Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Novato

The retina uses a variety of cones and receptors to collect light that enters your eye and turn it into signals your brain can read as sight.

Your retina is one of the most important structures in your eye, but it can develop various issues depending on your eye health and health history. Some of the most common include diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.

The macula is the center-most part of your retina. It’s responsible for providing the crisp central vision you use to read, drive, see fine details, and distinguish colors.

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common issue that affects the macula, but health-related issues like diabetic macular edema can also lead to central vision problems.

Your optic nerve is responsible for sending the information your retina collects to your brain. We can examine a part of your optic nerve, known as the optic disc, during your comprehensive eye exam.

Examining your optic nerve can help us detect signs of glaucoma.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease responsible for causing vision loss in adults over 55.

AMD affects your macula, a part of your eye that supplies the crisp central vision you use to read, write, drive, and see fine details. AMD may cause blurry central vision, but it could lead to vision loss without treatment.

There are 2 different types of AMD:

• Dry AMD occurs when the macula thins as you age. Some research suggests that deposits of lipids known as drusen are responsible for thinning your macula.
• Wet AMD develops when abnormal blood vessels form underneath the macula. Eventually, these vessels can break, leak fluids, and swell the macula, leading to various emergency symptoms.

Diabetes is a common health condition that can also raise the risk of developing various eye diseases and conditions. These issues can include:

• Diabetic retinopathy
• Diabetic macular edema
• Open-angle glaucoma
• Cataracts

Please visit our Diabetic Eye Exams page to learn more about how diabetes can affect your vision.

Children are also at risk of developing various eye problems as they grow up.

Some of the most common issues children develop include:

• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Strabismus (crossed eyes)
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Please visit our Children’s Eye Exams page to learn more about our commitment to your child’s vision.