss.
The “Open-Angle Glaucoma” is the most common form among all other glaucoma, accounting for at least 90% of all glaucoma cases. Because it has almost no sign or no pain in the beginning, it is often being ignored or overlooked. By the time one realizes his vision loss, the optic nerves have already been damaged and vision loss is already permanent. Therefore a routine comprehensive eye exam is so important to everyone, especially for those over the age of 40.
The front part of the eye is filled with a clear fluid called intraocular fluid or aqueous humour. Its functions include inflating the globe of the eye and providing nutrition to ocular tissues. It flows out through the pupil and then is absorbed into the bloodstream through the eye’s drainage system. If the drainage is slow or clogged for any reason, the pressure builds up inside the eye, which can cause damage in optic nerve.
High eye pressure definitely is a major risk in damaging optic nerve, yet even patients with normal range of eye pressure can also develop glaucoma. In eyes with glaucoma, peripheral or side vision is affected first, and the change can be very gradual or subtle. However, when peripheral vision loss is observed by a patient, glaucoma is usually close to its end stage.
Traditionally, an eye doctor might dilate patients’ eyes to observe the optic nerve changes through scopes and record the findings in writing. Nowadays, many doctors can utilize retinal photography to document changes of optic nerve appearance throughout the years. Yet, depending on the image quality and different doctors’ interpretations, the findings may vary. With the advent of technology, a computerized scanning analysis called OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) is available. OCT can determine the changes of optic nerve and its surrounding layers as precisely as in micrometer difference. We at Infinity Eye Center proudly present OCT as part of our specialized glaucoma testing protocol for its diagnosis and treatment.
About half of the people who have glaucoma are not even aware that they have it, because of its silent nature. It is extremely important to have a comprehensive eye health checkup yearly. At Infinity Eye Center, we would like to remind everyone that “Early Detection is the Key to Prevent Vision Loss”.
Call us to schedule an appointment for a personal comprehensive wellness eye exam at
(732) 410-7880.