Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Anchorage & Wasilla

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among adults over the age of 55. It occurs when the macula—located at the center of your retina—becomes damaged over time. Your macula is responsible for your central vision.

AMD can cause that central vision to become blurry, making it difficult to recognize faces, read, or drive. There are 2 types of AMD: dry and wet. Dry AMD occurs when the macula thins, and usually progresses slowly over time. Wet AMD is less common and more severe.

Symptoms of AMD include:

• Blurred vision, even when using glasses
• Straight lines appearing blurry
• Small dark spots appearing in visual field

View Video

A cataract occurs when the normally clear inner lens of the eye becomes cloudy. This cloudiness is typically caused by protein buildup in the lens, which can cause blurry vision, faded colors, light sensitivity, and double vision.

Symptoms of cataracts may go unnoticed for years if vision isn’t affected, but can begin developing at around age 40. Certain lifestyle factors like diabetes, smoking, alcohol use, and sun exposure can increase your risk of developing cataracts.

View Video

Conjunctivitis causes inflammation in the conjunctiva—the thin layer between the inner eyelid and the sclera. This inflammation causes the eye to appear red and bloodshot due to dilation in the blood vessels in the sclera.

There are 3 types of conjunctivitis: infectious, allergic, and chemical. Each of these forms require distinct treatments, so it’s important to contact your eye doctor if you notice:

• Red eyes
• Itching
• Burning
• Swelling

Diabetes is a determining factor in a few different eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma. It can also cause specific diabetes-related eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye. With increased blood sugar levels due to diabetes, the blood vessels can slowly deteriorate until they cause vision loss and even blindness.

Anybody with diabetes is at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy; however, it is far more common in those who don’t manage their condition adequately.

Dry eye disease is an uncomfortable condition affecting the eye surface. There are 2 forms of dry eye: aqueous deficient and evaporative. Aqueous deficient dry eye occurs when a person doesn’t produce enough tears.

Evaporative dry eye is more common and happens when the tears a person produces aren’t high quality. This lack of quality is often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD occurs when the glands that deliver protective oil to the eye surface are blocked.

View Video

Glaucoma is often referred to as the “silent thief of sight.” Glaucoma occurs because of damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye, often due to increased intraocular pressure. Symptoms often go unnoticed, so it’s vital to have an eye exam to help to establish an early diagnosis.

There are many different types of glaucoma, the most common of which is open-angle glaucoma. People over 60, African Americans, and those with a family history of glaucoma are most at risk for developing the disease.

View Video