Common Vision Problems Every vision problem - no matter how common - is an important concern for TSO Dr. Barrera because good vision is important to everyone. Routine eye exams can uncover conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism early on, allowing treatment of most refractive problems with eyeglasses, contact lenses or Laser Vision Correction. Complete eye exams at TSO can also reveal serious and sometimes hidden eye problems including cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and pediatric conditions such as amblyopia and strabismus. For many of these problems, the most effective solution is early diagnosis and treatment. Many eye problems that have no noticeable symptoms can be treated successfully, or even prevented, if they are diagnosed early by Dr. Barrera. If a medical eye specialist is needed, Dr. Barrera is partnered with skilled ophthalmologists and surgeons and will refer you to the specialist who will provide you with the best treatment possible for your particular condition. Good communucations between TSO and the specialist allow your family eye doctor to co-manage your care during your treatment. How the Eye Sees The eyes do not actually 'see' objects. Instead, they see the light that objects reflect. In the normal eye, light rays enter the eye through the cornea - the window of the eye - and are focused with the help of a crystalline lens behind the pupil at a point directly on the retina - the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eyeball. Clear vision may be achieved by refocusing light rays with the use of eyeglasses, contact lenses or Laser Vision Correction. The following are brief descriptions of the most common vision conditions: Nearsightedness ( Myopia ) is a condition which occurs when the eyeball is too long or the eye's focusing mechanism is too powerful, and light rays are focused in front of the retina. People with this condition can see clearly up close, but not at a distance.  An estimated 30% of Americans are nearsighted.  Farsightedness ( Hyperopia ) occurs when the eyeball is to short from front to back, or the eye's focusing mechanism is to weak, causing light rays to be focused behind, rather than on the retina. People with hyperopia have difficulty seeing objects close up. An estimated 50% of Americans are farsighted to some degree. Astigmatism is characterized by an irregular-shape cornea which causes light images to focus on two separate points in the eye, creating a distorted image. The results is blurry vision at all distances. Nearly 85 % of the population is affected by astigmatism. Presbyopia occurs as the eye's lens grows older and begins to lose some of the elasticity needed to switch focus between viewing near and far objects. Presbyopia actully starts at about age 5, but most people do not experience its effects until their forties. As the eye's lens continues to lose its elasticity, the eye takes longer to adjust between objects such as the road and the speedometer. Catracts Can Happen to Anyone It's not easy getting older, and developing a cataract happens to many of us as we age. While many generations accepted poor vision as an inevitable consequence of aging, advances in cateract surgery procedures and lens replacement have changed this assumption. In the United States alone, cataract surgery has become the number one surgical procedure performed on Americans 65 or older. A cataract is simply a clouding of your eyes natural lens and often affects both eyes. A cataract may cause hazy, blurred or somtimes double vision in addition to sensitivity to light and glare, and frequent eyeglass prescription changes. Cataracts may develop gradually over many years or progress rapidly. Cataracts are diagnosed by Dr. Barrera with a thorough eye examination which determines the density and location of the cataract. When cataracts begin to interfere with your normal activities, your doctor will refer you to a cataract surgeon. The surgeon will remove and usually replace the clouded lens with a permanently implanted intraocular lens. Cataract surgery is usually an outpatient procedure and you should be able to resume most of your normal activities the next day. Dr. Barrera will work with your cataract surgeon to co-manage your care before and after your surgery.  If you need eyeglasses after surgery, Dr. Barrera will examine your eyes, and will give you a prescription for corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses. Clues to Vision Problems in Children Eyesight helps us learn and discover the world more than all of our other senses combined. During the critical developmental years, however, a number of vision problems can occur that may affect a child's sight and interfere with the important early years of learning. Amblyopia, also called 'lazy eye' often develops in young children and is characterized by unclear vision. Left undetected, amblyopia can cause a lifetime of visual disability that is not correctable by glasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, children with poor vision in one eye may look and act perfectly normal. Current research demonstrates that effective treatment can take place at any age, but the length of the treatment period increases dramatically the longer the condition has existed prior to treatment. This is one of the many reasons that early childhood examinations are essential. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye which causes them to point in different directions. One eye may be directed straight ahead, while the other eye is turned inward, outward, upward or downward. This may be a constant or an intermittent problem. It can usually be detected by simply looking at the eye. Strabismus can be treated at any age. Treatment typically consists of prescription lenses and prisms and a program of vision therapy. Sugery may cosmetically straighten the eyes, but does not typically improve vision. Whether it is constant or intermittent, strabismus always requires treatment. It is a misconception to believe that it will go away by itself or that children outgrow it. The Silent Threat and Warning Signs Glaucoma - the Silent Threat Glaucoma is commonly associated with a slow, progressive loss of peripheral or side vision. Only a thorough eye examination can determine if you have glaucoma. Although there are many types of glaucoma, 'open angle' glaucoma is the most common. Loss of vision is painless and usually not noticed by the patient. It is a leading cause of blindness. The incidence of glaucoma increases with age and there is a correlation with family history, race, hypertension, diabetes, and eye pressure. Regular testing of peripheral vision and eye pressure by Dr. Barrera is important in identifying those at risk and in monitoring treatment plans. If open angle glaucoma is diagnosed, therapy usually includes drops, but may also involve specialized glaucoma surgery, including lasers. It is important to remember that control of glaucoma usually means having Dr. Barrera regularly check your eye pressure and visual field. Heed the Warning Signs of Macular Degeneration If you see a dark blur in the center of you view, or if straight lines look wavy, or if your color vision is dim, your macula - the center of the retina where the best vision is located - may be degenerating. Especially in those over 60, blood vessels can grow abnormally underneath the retina. Blood and other fluids leak out, causing the layers of the retina to separate. In the final stages of macular degeneration, patients have a large hold in the center of their vision which prevents them from being able to read, watch TV, drive safely, and recognize faces. Damage which has already occurred cannot be reversed; however, slowing down or arresting progress of the disease is possible. As with most degenerative eye conditions, early diagnosis requires a complete eye exam and special testing procedures. Ask Dr. Barrera for more information about common vision problems.