Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management

Fighting Eye Disease Starts with a Routine Exam

Your regularly scheduled eye exam goes so far beyond finding any glasses prescription you may need. Eye exams allow us to see the hidden world inside your eye. The information we find can help protect you against eye diseases that, if left unchecked, could result in vision loss.

Take charge of your visual health and protect your eyesight with the help of our passionate team of eye care professionals. Visit us to safeguard your sight.

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Symptoms Worth Watching For

Regular eye exams are the best way to protect your sight, but book an appointment to have your eyes checked if you notice any of the following symptoms:

Sudden vision loss
Change in iris color
Crossed eyes
Dark spots in your vision
Problems with eye focus
Double vision
Eyes that itch or burn
Episodes of cloudy vision
Excess discharge or tearing
Eye pain
Floaters or flashers
New or growing bumps on the eyelid
Halos (colored circles around lights) or glare
Hazy, veiled, or blurred vision
Inability to close an eyelid
Peripheral vision loss
Sudden trouble with your night vision
New or unusual light sensitivity
Wavy or crooked appearance to straight lines

Common Eye Diseases

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is used to describe a cluster of conditions that affect the optic nerve. Many types of glaucoma show no symptoms until they have damaged your vision, which has earned the disease the ominous nickname “the silent thief of sight.”

Thankfully, routine eye exams can help us diagnose and manage glaucoma before damage sets in. At OPT Optometric, we use a test called Goldmann applanation tonometry to test the inner eye pressure and search for signs of glaucoma.

Cataracts

Cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s lens that can interfere with vision. They occur most often with age—nearly half of Americans have cataracts by age 75—but they can appear in younger people as well.

Signs of cataracts include:

Blurry vision
Dim or dull color vision
Light sensitivity
Double vision

Fortunately, cataracts can be treated. For milder cataracts, your glasses prescription may be adjusted. For more severe cataracts, there’s a surgical treatment that’s quite common and has a high success rate.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that affects the macula, a small, sensitive spot on the retina that’s responsible for the details of our vision. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), it’s the leading cause of vision loss in Americans 65 and older.

Symptoms of AMD include:

Gradual loss of clear vision
Distorted shapes & objects
A dark or empty area in the center of your visual field
Straight lines looking wavy or crooked
Dim or weakened color vision

There are 2 types of AMD: wet AMD, and dry AMD.

Dry AMD is the most common form of the disease and has very few early symptoms. It occurs when the macula thins with age. There are no treatments for dry AMD, but preventative measures like a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, and certain supplements and vitamins can help stave off AMD.

Wet AMD is less common but causes more rapid vision loss. It’s a later-stage form of the disease that results from abnormal blood vessel growth damaging the macula. There are treatments for wet AMD, like injections and photodynamic therapy.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is more commonly called pink eye. There are 3 types of conjunctivitis: infectious (from bacteria or viruses), allergic (caused by allergens), and chemical (caused by irritants).

Symptoms of conjunctivitis can look like:

Redness in 1 or both eyes
Itchy eyes
A feeling of grit in the eyes
Eye discharge (can be stringy, watery, or pus-like)
Waking up with crusted over eyes
Watery eyes

Treatments vary by type, and a visit to the optometrist can help determine what kind of conjunctivitis you have. You can manage conjunctivitis by maintaining proper eye hygiene: don’t touch your eyes, use clean linens and towels, and don’t share personal items. Don’t wear contact lenses when recovering from conjunctivitis, as they can aggravate the eye further.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes can affect your vision and lead to eye complications, including diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. Having diabetes is also a risk factor for developing other eye diseases.

Visit our diabetic eye exam page for more information about the key role your optometrist plays in your diabetes management plan.

Our Location

We are proudly located in the Mission district.

A bike lock station is located in front of our office. We are a short walk from the 24th Street/Mission BART Station, or metered street parking is available.

To ensure the best one on one experience we are currently scheduling appointments for all in office visits.