Comprehensive Eye Exams
Routine eye exams are a vital part of your overall health. Many eye conditions have no symptoms before they become serious, but yearly preventative care from our office can detect and treat these conditions early. Dr. Hill and his staff take the time to get to know you, your eye care history, and your vision needs. Dr. Hill provides expert care and advice, carefully covers all your vision options, and schedules any necessary follow up appointments in a timely manner.
Glaucoma Management
Glaucoma is a complicated disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss. It is the second leading cause of blindness.
Most people will not experience symptoms of glaucoma, nor will they have any early warning signs. Open-angle glaucoma can cause a gradual permanent loss of vision if it is not diagnosed and treated. The disease develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable vision loss for many years. It usually responds well to medication, especially if caught early and treated.
Dr. Hill can diagnose and manage your glaucoma in our office with specific testing including routine pressure checks, OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), and visual field testing. If you and Dr. Hill decide your treatment should include surgery, he can co-manage your individual needs with the appropriate surgeon.
Diabetic Management
Diabetic retinopathy is an ocular manifestation of diabetes. It’s a systemic disease that can affect up to 80 percent of all patients who have had diabetes for 10 years or more. The longer a person has had diabetes, the higher his or her chances are of developing diabetic retinopathy. Despite these intimidating statistics, research indicates that at least 90 percent of new cases could be mitigated through proper care. Education on diabetic eye disease and retinopathy is especially important because it is often preventable or treatable. Unfortunately, it can go unnoticed in the early stages. As the disease progresses, permanent vision loss is a real possibility if a patient does not receive treatment.
There are multiple forms of diabetic retinopathy, and only your doctor can determine your particular form.
Dr. Hill can monitor any changes in your retina with annual dilated retinal exams. He can take retinal photos and compare any changes to previous photos. If any diabetic retinopathy occurs, Dr. Hill can refer to a retinal surgeon and co-manage the treatment.
Cataract Management
A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye that leads to a decrease in vision. Left untreated, it is the most common cause of blindness. Cataracts are conventionally treated with surgery. Vision loss occurs because opacification of the lens obstructs light from passing through and focusing on to the retina at the back of the eye.
Treatment for cataracts is safe and effective. The most common form of treatment is surgery. In fact, by age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. Cataract surgery replaces the lens inside an affected eye and restores clear vision. Other treatment options may be possible, but cataract surgery is common and very helpful for many people.
Annual eye exams will enable our team to make appropriate recommendations and monitor changes to provide ongoing advice and treatment for your best vision and eye health.
When Dr. Hill and the patient decide it is time for cataract surgery, we will make the patient an appointment with a cataract surgeon. Dr. Hill will work with the surgeon and co-manage the patient’s care to get the best visual outcome possible.
Eye Allergies & Dry Eye Syndrome
Allergies and dry eye syndrome are two of the most common eye conditions, both of which have been on the rise. Causes include increased pollution levels, medication side effects and changing hormone levels. Fortunately, we have many treatment options including a variety of over the counter artificial tears and other medications. Symptoms include dry, itchy, watery, and/or red eyes that may feel gritty or feeling as if there is something in your eyes. Left untreated, these can cause intermittent vision reduction and eye infection. In extremely severe cases, they can cause loss of vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule an eye exam with us today.
Age-related Macular Degeneration
Although the cause is still unknown, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) leads to the loss of central vision. We advise proper nutrition and wearing sunglasses that filter UV and HEV (Blue) light to reduce the risk of this sight-threatening condition which is becoming more common as the Baby Boomer population ages. In fact, AMD is the leading cause of blindness over the age of 55. We can often detect the early signs of AMD during a dilated eye exam and proactively preserve your best vision. Although some types of AMD have limited treatment, other types can be treated. If treatable AMD is detected, Dr. Hill will make the patient an appointment with the proper retinal surgeon and co-manage the patient for the best visual outcome.
Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye
Conjunctivitis is commonly known as “pink eye.” Pink eye gets its name because a classic symptom of the name is reddening of the white of the eye, causing it to appear pink. . There is often discharge, which can lead to crusting around the eyelids and lashes. The eyes can be itchy or feel scratchy. There are three different types of conjunctivitis including bacterial, allergic or viral. Treatment for conjunctivitis varies by type but may include prescription eye drops or ointment. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can spread easily so precautions such as regular hand-washing, avoiding contact with your eye, and making sure not to share items such as towels, eye make up, and contact lens cases are important. Dr. Hill can detect and treat your specific type of conjunctivitis by using a high powered microscope called a slit lamp.
Eye Injuries
Dr. Hill is specially trained in foreign body removal from the eye. If a foreign body is imbedded in either the cornea (clear part covering the iris and pupil) or the sclera (white portion of the eye), you should NOT try to remove it yourself. A scratched cornea or a foreign object in the eye are both conditions that need to be treated by an eye doctor. Attempts to remove foreign bodies without the correct equipment and skill can make the problem worse.
Lasik Management
We believe Lasik is a great surgical option for vision correction. We can help you decide if it is a good option for you. We want each patient to be well educated when making any eye care decision. We can look at each patient’s type of correction, eye health, and expectations and decide what is the best choice for him or her.
Vitreous Floaters
Floaters occur in the vitreous humor in the posterior part of your eye. They are little “cobwebs” or specks that float about in your field of vision. They are small, dark, shadowy shapes that can look like spots, thread-like strands, or squiggly lines. They move as your eyes move and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly. They do not follow your eye movements precisely and usually drift when your eyes stop moving.
Most people have floaters and learn to ignore them; they are usually not noticed until they become numerous or more prominent. Floaters can become apparent when looking at something bright, such as white paper or a blue sky.
Sometimes a section of the vitreous pulls the fine fibers away from the retina all at once, rather than gradually, causing many new floaters to appear suddenly. This is called a vitreous detachment, which in most cases is not sight-threatening and requires no treatment.
However, a sudden increase in floaters, possibly accompanied by light flashes or peripheral (side) vision loss, could indicate a retinal detachment. A retinal detachment occurs when any part of the retina is lifted or pulled from its normal position at the back wall of the eye.
A retinal detachment is a serious condition and should always be considered an emergency. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent visual impairment or even blindness in the eye.
Those who experience a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light in peripheral vision, or a loss of peripheral vision should have a dilated eye exam as soon as possible.
By using a thorough retinal evaluation, Dr. Hill can determine if your issue is a benign vitreous detachment which requires monitoring or a more serious retinal detachment that requires surgery by a retinal surgeon.
