Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Modesto

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Diagnosing Eye Care Needs

Caring for our eyes is an important part of our overall health. Although a healthy lifestyle is essential to eye health, eye exams can help us understand your individual eye care needs. Routine optometry visits help us keep track of changes in your eye health. Early diagnosis of eye health issues prevents vision loss and helps us develop a plan to support eye health.

Valley Optometric Group eye exams can diagnose eye diseases or conditions affecting your vision. Contact us today for your eye care needs.

Eye Exams Save Sight

Many eye diseases and conditions show few noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Patients might ignore minor symptoms, not knowing what they are experiencing may indicate a growing problem. Some ocular symptoms can also be a result of health issues elsewhere in the body. For example, jaundice or yellow eyes often occur because of liver problems. Diabetes and high blood pressure can affect blood vessels in the retina.

Understanding your eye health can protect your vision and your whole body health. Book regular eye exams with Valley Optometric Group to prevent vision loss.

Common Eye Diseases

Diagnosing eye complications early allows us to develop a personalized treatment plan. Contact us for an eye health assessment to protect your vision.

Conjunctivitis, popularly known as pink eye, is an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a thin, transparent tissue covering the white part of the eye and inside the eyelids.

Pink eye can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergens, or chemical irritants. Although pink eye caused by allergens or irritants is not contagious, bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are highly contagious.

Symptoms vary according to cause, but typical symptoms include:

  • Redness (pink eye)
  • Discharge (watery or mucousy)
  • Crusty eyelashes
  • Swelling (eyelids or conjunctiva)

Most cases of bacterial or viral conjunctivitis clear up within 2–3 weeks with treatment. Without intervention, conjunctivitis can worsen, causing vision loss or blindness. If you experience symptoms of conjunctivitis, visit Valley Optometric Group for examination and treatment.

Diabetic eye disease is a general term for a group of eye problems resulting from type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Some eye conditions include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema (DME), cataracts, and glaucoma.

Often, there are few noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Diabetic eye exams are crucial for individuals living with diabetes. Early diagnosis can help prevent vision loss and worsening eye health.

As diabteic eye disease progresses, some symptoms include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Poor color vision
  • Dark spots
  • Flashes of light
  • Vision loss

Glaucoma is known as the “silent thief of sight” as it rarely shows noticeable symptoms in its early stages. The progressive condition can cause peripheral (side) vision loss and blindness. The condition is caused by increased intraocular pressure, which damages the optic nerve.

There are multiple forms of glaucoma, including:

  • Open-angle glaucoma
  • Normal tension glaucoma
  • Angle-closure glaucoma
  • Congenital glaucoma
  • Neovascular glaucoma
  • Pigmentary glaucoma
  • Exfoliation glaucoma
  • Uveitic glaucoma

Symptoms can vary by type, but some common symptoms are:

With treatment, glaucoma can be managed to reduce the risk of vision loss. Some treatment options are:

Early detection is the most significant prevention method. Routine comprehensive eye exams can help save your sight.

While there is no cure for glaucoma, there are medications and surgery available that can help reduce further vision loss. Early detection and regular eye exams are vital to slowing the progression of the disease.

Macular degeneration is a progressive disease causing damage to the macula (a small part of the retina). As the macula deteriorates, it causes central vision loss. Macular degeneration is also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as the condition is more common as we age.

AMD occurs in 2 forms, dry and wet: 

  • Dry macular degeneration is the most common, affecting 80% of people with AMD. It is caused by the thinning of the macula and the accumulation of tiny protein clumps called drusen.
  • Wet macular degeneration is more severe with more rapid vision loss. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, scarring the macula.

Although damage caused by AMD cannot be reserved, there are treatments for wet macular degeneration, such as eye nutrition, anti-VEGF treatment, and laser surgery. There isn’t a cure for dry AMD, but eye nutrition can slow vision loss.

Common Eye Conditions

There are many different types of eye conditions that can affect sight or have long-term consequences if not treated properly and promptly. Contact our eye care team so we can discuss your visual comfort and help you protect your eyes.

Eye allergies, or allergic conjunctivitis, occur when our eyes react to an irritant or allergen. Allergies can significantly affect our comfort and eye health. Frequently rubbing itchy eyes can harm our eye health and increase the risk of keratoconus.

Common eye allergy symptoms include:

Avoiding the allergen is the most effective option for preventing eye allergies. However, there are various treatment options, including:

Amblyopia, better known as lazy eye, is a loss or lack of development of vision, usually in one eye. It’s a degenerative condition and can worsen over time without treatment. Amblyopia appears during infancy or early childhood and it can be inherited.

As many people have a stronger eye and a weaker eye, it’s not always obvious if a child has a lazy eye. It’s crucial all children have an eye exam before they turn 1 years old (sooner if there’s a family history of the condition).

Contact Valley Optometric Group to set up an appointment to protect your child’s eye development.

Blepharitis is a general term for an inflammation of the eyelid and eyelashes. It’s a common and stubborn eye condition, usually resulting from poor eyelid hygiene, a low-grade bacterial infection (staphylococcal), an allergic reaction, or abnormalities in meibomian gland function. Blepharitis can cause dry eye.

Symptoms include:

  • Eyelid swelling
  • Eye irritation
  • Crusty eyelashes
  • Cornea inflammation
  • Blurry vision
  • Burning eyes
  • Watery eyes
  • Dry eyes

Methods for managing blepharitis depend on its cause. Cleaning the eye area is crucial to preventing worsening symptoms, but antibiotics may be prescribed to treat a bacterial infection. Contact Valley Optometric Group to assess this eye condition and determine the best treatment method.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, which leads to a progressive blurring or dimming of vision. The risk of developing the conditions increases after age 55. More than half of Americans over age 80 develop cataracts.

When a cataract initially forms, it has little effect on vision but becomes more noticeable as it progresses. Cataract symptoms include:

  • Blurry vision
  • Light sensitivity
  • Dim or dull color vision
  • Poor night vision

For minor vision impairment, prescription lenses can offer improvement. If you experience significant symptoms or discomfort, we can discuss additional treatment options, including surgery.

Strabismus, or crossed eyes, refers to a condition where eyes are misaligned. It commonly occurs as a result of poor eye muscle control or severe farsightedness, causing one or both eyes to turn inward, outward, upward, or downward. It can also cause one or both eyes to move irregularly. Approximately 4% of the US population has strabismus.

Strabismus can be treated with prescription lenses or eye muscle surgery. Additionally, vision therapy can train the eye muscles to improve eye coordination and eye focusing. Scheduling regular children’s eye exams can help protect your child’s visual development.

Regular Eye Exams for Healthy Eyes

Valley Optometric Group has the experience and equipment necessary to diagnose and treat eye conditions and eye health. Regular eye exams are essential for healthy eyes. Contact our eye care team to set up an appointment so we can assess your eye care needs. 

Book an appointment with Valley Optometric Group today!

Our Location

Visit us

Valley Optometric Group is located on the corner of Kingswood Drive and Sylvan Avenue, right near Beyer Community Park. 

If you’re having trouble finding our practice, please give us a call!

  • 1401 Sylvan Ave
  • Modesto, CA 95355

Hours of Operation

  • Monday: 7:30 AM 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 7:30 AM 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 7:30 AM 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: 7:30 AM 5:00 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed

Closed: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM daily for lunch

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