Treating Eye and Vision Conditions at St. Luke’s
Our eyes are important to so many activities in our lives. For most of us, our eyes help us to:
- See where we are going
- Read and write
- Distinguish colors
There are many conditions that affect our eyes and vision. The doctors at St. Luke’s are experienced in diagnosing and treating eye and vision disorders, some of which disorders are listed below.
Behcet's Syndrome – Inflammation of the blood vessels that can cause swelling in the eye. This disease can cause blindness.
Cataract – Clouding of the eye’s lens in the eye that affects vision. Most commonly associated with aging, a cataract can occur in either or both eyes.
Diabetic Eye Problems – An eye condition caused by diabetes damaging the blood vessels in the retina. Symptoms can include eye pain; blurry vision; flashing lights; floating, dark or blank spots; or shrinking field of vision. Also called diabetic retinopathy, this condition can lead to blindness.
Eye Injuries – General term that covers damage to the eyes. Eye injuries be as simple as causing minor irritation to as severe as causing vision loss. They can result from work, sports, hobbies and more.
Glaucoma – Usually occurs when fluid pressure in the eye increases and damages the optic nerve. Glaucoma can lead to blindness. Learn more
Macular Degeneration – A condition that damages the central vision, which allows a person to see clearly and pick up fine detail. People with macular degeneration lose vision and have problems with everyday tasks, including driving and reading.
Retinal Disorders – These conditions affect the retina, which is a layer of tissue in the back of the eye that senses light and sends images to the brain. The macula, which offers central vision that allows a person to see clearly and pick up fine detail, is located in the middle of the retina. Retinal disorders damage the retina and macula, and can affect vision or cause blindness. Some common retinal disorders are:
- Retinal detachment – Occurs when the retina is pulled away from the back of the eye.
- Macular hole – A small break in the macula.
- Floaters – Obstructions in the field of vision
Vision Impairment and Blindness – Usually caused by age-related eye diseases, vision impairment is a condition whereby a person does not see well after surgery or even with:
- Eyeglasses
- Contact lenses
- Medicine
Age-related diseases eye that can cause vision impairment and blindness include glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts.