Education

                           Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults.

It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.

In some people with diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision. If you have diabetic retinopathy, at first you may not notice changes to your vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes. 

                               Cataracts

The human lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. When we are young ( less than 40 normally) the lens is also capable of adjusting the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred.

A cataract is a clouding of the human lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.

When To Have Your Cataract Removed

The best time to have your cataract removed is when your quality of life has been diminished because of poor vision. If you are bothered by glare, halos around lights, or even double vision, cataracts could be the problem. Due to the advances in modern medicine, there is no reason to suffer with cataracts anymore. A cataract evaluation with your Optometrist or with an Eye Center South Cataract Specialist in Dothan, will help determine if the time is right. 334/793-2211

Setting New Standards In Cataract Care

Thanks to recent advancements in lens implant technology and surgical techniques, cataract surgery has become one of the safest, most successful – and most common – surgical procedures performed today. Each year more than one million seniors have their vision restored through cataract removal and lens implantation. Below are the latest advances in treatment options that are offered at Eye Center South.

ECS Cataract Treatment Options/Plans

1. Standard
2. Custom
3. Premium

1)Standard Cataract Surgical Care Plan includes:

• Medicare or insurance deductibles apply
• Single Focus IOL (distance or near vision only)
• Astigmatic correction available at additional cost

2)Custom Cataract Surgical Care Plan includes:

• Night Vision Benefit The New Monofocal Tecnis Aspheric Lens  has been tested and proven to provide better night vision correction for distance vision.
• Astigmatism Management
  Astigmatism is a common condition where the cornea (front layer of the eye [like the windshield of a car]) is shaped more like a football than the ideal shape of a basketball and this shape can cause vision to be blurred.
  Limbal Relaxing Incision or LRI - is a surgical procedure to reduce astigmatism and is performed if recommended by the surgeon and wished by the patient. Additional diagnostic testing is included to determine the necessary information to perform the procedure.
  Toric Lens Implant- For patients who have a more severe degree of astigmatism, the Toric Lens Implant may be the best option for an additional cost.  LRI surgery may be performed in combination with the Toric Lens Implant if recommended by the surgeon at no additional cost to the patient.
• Blended Vision (Similar to monovision with contacts)
   The Custom Cataract Surgical Care Plan is designed to help reduce your dependence on corrective eyewear for distance and intermediate or near vision.  You may still require glasses for some activities.

3)Premium Cataract Surgical Care Plan includes:

• Multi-Focal or Accommodating IOL’s allows patients to enjoy a fuller range of vision after cataract surgery by reducing or eliminating the dependency on glasses or contacts.
• Premium Cataract Care includes additional diagnostics & testing, patient counseling and Astigmatism Management.

                                  Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises. It can develop in one or both eyes. However, with early treatment, you can often protect your eyes against serious vision loss.

                     Macular Degeneration


Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail.

AMD causes no pain. In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.

AMD occurs in two forms: wet and dry.

With wet AMD, loss of central vision can occur quickly. Wet AMD is also known as advanced AMD. It does not have stages like dry AMD.

Dry AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. As dry AMD gets worse, you may see a blurred spot in the center of your vision. Over time, as less of the macula functions, central vision is gradually lost in the affected eye.

Who is at risk for AMD?

The greatest risk factor is age. Although AMD may occur during middle age, studies show that people over age 60 are clearly at greater risk than other age groups.

Other risk factors include:

• Smoking may increase the risk of AMD.
• Obesity .Research studies suggest a link between obesity and the progression of early and intermediate stage AMD to advanced AMD.
• Race. Whites are much more likely to lose vision from AMD than African Americans.
• Family history. Those with immediate family members who have AMD are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
• Gender. Women appear to be at greater risk than men.

What are the symptoms?

For dry AMD: the most common early sign is blurred vision. Some may experience a small--but growing--blind spot in the middle of their field of vision.

For wet AMD: the classic early symptom is that straight lines appear crooked. A small blind spot may also appear in wet AMD, resulting in loss of one's central vision.

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact our office for a comprehensive eye exam.