There are many ocular diseases that, if left untreated, can lead to vision loss and even blindness. Early detection is key, and routine comprehensive eye exams allow our optometrists to detect and track changes in your vision that may indicate a serious ocular condition is forming.
At Bettner Vision, we have the knowledge, experience, and technology to detect, diagnose, and successfully manage ocular diseases. Book your eye exam today.
Common ocular diseases diagnosed and managed by our team of optometrists and ophthalmologists include:
AMD occurs when the macula, the central portion of the retina responsible for color vision and detailed sight, deteriorates, causing vision loss, distorted vision, and blind spots. As this disease progresses, central vision is slowly lost.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AMD is the leading cause of permanent impairment of reading and close-up vision among people aged 65 years and older. They also estimate the number of people with AMD will reach 2.95 million by 2020.
Diabetic eye disease refers to eye-related disorders that can form when there is an excess of sugar in the blood caused by diabetes. These include:
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina, causing them to swell and leak blood or fluid into the retina. A severe condition, diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness if not diagnosed and managed quickly and effectively.
Diabetic macular edema develops when fluid builds up in the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision, and causes swelling and blurry vision. If untreated, diabetic macular edema can lead to permanent vision loss.
Keratoconus is a condition that results from an irregularly shaped cornea, which prevents light from focusing correctly on the retina. When a patient has keratoconus, the usually round cornea becomes thin and cone-shaped, causing blurred or distorted vision that can not be easily corrected with glasses.
The Bettner Vision Keratoconus & Scleral Lens Institute specializes in treating keratoconus and fitting patients with scleral lenses that can help manage this condition.
Glaucoma is a group of progressive disorders that damage the optic nerve, the part of the visual system responsible for transmitting information from the eyes to the brain.
The optic nerve is often damaged due to ocular hypertension, or a higher than normal pressure inside the eye that occurs when excess fluid builds and cannot properly drain. However, there are many forms of glaucoma, including normal-tension glaucoma, which develops when intraocular pressure is within normal range.
Glaucoma is asymptomatic at first, meaning you may have already suffered permanent vision loss when symptoms start to appear. That’s why all comprehensive eye exams performed at Bettner Vision include glaucoma screening and optic nerve assessment, using the latest modern eye care advancements.
Cataracts develop when the proteins in the lens of the eye become opaque over time. Cataracts typically form due to age but can occur earlier in some cases due to injury, disease, and genetic disposition. Symptoms include blurry vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, a perceived dimming of colors, and increased sensitivity to glare. Fortunately, cataracts are treatable with cataract surgery performed by our ophthalmologists.
Floaters in your vision are small collagen fibers floating around in the vitreous (the clear, gel-like fluid that fills your eyeball). As we age, the vitreous becomes less viscous, allowing them to float more freely and making them more noticeable.
However, if you experience sudden flashes of light, accompanied by a shower of floaters, you may be experiencing a retinal tear or detachment.
Please call our office immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. A retinal detachment is a very serious eye emergency that can lead to permanent vision loss if not promptly treated.
Our Colorado Springs practice is conveniently located in the Marketplace at Briargate, beside Sushi Rakkyo and the T-Mobile store.
At Bettner Vision, our keratoconus and scleral lens institute specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with keratoconus – a progressive eye disorder that results in the thinning of the cornea.
Keratoconus & Scleral Lens Institute
Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine that specializes in eye anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eye.
Ophthalmology
Vision therapy, sometimes known as orthoptics, is akin to physical therapy for the eyes and brain. It is a non-surgical, customizable set of exercises and activities that aim to resolve symptoms that interfere with visual abilities, motor skills, and brain function.
Pediatric & Binocular Vision Therapy
Our eyes and brain are inseparably linked. Impulses continuously travelling back and forth via the optic nerve ultimately result in what we see and how we see it.
Neuro-Optometry
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