Eye diseases that threaten our eyesight. Is there a chance of early detection?

Eye diseases can take years to develop. Therefore, like other diseases, they should be detected as early as possible. This allows for quick implementation of treatment and, above all, prevents the development of serious complications, including blindness. How can the most serious eye diseases be detected?

The most common eye diseases

In recent decades, there has been an increase in cases of serious eye diseases. Most of them appear in people over 40-45 years of age, but this does not mean that they cannot affect much younger people as well. The most common conditions are glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy.

Glaucoma

The reasons for the development of glaucoma have not yet been clearly understood. In the initial stage, the disease may not have specific symptoms. Loss of the peripheral (lateral) field of vision often occurs in the later stages of advancement, which, as it develops, also includes the central part. Over time, if not treated, the disease can lead to blindness.

Risk factors include

1. age 60+,
2. genetic load,
3. high myopia,
4. long-term use of certain drugs (e.g. steroids),
5. chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes),
6. mechanical injuries of the eyeball,
7. uveitis
8. smoking tobacco,
9. alcohol abuse.

Remember that glaucoma is an incurable disease. However, early detection and implementation of appropriate treatment can inhibit the progression of the disease, allowing the vision to be preserved. However, the applied therapy will not eliminate the previously created vision defects. Hence, time is so important, i.e. the earliest detection of the disease.

Cataract (cataract)

It is most common in the elderly, and its first symptom is clouding of the lens and deterioration of vision. This is due to the gradual changes in its structure, and this condition is aggravated by the phenomenon of its discoloration. The symptoms of cataracts include the impression of hazy vision and weaker color perception (they become dull, faded) double vision, as well as observation of glare around light sources (e.g. headlights).

The risk factors are:

1. past eye surgeries,
2. some diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity,
3. taking certain medications (e.g. steroids in various forms),
4. mechanical injuries of the eyeball,
5. uveitis
6. lifestyle – smoking, alcohol abuse, etc.,
7. exposure to radiation of various kinds.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

It generally occurs over the age of 50 and is the leading cause of blindness in this age group. Then, the macula is damaged, which under physiological conditions conditions sharp central vision. Its degeneration causes the effect of a blurred field of view, and the image itself becomes dark and distorted.

There are two types of AMD: the dry form and the wet (wet) form. The former is more common (8 out of 10 patients on average), and its clinical symptoms are macular thinning and retinal deposits. It can develop practically asymptomatic for a long time. The latter, in turn, is much rarer, but more serious in its course (it can lead to blindness sooner). It is based on the development of abnormal blood vessels under the retina, which can cause bleeding and exudation.

Disturbing symptoms that may indicate the development of AMD are, inter alia, impression of seeing distorted objects (reduced or enlarged), paler colors, and the appearance of a dark spot in the field of view.

The risk of developing AMD is increased by:

1. age,
2. genetic factors,
3. hypertension,
4. lifestyle (obesity, lack of physical activity, improper diet, too much exposure to sunlight, stimulants).

Diabetic retinopathy

It is a common complication of both type I and type II diabetes. In its course, damage to the blood vessels of the eye’s retina is observed. Retinopathy may be asymptomatic initially, but over time your vision deteriorates and, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. It is very important to systematically monitor the level of glucose, as well as glycosylated hemoglobin, as well as blood pressure.

Increased risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is observed in the case of

1. untreated diabetes in pregnancy,
2. kidney disease
3. high blood pressure,
4. high cholesterol
5. use of stimulants. 

Eye diseases – over 3 million Poles suffer

In Poland, about 3 million people of all ages suffer from serious ophthalmic diseases (or are at risk of them). Unfortunately, only about half of them are aware of this and are regularly examined for pathological changes and are under constant ophthalmological care. And it turns out that as much as 80 percent. cases of blindness could be avoided by early prophylaxis.

Most eye diseases are caused by the coexistence of diseases referred to as civilization, mainly diabetes, obesity and arterial hypertension. Overweight and the use of an inappropriate diet (rich in saturated fats, highly processed products, with a high glycemic index and fast-food meals) are also often underestimated problems. Changing your lifestyle and regular checkups will allow you to detect diseases (not only eyesight) at an early stage. Thanks to this, the implemented treatment will be more effective and its effects faster. The greatest benefit of systematic preventive examinations is, first of all, the avoidance of vision loss – the most important of human senses.

Eye screening should be performed more frequently in people aged 40-45. age.

Better to prevent than to cure

Many people, at risk of developing severe eye diseases, avoid regular checkups. This is usually associated with long queues to specialists, the requirement to obtain a referral from a general practitioner in the first place or high prices for private visits, and in recent months, also the fear of infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus. One of the prophylactic solutions is a visit to an optometrist who will perform a screening assessment of the condition of the eye in terms of serious eye diseases. They see in offices in optician salons, where a referral is not required.

Advanced technological medical equipment, artificial intelligence, as well as the automation of the analysis of results make preventive assessment of the visual condition now available, and at the same time it is fast and accurate.

It should be remembered that many diseases, which often do not give any or characteristic symptoms at the initial stage of development, and only regular check-ups may allow their early detection.

Systematic eye examinations are the basis of prophylaxis. The most important parameters to be controlled are:

1. intraocular pressure (tonometry),
2. assessment of the fundus (allows to detect changes in the optic nerve),
3. lens translucency assessment.

One of the solutions is the OPTISKAN service, for which you can sign up at Vision Express or at visionexpress.pl. Screening the risk of serious eye diseases (AMD, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts) OPTISKAN gives a chance for its early detection and indication of the necessity of ophthalmological consultation, and in the next stage – implementation of diagnostic tests and appropriate treatment, if necessary. The OPTISKAN service is available in over 150 Vision Express stores all over Poland and has already been used by over 85 patients.

The OPTISKAN procedure takes about 7-10 minutes and does not require any prior preparation. It is completely painless and non-invasive (no eye drops are required). Advanced algorithms analyze the image of the central part of the retina on the basis of high-quality digital images of the fundus.

The greatest advantages of modern screening are:

1. quick assessment of the risk of developing the most serious eye diseases,
2. credibility of the results obtained (automatic analysis of the results, preparation of a full report by a specialist),
3. relatively low cost,
4. possibility of combining screening assessment with refractive examination,
5. non-invasiveness,
6. no need for anesthesia (completely painless procedure).

The OPTISKAN service is available to people over 18 years of age, and is especially recommended to patients over 40 years of age.

Find out if the OPTISKAN service is available in your showroom. Contact our Advisor directly at the nearest Vision Express optician or check it out at visionexpress.pl.