If not addressed early, eye disease can result in permanent damage and blindness. Learn about the early warning signs of, and some recommended treatments for, the most common eye diseases in the country.
In the Philippines, the leading causes of blindness are primarily age-related eye diseases, such as cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
Did you know?
Cataract
Cataract refers to the clouding of the eye lens and is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Although cataracts can occur at any age, even at birth, due to a variety of reasons, most cataracts tend to develop in people who are over 60 years old. Fortunately, treatment for the removal of cataracts is widely available. Panay Eye Center provides your doctor with a top-of-the-line Phacoemulsification machine and Surgical microscope to do your cataract surgery well.
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If you are over 60 years of age and experience any of the following symptoms, you may need to be tested for cataracts:
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Blurry or cloudy vision
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Double vision or glare
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Poor night vision
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Seeing colors as faded
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Frequent changes in the prescription of your glasses
The risk of developing cataracts increases with age, but you may be at higher risk if you:
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Have diabetes
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Smoke
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Drink
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Have a family history of cataracts
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Have had an eye injury, eye surgery or radiation treatment on your upper body
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Spend a lot of time in the sun
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Take steroids
​If you are worried you might be at risk for developing cataracts, talk to your doctor about steps you can take to lower your risk.
Do you experience blurry, cloudy or double vision? Do colors seem faded to you? Do you have problems seeing clearly at night?
Do you have a family history of diabetes, or have you had diabetes for at least five years now?
Diabetic Eye Disease
If you answered “yes” to either of these, you should see an ophthalmologist about a retina exam.
Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes which may lead to blurring of vision and blindness. It is characterized by progressive damage to the blood vessels of the retina. Diabetic retinopathy can cause fluid to accumulate in the center of the retina, producing a condition called Macular Edema. Doctors can easily inject this by using Optical Coherence Tomography to take cross-sectional pictures of the retina. Panay Eye Center's newest upgrade, the OCT 6000 with Angioplex, can take photos of the retinal blood vessels even without an injection of fluorescein dye.
When detected early, diabetic retinopathy can be treated with laser photocoagulation. At a more advanced stage, however, a specialized form of surgery, called Pars Plana Vitrectomy, may be required to prevent blindness. Panay Eye Center provides both the Laser unit and Vitrectomy machine for your doctor's use.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that develops when intra-ocular pressure builds up over time and damages the optic nerve. If unchecked, glaucoma can lead to permanent blindness; however, this outcome is entirely preventable through early detection and regular visits to an eye doctor.
Panay Eye Center offers everything from early screening to efficient monitoring treatment of glaucoma:
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Early screening: Computerized Visual Field Test and Optical Coherence Tomography of the Optic Nerve and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer
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Monitoring: Glaucoma Progression Analysis
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Treatment: YAG laser and 532nm Laser with Micropulse
Have you suffered from headaches, experienced eye pain or redness, or seen halos when looking at lights? These may be early signs of glaucoma.
