Why is eye health important?
Each person has unique needs when it comes to optimal eye health. Eye health, in general, is affected by age, genetics, lifestyle, occupation, and underlying medical conditions. Taking all of these into consideration, Griffeth Vision determines the best possible eye care programs that are suited for each person to answer his or her unique needs. As a person ages, eye health changes and eye care needs to evolve along with it. The experts at the Griffeth Vision facility in Tooele understand this, and duly adjust each eye care program to suit every patient at all the different stages of their lives.
What conditions can affect eye health?
Issues with eye health can be possible at any stage of a person’s life, but they become more prevalent as patients get older. However, eye health can, for any reason, deteriorate and cause vision loss. The early detection and diagnosis of these conditions is important in managing them and for mapping out individualized treatment plans that will help maintain the patient’s eye health.
- Cataracts are a condition where the normal clear lenses of the eyes cloud up and block the patient’s vision. The protein build up in the lens makes it impossible for the light to pass through, thus impairing vision. This is one of the leading causes of blindness and is very common among older people. Heredity also plays a big role in increasing the risk factor for developing cataracts. This can also be a secondary effect of a medical condition such as diabetes and over exposure to toxic substances and radiation. There are also some injuries that can later on cause the development of cataracts and compromise eye health. Prescription glasses can treat minor cases of cataracts, but if it impairs vision, cataracts are treated with the surgical removal of the natural lens and replacement with an intraocular artificial lens.
- Glaucoma is a progressive eye health issue that affects the optic nerve where vision is lost gradually and, unfortunately, the effects are irreversible. Glaucoma is caused by the increasing intraocular pressure in the eye and does not display any symptoms during the early stages, which is why it is common to see patients being treated with glaucoma when the disorder is already in its advanced stages. Glaucoma is treated with eye drops as well as oral medications. Surgery may also be necessary to treat advanced glaucoma.
- Refractive eye errors, although the most common eye health issue being manifested among patients, can easily be treatable. Refractive errors are described as the difficulties that the eyes experience when they are trying to focus on an object, often resulting to blurred vision. Refractive errors can easily be corrected by prescription glasses or contact lenses and can be treated permanently through LASIK surgery.
- Macular degeneration is an age related eye disorder that mostly affects people over 60 and those with medical conditions like diabetes. Macular degeneration affects the macula, which is responsible for a patient’s central vision. When patients are affected with this condition, the center of their vision becomes blurry while the peripheral vision remains normal, thus resulting in a blind spot in the middle of the visual field. Although there is no cure for macular degeneration, the treatment options that are offered focuses on the management of the symptoms of the disorder to slow down the progression of the symptoms to avoid the aggravation of the disease.
- Vitreoretinal disorders are conditions that affect the retina and may cause loss of vision. Such conditions include diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, vitreomacular adhesion, and retinal diseases.
- Other eye conditions such as eye inflammations, allergies, irritation, and dry eyes may also affect eye health and need to be brought to the attention of the appropriate doctors straightaway. The doctors at Griffeth Vision will be able to evaluate these conditions for the patient and provide a personalized approach to treatment.
