Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management
in Niagara Falls

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness in the world today. There are several different types of glaucoma and the exact cause of each type may vary.

Generally, glaucoma is associated with high pressure inside the eye (ocular hypertension) but can also occur when intraocular pressure is normal. Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve, which is responsible for carrying information from the eye to the brain. Usually, people suffering from glaucoma experience a gradual loss of peripheral vision which can eventually progress into blindness.

In its early stages, glaucoma does not generally present any symptoms. This is why it is such a dangerous disease: without symptoms, we are not alerted that something is wrong. As such, it is extremely important to have regular comprehensive eye examinations so that your optometrist can detect problems like glaucoma before vision loss occurs.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss among individuals over the age of 50. AMD occurs when the macula, the part of the eye that is responsible for central vision, becomes damaged.

There are 2 types of AMD: “dry” and “wet”, with the dry type being far more common out of the two. There are many different risk factors associated with AMD, which can vary from lifestyle to genetics. The most common risk factor in cases of AMD is age.

Symptoms of AMD include but are not limited to:

• Blurred vision
• Clouded vision
• Visual distortions
• Shadows or fuzzy areas in the central vision
• Straight lines appearing wavy or curved