Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Cataracts develop when the normally clear lens of the eye becomes clouded and can cause symptoms like blurry vision, dim or yellowed vision, and difficulty seeing at night. Cataracts begin developing when proteins in your eye form clumps that partially obscure your lens and stop light from reaching your retina, the thin layer of tissue that lines the back of your eye.

If cataracts progress to a later stage and prevent you from going about your daily activities, such as reading or driving, cataract surgery is an option to remove them.

We offer pre-cataract surgery evaluation and post-op care.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease that affects your central vision, damaging your macula. This damage can make things like reading and driving much more difficult.

AMD is a leading cause of vision loss among older adults, and there are 2 main types:

• • Dry AMD is the more common form of the disease and occurs in early, intermediate, and late stages. This form of AMD occurs when the macula thins with age.

• • Wet AMD is the less common form of the disease and can cause faster and more severe vision loss. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of the eye and damage the macula.

Our exams include OCT and visual field testing to help detect and manage AMD.

Diabetes can increase your risk of developing eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy, which is a primary vision loss concern for patients with diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that causes damage to the blood vessels of the retina. Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can include:

• • Black spots or holes in your vision

• • A loss of central vision

• • Blurry vision

• • Trouble seeing at night

We use optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinal imaging in our diabetic eye exams to assist with the early detection of diabetic eye issues.

Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is the loss or lack of development of clear vision in 1 or both eyes. Amblyopia typically develops at a younger age, and eyeglasses or contact lenses may not be able to fully correct the reduced vision caused by amblyopia. 

Some causes and risk factors can include:

• • Family history
  • A high prescription that’s gone uncorrected with glasses or contacts
  • Eye turn
  • Large refractive errors
  • Visual deprivation of one eye

Treatment for amblyopia can include a combination of prescription lenses, prisms, vision therapy, and more. Our team will work with you to find the right treatment for your needs.