Ocular diseases are conditions that affect components of the eye such as the retina, optic nerve, macula etc. Treatment of ocular conditions include corrective lenses, prescription eye drops, and performing minimally invasive procedures. We use state-of-the-art ophthalmic equipment to detect even the smallest change in the progression of an ocular disease.
Glaucoma is a general name for a series of eye conditions associated with an increased pressure inside the eye. There is fluid inside the eyes known as aqueous humor, and it is constantly being produced. It is supposed to drain through tiny ducts in the iris, and this keeps the pressure inside the eye normal. However, sometimes things go wrong with these ducts, and they don't allow the eye to drain like it is supposed to, which causes increased intra-occular pressure. If the pressure gets high enough, it can start to damage the optic nerve, and diminish vision. Eventually, if it is not treated, glaucoma can damage the optic nerve so much that you lose all vision. The damage from glaucoma is irreversible, but it can be managed if caught early, and eyesight can be protected and preserved with proper treatment. There is a genetic link to some types of glaucoma, while other types are the result of age and racial heritage.
Most of the time, the various types of glaucoma have no symptoms. When they do start to show symptoms, there is usually already some vision loss. Symptoms of glaucoma of any type can include things like eye pain, vision loss you can notice, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and other similar things. Most types of glaucoma cause a loss of peripheral vision first if they are not treated. Closed-angle glaucoma comes on suddenly, unlike the other types of glaucoma, and is unusual in that it requires emergency surgery to save vision. Other types of glaucoma can be treated more mildly over a long period of time.
It is important to get annual eye exams to check for glaucoma. A glaucoma test is easy, painless, and when done annually, can catch glaucoma in its earliest stages, when vision is still clear and undamaged, and the condition is easiest to treat. The test involves testing the pressure inside the eye, usually with a puff of air to each eye. Sometimes, the test is done by placing numbing drops in each eye to ease the blink reflex, and a lighted probe is rested briefly on the surface of each eye to get a measurement. Your eye doctor will also use dilating drops on your eyes to be able to see inside them more clearly and make sure there is no optic nerve damage or other eye disease or damage going on in there.
If you do have glaucoma, your optometrist will usually prescribe medicated eye drops for you as a first line of treatment. These drops reduce the amount of fluid the eyes produce, and/or improve the drainage in the eyes. If something stronger is needed, oral medication can be prescribed. Drops usually do well for a long time. However, if the symptoms get worse, or if drops don't help your glaucoma get under control, you can be treated with laser surgery. A trabeculoplasty is the most common, which is a painless procedure done on an outpatient basis. It adjusts the drainage mechanisms of your eyes to help them drain better. Your Westwood Optical eye doctor can make a referral for you to get the surgery, and will also provide pre and post-operative care for you.
You can do some things to alleviate any glaucoma symptoms at home. Avoiding straining your eyes, drinking plenty of water, and sleeping with your head slightly elevated are all proven ways of alleviating symptoms.
If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, remember that although it can't be cured, it can be successfully treated and managed if it is caught early. Vision can even be preserved if it is caught later, as long as the right medical interventions are made. Being diagnosed with glaucoma does not mean you will lose your sight. In fact, you probably won't. It just means you need to take some extra steps to protect it. We will help you along the way.
Millions of Canadians suffer from diabetes. Annual eye exams are recommended to protect your vision from changes related to diabetes. It can also provide your primary care doctor an indicator of how well your blood sugar is controlled and help manage the condition.
Normal Retina
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy can cause severe loss of vision and even blindness. Diabetic retinopathy involves changes in blood vessels in the retina that can result in vascular bleeding or leaking fluid, which distorts vision. This disorder is the most common culprit behind loss of vision among diabetics.
Early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and management can lower the risk of becoming blind by 95 percent. Since this disorder often has no symptoms in its early stages, diabetics should receive regular comprehensive eye exams while taking the appropriate steps to control their diabetes. Severe forms of diabetic retinopathy are sent to a retinal specialist and with further evaluation treatment will be recommended.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive condition which can lead to blindness. It is the leading cause of central vision loss in the elderly population. Early diagnosis can help with management of the condition.
AMD affects the macula, the central portion of the retina that controls central vision. As it progresses, patients can sometimes lose all central vision. There are two different types of AMD: dry AMD and wet AMD.
Early AMD diagnosis is crucial. A comprehensive eye exam with an OCT helps diagnose the condition. After an AMD diagnosis, systematic monitoring is essential. Recommended lifestyle adjustments include dietary changes, smoking cessation, physical activity, and protection from ultraviolet light. Many wet AMD patients benefit from certain injections to treat neovascularization from laser treatments. Our eye care team can recommend low-vision aids such as magnifiers and handheld computers.
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Westwood Optical's head office.
Address:
3210 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB
R3K 0Y6;
Tel: 204 837-2020.
Westwood Optical
3210 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB
R3K 0Y6
Tel: 204 837-2020
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We use your information, including your Personal Information, to manage our business and to maintain and develop commercial relationships with you. We will collect, use, and disclose such information only to the extent that is necessary for those purposes.
We use information that we collect about you or that you provide to us, including any Personal Information:
We may partner with Microsoft Clarity and Microsoft Advertising to capture how you use and interact with our website through behavioral metrics, heatmaps, and session replay to improve and market our products/services. Website usage data is captured using first and third-party cookies and other tracking technologies to determine the popularity of products/services and online activity. Additionally, we use this information for site optimization, fraud/security purposes, and advertising. For more information about how Microsoft collects and uses your data, visit the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
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In addition to any disclosure you may have consented to or permitted under the terms of this Privacy Policy, we may transfer your data, including Personal Information to third parties in the following limited circumstances:
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