Even if you’ve never had any eye issues, you should be getting a general eye exam by a board certified ophthalmologist approximately once per year. Let the team at Peninsula Eye Medical Group, serving patients in the Peninsula Bay Area of California and beyond, ensure that your eyes stay healthy and comfortable.
Why do I need general eye exams?
General eye exams are important because many eye problems can present initially without any symptoms. Getting a full, thorough examination once per year is important to determine how well you are currently seeing and assess whether any additional interventions could possibly help you.
What does a general eye exam entail?
A general eye exam usually includes an assessment of visual acuity, a refraction to determine an appropriate glasses or contact lens prescription if necessary, eye muscle motility and visual field evaluation, measurement of the intraocular pressure, and an assessment of all parts of the eye including eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior chamber, iris, lens, vitreous and retina. A yearly general eye exam usually includes dilation–instillation of certain eye drops to enlarge the pupil and allow the doctor to examine the retina and the optic nerve.
Can I get these tests done by an optometrist?
Optometrists are great for assessing vision and evaluating glasses and contact lenses. However, when it comes to evaluating the anatomy and physiology of the eye, you should be seen my an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor with a medical degree). Dr. Nevitt will take the time to make sure you are seeing your best by assessing your vision, ensuring your current glasses or contact lenses are optimal, and examining all parts of the eye to make sure you continue to see your best.
Glaucoma is a very prevalent eye condition that can potentially become a serious vision threatening problem. The team at Peninsula Eye Medical Group, serving patients in the Peninsula Bay Area of California, offers thorough glaucoma evaluations and treatment strategies.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to several different eye diseases. In these diseases, the fluid pressure within the eye can often be elevated. Over time, this can lead to the partial loss of vision, or even total blindness in some cases. Open-angle glaucoma is the most commonly occurring kind of glaucoma.
What Causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma happens when the anterior chamber, the area at the forefront of the eye, starts to drain clear fluid too slowly. This slow drainage results in an accumulation of pressure. This, in turn, causes serious damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve damage may occur with only a minimal increase in pressure for some people, but for others, the increase in pressure must be dramatic before it results in major optic nerve damage.
Who is at Risk For Glaucoma?
Nearly any person can get glaucoma, but certain groups of people may have higher risk levels for developing this type of eye disease. African Americans have an elevated risk for glaucoma, especially at the age of 40 and beyond. People of all races have an elevated risk for glaucoma over the age of 60. Anyone who has glaucoma in the family, especially the immediate family, has a higher risk of developing it themselves.
What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?
Initially, open-angle glaucoma does not cause symptoms. When the disease enters its later stages, a person who suffers from glaucoma will start to notice that the peripheral vision is fading. Eventually, the field of vision will narrow even further and total blindness is the result. Angle-closure glaucoma can present with headaches, blurred vision, nausea, or halos.
How is Glaucoma Treated?
The treatment for glaucoma depends on the specific patient and on the progression of the disease. Eye drops, medication, laser surgery, or several of these methods may be used. If people who suffer from glaucoma pursue appropriate medical treatment, they can avoid losing their any portion of their vision.
Macular Degeneration is an often age-related disease that can cause decreased vision over time, but there are ways to treat it effectively. The team at Peninsula Eye Medical Group, serving patients in the Peninsula Bay Area of California, provides thorough evaluations of the retina as well as treatment strategies to prevent vision loss from macular degeneration.
What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is an eye disease that causes the macula (the central area in the retina) to deteriorate. This disease is most often related to aging.
What is Dry Macular Degeneration?
Dry macular degeneration is the most common kind of macular degeneration. This type of macular degeneration makes up around 85 to 90 percent of all cases. In dry macular degeneration, waste products that come from metabolism grow beneath and around the retina. This buildup causes blurry vision or spotty vision. Dry macular degeneration sometimes turns into wet macular degeneration.
What is Wet Macular Degeneration?
Wet macular degeneration is the more severe form of macular degeneration. It is often preceded by dry macular degeneration. This type of macular degeneration develops when the Bruch’s membrane starts to deteriorate. New blood vessels develop in that area, but the blood vessels are highly delicate. This frequently causes the leaking of fluids and blood. This, in turn, causes the macula to scar severely and may result in loss of vision. Wet macular degeneration accounts for a large majority of all cases of legal blindness today.
What Are the Symptoms to Watch For?
Possible symptoms of macular degeneration include an increased need for light while reading, blurry spots in the middle of the field of vision, distortions causing straight lines to look wavy, and distortion of any kind in straight-ahead vision.
How is Macular Degeneration Treated?
The treatment for macular degeneration depends on the specific type of macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration has no specific treatments, but there may be ways to delay the progression of the disease before it becomes wet macular degeneration. This may include the use of vitamins and antioxidants such as lutein. In wet macular degeneration, laser surgery is a common therapy. Injectable medications may also be able to stop the progression of the disease and help preserve the vision.
Dry Eye can be not only painful but also very frustrating for many people today. Peninsula Eye Medical Group, serving patients in the Peninsula Bay Area of California, is ready to help patients with treatments that will provide quick relief.
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye is a condition that causes a lack of lubrication in the eye. The eyes need quality tears to stay healthy and to have clear vision. Many people suffer from dry eye today, especially seniors. This condition occurs in as much as 10 percent of the U.S. population today. People who have chronic dry eyes should see an eye doctor as soon as possible. There are highly effective treatments that can make life much more comfortable.
How is Dry Eye Treated?
There are several ways that dry eye can be addressed medically. One method of treatment is the stimulation of new tears. This typically involves topical application of eye drops or ointment. It typically takes a month or more for the eyes to respond to this type of treatment, and it is usually necessary to keep using the topical treatment long term. In some cases, dry eye is treated with a variety of different prescription and over-the-counter medications and different procedures to enhance quality tear production.
The simplest treatment for dry eye is the replacement of tears using eye drops until the eyes resume sufficient tear secretion on their own. This is usually best for people who have only a short term issue with dry eye. As long as dry eye is diagnosed and treated promptly, patients can avoid having serious complications like corneal scarring.
What Are the Risk Factors For Dry Eye?
Long days with insufficient sleep, prolonged use of contact lenses, and exposure to very dry environments such as airplane cabins are all possible risk factors for dry eye. People who work in “clean room” type environments like operating rooms may have an elevated risk of developing dry eye. There may be times that the dry eye can’t be traced to a clear stimulus, as well.
Eyelid lesions can be unsightly, irritating, vision threatening, or in some cases, pre-cancerous or cancerous. Dr. Nevitt can explain to you your options for management including observation, excision, or even biopsy. Come in today to find out what you can do about your eyelid lumps and bumps.
Cataracts are the result of a natural aging process of the lens of the eye that will eventually affect us all. At Peninsula Eye Medical Group, located in the Peninsula Bay Area of California, patients can trust that they will be offered the best options for surgical removal of cataracts and restoration of vision.
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts are a clouding in the natural lens of the eye, the area immediately in back of the pupil.
Who Gets Cataracts?
Cataracts tend to develop gradually in all people. Most people who have cataracts are 50 or older, and in fact, around 50 percent of all people develop a cataract by the time they reach the age of 65. Virtually everybody who is 75 or older develops cataracts. Although cataracts are extremely rare in children, it is possible for infants to have congenital cataracts.
Should Cataracts Be Removed Immediately?
Not always. There are times that the eye doctor will recommend that the patient waits until the cataract actually starts causing significant trouble with vision, especially when the cataract is still very small. The eye doctor will need to monitor the cataract on a regular basis to determine when it needs to be removed.
Is Cataract Surgery Dangerous?
While all types of surgery do carry some level of risk, cataract surgery is widely considered to be safe. It is the most often performed surgery in the U.S. today, in fact. Selecting an eye doctor with a great deal of experience with this type of surgery is very important.
How Does the Cataract Surgery Work?
In cataract surgery, the surgeon will create a tiny incision, through which surgery is performed to remove the natural lens of the eye. It is usually broken up into fragments for easier removal. To replace the lens, a special prosthetic lens known as an intraocular lens is then put into place. This lens will naturally integrate into the eye and usually won’t require stitches.
