Medical Optometry for More Comprehensive and Effective Eye Care
When you think of visiting the eye doctor, you most likely picture going to have an eye exam and perhaps getting new glasses or contacts. While corrective lenses are an important part of eye health, the field of medical optometry offers a far greater range of treatments. At GW Eye Associates in La Jolla, CA, we are proud to be on the forefront of this important medical field.
With their experience in medical optometry, Drs. Gordon and Wildon Wong can treat a wide range of eye conditions, from relatively minor refractive errors to serious eye diseases. Furthermore, they have a firm grasp of the relationship between eye health and systemic wellness.
What Is Medical Optometry?
A medical optometrist holds an OD, or a Doctor of Optometry degree. They must also complete specialized training, giving them a greater understanding of how the eye works, as well as experience in treating eye diseases. As a result, medical optometrists are equipped to offer medical eye care, as well as treatment for refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
What Treatments Does a Medical Optometrist Offer?
Among other serious eye conditions, a medical optometrist can address:
- Cataracts: A common age-related condition, cataracts are clouded spots on the lens inside the eye. To permanently treat cataracts, a medical optometrist will remove the obscured lens and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens.
- Glaucoma: Glaucoma causes pressure to build up in the eye, and this can damage the optic nerve. Eye drops and medications are sometimes sufficient to treat glaucoma, but other times surgery is required.
- Diabetic retinopathy: High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels at the back of your eye. In advanced stages, laser treatment can remove leaking blood and shrink abnormally large vessels.
- Macular degeneration: Macular degeneration is a serious eye condition that causes you to lose your central vision. While there is no cure, supplements and lifestyle changes can help to slow its progression.
- Pterygium: A pterygium is a small growth on the white of the eye. If conservative methods, such as eye drops, do not solve the problem, surgery is typically necessary.
Why Choose a Medical Optometrist for My Eye Care?
Visiting a medical optometrist can have untold benefits for your optical and even physical health. Many optometrists focus almost exclusively on correcting refractive errors with glasses, contacts, and vision correction surgery. A medical optometrist certainly offers these important services. At the same time, however, he can more effectively diagnose and treat sight-threatening conditions.
Furthermore, a medical optometrist understands the complex relationship between ocular and physical health. For example, these doctors can often guide patients with diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration in making lifestyle changes. Thus, visiting a medical optometrist could help to protect your systemic well being, as well as your eyesight.
Contact Our Highly Experienced Medical Optometrists Today
Experience the difference that medical optometry can make in your eye care. Contact GW Eye Associates online. You can also call us at (858) 454-4699. We are proud that patients come to us from across the San Diego area to enjoy our advanced level of care.