In its early stages, Age-Related Macular Degeneration may not have symptoms and may go unrecognized until it progresses or affects both eyes.  However, Age-Related Macular Degeneration can be detected in routine eye exams.

The first sign of Macular degeneration is usually distortion of straight lines.  This may progress to a gradual loss of central vision.

Other symptoms of Macular Degeneration include:

• Straight lines start to appear distorted, or the center of vision becomes distorted.
  
• Dark, blurry areas or white spots appear in the center of vision.
  
• Diminished or changed color perception.

If you experience any of these symptoms, see Dr. Vuong as soon as possible. 

(Source: WebMD.com)

Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens of the eye that can cause changes in vision.  Symptoms of Cataracts include cloudy or fuzzy vision, as well as sensitivity to glare.  Cataracts can be treated with surgery.

Not all Cataracts impair vision or affect daily living.  For those that do, common symptoms include:

• Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy, or filmy vision.
• Glare from lamps or the sun, which may be severe.
• Difficulty driving at night due to glare from headlights.
• Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription.
• Double vision.
• Second sight.
• Difficulty performing daily activities because of vision problems.

If you suffer from any of these symptoms, have severe pain in your eyes, or have constant, sudden changes in your vision, call MGH Eye Clinic immediately to discuss your treatment options.  Only an ophthalmologist can treat Cataracts and help with the decision to have eye surgery, if necessary. If you are having ANY of these symptoms, call MGH Eye Clinic today for an appointment at (360) 426-8717.

(Source: WebMD.com)

Your eye exam may take from half an hour to an hour. It will evaluate both your vision and the health of your eyes. You will have all or most of the following eye tests done:

Eye muscle movement test: To test muscle strength and control, the eye doctor will ask you to visually track a target in six different directions, to observe your eye movements. At the same time, the doctor will check the exterior eye, looking at things such as the condition of the white of the eyes and the position of your eyelids.

External exam and papillary reactions: The doctor will watch the reactions of your pupils to light and objects at close distance.

Visual acuity test: You’ll sit in front of an eye chart, with letters that get smaller as you read down each line. You will cover each eye, in turn, and using the other eye you will read aloud, going down the chart until you can’t read the letters any more.

Retinoscopy: The eye doctor may shine a light in your eyes and flip lenses in a machine that you look through while staring at a large target, such as a big “E”. Or, the doctor may use an automated machine for the same purpose. By checking the way light reflects from your eyes, the doctor gets an approximate idea of the lens prescription you need.

Refraction testing: For your exact lens prescription, the eye doctor may use the results of the computerized refractor used during retinoscopy, or he or she may fine-tune the prescription manually by asking you which is better, while flipping back and forth between different lenses as you look through them. (If you don’t need corrective lenses, you won’t need to have this test.)

Cover test: This is a two-step check for how well your eyes work together:
As you stare at a small target some distance away, the doctor will cover and uncover each eye to observe how much your eyes move, watching for an eye that turns away from the target. The test may then be repeated with a target close to you.

Slit lamp: The slit lamp magnifies and lights up the front of your eye. The eye doctor uses it to detect several eye diseases and disorders by examining your cornea, iris, lens, and anterior chamber.

Retinal examination: Using an ophthalmoscope and pupil dilation, the eye doctor examines the back of your eyes: retina, retinal blood vessels, and optic nerve head.

Glaucoma testing: This tests whether the fluid pressure inside your eyes has increased. Painless, and taking just a few seconds, the test can be done two ways:

The Applanation Tonometer test: This is the most accurate. With drops numbing your eyes, you stare directly into the slit lamp. The eye doctor barely touches the front surface of each eye with a glowing, bright blue tool to measure the pressure.

The “puff of air” or non-contact Tonometer test: While you focus on a light, you get a small “puff” of air in each eye. Resistance to the air puff indicates the pressure.

Pachymetry: This uses ultrasound to measure cornea thickness. Thin corneas can lead to falsely low pressure readings, and thick corneas can lead to falsely high pressure readings. Pachymetry may be performed if the doctor suspects glaucoma.

Pupil dilation: With your pupils fully enlarged, the eye doctor will examine the inside of your eyes with different instruments and lights. The pupil enlarging drops for this part of your eye exam start to work after about 20-30 minutes, making your eyes more sensitive to light, and blurring your vision. These effects may last for several hours or longer.

Visual field test: Your visual field is the area you can see in front of you without moving your eyes. Using one of three tests, the eye doctor “maps” what you see at the edges of your visual field, and uses this map in diagnosing your eye condition.