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Ocular Disease and
Treatment
Our doctors regularly diagnose and treat a wide variety of eye problems.
In addition to the routine services they provide, our doctors treat
eye infections, remove ocular foreign bodies, manage chemical insult
and eye trauma, diagnose and treat glaucoma, diagnose cataracts and
co-manage surgical patients. We feel that it is important for our
patients and potential patients to know that we are able to take care
of the majority of problems they may have with their eyes and vision.
Cataracts
Cataracts are one of the most common and treatable eye conditions.
Cataracts occur when the lens, which sits just behind the iris or
colored part of the eye, becomes cloudy. Light which would normally
pass through this lens directly, is now scattered and the image collected
by the retina is blurred and distorted.
Cataracts are a fact of life for all of us. Nearly everyone will have
to deal with cataracts at some point in our lives. Luckily, the treatment
for cataracts is now very straightforward and recovery time is generally
short. Gone are the days of eye patches, immobilization, and lengthy
recovery. The treatment for cataracts is surgical removal of the clouded
lens and replacement with a synthetic, clear lens. Most procedures
are performed in minutes and without stitches! Many exciting new technological
advancements have occurred in these replacement lens designs as well
as in the surgical techniques used. There now are designs which integrate
astigmatism and bifocal correction into the lens implant. Our doctors
have both been extensively trained in the co-management of this new
technology. We happily educate each of our cataract patients on the
options available to them and how their insurance coverage applies
to the cost of the procedures.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease which causes destruction of the optic nerve
fibers. This damage is typically caused by increased pressure inside
the eye and can lead to blindness if not treated. If this condition
is properly detected and treated in a timely manner, it is most often
successfully treated with prescription eye drops to lower the intraocular
pressure.
Glaucoma is the 2nd leading cause of preventable blindess in the United
States. Most likely, this is due to the fact that in the early stages
of glauoma, the patient experiences no symptoms. There is no pain
or blurry vision typically associated with the early onset of glaucoma.
Therefore, it is extremely important to have annual eye exams so that
we can monitor for any signs of this condition.
At Gontarek Eye Care, we have invested heavily in the equipment and
expertise required to accurately diagnose and treat glaucoma in a
timely manner so that we may help to preserve your vision! We use
the industry standard Humphrey visual field unit to detect subtle
loss of vision. We also utilize the Zeiss GDx scanning laser polarimeter
to detect even subtle damage if the optic nerve caused by glaucoma.
We also digitally image the appearance of the optic nerves to assess
physical changes over time. These technologies enable us to accurately
diagnose, treat, and track this disease with confidence.
Diabetic Eye Disease
Patients with diabetes are especially vulnerable to eye disease. Our
doctors recommend a dilated eye examination at least once a year for
our patients with diabetes as is the standard set by the American
Diabetes Association, the American Medical Association, and the American
Optometric Association. The most commonly observed ocular complication
due to diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is seen
when blood vessels inside of the eye become leaky. As a result, blood,
fluid, and proteins can collect on top of and underneath the retina
causing a myriad of visual problems. In fact, diabetic retinopathy
is a leading cause of blindness in persons under the age of 65. Often,
in the early stages of retinopathy, the patient's vision is not affected.
Therefore, prevention and early detection are critical in maintaining
good vision.
Our practice utilizes retinal imaging systems to track signs of diabetic
retinopathy. This allows us to determine if and when more specialized
or surgical care is needed. Information about your eye health is communicated
to your primary care physician to allow more efficient and prompt
management of your diabetes. |
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