Red eyes are Dr. Smith’s favorite…and foreign bodies…and glaucoma treatment…and headaches. He has a lot of favorites.
Red Eye Exam
Fall Creek Vison Center is pleased to offer red eye examinations. Red eyes are a sign of ocular inflammation. Eyes are red and sometimes itchy and painful. You may notice discharge and have trouble with your vision. There are many different diseases that can cause red eye, including conjunctivitis, blepharitis, foreign body, scratches, allergies, and much more.
It is important to have a thorough examination that includes going over patient history to help determine what is causing your red eye. There are times when primary physicians can handle red eye, though there are some cases which you need to be seen by an ophthalmologist.
We are here for you when your primary care physician is unable to help. We should be seen if you are having vision loss with your red eye. If regular eye drops are not helping, you may need to see us so we can prescribe you topical steroids. It is also important to come to an ophthalmologist if you are have an eye injury or a possible sore on your eye. We also need to see you if you have recently had eye surgery. Anytime you feel you need to be seen by an ophthalmologist, don’t hesitate to call!
Foreign Body Removal
Here at Fall Creek Vison Center, we are proud to offer foreign body removal for our patients.
When you get something in your eye, it is very important to get it out as soon as possible. Foreign objects can damage your eye causing scratches, ulcers, and even more. It is also important not to try to remove them yourself, causing even more damage!
If you ever have something in your eye, we will happily remove it for you. We also use this time to ensure that you don’t have any damage from the foreign body.
Glaucoma Treatment
Glaucoma describes eye disorders that involve damage to the optic nerve, which sends visual signals from your eye to your brain. This loss of nerve tissue can result in loss of vision.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is one of the most common disorders. It results from an increased pressure inside the eye, which can cause damage to the optic nerve. A damaged nerve can lead to vision loss or even blindness. This pressure can build slowly and be difficult to detect in everyday life. It may start by affecting only your peripheral vision.
Pressure is not the only indicator of glaucoma, as high pressure does not always lead to glaucoma and glaucoma can develop in spite of normal eye pressure. Anyone can develop glaucoma, although it is most common in people over 40.
Acute angle closure glaucoma is not as common, but can develop much more quickly. If you are experiencing intense eye pain, redness in your eye, blurred vision, or nausea, you may need immediate medical attention. This form of glaucoma is an emergency and needs to be treated right away.
There is no way to completely prevent glaucoma, but early diagnosis and treatment can help control the condition and limit its effects. Often times medication or surgery can help reduce the damage, but glaucoma cannot be reversed. For this reason, at Fall Creek Vison Center we regularly test for glaucoma and recommend frequent eye exams. Factors such as age, race, family history, and previous medical conditions can all contribute to developing glaucoma.
At Fall Creek Vison Center, we use tonometry to measure the pressure inside your eye and pachymetry to measure corneal thickness. We also examine your field of vision and the retina of your eye.
Treatment for glaucoma may start with prescription eye drops that help manage the pressure in your eyes. Other treatments may include medication, surgery, or implants. Because treatment is ongoing, it is important that your optometrist detect any changes in your eye health. Regular eye exams are essential to managing glaucoma, which is a lifelong issue.