Eye Conditions

The most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 40 is cataracts. They are also the principal cause of blindness in the world. Fifty percent of all Americans will develop cataracts by the age of 80. What is a cataract? A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens and […]

Did you know that Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States? It affects more than 3 million Americans and is expected to double by 2050. Worldwide glaucoma effects more than 80 million people. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and a good time to take control of your […]

Leslie, I have a macular hole, my friend Laura tells me over the phone after being seen at an urgent appointment with a retina specialist. Laura could usually see and read without the need for her reading glasses, but when her vision started becoming blurrier, she noticed that her glasses didn’t seem that helpful despite […]

Though it is considered a rare genetic disorder, Usher Syndrome is the main cause of deaf-blindness and the most common condition that affects both vision and hearing. Usher Syndrome is a loss of hearing and an eye condition known as Retinitis Pigmentosa. Usher Syndrome is categorized into three types: Usher type I: People with Usher […]

One of the most common symptoms for those with macular degeneration (AMD) is the loss of clear vision making it difficult to read.  For those with a more advanced stage of AMD, there may be a smudge or a black spot right in the middle of one’s vision which interferes even more.  While handheld magnifiers […]

This story begins with a fall down a flight of stairs but ends with a bit of hope. A few months back as my family gathered for a little reunion, my aunt had gone upstairs to grab a coat for one of the little kids. Minutes later she came down the dimly lit stairwell the […]

Macular degeneration is the loss of central vision – it is not blindness but rather low vision. Low vision means that a person’s vision cannot be corrected by prescription glasses or through any medical or surgical intervention. Magnifiers for macular degeneration are meant to make the most of one’s usable vision. Often people want to […]

“I just found out that I have dry age related macular degeneration (AMD). My left eye has some blurring in it and I was told to get vitamins and to eat my green veggies. I’m freaking out and worried that I’m going to lose my eyesight. I’m 61 years old. How fast does this retinal […]

Is it true that with age everyone will develop cataracts?  According to Robert Abel, Jr., MD, ophthalmologist and author of The Eye Care Revolution, that statement is a myth.  In fact, he writes,” It is possible to prevent, stabilize and even reverse cataracts through nutrition and supplementation.”   What are Cataracts? Many people compare how […]

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, FL is collaborating with Stanford University in California to determine if a photothermal laser that is non-damaging to the macula versus a sham laser therapy will benefit patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD)  who have high-risk drusen.  The goal of the study is to see if treating macular […]