Eye Disease Management
Just like the rest of your body, your eyes are prone to a variety of diseases and dystrophies and our job is to thoroughly examine all aspects of your ocular health.
Our routine assessment includes diagnostic tests which are only available from specialist eye care practitioners. We routinely photograph (and image in 3D) the important structures at the back of your eye, not only to discover if there is disease present but also as a baseline for future comparison. We like to think of ourselves as hyper-vigilant on your behalf.
Below is a summary of the more common eye diseases we come across in our practice.
Cataracts
Cataracts are the most common cause for vision loss in people over 40. As we age, the lens of the eye begins to cloud making things appear blurry or hazy, a little bit like looking though frosted glass.
When sight begins to deteriorate due to cataract, vision may be improved through the use of new glasses or contact lenses, magnification, appropriate lighting or other visual aids. In more advanced cases, cataract surgery is very successful in restoring vision.
At Eyestyle we have had lots of experience in dealing with cataracts and can help guide you through the many treatment options.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the name given to a group of sight threatening eye diseases in which the optic nerve at the back of the eye is slowly destroyed. The optic nerve is responsible for relaying the visual information of what you are seeing, back to the brain. With Glaucoma, the destruction of the optic nerve occurs gradually over time and if left untreated can lead to blindness. Glaucoma has been dubbed ‘the silent thief of sight’ due to its gradual development, with some people unaware that they are losing vision.
It is critical that glaucoma is detected early in order to prevent any sight loss. Glaucoma can occur at any age and you should be screened no later than at the age of 40 or 35 if you have a family history of glaucoma.
The best way to detect glaucoma early is with regular eye examinations by an Optometrist. Eyestyle offers comprehensive glaucoma screening and is one of the very few Optometry practices in New Zealand to have a Topcon 3D OCT, the latest in diagnostic equipment used to detect glaucoma in its early stages.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration (MD) is a progressive degeneration of the macular tissue of the eye, resulting in loss of central vision.
The macula is the central part of the retina, found at the back of the eye and is responsible for processing central visual images. Right now you are using your macula to read this information.
If detected early, treatment can be given for Macular Degeneration in an effort to prevent vision loss. Certain changes can even be made to your diet and supplements can be prescribed to support your macula.
Using the latest in cutting edge technology, Eyestyle offers comprehensive screening for Macular Degeneration. We are one of very few Optometry practice’s in New Zealand that screens for Macular Degeneration using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a specially designed instrument that analyses the nerve fibres of the macula for any early sign of degeneration.
We are able to prescribe a combination treatment of vitamins, minerals and plant based anti-oxidants which has been clinically proven to reduce the risk of serious vision loss from MD by 40%.
