If you're near the age of 40, you may have already experienced problems with reading anything closer than arm's length away. If so, there's a chance you have Presbyopia. 

Presbyopia is caused by a change in the crystalline  lens. It robs the lens of its ability to properly focus  light passing through the eye. Presbyopia is usually noticeable just before 40 and becomes more pronounced with time.

You should have an eye exam so that your doctor can confirm your Presbyopia and prescribe the appropriate corrective glasses for you. New surgical  techniques are becoming available to help the effect of Presbyopia.

The leading cause of reversible blindness in the  USA: Cataracts cloud the eye's normally clear, transparent lens, thus blurring the vision. Like Presbyopia, cataracts commonly occur with aging. About 30 percent of all people over 65 will have at least one cataract in their lifetime.

A patient whose vision is impaired by cataracts may notice one or more of the following symptoms:

• A gradual, painless blurring or dimming of vision;
• A "halo" or haze around lights, especially at night;
• Double (or multiple) vision, or
• In younger patients, vision that is worse in bright sunlight.

Cataracts may be caused by accidents, diseases, or infections. However, the most common form is senile cataracts, which result from aging. Senile cataracts cannot be prevented with medicine or other therapy.

They can, however, be removed surgically when one's vision becomes too blurry. An artificial lens can be implanted to restore clear vision without the necessity of thick glasses. During your consultation, you and Dr. Burcham will decide whether the single lens or multi-focal lens is best for you. Cataract surgery is relatively uncomplicated and has a success rate of over 95 percent.

One out of every 50 people over the age of 35 suffers from glaucoma, making it one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Glaucoma is caused by a progressive increase of pressure within the eye which causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve.

If you are African American, suffer from diabetes, anemia, hardening of the arteries, or have a history of glaucoma in the family you are at higher risk of developing glaucoma.

Because most types of glaucoma develop gradually and painlessly, damage can be extensive before it is noticeable to the patient. Glaucoma can be treated, but nothing can repair nerve damage once it occurs. That is why annual preventive eye examinations are essential after age 40. 

Glaucoma is detected by a variety of tests including tonometry which measures your intraoccular pressure, visual fields which measure possible vision loss, and ophthalmoscopy which allows the doctor to view the interior of your eye.

Another condition which may affect the aging eye is macular degeneration. This occurs when the central point of focus on the retina (called the macula) is damaged. Signs of macular degeneration include loss of color visual clarity, and a dark or empty area or blurred vision in the center of the visual field.

One reason macular degeneration often goes unnoticed is because it usually affects only one eye. In this case, the "good" eye compensates for the affected eye, allowing the problem to go unnoticed by the patient. This is one reason annual eye examinations are recommended after age 40.

Dry eyes are especially prevalent in Colorado. If left untreated, dry eye can be more than just irritating or uncomfortable. Excessive dry eye over time can cause serious damage to eye tissue. An ironic aspect is that one of the symptoms is excessive watering of the affected eye. This symptom is one reason why so many people with the disorder do not consider the possibility that dry eye applies to them. Other symptoms include scratchy, dry, irritated or generally uncomfortable eyes. 

There are many treatments that we can recommend after an examination is made. Often, a special regiment of special drops during the day and evening can ease the symptoms. A very simple, painless in-office procedure can be done to temporarily block the tear ducts. This helps the tears you do produce, stay in the eye longer and not drain away. Many patients find excellent relief with this technique.

Don't suffer a moment longer, call today for a 
medical check-up for dry eye syndrome.