Stay on Top of Eye Diseases

In the world of eye diseases and conditions, you don’t want to wait for symptoms to show up before contacting your eye doctor. That’s because many serious conditions, including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts, begin without any symptoms.

An eye exam is essential for catching and treating vision issues early and finding solutions for other eye problems, like conjunctivitis.

Call our team at Headwaters Optometry to book an eye exam and protect your eyes.

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Common Eye Diseases & Conditions

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Macular degeneration is a disease of the macula that causes the centre of your vision to blur. It’s most commonly associated with age and is the leading cause of blindness in adults over 55 in North America.

There are no symptoms in the early stages of AMD, though your eye doctor can detect it in an eye exam. As it progresses, signs of AMD can include:

Inability to see faces, text, or other objects clearly
Darkness at the centre of vision
Straight lines looking wavy or objects appearing distorted
Loss of colour vision

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease affecting the optic nerve, which transmits information between your eye and brain. Glaucoma develops without any symptoms and, when left untreated, leads to vision loss and blindness.

Unfortunately, once glaucoma causes vision loss, it’s not possible to restore it. This is why regular eye exams are so important.

Read more about glaucoma diagnosis and treatment on our Glaucoma page.

Cataracts

Cataracts are the result of the clear lens of your eye becoming cloudy with age. When untreated, cataracts can lead to vision loss, but surgery to replace the clouded lens is a very safe and effective solution.

With mild cataracts, you likely won’t notice any symptoms. But as cataracts progress, you may experience:

Cloudy, blurry vision
Faded colour vision
Poor night vision
Lights seem too bright
Double vision

Read more about cataract treatment and diagnosis on our Cataracts page.

Floaters & Flashes

Floaters are those tiny spots, circles, or cobwebs that sometimes drift around your field of vision. Flashes are sometimes described as little shooting stars in your vision.

Most floaters, also called floating spots, are harmless and may fade over time. However, the sudden appearance of new floaters or flashes could indicate a tear in the retina or retinal detachment that requires an emergency visit to your eye care professional.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Conjunctivitis is an uncomfortable condition caused by the inflammation of the conjunctiva, tissue that covers the eyes and inner eyelids. It can be caused by an infection, allergies, or chemical irritation. All types of conjunctivitis should be assessed by an optometrist to avoid long-term damage and ensure they’re not associated with any other serious eye conditions.

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are both very contagious and can spread easily from one eye to the other and between people. Be sure to throw out any makeup, makeup brushes, contact lenses, and contact lens cases you used when you had an infection.

Conjunctivitis symptoms include:

Pinkish or reddish colouring of the white part of the eye(s)
Itching and burning eyes
Excessive tears
Swollen eyelid
Light sensitivity
Sticky, watery, or stringy discharge

Please contact us if you suspect you or your child has conjunctivitis. We’ll assess the symptoms and advise you on the best course of treatment.

Regular Eye Exams Can Preserve Your Vision

If you notice changing vision symptoms or have a family history of eye diseases, we’re happy to have you in for an exam to assess your optical health. Regular eye exams can detect eye issues long before they cause vision loss.

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Our Location

You can find us just off Broadway and John in the little blue standalone building. We are your destination for optometry in Orangeville. Book your appointment today!