Eye Disease Diagnosis | Orillia Eye Care

Don’t Let Eye Disease Steal Your Vision

Eye diseases are often undetectable without the help of an optometrist, and can permanently damage your vision if allowed to develop without supervision. To protect your eyesight, please book regular eye exams.

Our comprehensive exams assess your risk factors for age-related macular degeneration, dry eye, and other diseases that are both uncomfortable and sight-threatening.

Losing your vision can profoundly affect your lifestyle, but we can help you safeguard your sight.

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close up woman's eye with circle pattern

Conjunctivitis

Anyone can suffer from conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Those particularly susceptible to it are preschool and school-aged children, college students, teachers, and daycare workers. Pink eye always includes inflammation of the thin layer lining the inside of the eyelid, known as the conjunctiva.

The main symptom of conjunctivitis is a pink appearance in the white of the eye, which may or may not affect both eyes. Other symptoms, depending on the type of conjunctivitis, include:

Light sensitivity
Watery, itchy eyes
Burning eyes
Sticky, greenish-yellow discharge

There are 3 common types of conjunctivitis:

Bacterial: When caused by bacteria, pink eye can lead to severe damage to the eye if not treated.
Viral: Viral conjunctivitis is extremely contagious but normally improves without medical treatment in a few days. You should still visit your optometrist to ensure corneal health and prevent further complications.
Allergic: This is a condition caused by seasonal eye irritants including dust, pollen, and pet dander. We can discuss treatment options at your next appointment.

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Types of Eye Diseases

There are many types of eye disease and vision conditions, and your optometrist will carefully assess your eyes for signs and symptoms.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases generally characterized by damage to the optic nerve, usually due to high intraocular pressure.
There are several different types of glaucoma, but all are capable of causing irreversible vision loss. Often, the progression of glaucoma is slow and symptom-free, so regular, comprehensive eye exams are key to detecting this disease.
Generally, glaucoma impacts your peripheral vision first. Patchy or blind spots in your field of vision may appear in the early stages, followed by tunnel vision in the more advanced stages.
People with diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, or previous eye trauma are at an increased risk of glaucoma.
Eye protection to prevent injury and keeping up healthy lifestyle habits are important tools for preventing the disease. It is also important to note that there is no cure for glaucoma. Prevention and early diagnosis through regular eye exams are critical.

Cataracts

When the clear lens of your eye hardens, forms a cloudy buildup, and becomes opaque, this is called a cataract. Many people live with cataracts, but in advanced stages, cataracts may obscure vision and make performing daily tasks very difficult.
Cataracts often develop without pain, but foggy or blurry vision, light sensitivity, and dull or muted colours can indicate their presence.
Eating a diet high in vitamins C and E, stopping smoking, and protecting your eyes from UV rays may help prevent the development of cataracts.
Glasses and contact lenses can clear up mild vision loss due to cataracts. But, if the condition is in an advanced stage, cataract surgery may be the only option to restore your sight.

Diabetic Eye Diseases

People with diabetes are at an increased risk of eye diseases like glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema also pose a threat to your sight. To learn more about these, visit our Diabetic Eye Exams page.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs when the macula deteriorates. This condition damages your central vision, the part of your vision that enables you to drive, read, and recognize faces. Loss of vision in this area can create a serious impediment to your day-to-day tasks.

The telltale signs of age-related macular degeneration are blurry spots in the central vision and straight lines that appear wavy or curved. For more information about this important topic, please visit our Macular Health Clinic.

Macular Health Clinic