Posts Categorized: Glaucoma

Make a New Year’s Resolution to Protect Your Vision

Posted January 6, 2023 by Sean Dorr & filed under Glaucoma.

How do you celebrate the new year? Whether you are a New Year’s resolution maker or not, at Eye Medical Clinic, we resolve every year to give our patients the best possible vision care so you can see all your days with the vision you deserve. And this first month of 2023, we are focused on education about glaucoma.

Eye Medical Clinic has served generations of families in the Santa Clara Valley for more than 75 years, and we are still serving families today. We’d like to remind you that the importance of annual eye exams goes well beyond just making sure your vision isn’t blurry. Good eye health can safeguard your health and wellness and even prevent diseases like glaucoma.

The Silent Thief of Sight

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world today. It often has no symptoms – especially in its early stages – and for that reason is commonly called “the silent thief of sight”. The Glaucoma Research Foundation estimates that more than 3 million Americans are living with glaucoma today, and about half of those people don’t even know they have it! If left untreated, glaucoma can slowly diminish their vision.

What Exactly is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition characterized by damage to the delicate fibers that make up the optic nerve in your eye. Eye pressure can damage these fibers, and when enough of them are damaged, blind spots develop in your field of vision. Most people don’t notice these blind supports until irreversible damage has been done.

Am I at Risk of Developing Glaucoma?

Anyone can develop glaucoma at any time; even children, although that is rare. But there are certain risk factors that make it more likely you will develop the disease:

Over age 40
Family history of glaucoma
Diabetes
African American or hispanic heritage
Severe nearsightedness or farsightedness
History of injury to the eye
Certain infections in and around the eye
Certain medications (especially steroids)

How is Glaucoma Treated?

The goal of glaucoma treatment at Eye Medical Clinic is to preserve your current level of vision and to prevent any further vision loss. Treatment can vary, depending on the type of glaucoma diagnosed, the degree to which the disease has progressed, your underlying risk factors and a few other variables. Generally, prescription medicines (eye-drops and oral medications), laser procedures and surgery are all utilized in an attempt to preserve vision.

For many patients with glaucoma, medication alone (or several medications combined) will be enough to control eye pressure. But when medical treatment alone fails to sufficiently reduce the pressure, surgery is another option.

See Every Moment with the Vision You Deserve

Our experienced team of specialists at Eye Medical Clinic includes specialty trained ophthalmologists and an experienced optometrist. We are dedicated to all your eyecare needs, from the youngest member of the family to the most senior member. Our full scope eyecare services ranges from vision evaluation and prescriptions for glasses or contacts, to advanced medical and/or surgical care for dry eyes, droopy lids, cataracts, refractive surgery or retinal detachment.

We invite you to experience our expert eye care for every generation at Eye Medical Clinic. Our team of experienced doctors can help you enjoy 2023 (and every year to come!) to the fullest…with the vision you deserve. Another reason to be excited about the new year? If you have vision benefits through an employer, they just reset for 2023. Schedule your eye exam today and allow us to help you See Every Moment.

Healthy Vision For a Healthy Life

Posted May 5, 2021 by Sean Dorr & filed under Cataract, Eye Care, Glaucoma.

May is Healthy Vision Month. And after the last year-plus of living out a world health pandemic, good health is certainly top of mind for most people. At Eye Medical Clinic, we love to talk about eyes and vision any time of the year! But Healthy Vision Month affords a great opportunity to talk about the simple steps everyone can take to protect their vision, making sure their eyes stay healthy for life!

A major part of a healthy life is taking care of your eyes, just like exercising, healthy eating and getting enough sleep. A comprehensive eye exam is so much more than having your vision checked to see if you need glasses or contacts. A dilated eye exam can detect many eye conditions and diseases that can cause vision loss, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and more.

At Eye Medical Clinic, we want you to See Every Moment with the vision you deserve. Our experienced clinical team is skilled in diagnosing and treating most eye conditions and diseases.

Do I really need to have a comprehensive eye exam every year?

At Eye Medical Clinic, we recommend a comprehensive eye exam with dilation once a year for adults. And more frequently depending on your risk factors. Even if you can see with no problems and your vision is “normal”, an annual comprehensive eye exam is an important part of maintaining eye and overall health.
From the youngest member of your family to the oldest, Eye Medical Clinic in San Jose offers comprehensive eye exams catered to your unique circumstances performed by our experienced ophthalmologists. We cater to your unique circumstances and take into consideration the concerns and eye conditions associated with the season of life you are in.
Did you know an annual eye exam with dilation can also assist in the early detection of conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes? The earlier these conditions are detected, the earlier treatment can begin- and this could save your sight!

See Every Moment of Your Golden Years with Confidence

Without a doubt, cataracts impact the health of seniors. And the answer to when is the right time for cataract surgery is unique to the person asking it. Most experts agree that when a cataract begins to negatively affect your life and daily activities, that is the time to consider cataract surgery.
The last year has given all of us plenty of reasons to postpone vacations, trips, get-togethers and other events. But if cataracts are affecting your daily life, we want to propose that cataract surgery isn’t something you should put off. Even though it’s considered elective surgery, continuing to live with cataracts can put your health at risk.

4 Reasons NOT to Put Off Cataract Surgery

Cataracts will not get better on their own. In fact, they worsen over time, making them more difficult to remove.
Clear vision is necessary for safety. Seniors are more at risk of falling if their vision is affected by cataracts. Tasks like driving (especially at night) are more dangerous if you have cataracts.
Cataract surgery at Eye Medical Clinic is performed at a trusted ambulatory surgery center. Unlike hospitals, ASCs don’t treat sick people, and they’re held to very high safety and hygiene standards.
Eye Medical Clinic is taking every precaution to ensure your safety.

With upwards of two million cataract surgeries performed annually, cataract surgery is among the safest and most successful surgeries performed today. We are excited to offer the latest FDA-approved laser cataract technology for your cataract surgery procedure. We believe this technology adds to the safety, accuracy and precision of the procedure.
Our happy patient family is always growing, and we’d love for you to join it! Schedule a cataract consultation today.

See Every Moment With the Vision You Deserve

From comprehensive eye care and management of eye diseases to retina and cornea issues and modern cataract surgery, we want to be your go-to source for eye health in San Jose. We’d be honored to serve you.

It’s Never too Late to Focus on Seeing Every Moment

Posted September 1, 2020 by Sean Dorr & filed under Cataract, Dry Eye, Eye Care, Glaucoma.

2020 has been a tough year, no doubt. Even still, across the world, people are living longer and healthier lives than ever before. And no matter how well (or not well) your year has gone so far, this month offers a chance for a renewed focus.

September is Healthy Aging Month. It’s a great time to focus on our senior population as it pertains to staying fit, staying active, staying safe and staying healthy. Here at Eye Medical Clinic, we are crazy about our senior patients and we are a trusted resource for all the eye-related issues that accompany aging.

Healthy Vision is a Priority in Every Season, But Especially as You Age

Something to know: vision loss isn’t a normal part of aging. That said, older individuals are at higher risk for certain eye diseases and conditions. Things like age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and dry eye, just to name a few. Some of these conditions have no early symptoms, but they are easily detected during a comprehensive eye exam (something you should have annually!).

Healthy Eyes for a Healthy Life

More than 40 million Americans are currently age 65 or older, and this number is expected to grow to more than 88 million by 2050. That’s a lot of seniors! By that same year, the number of Americans with age-related eye diseases is expected to double, and the number of people living with low vision is projected to triple. Early detection and treatment are key to saving sight.

If you have celebrated 50 (or more!) birthdays, here’s a tip. Come see us annually for a comprehensive eye exam. Having a dilated eye exam every year can help detect age-related eye diseases in their earliest stages. Early detection and treatment can help preserve your sight. Even if you are not experiencing vision problems, you should still take time for an annual eye exam. This is one of the best things you can do to make sure your one set of eyes stays healthy for a lifetime. And we’ll even sing happy birthday to you if you’d like!

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

People over the age of 50 are also at higher risk for developing Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This condition happens when a part of the retina called the macula is damaged. With AMD, you lose your central vision but your peripheral (side) vision will still be normal.

Did you know we have a fellowship-trained retina specialist on the team here at EMC? Well, we do! Dr. Tamer Hadi is our resident expert on all things retina related. If you haven’t met him, you should!

Life Beyond the Blur

Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50. According to Prevent Blindness America, cataracts currently affect more than 22 million Americans. Important to know, cataracts cannot be treated with medication or changes to your lifestyle and diet. They must be surgically removed in order for vision to be restored. When cataracts begin to negatively affect your lifestyle and the activities you enjoy, it’s time to talk to an expert.

At Eye Medical Clinic, we offer the latest technologies and techniques in cataract surgery, including Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery. Major advances in lens exchange procedures allow people just like you to continue to live their lives the way they want to live them. At Eye Medical Clinic, we offer a variety of Premium Lens Implants that can correct your cataracts AND reduce your dependency on glasses, bifocals and even readers.

Healthy Aging Month is the ideal time to schedule a cataract evaluation. If you haven’t met our Premium Lens Cataract Surgery, Dr. Jeanie Paik, you’re going to want to! She has the experience and the expertise to help you achieve restored and even improved vision. Take control of your health (including your eyes!). Whatever the rest of 2020 looks like, See Every Moment.

Eye Medical Clinic has built a reputation for quality eye care that generations of families have come to trust. We invite you to experience the VIP treatment every patient can expect to receive at Eye Medical Clinic. Our team of experienced doctors, as well as a highly trained staff, is dedicated to helping you enjoy your life to the fullest…with the clear vision you deserve.

What are the Early Signs of the Most Common Vision Problems?

Posted February 1, 2020 by Sean Dorr & filed under Cataract, Eye Care, Glaucoma.

As with most other kinds of diseases, many eye diseases and conditions are more easily and successfully treated when diagnosed early. The tricky part is that there are a few eye conditions that don’t always come with early warning signs, making them harder to detect. But early detection is no less important! It all starts with an annual comprehensive eye exam at your trusted eye doctor Eye Medical Clinic.

Let’s take a look at the most common eye conditions along with the treatments available at Eye Medical Clinic:

Cataracts

Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50. According to Prevent Blindness America, cataracts currently affect more than 22 million senior Americans. Cataracts cannot be treated with medication or changes to lifestyle and diet. They must be surgically removed in order for vision to be restored. When cataracts begin to negatively affect your lifestyle and activities, it’s time to talk to an expert.

Any time is the ideal time to schedule a cataract evaluation. Take control of your health (including your eyes!). We’d love to partner with you.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can cause blindness. With all types of glaucoma, the nerve connecting the eye to the brain is damaged, usually due to high eye pressure. It has been called the silent thief of sight, because, in most cases, glaucoma doesn’t have any symptoms other than slow vision loss. For this reason, a comprehensive dilated eye exam that includes glaucoma detection is recommended.
In fact, we recommend the dilated eye exam every year for people who are at higher risk for glaucoma, including African Americans age 40 and older, everyone over age 60, and people with a family history of glaucoma. A comprehensive eye exam is critical to detect changes that occur early in the optic nerve.
While there is no cure for glaucoma at this time, it can be controlled and stabilized by using eye drop medication to monitor eye pressure in a safe range. This safe range is determined individually, which depends on the severity of glaucoma damage, age and corneal thickness as well as other factors determined by your ophthalmologists at Eye Medical Clinic. Some eye drop prescriptions lower eye pressure by reducing the amount of aqueous fluid OR by helping fluid flow better through the drainage angle.
Again, because of its complexity, each patient’s glaucoma treatment plan will vary based on need. For the love of your eyes and peace of mind, if you haven’t been to the eye doctor in a while and have any concerns, schedule an appointment today with Eye Medical Clinic.

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 65 in America, making it an eye condition worth taking a closer look at. It is a genetically determined, age-related eye disease that causes people who have it to lose their central vision (what you see when you look straight ahead), usually in both eyes. It occurs when the small, central portion of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates.

This condition can negatively impact activities like reading, working on a computer, doing household chores, enjoying hobbies and even driving. Early detection of AMD can help slow progression, and it’s important to note, early stages of this disease usually do not exhibit noticeable symptoms. This is why annual comprehensive eye exams are so important!

There are two types of AMD; dry (the most common type) and wet. For dry AMD, treatment typically starts with prescribing a mix of zinc and antioxidants that can slow progression. For wet AMD, treatment can include a number of options including medication injected into the eye that inhibits the growth of abnormal blood vessels that cause the wet form on the disease.

If you suspect AMD or have a family history of this condition, schedule an appointment today with Eye Medical Clinic today.

Partnering With You to Protect Your Sight

With a legacy of more than 70 years serving the San Jose area, Eye Medical Clinic has built a reputation for quality eye care that generations of families have come to trust. We invite you to experience the VIP treatment every patient can expect to receive at Eye Medical Clinic. Our team of experienced doctors, as well as a highly trained staff, is dedicated to helping you enjoy your life to the fullest…with the clear vision you deserve.