Eye Medical Clinic in San Jose, CA, provides eye care for the whole family, but this September (also known as Healthy Aging Month!), we’re focusing on the eye care that the older members of your family might need.
From cataracts to glaucoma and more, as we get older, our eyes need more and more attention. Luckily, the vast majority of age-related vision problems are able to be treated with modern technology and medical practices. Let us walk you through a couple of the most common ocular issues and what treatment for them looks like. And remember, the faster you get these conditions evaluated and treated, the better and more effective your outcomes will be!
Cataracts
Cataracts are an inevitable part of aging. As we get older, the natural lenses in our eyes start to yellow and get cloudy, which can lead to a whole host of symptoms. Some of those symptoms include vision that is discolored and/or blurry, seeing halos around lights, difficulty seeing in low light situations (including night driving) and frequent changes in glasses/contacts prescriptions. It is important to get cataracts treated because worsened vision can increase the risk of other accidents, such as falls or car wrecks, that can cause long-term health complications.
Luckily, highly effective cataract treatment exists in the form of cataract surgery. Here at Eye Medical Clinic, we are experts in cataract evaluation and treatment. Our doctors can effectively treat your cataracts. Plus, with Advanced Technology Implants, we could decrease or even eliminate your dependency on reading glasses!
If you’re over 60, it’s time to get evaluated for cataracts. Don’t hesitate to call us or schedule online to get the ball rolling on your cataract treatment. We want you to be able to See Every Moment.
Glaucoma
Another common eye disease that occurs as we get older is glaucoma. According to the CDC, around 3 million people in America have glaucoma, and it is the second leading cause of blindness in the country!
So what is it? Glaucoma is defined as increased pressure in the eye. This can occur if your eye produces too much new fluid or if there is a blockage preventing old fluid from draining out of the eye when your body is ready to replace it.
The most common type of glaucoma (open-angle glaucoma) is rarely accompanied by symptoms until it progresses enough to produce irreversible vision loss. Though less common, closed-angle glaucoma can cause symptoms other than vision loss, including but not limited to headaches, eye pain, nausea and vomiting, red eyes and more.
Right now, glaucoma is not curable, but there are a number of effective treatment options that are available depending on the patients’ needs. Among these options are eye drops, medication, laser treatment or surgery. If you have glaucoma, your doctor will work with you to recommend the best course of treatment for your specific situation.
It is common for people to be diagnosed with glaucoma and cataracts at the same time, so for those patients, we have a dual-treatment option that will enable you to address your glaucoma and cataracts simultaneously. This means you’ll have to spend less time in appointments and recovery than you would if you had them treated separately. For more information about combined cataract and glaucoma treatment, click here.
Macular Degeneration
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), is a disorder of the retina and another eye condition that can impact our eye health as we age. The macula is an area at the center of the retina and is in charge of central vision, which is necessary for seeing fine detail. There are two types of AMD – wet and dry. With wet AMD, atypical blood vessels appear around the macula and retina and these blood vessels can leak which impairs vision. Dry AMD occurs when cells of the macula begin to thin or break down. It is critical to begin treatment of AMD as soon as it is diagnosed. Dr Tamer Hadi, a fellowship trained retina surgeon on staff with Eye Medical Clinic, has the latest diagnostic equipment to catch and treat AMD before significant vision loss occurs.
Celebrate Healthy Aging with Us!
No matter your eye care needs, we would be honored to work with you to make sure you and your vision needs are taken care of. Feel free to reach out to us at your earliest convenience to schedule an appointment! You can call us at (408) 457-7311 or visit our appointment page to get yourself on the books! We look forward to hearing from you.
