The cataract-lasik experts at North Shore Eye Care recommend eye screening tests

At North Shore Eye Care we recognize the importance of eye screening especially above the age of 40 for blindness prevention.  The importance of this should not be underestimated.  Diseases that commonly effect people 40 and over are glaucoma and diabetes.  With a strong family history of glaucoma or already having been diagnosed wilth diabetes screening should be performed at even an earlier age.

Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve and is almost always associated with elevated intraocular pressures.  It can,  however, occur in the presence of normal or even low pressures in rare situations.  Most all glaucoma patients have open angle glaucoma.  The angle refers to the space between the iris which forms the pupil of the eye and the cornea which is the clear lens on the surface of your eye. If the angle of the eye is dangerously narrow and opening in the iris which can be performed with a 1 minute laser procedue is indicated.  The reason why screening exams are so important is that like hypertensive heart disease symptoms usually aren't present until late in the disease.  Just this week in our office a 40 year old patient came to our office complaining of recent headaches.  On further questioning he admitted to a recent blind spot obstructing vision in one eye.  Examination confirmed advanced glaucoma with severe visual field restriction, damage to the nerve fiber layer, and marked damage to the appearanc of the optic nerve.

Likewise people with known diabetes should be screened for changes within the eye.  Diabetes affects blood vessels throughout the body.  The beauty of eye exams is that this is the one place that you can directly visualize  blood vessels.  Diabetes affects blood vessel walls leading to leakage of blood and proteinaceous material. This in turn leads to swelling and thickening of the retina with resultant loss of vision.  Later changes lead to drop out of vessels and secondary abnormal vessel formation known as neovascularization.  These vessels also cause leakage within the retina as well as traction on the retina which can lead to retinal detachment and blindness.  

The important thing to realize is that with timely  diagnosis most damage from these diseases can be prevented.