Glaucoma is a disease of the eye in which the optic nerve is damaged. The optic nerve is composed of approximately 1.2 million nerve fibers that carry the visual information collected by the eye to the brain. When damage to these nerve fibers occurs, areas of the peripheral vision may be lost which may go unnoticed. If this permanent damage progresses, it can affect sharp central vision. High eye pressure (intraocular pressure0 is the leading risk factor for glaucoma, but research is showing that sensitivity to damage comes from other factors unrelated to eye pressure. Until more evidence is available, the mainstay of glaucoma is to control intraocular pressure

Nearly 21 million American adults suffer from diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s ability to control the levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood is impaired. High blood sugar gradually damages blood vessels all over the body. With time, diabetes can damage virtually any organ system in the body. The eye is by no means immune to the effects of diabetes, making diabetic eye disease a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Uncontrolled blood sugar can damage the delicate blood vessels and nerves inside the eye, leading to a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. There are two types of diabetic retinopathy, Non proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, (also called Background Diabetic Retinopathy) and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Inside the eye, the lens is located behind the colored iris and is usually difficult to see through the pupil because it is a clear structure. During a comprehensive eye exam, drops are used to dilate the pupil to look for cloudiness or opacities in the lens. When there is cloudiness in the natural lens, this is referred to as a cataract