Medical Eye Exams

Providing Medical Eye Exams to the Buford, Cumming, Sugar Hill, and Suwanee Communities

At Lake Lanier Eye Care, we utilize cutting-edge technology to diagnose and manage eye diseases like Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, and Cataracts. Early and precise diagnosis typically results in earlier treatment and better outcomes. Our team is taking an aggressive approach to diseases that, in the past, had few treatment options.

eye diseases

Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

Diabetic retinopathy involves leaking, swelling, or abnormal growth of blood vessels in or near the retina.

While there are multiple stages to this disease, it is important to know the earliest stages may not present any visible symptoms.

Visible symptoms include dark or black spots in your vision that increase over time or severely blurred vision due to bleeding within the eye.

Comprehensive eye exams are extremely important when thinking about diabetes and eyesight–all diabetics are at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, and the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop some form of the disease.

Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include a vitrectomy (or replacement of the inner gel inside the eye) and different kinds of laser surgery. A recent clinical trial also suggested that better control of blood sugar levels slows the onset and progression of the disease in many patients.

diabetic retinopathy

Glaucoma Testing & Treatment

Glaucoma is the generalized name for a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve of the eye, preventing the eye from sending accurate visual information to the brain. Glaucoma tests are designed to test your eyes for one of the key symptoms of the disease—increased eye pressure—however only a comprehensive eye exam can reveal whether or not you have glaucoma. Increased pressure inside the eye is often a key indicator of glaucoma, though not exclusively so.

Depending on the severity of the disease, treatment for glaucoma can involve the use of medications, conventional (bladed) surgery, laser surgery, or a combination of these treatments. Medicated eye drops aimed at lowering IOP are usually tried first to control glaucoma.

Because glaucoma is often painless, people may become careless about the strict use of eye drops that can control eye pressure and help prevent permanent eye damage. In fact, non-compliance with a program of prescribed glaucoma medication is a major reason for blindness resulting from glaucoma.

glaucoma

Macular Degeneration Treatment

There is currently no cure for macular degeneration. Macular degeneration treatment options exist that can slow the progress of the eye disease or improve vision based on the type of macular degeneration you are experiencing. To understand the risks and the limitations of all macular degeneration treatments, speak frankly with your doctor.

Dry macular degeneration treatment actually begins with routine eye exams, especially after age 60. The goal here is to catch the development of ARMD early. If detected, you may be prescribed a specific mix of high-dose zinc and antioxidants that have shown an ability to slow the progression of the disease.

Wet macular degeneration treatment can include a number of options; including laser surgery, light-activated dyes that are injected into the circulatory system, or drugs injected directly into the eye that inhibits the growth of abnormal blood vessels that cause the wet form of the disease.

​​​​​​​With any macular degeneration treatment, there are no guarantees that the disease can be stopped, no promises that a treatment won’t need to be repeated, and a sobering reminder that vision, once lost, is rarely restored.

cataracts

Cataract Surgery Co-management

Cataracts are an eye disease of the eye that results in the clouding of the lens of the eyeball. Cataracts prevent clear images from appearing on the eye’s retina; causing mild, moderate, and even severe blurred vision. Watch a short video about cataracts now.

Typically an eye disorder associated with aging (over half of the people in America over age 80 have either had a cataract or cataract surgery), cataracts generally occur later in life as the lens structure within the human eye changes and gets older.

​​​​​​​During the evaluation of your eye health, we will carefully examine your lens for signs of cataract formation. If a cataract is noticed and the clouding is causing visual disruption, the optometrist will refer you to a trusted and respected surgeon for surgery, which is the only known cure for cataracts. Our Eye Care Practice will be there for you providing pre and post-cataract surgery care.