📌 1102 Kings Road, Sydney
📌 219 Commercial St Glacebay
Sydney River: 902-564-5332
Glace Bay: 902-842-3333
Eye disease testing Tamarind Optical

Common Eye Diseases and Disorders - Tamarind Optical!


There is nothing that makes our lives better like healthy eyes. So to help keep them healthy and free from eye diseases and disorders, you should carry book a yearly eye exam that will catch any problems before they become major health issues. There is nothing that makes our lives better like healthy eyes.  You use your eyes for work, school, play, reading, well you get the point. Keep them healthy and you should have no problem enjoying your life to the fullest.


The leading causes of eye issues such as blindness and low vision are primarily age-related eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Other common eye disorders include amblyopia and strabismus.


The optometrists in Cape Breton at Tamarind Optical now use the latest in advanced diagnostics to catch any eye diseases before they become an issue. They will make sure you eyes see their absolute best every day!


Refractive Errors


Refractive errors are the most frequent eye problems in Canada as well as other regions of the world.


Refractive errors include myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (distorted vision at all distances), and presbyopia (loss of the ability to focus up close, inability to read letters of the phone book, need to hold newspaper farther away to see clearly) that occurs between age 40–50 years of age can be corrected by eyeglasses, contact lenses, or in some cases surgery.



Age-Related Macular Degeneration


Macular degeneration, often called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is an eye disorder associated with aging and results in damaging sharp and central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving.


AMD affects the macula, the central part the retina that allows the eye to see fine details. There are two forms of AMD—wet and dry. Wet AMD is when abnormal blood vessel behind the retina start to grow under the macula, ultimately leading to blood and fluid leakage. Dry AMD is when the macula thins overtime as part of aging process, gradually blurring central vision.


Cataracts


Cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s lens and is the leading cause of blindness in Canada as well as worldwide, and is the leading cause of vision loss.


Cataracts can occur at any age because of a variety of causes, and can be present at birth. Although treatment for the removal of cataract is widely available, access barriers such as insurance coverage, treatment costs, patient choice, or lack of awareness prevent many people from receiving the proper treatment.


Diabetic Retinopathy


Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes. It is the leading cause of blindness in Canadian adults. It is characterized by progressive damage to the blood vessels of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that is necessary for good vision.


DR progresses through four stages, mild nonproliferative retinopathy (microaneurysms), moderate nonproliferative retinopathy (blockage in some retinal vessels), severe nonproliferative retinopathy (more vessels are blocked leading to deprived retina from blood supply leading to growing new blood vessels), and proliferative retinopathy (most advanced stage). Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.


The risks of DR are reduced through disease management that includes good control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipid abnormalities. Early diagnosis of DR (Diabetic Retinopathy) and timely treatment reduce the risk of vision loss; however, as many as 50% of patients are not getting their eyes examined or are diagnosed too late for treatment to be effective.


Glaucoma


Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises.


However, recent findings now show that glaucoma can occur with normal eye pressure. With early treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss. Visual loss can progress quickly; however, the pain and discomfort lead patients to seek medical attention before permanent damage occurs.


Amblyopia


Amblyopia, also referred to as “lazy eye,” is the most common cause of vision impairment in children. Amblyopia is the medical term used when the vision in one of the eyes is reduced because the eye and the brain are not working together properly.


The eye itself looks normal, but it is not being used normally because the brain is favoring the other eye. Conditions leading to amblyopia include strabismus, an imbalance in the positioning of the two eyes; more nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic in one eye than the other eye, and rarely other eye conditions such as cataract.


Strabismus


Strabismus involves an imbalance in the positioning of the two eyes. Strabismus can cause the eyes to cross in (esotropia) or turn out (exotropia). Strabismus is caused by a lack of coordination between the eyes.


As a result, the eyes look in different directions and do not focus simultaneously on a single point. In most cases of strabismus in children, the cause is unknown. In more than half of these cases, the problem is present at or shortly after birth (congenital strabismus).


When the two eyes fail to focus on the same image, there is reduced or absent depth perception and the brain may learn to ignore the input from one eye, causing permanent vision loss in that eye (one type of amblyopia).


Schedule an Eye Appointment - Prevent Eye Disease Early


If you are feeling unusual eye strain, blurriness, spots, or having trouble see your computer, book, or blackboard in school, or suspect a more serious condition or eye disease like cataracts or glaucoma, it may be time to schedule a regular eye exam!


Tamarind Optical Services i Sydney and Glace Bay, offer a wide range of eye-related services including Eye Exams,  Eye Screenings, Eye Treatment, Contact Lens Service, Prescription Glasses, and Prescription Sunglasses for men, women, and youth, not to mention seniors.


Now is the perfect time to schedule an eye exam for you and your family today at Tamarind Optical in Sydney 902-564-5332 and Glace Bay 902-842-3333!

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