Eye Diseases

Information on Eye Diseases from Lehigh Valley Eye Care Associates

Eye diseases can interfere with your ability to see the world clearly and in vivid color. Your eyes are complex organs that, with a little help from your brain, covert information gathered from light into the images you see. A number of eye diseases can affect various parts of your eyes to cloud your vision, blur your sight, or even rob you of the ability to see. Some conditions develop suddenly while others come about slowly over the course of years. Fortunately, care from our local optometry professionals can help maintain your sharp, clear vision for a lifetime.

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Our Allentown, PA Eye Doctors Discuss Common Eye Diseases

Our eye doctors can detect, diagnose and treat many common eye diseases affecting people in the United States today. Each of these conditions affects various parts of the eyes, causes unique symptoms and requires different means of diagnosis and treatment.

Cataracts

Cataracts are cloudy areas in the normally clear lens of your eye. Signs and symptoms of cataracts include blurred or hazy vision, increase sensitivity to glare from headlights and other lights, and increase trouble seeing at night. You might also notice colors do not appear as bright and vivid as before.

Our eye doctors diagnose cataracts through a comprehensive eye evaluation that may include evaluation of your eye’s lens under high magnification and illumination. Further testing determines the level of sight loss. Treatment largely depends on the amount of sight loss, using special eyeglasses to reduce glare caused by moderate cataracts or surgery to replace a defective lens with an artificial one.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve that transmits messages about the light entering your eye to your brain, which converts these messages into the images you see. In most cases, glaucoma is the result of high fluid pressure inside your eye. Glaucoma presents very few or no symptoms in its early stages, and most people with the condition notice sight loss only late in the disease.

Eye doctors use a test known as a tonometer to measure pressure inside the eye to diagnose glaucoma. Treatment for glaucoma includes eye drops to lower pressure inside the eyes, lasers, or surgery.

Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration affects the macula, which is the part of the eye responsible for sharp central vision you use to drive, read, or sew. In this condition, the macula breaks down and degenerates to interfere with “straight ahead” vision. Age-related macular degeneration can develop after the age of 50. Symptoms include wavy, blurry or dark areas in your field of vision.

Our optometrists use a variety of tests, including the Amsler grid, to detect macular degeneration. There is no cure for this condition but treatment can slow its progression.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also known as pinkeye, is inflammation of the clear, thin layer of tissue covering your eye. Symptoms of pinkeye include pink or red color of the normally white part of the eye, watery eyes, itchy eyes, and discharge from the eyes. An eye doctor uses an eye exam to diagnose conjunctivitis. Treatment usually focuses on alleviating the symptoms and addressing any underlying infections.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome causes a gritty, scratchy or burning sensation in your eyes. It can also cause watery eyes and blurred vision. An optometrist diagnoses dry eye syndrome with a comprehensive eye exam and the use of special tools to assess the quantity and quality of your tears.

Eye diseases connected to systemic health

Some eye diseases may develop as the result of a problem somewhere else in the body. Diabetes, AIDS, certain thyroid disorders, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions can affect your eyes. Depending on the underlying cause, our eye doctors can diagnose and treat eye diseases connected to systemic health.

For Diagnosis and Treatment for Eye Conditions for the Surrounding Communities of Lehigh Valley, Allentown, Whitehall,  Bethlehem, and Easton, Contact Our Optometrists Today

Lehigh Valley Eye Care Associates is conveniently located at 2030 W Tilghman St #101 in Allentown, PA. We serve patients in the Lehigh Valley, Allentown, Whitehall, Bethlehem, and Easton, PA areas. Our optometrists treat a wide variety of eye conditions to improve your vision and offer 15% off the first exam for new patients. Make your appointment today by calling (610) 432-3258.

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Monday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday

8:00 am - 7:00 pm

Wednesday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Monday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed