America's aging baby boomer population is presently facing widely publicized epidemics of hypertension and diabetes. Less widely publicized is the rise in degenerative eye diseases. Some of these diseases may be related to diabetes but they may also result from a variety of age-related conditions. Many can cause blindness. The good news for American seniors is that modern technology has delivered a number of new advances in the area of ocular health so that blindness is no longer the only possible outcome. Here is a look at some of these recent advances:
Laser Trabeculoplasty for Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a collective term for several conditions that increase pressure in the eye. The pressure is due to fluid in the eye backing up. In a healthy eye, aqueous humor is drained via spongy tissue called the trabecular meshwork. If the aqueous cannot leave the eye at the same rate that it is produced, the pressure in the eye will increase and can damage the optic nerve. Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty can be used to stimulate the trabecular meshwork to improve its ability to drain the aqueous humor.
Aging causes the lens in the eye to stiffen and to lose clarity. A cataract is the loss of clarity or clouding of the lens due to age. A significant number of people will develop a cataract by the time they get to age 65. In the early stages of a cataract, vision may be improved with glasses; however, surgery will become necessary as cataracts worsen. The most common type of surgery is called phacoemulsification and involves dissolving and removing the lens. The lens will then be replaced with an artificial one.
Femtosecond Laser Refractive Surgery for Cataracts
Many aspects of cataract surgery are presently performed by hand. However, laser refractive cataract surgery offers patients a greater degree of precision in that computer-guided lasers will perform some steps of the procedure. The technology offers surgeons the ability to handle the more challenging aspects of the surgery with an unprecedented level of precision.
Advanced Technology Intraocular Lenses for Astigmatism and Presbyopia
The traditional intraocular lenses implanted in patients after cataract surgery improve vision at one focal point only. Usually the focus is for distance so that patients still need glasses for close vision after their surgery. These traditional intraocular lenses do not correct astigmatism. Astigmatism is a flaw in the cornea's curvature that causes blurred vision. Patients who get traditional intraocular lens implants and who have astigmatism will continue to need corrective glasses. An alternative is for the patient to get intraocular lenses that are designed to correct astigmatism. These lenses can eliminate the need for glasses.
Similarly, there are intraocular lenses for the correction of presbyopia. Presbyopia is the loss of focusing power that comes with age. Presbyopia is usually signaled by the need for bifocals and intraocular lenses can eliminate the need for those as well.
LASIK
Laser-assisted in situ kerato mileusis (LASIK) is the most common type of laser eye surgery and is used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. It has the benefits of being both painless and fast (both eyes in under 15 minutes). Still another benefit is the fact that the improvements to vision can often be seen within 24 hours. The Salt Lake LASIK surgeon uses a laser to create a flap in the cornea which is folded back to reveal the corneal tissue. Another type of laser is used to remove small amounts of corneal tissue so as to reshape the cornea.
As impressive as all of the technology above is, it is clear that there are even greater developments to come. Technology progresses by evolving and building on the preceding generation of inventions. Most of the baby boomer population will be retired in within the next decade and many will need advanced eye care. If the current pace of development continues, ophthalmologists will be well equipped to meet the increased demand.
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