[Cataracts] | [Treatment for Cataracts] | [Myopia (nearsightedness) & Astigmatism] | [Treatment for Myopia (nearsightedness) & Astigmatism] | [Glaucoma] | [Types of Glaucoma] | [Treatment for Glaucoma]
Cataracts
The human eye functions in much the same way as a camera. Light passes through the lens of the camera and is focused on the film.
Your eye also has a lens. But instead of film, the image forms on the retina, which is at the back of the eye. Normally, the lens is a clear, transparent structure through which light can freely pass and focus on the retina.
A cataract is a clouding of this lens. As a cataract develops, the clouded lens reduces the amount of light that can enter your eye, resulting in blurred or foggy vision.
Cataract Treatment
Your vision can be restored by a surgical procedure that removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens. Cataracts can be removed at any stage of their development, but when is the best time to have your cataracts removed?
The decision for surgery is yours alone. With today's modern microsurgical techniques, age or physical condition are seldom obstacles - and information and help are always availabe to assist you in making this decision.
The timing really depends on how much the cataract limits your vision. When your vision becomes impaired enough to interfere with normal activities, such as driving, reading, watching TV or even reading this page, then surgery may be advisable. Dr. Dannenberg and his staff at New Ulm Eye Center are ready and willing to advise you of your options at your convenience. Visit our Cataracts and Implants page for more detailed information!
Myopia & Astigmatism
Myopia (nearsightedness) coccurs when the eye is too long for the focusing system, and the rays of light are focused in front of the retina. Glasses or contact lenses refocus the light onto the retina.
Astigmatism is a condition where the front of the cornea is not uniformly curved, it is slightly oval in shape. As a result, the rays of light that enter the eye are bent un-equally and cause distortion of the image. Most people have some degree of astigmatism.
Myopia & Astigmatism Treatment
Myopia: Although the eye is too long, we are not able to shorten the eye by surgery. With the Excimer Laser, we can compensate for the long eye by flattening the curve of the cornea in a very precise manner according to any individual's particular prescription.
Astigmatism: The Corneal Topographer at New Ulm Eye Center can generate a computerized map of the surface of your cornea. This image will indicate the precise areas that, with Excimer Laser treatment, can be corrected to ensure better vision and a higher quality of life.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness in the United States, causes more than 120,000 Americans to lose their vision permanently each year. An additional 900,000 have experienced some form of vision loss or impairment. Moreover, it is estimated that over 50% of sufferers go undiagnosed.
Glaucoma comes without warning. Fluid buildup in the eye causes increased pressure which damages the optic nerve, the nerve responsible for sending visual images to the brain.
Damage to the optic nerve usually occurs gradually and the effects are permanent. Glaucoma is typically characterized by a loss in peripheral vision, followed by a loss in central vision and then, potentially, blindness. Although glaucoma often affects both eyes, it usually starts in one eye.
Types of Glaucoma
Open-Angle Glaucoma
- Progresses gradually, may go undetected because symptoms are mild until vision is lost and, in most cases, early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent vision loss.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma
- Often caused by an inherited abnormality of the eye that stops fluid from exiting the eye (causing pressure buildup; symptoms include severe pain, loss of vision and appearance of rainbow rings around lights; in untreated, severe pain and permanent vision loss occurs within two to five days after onset of symptoms.
Congenital Glaucoma
- Caused by a structural abnormality at birth, symptoms include cloudy eyes, sensitivity to light and excessive tearing.
Glaucoma Treatment
Elevated eye pressure is commonly treated with eye drops which are taken daily. Beta blockers have been used for over 20 years to treat glaucoma. These intraocular medications lower the pressure on the eye. Today there are even new drops that will treat intraoccular-intolerant patients, such as those with high blood pressure or heart conditions, by increasing the drainage of fluid rather than slowing the production of fluid in the eye.
In some cases, patients may require conventional surgery or laser therapy to improve fluid drainage to the eye. New Ulm Eye Center's professional staff can consult with you about your options for the treatment of all types of diseases of the eye. For more information, visit our links page.
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