Senior Eye Health
The surgeons at Panhandle Vision Institute have helped thousands of people enjoy better vision. Leading the way with new medications and surgical procedures, Panhandle Vision Institute can diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases and conditions. We're committed to providing our patients the most advanced care available.
Common Eye Conditions
To find out more about any of these conditions and their treatments, just click on the underlined words.
If your vision has gradually changed with age, and things don't seem quite as sharp or in focus as they used to, you may be suffering from cataracts, a clouding of the normally-transparent lens of the eye. Cataracts can be treated with a quick, outpatient procedure.
Open-angle glaucoma often has no symptoms until after vision loss has occurred. It is a leading cause of blindness, but if caught early it can be controlled. If you are African-American, have a relative with glaucoma, are diabetic or very nearsighted, you should have your eye pressure checked every year.
Narrow-angle glaucoma is much more rare and is very different from open-angle glaucoma in that eye pressure usually goes up very fast. There may be a feeling of fullness in the eye along with reddening, swelling and blurred vision. If not treated promptly, this glaucoma produces blindness in the affected eye in 3 to 5 days.
A red eye that does not clear up could be an indication of a condition called uveitis. Symptoms include light sensitivity, blurring of vision and pain or redness of the eye. There is a range of treatment options.
Retinal disease is any condition of the retina that results in loss of vision. Of the roughly 12 million Americans who suffer from diabetes, an estimated 90 percent will develop diabetic retinopathy.
Macular degeneration is a retinal disease that occurs when the macula, an area at the retina at the back of the eye, begins to gradually deteriorate, usually because of age. A partial or total loss of central vision can occur. There are treatments available for some types of macular degeneration.
Have you ever turned your head quickly, thought you saw a small bug or a floating spot, then reached out only to discover that there wasn't really anything there? Sometimes these appear as a flash of light, rather than a spot. Flashes and floaters can be alarming. Usually, however, an eye examination will confirm that they are harmless and do not require any treatment.
Itching or burning of the eyes can be caused by dry eye. Excessive watering of the eye can also be a symptom. There are many causes and a variety of treatment options for this condition.
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids. Redness of the eyelids, frequent styes or a sticky discharge may all be symptoms of this easily-treatable condition.
Insurance
Treatment of many eye conditions is covered by insurance, including Medicare. If you have questions about what is covered by your private healthcare insurance, contact your plan provider, or provide us with a copy of your insurance card and we'll check for you. We accept most major medical insurance plans.
If you have questions about your Medicare coverage, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to speak to a Medicare Customer Representative. You can also go to www.medicare.gov to find out more about Medicare coverage. Our staff is also available to help you determine whether the eye care you need is covered by Medicare. Your out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare or private insurance will depend of the type of insurance you have, whether you have supplemental insurance and whether you have a deductible on your policy. We'll be glad to process all insurance claims for you. We also accept cash, personal checks, Visa and MasterCard.
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