IN Peters Township December 2018/January 2019 | Page 59
HEALTH & WELLNESS S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
be well maintained to ensure many years of seeing and
hearing the things you love.
Eye Health
It is important to visit your eye care professional once
a year for a comprehensive eye exam. Although you may
think you are seeing fine, issues may be lurking without
any warning signs. During a yearly visit, your pupils will
be dilated, or widened, so that your eye care professional
can examine the back of the eye for damage or disease.
It is important to know your family’s eye health history
as well, since some conditions are hereditary. Some
of the most common eye diseases include diabetic
retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular
degeneration (AMD).
• Diabetic Retinopathy: This type 1 or type 2 diabetes
complication is caused by damage to blood vessels in the
retina, the light-sensitive tissues in the back of the eye. If
left untreated, diabetic retinopathy could cause blindness.
Early stages of this condition may go unnoticed if an eye
care professional is not visited yearly. As the condition
progresses, symptoms may include blurred vision,
impaired color vision, floaters, and/or dark areas in your
vision. Symptoms may occur if there is too much sugar
in your blood, which can cause a blockage in the blood
vessels that lead to the retina. Proper management of
diabetes is the best way to prevent vision loss.
• Glaucoma: The second leading cause of blindness,
glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s
optic nerve. The risk of developing glaucoma increases
with age and if parents or siblings have the disease.
During an eye exam, glaucoma can be detected by
measuring eye pressure, inspecting the drainage angle
of the eye, evaluating the health of the optic nerve and
testing the visual field of each eye. Depending on the
type and severity of the disease, glaucoma can be treated
through eye drops, medication or surgery.
• Cataracts: A cataract affects vision by clouding the lens
of the eye. Chances of cataracts increase greatly with
age, with more than half of all Americans either having a
cataract or having had cataract surgery by the age of 80.
People in their 40s and 50s can have cataracts, but they
are typically small and do not affect vision. Cataracts
are detected by blurred vision, faded colors, glare from
headlights or lamps, poor night vision, double vision, or
frequent prescription changes in eyeglasses or contact
lenses. Early detection can improve cataracts through
new eyeglasses, anti-glare sunglasses or brighter lighting.
Surgery can also be done to remove the cloudy lens and
replace it with an artificial lens.
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): One of
the common but lesser known eye conditions is AMD.
A leading cause of vision loss among people 50 years
of age and older, AMD affects the macula, the millions
of light-sensing cells that provide your eye with sharp,
central vision. Age is a major risk factor for developing
AMD, with most cases occurring after the age of 60.
Genetics, race, and smoking can also affect risk for AMD.
A comprehensive eye exam can detect it through dilation
ACADEMY OF PODIATRY
General Podiatry: Medical & Surgical Treatment of the Foot & Ankle
John M. Jason A. Zach M. Kristin J. Phil W.
D.P.M. D.P.M. D.P.M. D.P.M. D.P.M.
Snyder Hughes Thomas Thomas Brown
New Laser Therapy
For Fungal Toenails
Diabetic Foot Care
Most Insurances Accepted
Let Us Keep You
On Your Toes
Visit “THE FOOT STORE”
in Bethel Park for a large
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& insoles
Bring this ad in to receive
20% off on selected shoes
BETHEL PARK
5841 Library Road
412.831.1515
DORMONT
2882 W. Liberty Ave.
412.531.9990
WHITE OAK
1976 Lincoln Way
412.896.8019
Dr. Anna B. Miller
MD, PhD, and Board Certified
Complete
Eye Care Center
Dr. Anna B. Miller and staff offer complete eye
care, including routine exams, diabetic eye exams,
glaucoma treatment, and cataract surgeries.
Dr. Miller also performs eyelid
surgeries and cosmetic treatment
of the eyes, face, and hands with
multiple fillers, and Botox.
3402 Washington Rd
McMurray, PA 15317
S&T Bank Bldg.
Suite 303
(724) 941- 2309
2639 Brownsville Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
(412) 881- 4242
www.seewell-lookgood.com
Continued on page 60 >
PETERS TOWNSHIP
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DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019
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