Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Calgary

Glaucoma is a type of disease that occurs when the optic nerve sustains damage. This damage is often—but not always—the result of high intraocular pressure.

Some types of glaucoma occur rapidly and require emergency eye care, but others develop slowly over years with few (or no) signs before vision loss begins. Since all forms of glaucoma can cause blindness without medical help, letting your eye doctor check you for signs of glaucoma regularly is extremely important.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects over 1.5 million Canadians and occurs primarily in people over 50. It happens when the macula—a part of your retina essential for central vision—begins to weaken over time.

People with AMD may find it hard to see things in the middle of their visual field, which can make common tasks like reading and driving next to impossible. Frequent eye exams past age 50 can help detect AMD before it becomes severe so you and your eye doctor can take steps to manage it.

Most people call conjunctivitis “pink eye” because it makes the whites of the eye look pink or red. Conjunctivitis can come in different forms, including:

• Allergic conjunctivitis, which is caused by exposure to allergens like dust and pollen.
• Viral conjunctivitis, a highly contagious form caused by the viruses that spread the common cold.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis, an extremely contagious form spread by close contact with infected people, animals, or surfaces.
• Chemical conjunctivitis, a non-contagious form caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, and a type of eye emergency requiring immediate medical attention.

Different forms of conjunctivitis can cause different symptoms and require different treatments. If the whites of your eyes feel red or swollen, contact your eye doctor as soon as possible.

More than 3.3 million Canadians have diabetes, which can lead to:

• Diabetic retinopathy
• Diabetic macular edema
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma

If you have diabetes, it is vital that you see your eye doctor for eye exams that take these risks into account. Let us help by booking an appointment at our practice now.