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Procedures
 Eye
Consultants of Northern Virginia
is a full service eye
care center designed to meet all of your eye care needs. Our
physicians and staff are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the
quality of life for our patients through the most up to date care.
Some of the procedures and services
we provide are:
Cataracts
A cloudy area in the lens of the eye
Most
people have some clouding of their eye’s natural crystalline lens
after the age of 60. This clouding is more commonly referred to
as a cataract. About 50% of Americans in the age group of 65-74
have at least one cataract, and about 70% of those age 75 and over
have cataract)s. Simply stated, when the eye’s lens becomes
cloudy, light cannot be properly focused on the retina; thus, visual
acuity decreases. The only “cure” for poor vision due to
cataract is removal of the eye’s lens and implantation of a new,
man-made focusing device called an intraocular lens (IOL).
Many people with cataracts may
experience symptoms such as:
-
Cloudy,
fuzzy, foggy vision
-
Difficulty
in seeing to drive, especially at night
-
Trouble
seeing to do close work
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Problems
seeing television
-
Colors
that seem dull, faded, not as bright
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Frequent
changes and a stronger glasses prescription
-
Haloes
around lights
-
Bothersome
glare
-
A
milky white spot or cloudy spot visually apparent in the center of
the eye
Diagnosing
a cataract
Most cataracts
develop as part of the aging process, but may be present at birth
(congenital) or result from an injury, systemic disease (diabetes), or
steroid use. Using
specialized equipment, cataracts as well as other eye diseases are
diagnosed during a complete eye examination by your physician.
The mere presence of a cataract does not indicate the need for
surgery. Some cataracts
may be slow growing, and vision may be corrected by stronger glasses
for a period of time. Some
cataracts develop more rapidly than others, and your eye doctor can
monitor changes in vision and cataracts with periodic eye
examinations.
Glaucoma
 Glaucoma,
the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the United States,
is an eye disease that can lead to a permanent loss of vision. This
disease has been labeled the “Sneak Thief of Sight” because in its
most typical form, there are no symptoms. No pain, no swelling, no
redness. Patients with glaucoma may not notice symptoms until vision
has been permanently lost.
Simply, glaucoma is
elevated intraocular pressure of the eye. Every eye has fluid,
called aqueous humor, that is constantly being produce as well as
constantly being drained. In a glaucomatous eye, this fluid does not
drain properly resulting in an increase in the pressure inside the eye.
This increased pressure destroys vision gradually, usually starting with
the peripheral (side) vision, and if left untreated, will lead to eventual
blindness by destroying the optic nerve. With early diagnosis and
treatment, useful vision may be preserved.
There are four types of
glaucoma:
-
Chronic.
This is the
most common type of glaucoma, and occurs slowly over time. There
is no pain, redness or swelling or other symptoms.
-
Acute.
This happens
suddenly and is very painful. Victims of an acute glaucoma
attack may complain of serious headache and vomiting. Medical
intervention is needed immediately to bring the pressure under control
to prevent further vision loss.
-
Congenital.
Present at birth, congenital glaucoma is a
rather rare condition.
-
Secondary.
Occurring as a
result of systemic disease such as diabetes, from medications such as
steroid, or from an eye injury.
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