Eye Issues & Diseases
Age-Related Macular Degeneration Benefits Immensely From Early Detection & Treatment. Visit Us Today
Myths About Eye Care
“I can see fine. So I don’t need to go to the eye doctor.”
“Wearing your sister’s glasses will ruin your eyes…”
“Back up! You’re too close to the TV. You’re going to hurt your eyes. ”
Seeing Us A Minimum Of Once A Year Can Prevent You From Going Blind
Eye Disease & Cataracts
Being diagnosed with a glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease or cataracts can be devastating and life-changing.
We will customize an eye care treatment plan for you to maintain your vision as strong as possible. To do so, it’s important that we identify them in the early stages, before they’ve done permanent damage.
So be sure to get an eye exam every year, so we can catch them early and start you on a treatment plan.
Visit Our Expert Optometrists at Our Fullerton Office
Age-related macular degeneration – aka, AMD – is a serious, vision-threatening eye disease that affects millions of Americans. It is progressive and seemingly unavoidable, making an AMD diagnosis an uncomfortable and uncertain experience.
We’re here to help guide you through the next steps.
With Early Detection & Proper Management, We Are More Likely to Preserve Your Vision
When assessing most eye diseases, a common influence towards a positive outcome is the early detection of the disease. Diseases like AMD, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy (for those who live with diabetes) can creep up completely unexpectedly. Due to how we perceive vision, we often don’t notice the subtle changes that an eye disease makes until our vision has already been affected.
At Allred Family Eye Care, our focus is to closely monitor the health of your eye (via regularly scheduled comprehensive eye exams) to ensure that we are proactive in detecting and treating AMD.
Your Partners in Managing Macular Degeneration
Not all eye exams are equal, and we’re proud to be leading the industry with ours. Our eye exams for senior citizens go into the level of depth needed to accurately detect signs of macular degeneration.
We utilize advanced equipment, such as the Optomap retinal camera and the Spectralis OCT to image and view your eye. The use of these technologies (and others) allows us to enjoy a never before possible perspective on your eye health.
We have considerable experience working with patients with AMD. We can help introduce dietary and lifestyle changes that will have a dampening effect on AMD’s development. We will closely monitor your eye health and ensure that all beneficial treatments are explored.
Our main goal is to preserve your quality of vision for as long as we can.
There are two forms of AMD: “dry AMD” and “wet AMD”.
Dry AMD – aka, atrophic AMD – is caused by aging and general degradation of your macula. Opaque yellowish white spots, called drusen, form under the retina and impede vision.
Wet AMD – aka, exudative AMD – is a significantly less common version of AMD, affecting roughly 10% of AMD patients. Wet AMD is characterized by sub-retinal blood vessel growth, called choroidal neovascularization (CNV). These new blood vessels leak fluids and blood into the eye, damaging and distorting central vision.
There is no overt cure for AMD, though it’s development can be influenced by specific management techniques and dietary changes.
Ongoing clinical trials have shown evidence that a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega 3 can have an inhibiting effect on AMD. From a preventative perspective, we recommend these dietary changes as a means to delay AMD’s onset.
Anti-angiogenesis medications work to block the growth of abnormal blood vessels and is considered to be quite effective in treating wet AMD. Wet AMD can also be treated via laser therapy, where a tiny (but precise) laser is used to seal the abnormal blood vessels closed.
Cataracts Are the Leading Cause of Vision Loss in America. Visit Us so We Can Assess Yours.
Providing Comprehensive Cataract Exams in Fullerton
The majority of Americans develop some level of cataracts in their lifetime. For most, cataracts came part in parcel with age. For others, external factors or associated diseases have accelerated the process.
A common perception is that with cataracts comes resignation and acceptance for dulled vision and muted colors. Today, this is no longer the case: if your cataracts are impacting your life and inhibiting your ability to live and work, cataract removal surgery may be an an option.
A Safe & Effective Treatment
A comprehensive eye exam is required to determine your surgical candidacy. Please request an appointment to meet with one of our Optometrists.
Diagnosing & Managing Cataracts
The early stages of cataract development do not require removal via surgery. These early stages can often be addressed appropriately with corrective lenses and other non-surgical treatments.
During your exam we will determine the level of treatment appropriate for your cataracts.
Before providing a surgical referral, we need to closely examine your eyes to determine their overall well being. Not all people are surgical candidates, though most are.
The entire procedure takes approximately 90 minutes, with the surgery itself lasting for 15 to 20 minutes (assuming no complications arise).
Prior to surgery, your eyes are prepped and dilated using specialized eye drops. A local anesthetic is used to numb your eye and surrounding tissues- this simplifies the procedure somewhat and ensures your comfort.
A high-frequency ultrasound is used to break up the cataract/lens, where it is then removed via suction. Once removed, an intraocular lens (IOL) is positioned in place of the old lens. The incisions made during the surgery are sealed and then a shield (eye patch) is provided to protect the eye.
There are many options of IOL’s available today. We will consult with you to help you determine which lens is the appropriate choice for your needs and lifestyle.
While one shouldn’t be keen to “jump under the knife” without reservation, you can be assured that cataract removal surgery is one of the safest performed in the United States today.
When the surgery is complete you will need to arrange transportation home as you will not yet be able to drive.
Most people will experience a significant improvement in vision within one to two days of surgery. The day after surgery we will see you here for a post-operative exam to assess your vision and ensure everything is well.
Side effects from surgery are fairly mild, with post-operative recovery taking a few weeks.
We Will Diagnose & Treat Your Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Visit Us in Fullerton for Fast Diagnosis & Treatment
Treating Your Conjunctivitis Symptoms
Diagnosing & Treating Pink Eye
Using our diagnostic equipment, we will examine your eye to determine the cause of your conjunctivitis. We will assess your eye and eyelids using advanced imaging and magnification equipment.
If we suspect your conjunctivitis is pathogenic, we will take a sample of your eye fluid secretions to have it assessed by a lab.
If the cause of pink eye is environmental, such as a chemical or an allergen, we will identify the associated cause and help you address it.
Pathogenic pink eye may be treated by antibiotics (depending on its severity), though in most cases the pathogen needs to run its course.
Other forms of pink eye are addressed from a symptom perspective, providing relief of discomfort. Treatments generally center around eye drops or oral medications that can be taken to reduce inflammation or allergic response.
Conjunctivitis – when the conjunctiva of your eye becomes red and inflamed – has several causes. The three most common are:
Pathogens – called “pathogenic conjunctivitis”, bacteria and viruses can cause pink eye. These versions of pink eye can be quite contagious, rapidly spreading within a population (such as among kids at school).
Allergens – called “allergic conjunctivitis”, this version of pink eye is familiar to millions of Americans that suffer from allergies.
Environmental – called “environmental conjunctivitis”, this version of pink eye is caused by something in your environment that is irritating the eye. It may be a result of poor air quality (dust, etc.), chemicals (cleaning products, etc.), or the environment holistically (heavy wind, etc.)
The most common symptom of conjunctivitis is its colloquial namesake: pink eye. The conjunctiva lines the eye and eyelid, covering the sclera (the white part of the eye). When it becomes inflamed or irritated, it turns a pink or reddish color.
Other symptoms include:
Redness of the eyelid
Excessive tear production
An itchy, burning, or feeling of a foreign body in the eye
Hazy vision
Sensitivity to light
A yellow or green discharge from the eye
Diabetes Can Have Serious Implications For Your Eye Health. When Was Your Last Eye Exam?
Diabetes is a game changer. It changes many things, including how often you should have your eyes examined. People living with diabetes are at greater risk for several eye diseases, including vision-threatening diseases like glaucoma and cataracts.
But perhaps the most famous of eye diseases is diabetic retinopathy, a disease that causes millions of people with diabetes to lose some – and occasionally, all – of their visual acuity.
Have Your Eyes Examined Annually
Your eye health is important to your overall quality of life. If you have diabetes, ensure you schedule annual eye exams and dilation (unless otherwise directed by an Optometrist). Detecting signs of changes in your eye health early improves your odds of successful and long-lasting management of diabetic disease by over 95{8b96dd1cc034dbe54308636a1c212bd04263977a420595be37722313d376b841}.
What to Expect During Your Eye Exam
Special eye drops are used to dilate your eyes, widening the pupil and make it much easier for our Optometrists and imaging equipment to look at the structures inside the eye.
Special eye drops are used to dilate your eyes, widening the pupil and make it much easier for our Optometrists and imaging equipment to look at the structures inside the eye.
This dilation can last for several hours, during which time your vision will be blurry. You will not be able to drive immediately after the exam, so ensure you have safe transportation home from our office.
During the eye exam we are looking for signs of developing diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema (DME), glaucoma, or cataracts (in addition to to other indicators of eye health).
We utilize Optomap digital retinal imaging to take images of your eye and its internal structures. These technologies provide an incredible level of detail regarding your eye and its health.
The most famous of eye diseases associated with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition that requires close management for best long-term results.
Retinopathy has several stages, though it is essentially just broken down into two categories: nonproliferative retinopathy (and the four stages within) and proliferative retinopathy.
The advanced stage of the disease – proliferative diabetic retinopathy – involves the body growing abnormal blood vessels in the retina and vitreous humor. These blood vessels, by virtue of how fragile they are, leak blood and other fluids into the retina. Eventually, they die and leave scar tissue in their wake. This scar tissue will eventually contract, pulling at the retina and potentially causing a retinal detachment.
When fluids builds on the macula (the part of the retina that is responsible to central vision), it causes a condition called diabetic macular edema (DME). The continuous leaking of fluids as a result of retinopathy eventually leads to swelling of the retina; this swelling impairs your vision and is a hallmark of DME. Approximately half of all people with diabetic retinopathy will also develop DME.
We can help you determine if your experience with floaters is a cause for concern
Concerned About Flashes or Floaters? Visit Us in Fullerton for a Comprehensive Eye Exam.
Almost everyone has seen or will see floaters at some point in their lives. These ubiquitous “squiggly lines in our eye fluid” (to quote a very famous animated baby) are a normal part of aging and generally not something to be concerned about.
However, like all things, a change in floater size or quantity warrants investigation from your friendly neighborhood Optometrist. While floaters are most often found to be benign, a sudden influx of new floaters can be a sign of a developing eye disease or condition that requires treatment.
Float on Into our Fullerton Office for an Eye Exam
Sometimes a developing eye disease will bombard your eye with floaters. This is almost always the result of the vitreous being manipulated, damaged, or broken up.
There are a lot of reasons that you may see a change in the way your aqueous humour inhabits your eye. We look for underlying causes that may have potential vision-threatening outcomes.
Flashers are often caused from trauma, such as a good knock to the head. When people say they’re “seeing stars”, they’re referring to the flashers that have appeared within their vision. A serious blow to the head, such as one sustained from a particularly-potent takedown on the field, can cause flashes.
Eye flashes – those brief specs of bright light that seem to come out of nowhere – Let us check to make sure there is no cause for concern. Like floaters, most cases of flashes are benign. However, unlike floaters, there isn’t a natural process for their development that justifies their appearance- there is always cause.
In other words, while we know floaters are caused as a result of changes to the vitreous humour, flashes are not caused by any “normal” process; flashes of light are caused by physical manipulation of the retina, such as when the vitreous “tugs” on the retina. This requires investigation.
Every new instance of flashers should be investigated by an Optometrist.
Any change in your vision should be investigated by an Optometrist. Many eye diseases develop asymptomatically, meaning that they can be slowly eating away at your vision without you even realizing it.
In most cases, vision that is lost cannot be restored. Preservation is the name of the game, highlighting the importance of preventative eye care and regular eye exams. Let us check to make sure there is no cause for concern.
We Are Glaucoma Diagnosis, Treatment & Management Experts. Visit Us in Fullerton.
We Are Your Partners in Great Eye Health
A glaucoma diagnosis can be scary, especially if you aren’t sure of what to expect or what the potential implications for your vision could be. At Allred Family Eye Care, we recognize how important working together to manage and treat your case of glaucoma really is.
Together, we will create a plan that manages and controls the development of glaucoma, minimizing its impact on your eyes and preserving as much visual acuity as possible.
It Starts With an Eye Exam
In order for us to provide you the appropriate advice and treatment path, we need to ensure we have up to date information on your eye health. The first step in any glaucoma management initiative is to undergo an initial comprehensive eye exam– this information is critical in informing our next steps.
Float on Into our Fullerton Office for an Eye Exam
Sometimes a developing eye disease will bombard your eye with floaters. This is almost always the result of the vitreous being manipulated, damaged, or broken up.
There are a lot of reasons that you may see a change in the way your aqueous humour inhabits your eye. We look for underlying causes that may have potential vision-threatening outcomes.
Flashers are often caused from trauma, such as a good knock to the head. When people say they’re “seeing stars”, they’re referring to the flashers that have appeared within their vision. A serious blow to the head, such as one sustained from a particularly-potent takedown on the field, can cause flashes.
Eye flashes – those brief specs of bright light that seem to come out of nowhere – Let us check to make sure there is no cause for concern. Like floaters, most cases of flashes are benign. However, unlike floaters, there isn’t a natural process for their development that justifies their appearance- there is always cause.
In other words, while we know floaters are caused as a result of changes to the vitreous humour, flashes are not caused by any “normal” process; flashes of light are caused by physical manipulation of the retina, such as when the vitreous “tugs” on the retina. This requires investigation.
Every new instance of flashers should be investigated by an Optometrist.
Any change in your vision should be investigated by an Optometrist. Many eye diseases develop asymptomatically, meaning that they can be slowly eating away at your vision without you even realizing it.
In most cases, vision that is lost cannot be restored. Preservation is the name of the game, highlighting the importance of preventative eye care and regular eye exams. Let us check to make sure there is no cause for concern.
Adult Eye Exam
Annual eye exams are a must for every family member. Allowing you to correct vision issues and catch serious conditions before they develop.
Contact Lense
Need new contacts? Looking to switch from glasses? We’ll get you the right prescription and the right fit for vision and comfort.
Children's Eye Care
Did you know that 25% of school-age children need some level of vision correction? For a child going to school, having proper vision is a must.
Senior Eye Exam
As we age we need to be more aware of certain changes in our bodies: we can’t move as quickly as we used to, and we can’t see as well, either.