Glaucoma monitoring and treatment
The diagnosis of glaucoma can seem terrible at first but with appropriate monitoring and treatment we should be able to keep you seeing for the duration of your life.
You will have the disease explained to you in simple terms and will be given the reassurance of having the latest state-of-the-art treatments available. Treatments range from drops that need to be used daily to various laser treatment options or surgical options. The treatment will be tailored to your individual needs.
At your assessments the structure and function of the optic nerves will be tested as the nerve tissue is targeted in this disease. This allows instant updates on your disease process.
As glaucoma is a lifelong disease, it needs lifelong monitoring with treatment adjustments according to the progression of the disease.
Diabetic eye disease
Cataract
Macular degeneration
Cataract or clouding of the lens in the eye, is usually an aging change. It can also be bought on by external factors such as diabetes, trauma or steroid use.
People with cataract notice a gradual blurring of vision and are often bothered by glare from car headlights or when the sun is sitting low in the sky.
A cataract operation involves removing the cloudy lens from the eye and replacing this with an artificial lens implant.
This not only restores vision but also allows for good vision without the use of spectacles.
The surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic as a daycase procedure.
Diabetes can affect the eyes in many ways. The most damaging of these is the development of diabetic retinopathy where the high sugar levels start causing damage to the microscopic bloodvessels at the back of the eyes. If this damage is not caught and treated in time it can cause permanent vision loss.
Your eyes will be monitored with very high resolution optical coherence scanning which reliably shows areas requiring treatment. The treatments consist of either laser surgery or injections or a combination of both. You will have the opportunity to discuss and view the examinations and treatment options.
Age related macular degeneration refers to a condition where the central area of your retina called the macula is damaged by degenerative changes. The retina acts like the film in a camera, converting the light coming into your eye into a picture for the brain. The most sensitive area is the macula and that is why damage in this area can have a devastating effect on the vision. The most severe form, where abnormal bloodvessels develop under the macula, is called wet macular degeneration.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment can save your vision so don't delay in having an examination if you are noticing distortion or blurring of your central vision.
Diabetic Retinopathy from Sean Kirwan on Vimeo.
Dry Eyes/ Blepharitis
Dry eye disease is extremely common and can cause distressing and debilitating symptoms. One of the most common causes is meibomian gland disease/blepharitis.
When conventional treatments like hot compresses and eyedrops do not control the symptoms, a treatment targeting the meibomian glands directly is required. Mr Gouws offers Intensive Pulsed Light (IPL) or K Laser treatments to target the meibomian glands directly.
It is a treatment enabling the stimulation of the lacrimal and Meibomian glands and the reduction of inflammation. These mechanisms of action help the improvement of the tear film quality and the reduction of the major symptoms associated with dry eye diseases.
