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Waterville Ophthalmology Services
Glaucoma
 Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, especially for the elderly. Loss of sight from glaucoma can often be prevented with early detection and treatment.
Glaucoma is when the pressure within the eye increases, causing damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the part of the eye that carries the images we see to the brain. When damage is done, blind spots in the peripheral vision occur. These blind spots are usually unnoticeable until there is significant damage. If the entire nerve is destroyed, blindness results.
The most common form of glaucoma is chronic open-angle glaucoma. This is when the drainage angle is open, but the fluid doesn't drain properly. The fluid then builds up causing a gradual increase of the pressure in your eye. This continual high pressure causes damage to the optic nerve which can lead to visual loss.
Usually damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. Treatments include: eye drops, laser surgery and surgery in the operating room. Oral medications may also be prescribed. Periodic examinations are very important because glaucoma can progress without your knowledge.
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Macular Degeneration
 Macular degeneration is often called age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. It is the #1 cause of severe vision loss in people over 50. It is the deterioration or breakdown of the macula. The macula is a small area in the retina at the back of the eye that allows you to see fine details clearly and perform activities such as reading and driving. When the macula doesn't function correctly, blurriness, dark areas, or distortion can affect your central vision. Macular degeneration affects your ability to see near and far, and can make some activities, like threading a needle or reading, difficult or impossible. It can cause different symptoms in different people and in the early stages, macular degeneration is barely noticeable, and can affect only one eye.
There are two main types of macular degeneration. The dry form tends to progress
slowly but can result in significant loss of vision. Vitamin supplements may be
helpful in slowing down the progression of the dry form. The wet form is the
more devastating, more rapidly progressing form. Laser treatment and
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) have been shown to be beneficial in select patients.
Two new medications have become available in the last year that has offered new
hope. They are Avastin and Lucentis. Both drugs are injected into the eye. For
the first time we have a treatment that can not only stabilize vision in
patients, but can actually improve vision in a significant number of people. Dr.
Daniels is offering these new treatments in our office. Other options available in order to maintain a satisfying lifestyle include the prescription of optical devices. Since macular degeneration usually does not affect side vision, the remaining sight can be useful. There are support services and rehabilitation programs available as well.
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BOTOX®
 You laugh. You frown. You concentrate. And over time, those expressions leave their mark upon your face. Until today, there wasn't a lot you could do about it. But today, there's BOTOX® Cosmetic. A simple, non-surgical procedure that can dramatically reduce even your toughest wrinkle within days.
One ten-minute treatment, a few tiny injections, relaxes the muscles that cause lines to form. And keeps them relaxed up to two to four months.
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Dry Eye
 Some people do not produce enough tears to keep the eye comfortable. This is known as dry eye. Tears are produced by two different methods. One method produces tears at a slow, steady rate and is responsible for normal eye lubrication. The other method produces large quantities of tears in response to eye irritation or emotions.
Tears that lubricate are constantly produced by a healthy eye. Excessive tears occur when the eye is irritated by a foreign body or when a person cries.
Symptoms of dry eye include: stinging, burning, scratchiness, irritation, and excessive tearing of the eyes. As we age, tear production decreases. Frequent use of over-the-counter lubricating drops have proven to be very effective as well as punctal plugs.
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