Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Winnipeg

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause optic nerve damage. This damage is caused by abnormally high pressure in your eye. If the optic nerve is damaged, patients could experience severe vision loss or blindness.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over 60. However, vision loss can be slowed or even prevented if diagnosed early. Since glaucoma rarely shows symptoms before damage is done, regular eye exams are the best way to identify it. Once identified, patients will likely require treatment for the rest of their lives.

Common symptoms of glaucoma include:

• Patchy blind spots
• Tunnel vision
• Severe headache
• Eye pain
• Nausea
• Halos around lights
• Eye redness

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss for older adults. This disease causes blurriness in a patient’s central vision. AMD typically occurs because of age-related damage to the macula, which is part of the retina and controls the sharpness of images.

Before AMD starts to damage your eyes, having routine eye exams is your best defence against this condition. To prevent AMD, maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise can be effective. If the disease worsens, treatment methods are available.

While AMD doesn’t present symptoms early on, symptoms of AMD at later stages include:

• Blurred vision
• Trouble seeing in low light
• Colours start to look dull
• Trouble seeing straight
• Seeing blank spots

Commonly known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva (the membrane between your eyelid and eyeball). You may already know that conjunctivitis makes the eye appear red or pink.

As conjunctivitis is contagious, an early diagnosis and treatment can help limit the spread. This disease is rarely damaging to your vision—it only creates irritation.

Symptoms:

• Redness
• Itchiness
• Gritty feelings
• Discharge or crust
• Tearing

Cataracts cloud the area of your normally clear lens. The lens focuses light that enters your eye onto your retina, allowing you to see a clear image. However, once clouded, it can be difficult for patients to see without eyewear or strong lighting.

These clouded lenses often develop from ageing or a serious injury. Notably, patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing cataracts.

If not managed, cataracts will continue to grow, taking over more of the lens. If serious enough, cataracts can be removed with surgery.

Common symptoms of cataracts include:

• Clouded, blurred, or dim vision
• Difficulty with vision at night
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Trouble reading
• Seeing halos around lights
• Frequent changes in prescription
• Fading or yellowing of colours
• Double vision in a single eye