An optometrist is uniquely qualified to answer many questions about eyes, eye diseases, eye care and eye health. We would like to share some of the most commonly asked questions and their answers.
During an eye exam, your eye doctor can prescribe corrective lenses for eyeglasses and contacts to help you see better. The optometrist also checks your eyes for common eye diseases that can affect your vision.
Pink eye is a type of inflammation or infection affecting the thin, clear tissue covering the whites of your eyes and the inside of your eyelids. Doctors refer to pink eye as “conjunctivitis.” There are three main types of conjunctivitis: viral conjunctivitis caused by a virus, bacterial conjunctivitis caused by bacteria, and allergic conjunctivitis caused by allergies.
Treatment for pink eye depends largely on the type of conjunctivitis you have. Treatment for viral conjunctivitis usually includes the application of a cold compress to the affected eye. Your eye doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for bacterial conjunctivitis. Treatment for allergic conjunctivitis involves allergy medications. Your optometrist will likely recommend that you wear glasses instead of contacts while you have pink eye and that you throw away existing eye makeup.
Also known as a corneal abrasion, a scratched cornea happens when something scratches the surface of your eye. You can get a corneal abrasion after something pokes you in the eye, or if you rub your eye while there is dust, sand or some other foreign body in your eye.
A scratched cornea can be serious if it is especially deep, or if it becomes infected. If you have a scratched cornea, do not rub it and do not put a patch over it – bacteria that cause infection love dark places. Instead, make an appointment to see an optometrist.
Glaucoma is a group of eye problems that can cause blindness by damaging the optic nerve, which is the nerve that carries information about the images you see to your brain. Damage usually occurs because of excessive fluid pressure inside your eye.
Optometrists use a number of tests, including dilated eye exams and tonometry, to look at your optic nerve and measure the pressure inside your eye. Treatment for glaucoma may include medications and procedures to reduce pressure.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease in which high blood sugar levels destroy the delicate blood vessels lining your retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue lining the inside of your eye. The condition affects people with diabetes. In fact, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in people with diabetes.
Eye doctors diagnose diabetic retinopathy by taking photos of your retina to look for signs of the disease. Treatment includes controlling your blood sugar levels through medication and diet, medicine to reduce swelling of your retina, or surgical procedures.
Make an appointment with an eye doctor at the Whylie Eye Care Center location most convenient to you. The optometrists are always glad to examine your eyes and answer any questions you may have.