Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in
Laguna Niguel

Age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common eye diseases that affect adults over 55.

As you grow older, AMD can deteriorate your macula, a part of your retina that provides your central vision. As the disease progresses, it can make it difficult for you to read, drive, see fine details, or recognize faces.

Smoking, obesity, diabetes, and a family history of AMD can all increase the risk of developing this disease.

There are 2 different types of this disease, both of which we can detect during a comprehensive eye exam:

Dry AMD

Dry AMD is the most common version. Dry AMD occurs when your macula slowly thins as you age, eventually leading to central vision problems or vision loss.

While doctors aren’t quite sure how this disease develops, some believe there’s a link between macular degeneration and the presence of a lipid called drusen. Drusen can form under your macula as you age, possibly contributing to AMD.

Wet AMD

Wet AMD is responsible for 90% of all AMD-related blindness and can occur if abnormal blood vessels break and leak fluid underneath the macula. Wet AMD always begins as dry AMD, but wet AMD can develop much quicker and lead to sudden vision loss.

Wet AMD is considered a medical emergency that requires medical attention.

Diabetes can increase the risk of developing various eye diseases, but some of the most common include diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.

High blood sugar can damage your retina’s blood vessels, causing them to bulge, break, and leak fluid into your retina. Both diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema can develop without early symptoms, but they can eventually cause permanent vision loss.

To learn more about diabetes and the effect it can have on your vision, please visit our Diabetic Eye Exams page.

Cataracts are an eye condition that most people develop as they age. As you grow older, proteins on your eye’s lens can clump together, causing your natural lens to become rigid and opaque.

As your lens changes, it can develop a milky, hazy color that can make it difficult for you to see clearly. Glasses or contact lenses can correct early vision problems caused by cataracts, but the only way to remove a cataract is through surgery.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the United States and worldwide.

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is an eye infection that can develop for various reasons. It affects your eye’s conjunctiva, a transparent membrane that lines your eyes and inner eyelids.

Conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses or bacteria, allergies, or chemical exposure.

Each type of pink eye can present with similar symptoms, including:

• Irritation
• Redness
• Discharge
• Wateriness
• Crustiness

If your symptoms are caused by chemical exposure, it is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Please flush your eyes with cool, clean water for 15 minutes and call our team immediately.