Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Sarnia, ON

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs when the macula of the eye becomes damaged due to age. This can cause a blurring of central vision and wavy vision in later stages.

There are two main types of AMD: wet and dry. Wet AMD is less common and occurs in the later stages of AMD. This type is categorized by abnormal blood vessels growing in the back of the eye, damaging the macula. Dry AMD is a more common form and is categorized by the macula thinning over time due to age.

Treatments for AMD are usually required for later-stage cases and include supplements, injections, or medications.

Cataracts are a condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. This commonly happens with age and can cause symptoms such as vision blurriness, haziness, and dulling of colour.

Cataract surgery is a common procedure and an effective way to correct cataracts. In this surgery, the lens of the eye that has clouded is replaced, giving new life to your vision.

Glaucoma is a disease in which increased fluid in the eye causes increased pressure and can damage the optic nerve of the eye. This can cause vision blurriness, eye pain, headaches, halo vision, and in severe cases, vision loss.

Treatments for glaucoma can include medication or laser surgery.

You may see flashes of light or small spots in your vision—those are referred to as flashes and floaters. Flashes are bursts of light that occur in the corners of the eye. Floaters are specks, spots, or squiggles in your vision, which are small specks of debris that get stuck in the jelly-like protein of the eye.

On their own, flashes and floaters are not a disease but can be a sign of a condition or eye emergency. If these do not go away on their own, book an eye exam to get your eyes checked for conditions such as retinal detachment.

Diabetic eye disease, also known as diabetic retinopathy, is when the blood vessels at the back of the eye become damaged which can cause leaking of fluid, bleeding, or swelling. This can affect people with diabetes, and if not treated may cause vision loss.

Treatments for diabetic retinopathy may include injections, laser treatments, or surgery.

Conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye, is an infection of the conjunctiva which is the thin inner membrane of the eye. This can cause redness, thick discharge, and watery eyes and is typically caused by bacteria or viruses, allergic reactions, or chemical exposure.

Uveitis is inflammation in the eye when it is fighting an infection or if your immune system is attacking the eye. This inflammation occurs in the uvea of the eye, which is the middle layer of the eye between the sclera and the retina. Uveitis can cause blurry vision, floaters, eye pain, redness, and light sensitivity.

Treatments for uveitis include eye drops, medication, injections, or implants.

Dry eye disease occurs when the eye is not producing enough healthy tears to properly lubricate the eye’s surface. You may have dry eye if your eyes are red, burning, gritty, or feel like there’s a foreign object in them. 

There are many in-office or at-home treatments for dry eye, including heat and light therapies and eye drops. 

Epiretinal membrane is a condition that affects the central part of the retina which is responsible for fine details, and tends to affect people over the age of 50. Symptoms are normally mild, but in severe cases can cause decreased vision or central vision loss, blurred vision, double vision, wavy vision, or trouble reading fine print.

The treatment option for the epiretinal membrane is a surgical procedure called vitrectomy in which fluid is removed from the eye.

Keratoconus causes an irregular shape in the cornea, causing it to bow. This can cause vision problems and needs corrective measures like glasses or contact lenses to help restore clear vision.

In more serious cases, surgery may be required to correct keratoconus.