Early Diagnosis is Key

An essential step in eye disease prevention is having annual eye exams. During an exam, we’ll not only determine your prescription but also check for signs of eye disease. Many eye diseases show little or no symptoms until vision loss is already occurring, so regular visits to our eye doctors are very important.

As we age, our likelihood of developing eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration increases. Be proactive about managing these eye conditions and book an appointment at LaFerla Family Eye Care today.

Understanding Cataracts

Cataracts are a naturally forming eye disease that typically develops as you age. When proteins begin to clump within your eye’s lens it creates a cloudy, opaque effect on your vision. This can eventually lead to problems doing daily activities.

Lens replacement surgery is a reliable and common solution for seeing clearly again. The natural lens is replaced by an artificial one during a short and simple procedure. During an eye exam, our eye doctors can determine if surgery is the right choice to clear you of cataracts.

Understanding Macular Degeneration

The part of the eye responsible for central vision is the macula, located right in the center of the retina. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition related to a breakdown of the macula, which more commonly occurs after the age of 55.

Blurred vision and central black spots are common symptoms of AMD, but these may only become apparent after the disease has already caused damage. If AMD is occurring, the best answer is the trained eye of an optometrist to recommend treatments.

Wet Macular Degeneration

When left untreated, this disease can develop into the more serious wet macular degeneration. This condition is a medical emergency that can result in rapid vision loss. These damages are irreversible, so having annual eye exams is paramount in managing all types of macular degeneration.

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Understanding Glaucoma

Glaucoma describes a whole set of eye diseases that negatively affect the optic nerve. This is often due to increased pressure in the eye, but can occur for a number of reasons. The presence of excess fluid, known as aqueous humour, in the eye can lead to dangerous consequences.

If glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it will continue to reduce your field of vision, often leading to blindness. So help us keep your eyes protected with regularly scheduled appointments.

Open-Angle Glaucoma

This is the most common type of glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma occurs when the aqueous humour is unable to drain properly because of an angle blockage between the iris and the cornea causing increased intraocular pressure. There are treatments that can prevent optic nerve damage and sight loss, but early intervention is crucial.

Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is more rare and occurs when the angle between the iris and the cornea is too shallow. When the gap between the iris and the cornea becomes too narrow, it prevents the aqueous humour from draining, increasing eye pressure.

This type of glaucoma typically occurs suddenly and without warning. Symptoms include:

Sudden blurring of vision
Eye pain
Intense headache
Nausea
Vomiting

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is an ocular emergency. If you experience the symptoms listed, you should seek medical attention immediately. Call our office and request an emergency appointment or proceed to the nearest emergency room.

Normal Tension Glaucoma

Normal-tension glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve becomes damaged despite the eye’s drainage system fully functioning and normal pressure in the eye. Although there are treatments available to slow the progression of optic nerve damage and prevent vision loss, this requires early detection and intervention.

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Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes increases the risk of eye disease due to abnormal glucose levels in the blood. High blood sugar can damage your retina’s blood vessels and prompt the forming of new leak-prone blood vessels, leading to diabetic retinopathy.

The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely it is that diabetic retinopathy will occur. Left unattended it can lead to blindness. Learn about our diabetic eye exam process and how we monitor this disease by visiting our Diabetic Eye Exams page.

Symptoms to Consider

Many eye diseases only begin to show obvious symptoms after damage has already occurred to your vision. So it is essential to pay attention to signs that could affect your eyes. Getting treatment right away can make all the difference in preserving your sight.

If you experience any of these symptoms regularly, it’s best to contact us immediately.

Flashes

Sudden flashes of light in your field of vision should not be occurring regularly. Random patterns of light flashes could indicate problems with the retina and potentially posterior vitreous detachment. Seek medical attention when floaters accompany flashes.

Floaters

When fibres of the eye jelly drift across your field of vision, they are called floaters. As an occasional occurrence, these thin dark strands are not usually a threat, but a sudden eruption of floaters can indicate a potential eye emergency.

Chronic Dry Eye

Dry eye syndrome can occur for many reasons and is not necessarily dangerous on its own. Chronic symptoms can indicate more serious eye conditions. Learn more about dry eyes and how we treat them on our Dry Eye Therapy page.

Corneal Shape Changing

Keratoconus is a condition that occurs when the eye’s cornea changes into a cone shape. This most often happens between the ages of 10 and 25. If sudden and rapid changes in the cornea occur after this period, it may indicate a serious eye condition.

Itchy, Red, Burning Eyes

The sensation of constantly burning, red, or itchy eyes may indicate conjunctivitis (pink eye), an infection that could be contagious. These symptoms may also indicate dry eye syndrome. Come see one of our optometrists to assess your symptoms and find instructions for the next steps.

Modern Equipment

To properly and accurately monitor your eye health, and to diagnose any issues that may be occuring, we utilize specialty diagnostic equipment, and regularly commit to modernizing the testing equipment we have to meet the highest standards available.

OCT

To get the best-available picture of the health inside of your eye, we utilize the Zeiss Cirrus 500 optical coherence tomography (OCT) device. This state-of-the-art technology includes OCT scanning, live OCT fundus imaging, reference databases for macula, retinal nerve fiber layer, optic nerve head, and glaucoma. It also assesses the anterior segment module to aid in the fitting and management of scleral lenses.

Keeping Your Eyes Safe

There is a long list of eye conditions that can negatively affect vision. But there are certain common ailments that account for more blindness than others. These diseases are always best managed with early diagnosis and immediate treatment.

During a comprehensive eye exam, we screen for various eye conditions, including glaucoma, AMD, and cataracts. Our modern diagnostic equipment helps detect an eye disease at its earliest, keeping your vision safe from further damage.

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Our Location

Wanna see what we are all about?

Located right off of NW Barry Rd in Kansas City, our office is a balance between clinical, high tech, high fashion, and your friend’s cozy living room.

Where to park?

LaFerla Family Eye Care is located right across the street from Park Hill High School in Kansas City. There is ample of parking right in front of the entrance of our establishment.