Eye Conditions
Eye conditions can be painful, impair your vision, or even lead to blindness. As such, regular eye exams are critical.
Wink Optometry & Eyewear provides a broad spectrum of optometric services enhanced by the latest technology to protect your eye health.
Seek treatment immediately at our offices serving Carmel Valley, La Jolla, and Del Mar, CA, if you notice any of these symptoms...
Common Signs You Are Suffering from an Eye Condition
Vision Impairment or Loss
Eye conditions often affect your vision including blurring of central vision, the formation of blind spots, difficulty seeing in low lighting, and distortion of objects' size. These symptoms may indicate a refractive error such as nearsightedness or even the onset of cataracts.
Eye Pain
Eye pain may be caused by inflammation, pressure, injury, or a foreign object in the eye. You may also experience headaches, nausea, and vomiting. If the pain is severe or ongoing, it is important to visit your optometrist as it may be a sign of a serious problem such as glaucoma.
Changes in Appearance
Redness, bulging, discoloration, or growths may indicate dry eye, an infection, or corneal disease. Conditions affecting the eyelid, like a stye or conjunctivitis, may result in a lump or swelling.
Macular Degeneration
As the leading cause of blindness in patients over age 65, macular degeneration is a serious condition. The macula is the center of the retina, and it is responsible for focusing light in the middle of the visual field. Patients suffering from this disease are typically unable to see objects in the center of their vision, such as faces and print. To test for macular degeneration, we utilize an Amsler grid. Patients with the condition often see wavy or distorted lines with gaps in their central visual field.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels in your retina, which can eventually damage the retina itself and lead to visual impairment or blindness. We recommend annual eye exams for diabetic patients, both type I and type II, to ensure that our doctors can detect the condition in its earliest stages. To slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, we may employ laser therapy.
We are focused on providing you with the highest level of eye care, regardless of your age or current visual state.
Cataracts
Cataracts are typically an age-related disease that results in a clouding of your eye’s natural lens. Vision is often blurred or distorted as a result. Treatment often involves cataract surgery, which will remove your eye’s natural lens and replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL). IOLs come in many different options to improve your visual acuity after surgery.
Glaucoma
A blockage in your eye’s drainage system can result in high intraocular pressure, which often leads to glaucoma, or damage to the optic nerve from the increased pressure. While there is no cure for the disease, with early detection, we can effectively manage the condition and slow its progression. Treatments for glaucoma typically include a combination of different medications, and, in more severe cases, surgery.
Refractive Errors
This is the most common vision problem patients suffer from, and is easily addressed through prescription glasses or contact lenses. In some cases, we can correct refractive errors through laser surgery such as LASIK or PRK.
Myopia and Hyperopia
Myopia and hyperopia are two common vision problems. Myopia, also referred to as nearsightedness, makes seeing objects in the distance more difficult. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is just the opposite, causing visual problems for patients when viewing objects up close, such as a book or computer screen. We can offer several treatments, from corrective eyewear and contact lenses to LASIK or PRK surgery.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is an age-related condition in which patients gradually lose the ability to see near objects clearly, and typically begins to present symptoms in patients over 40. The condition is caused by a marked decrease in the flexibility of the eye's natural lens to focus on objects that are near or far. With presbyopia, many patients rely heavily on reading glasses to view books, newspapers, cell phones, and computers.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a type of refractive error that is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. This condition can affect your ability to distinguish details in objects, regardless of the distance. Fortunately, we now offer contact lenses made specifically for patients with astigmatism.
Chronic Dry Eye
Chronic dry eye, or CDE, is a condition in which the eyes either do not produce enough tears, or do not produce tears that sufficiently moisturize the eye. We offer several treatment options to alleviate the frustrating symptoms of CDE at our practice.
Inflammation and Infection
If you are suffering from a swollen eye or an infection such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), we can prescribe oral or topical antibiotics to eliminate the infection. While most conditions are minor, some are more serious and require an examination and diagnosis by a professional. If you have noticed any redness or swelling around your eye, ask your doctor to examine the condition as soon as possible.
