The Importance of Annual Eye Exams

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Ben Franklin
Consider these facts:
• Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over age 60, affecting 2 million individuals.
• Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in U.S. adults, affecting more than 9 million people.
• By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have cataracts or cataract surgery.
• About 2.3 million Americans suffer from glaucoma. Two million more have the disease but don’t know it.
We all know to see a doctor if part of our body hurts or doesn’t work right, but many serious eye conditions don’t cause symptoms. For example, there can be substantial loss of peripheral vision in glaucoma, which may be imperceptible. An auto accident occurring as a result of not seeing a curb or car to the side may be the first sign.
There is an epidemic of diabetes in our society. Diabetic eye disease can be present for years without symptoms. A routine eye exam can diagnose the problem and initiate treatment BEFORE significant vision loss occurs.
Cataracts are an almost universal aging event. Cataract surgery is a simple 10-minute outpatient procedure. Newer technologies, e.g. multifocal and toric implants, and new methods to measure and evaluate the eye pre-operatively further refine the already excellent outcomes provided by modern small incision, no stitch surgery.
While once untreatable, the more severe ‘wet’ type of Macular Degeneration is now routinely treated with medications that can stem the tide of vision loss. New treatments for the ‘dry’ form are just over the horizon.
Early detection is the key. To schedule an eye exam, contact Dr. Stephen H. Uretsky of Coastal Jersey Eye Center, a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in a wide range of eye problems including prescribing glasses and contact lenses, treatment of glaucoma and many other eye conditions and state-of-the art surgical and laser procedures. Coastal Jersey Eye Center has offices in Cape May Court House and Linwood. For more information, visit www.CoastalJerseyEye.com or call 609.927.3373.