Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Pittsburgh

A cataract is a dense, cloudy area that can form in the normally clear lens of your eye. A cataract begins forming when proteins in your eye form clumps that may prevent the lens from sending clear images to your retina.

The appearance of a cataract can make it harder for you to perform daily activities such as reading or driving a vehicle.

Common signs and symptoms of cataracts include:

• Blurry vision
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Double vision
• An increased sensitivity to glare

Cataracts may develop slowly, and you may not notice the vision loss until they are at an advanced stage. Regular eye exams can help monitor vision concerns and assist with early detection. There are a few underlying causes of cataracts to be aware of, such as:

• Smoking
• Ultraviolet radiation
• Diseases like diabetes
• Previous eye trauma

Cataracts can progressively worsen and eventually affect your ability to perform daily activities such as reading or driving safely. When this occurs, cataract surgery is the only option to remove them.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive age-related condition that affects your central vision when natural aging causes damage to your macula. Untreated macular degeneration blurs your vision and is one of the leading causes of blindness in people over 55.

There are 2 main types of macular degeneration:

• Dry AMD is the most common form of the disease and develops in 3 stages, early, intermediate, and late. Dry AMD progresses over several years, and while there is no cure, prevention methods such as monitoring your smoking habits and a healthy diet can help manage the disease.
• Wet AMD is the less common form of the disease but is more severe. Wet AMD symptoms appear quickly and worsen rapidly, and occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of your eyes and damage your macula. Like dry AMD, monitoring your diet and smoking habits can help manage the disease.