Ophthalmologist in Orlando

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear eye lens. Cataracts are common in people ages 80 and older. The NEI estimates that more than half of all Americans, ages 80 or older, either have cataracts or have had surgery to remove cataracts.

Common symptoms of a cataract include a painless blurring of vision, poor night vision, and difficulty reading in regular light. Causes of cataracts include age, injury to the eye, medications (especially steroids), family history, unprotected exposure to sunlight, and previous eye surgery.

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, which is the part of the eye that translates the images we see to the brain. When damage to the optic nerve occurs, blind spots develop. If the entire nerve is destroyed, vision does not reach the brain, and blindness occurs.

Early detection and treatment are the keys to preventing optic nerve damage and further blindness.

Macular degeneration is an eye disease that causes permanent vision loss. This disease occurs when the central part of the retina deteriorates. The retina is responsible for perceiving light, translating visual information into electrical signals, and sending these signals to the optic nerve.

The central part of the retina is known as the macula, which enables us to perceive fine details and colors. When macular degeneration is left untreated, a person can experience complete loss of vision.

Diabetic eye disease includes a group of eye conditions that affect people with diabetes. Glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema are among these diabetic eye diseases.

Diabetes often leads to loss of vision and sometimes complete blindness, but there are ways to prevent loss of vision from progressing. Completing regular eye exams with us can prevent blindness due to diabetic eye disease.

Uveitis, also called chorioretinitis, is an umbrella condition that describes inflammation of the middle layer (uvea) of the eye. This includes inflammation in the ciliary body, choroid or iris.

A person with uveitis may experience sudden redness and swelling of the eye, sensitivity to light or blurry vision. Uveitis is caused by an infection of the eye and can be treated with medical eye drops and antibiotic medications.

Dry eye condition occurs when there isn’t enough lubrication on the eye. This means there is a lack of tears, which are imperative for enabling optimal vision and protecting the outer surface of the eye.

When dry eye condition is present, a person may experience eye discomfort, eye redness and blurry vision. We may prescribe medical eye drops to aid the eye lubrication process.

When retinal toxicity occurs as a side effect of medication, it is considered medication-induced retinal toxicity. While many people experiencing this condition do not notice any signs or symptoms in the early stages, the first signs may include poor perception of colors and difficulty reading.

If you experience symptoms of medication-induced retinal toxicity, our Lake Nona eye care doctor will complete an assessment to provide you with the most effective treatment option.