Prevalent Ocular Conditions

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Amblyopia, commonly known as 'lazy eye', is the loss or lack of development of central vision in one eye. The vision of one eye is reduced because it does not work properly with the brain, so one eye becomes favored over the other. Lazy eye is the most common cause of visual impairment in children, usually developing before the age of 6. Various treatments are available to correct amblyopia, which can be detected at an annual comprehensive eye exam. Early diagnosis of amblyopia is important to increase the chance of a full recovery. The American Optometric Association recommends that children receive a comprehensive eye exam by 6 months of age and again at age 3.

Astigmatism is a vision condition that causes blurred vision due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens in the eye. The change in shape of the cornea or lens prevents light from being focused properly on the retina, causing blurred objects at all distances. Astigmatisms are very common and easily corrected for with prescription glasses or contact lenses during a comprehensive eye exam.

Cataracts are a progressive clouding or opacification of the normally clear lenses of the eyes. While cataracts are typically due to age-related exposure to UV or physical trauma, additional common risk factors include smoking and alcohol consumption. The treatment of cataracts is based on the level of visual impairment they cause; minimal impairment may only require a temporary eyeglass prescription and a recommendation of increased lighting during reading. After a comprehensive eye exam, a treatment plan can be made in closer conjunction with the status of the condition. Both pre-operative and post-operative visits are held with Dr. Packer, allowing him to closely monitor the progress of healing and ocular health throughout the process.   

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that cause progressive damage to the optic nerve head. This damage affects the peripheral nerve fibers first causing significant loss in the peripheral vision of patients.  The most common form of glaucoma is associated with the increased intraocular pressure of the eye. This increase in pressure may cause progressive damage to the optic nerve and loss of nerve fibers. Dr. Packer can detect an increase in fluid pressure with our iCare Tonometer, which replaces the dreaded "puff of air" test. Also, visual field testing is necessary to manage this ocular condition.  Risk factors for glaucoma include advancing age, family history, ethnicity, physical trauma to the eye, and corticosteriod use.

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a vision condition in which distant objects are usually seen clearly, while close objects struggle to come into focus. Common signs of hyperopia, in addition to having difficulty focusing on near objects, include eye fatigue, eye strain, headaches, or aching eyes after prolonged concentration. An annual comprehensive eye exam includes testing for farsightedness. Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses can correct farsightedness by altering the way light rays enter and are focused in your eye.

Keratoconus is an corneal disorder where progressive thinning or bulging occurs. This irregular shape of the cornea prevents light entering the eye from being focused properly, resulting in distortion of vision. Keratoconus can easily be detected by Dr. Packer with the use of corneal topography and a microscopic examination. In mild cases, the fitting of soft contact lenses can correct for the vision distortion; while in moderate to severe cases Dr. Packer must fit gas permeable contacts or custom hybrid contact lenses to best suit the patient's needs. 

LASIK, laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a refractive correction surgery for the treatment of myopia (nearsightedness). LASIK reshapes the underlying layer of corneal tissue to reduce the cornea's curvature, thus improving the vision of distant objects. We work hand-in-hand with one of the most experienced LASIK surgeons in Austin and provide all pre- and post-operative appointments and consultations. 

Age-Related Macular Degeneration is a prevalent eye disease affecting the macula, the center of the light sensitive retina in the back of the eye, causing loss of central vision. Other common symptoms include a distortion of straight lines, and loss of clear color vision. In its early stages signs of macular degeneration can go unnoticed. During each comprehensive exam,  a variety of tests will be conducted in order to determine if any signs of AMD are present; particularly the Optomap Daytona retinal imaging system and visual field testing.

Dry eye syndrome is a condition in which a person doesn't have enough quality tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing clear vision. Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem, particularly in older adults.

Ptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid due to muscular damage or poor neuromuscular transmission to the affected muscle. Ptosis is not a disease itself, but rather a symptom of an underlying condition. Ptosis is especially important to diagnosis and treat as soon as possible in children because of an increased risk of developing a lazy eye. The underlying reason for seeing ptosis in a patient will determine the treatment plan.

Strabismus is a condition in which both eyes do not look at the same place at the same time. It occurs when an eye turns in, out, up, or down and is usually caused by poor control of one or more of the six eye muscles surrounding the eye.  It can also be due to a large uncorrected amount of prescription.  Maintaining proper eye alignment is important to avoid seeing double, for good depth perception, and to prevent the development of poor vision in the turned eye. If the eye turning becomes constant and is not treated, it can lead to permanent reduction of vision in one eye, a condition commonly known as amblyopia, or lazy eye. Treatment options available for strabismus include eyeglass or contact lens correction, prism lenses, and/or vision therapy.