Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Stony Plain

Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions that cause progressive damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma is commonly associated with increased intraocular pressure, but not always.

There are several types of glaucoma, many of which have no early symptoms, which gives it the name “the silent thief of sight.”

Every comprehensive eye exam at Legacy Eye Care includes testing for glaucoma, regardless of age, because it can cause irreversible vision loss and blindness.

If you’re interested in learning more about glaucoma, please visit our Glaucoma page.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is, as the name suggested, a progressive eye disease related to the ageing process.

AMD causes the deterioration of the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision and allows us to see colour and fine detail. If left untreated, AMD can lead to central vision loss, preventing you from reading, writing, driving, or even recognizing faces.

There are 2 types of AMD:

• Dry AMD is the most common and accounts for 90% of AMD cases. It progresses gradually, with symptoms and vision loss developing slowly over time. It is often associated with the presence of drusen, yellow deposits under the retina.
• Wet AMD only accounts for about 10% of cases, but symptoms progress much more rapidly than they do with dry AMD. Wet AMD occurs when weak, abnormal blood vessels suddenly break and leak blood and fluid into the macula. Wet AMD is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.

Diabetes can lead to many ocular complications, including diabetic eye disease. There are 2 major forms of diabetic eye disease: diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when blood sugar levels are too high for too long. High blood sugar damages and blocks the delicate blood vessels that supply the retina, causing your eyes to grow new, abnormal blood vessels to compensate. These abnormal blood vessels will then break and leak blood and fluid into the eye, leading to a series of complications that impact your ocular health.

Diabetic macular edema is a common complication of diabetic retinopathy and occurs when the blood and fluid leaking into the eye causes swelling in the macula.

If you’re interested in learning more about how diabetes affects your eyes, visit our Diabetic Eye Exams page.

Cataracts occur when the eye’s natural lens becomes clouded over time. They are a common eye condition and are one of the most treatable, yet remain the leading cause of blindness in Canada.

In their earlier stages, cataracts can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. But as they start to prevent you from certain activities, like reading or driving, you may require cataract surgery.

To learn more about cataracts, please visit our Cataracts page.

Tonometry is a common test used to measure intraocular pressure (IOP). High IOP is often an indicator of glaucoma, but it can also be a sign of other eye conditions.

There are many different tonometers on the market, but at Legacy Eye Care, we use non-contact tonometry and the Tono-Pen®.

Non-contact tonometry, which you may know as “the air puff test,” uses a tiny puff of air to test IOP.

The Tono-Pen® is a hand-held applanation tonometer that is quick and accurate.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technology that uses light to take highly detailed, cross-sectional images of the inside eye. These images can help us find problems with the retina or optic nerve.

Fundus photography uses an advanced camera to take high-definition images of the interior surface of the eye. It can allow us to see concerns with the retina, retinal vasculature, optic disc, macula, and fundus.