Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Eastern Washington

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Staying Ahead of Eye Disease

Regular annual eye exams are a foundation for healthy eyes, especially as you age. Our optometrists will evaluate your prescription during your visit and investigate your entire ocular system for eye diseases. Many eye diseases show few or no symptoms until vision loss has already begun, so you must get your eye health checked regularly.

As we age, our likelihood of developing eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration increases. The Eye Care Team uses leading diagnostic technology to ensure we detect the very first signs of eye disease and react before your vision suffers.

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Understanding Glaucoma

While there are many types of glaucoma, most versions occur when excess fluid (called aqueous humor) builds up in your eye. This build-up increases the internal pressure of your eye and potentially damages your optic nerve, resulting in tunnel vision

If glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it will continue to reduce your field of vision until you become blind.

Types of Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. It occurs when the aqueous humor is unable to drain properly because of a blockage in the eye’s drainage system. This is believed to gradually increase pressure within the eye, potentially damaging the optic nerve. There are treatments available to prevent or halt optic nerve damage and sight loss, but early intervention is critical.

Normal-tension glaucoma occurs when the eye’s drainage system is fully functional and the pressure in the eye is normal, but the optic nerve still becomes damaged. Although treatments are available to mitigate or prevent optic nerve damage and vision loss, early intervention is vital.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is rare and occurs when the drainage angle in the eye becomes blocked or closes completely. If the iris is pushed too far forward from a growing lens, the gap between the iris and the cornea becomes very narrow, preventing the aqueous humor from draining. 

This type of glaucoma typically occurs without warning, and symptoms can include:

  • Sudden blurring of vision
  • Eye pain
  • Intense headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a severe ocular emergency. If you experience the symptoms listed, you should seek medical attention immediately. Call our office and request an emergency appointment or proceed to the nearest emergency room.

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Discovering Glaucoma

There is currently no cure for glaucoma and no way to reverse the damage to the optic nerve that has already been done. However, glaucoma can be managed using special eye drops or laser trabeculoplasty, a type of surgery to slow or halt progression.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is one of our most valuable tools, as it allows us to take exceptionally high-resolution images of the retina and optic nerve, from which we can diagnose the presence of glaucoma. During your comprehensive eye exam, The Eye Care Team will use a variety of tests to look for signs of glaucoma, including tonometry, an assessment of the intraocular pressure (or fluid pressure) inside your eye.

Cataracts

As our eyes age, the proteins in the lens restructure, causing a hazy mass known as a cataract. Age and sun exposure. As they progress, vision becomes blurry, cloudy, and less vibrant.

Though we will all eventually develop cataracts as we age, some factors increase the likelihood of developing cataracts at a younger age:

  • Diabetes
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Undergoing eye surgery
  • Sustaining an eye injury
  • Prolonged UV exposure
  • High blood pressure
  • Genetic factors

By making a few simple lifestyle changes, you can reduce your likelihood of developing cataracts at a young age. Wearing UV protective sunglasses, not smoking, and eating a balanced and nutritious diet may help prevent cataract development.

Book an Eye Exam

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in America and a condition that affects the macula, the portion of your retina contributing to central vision. You are more vulnerable to macular degeneration if you have a high amount of drusen. When these small deposits (drusen) form around the macula, it can damage macular cells, leading to the dry form of AMD.

There is currently no treatment to reverse the effects of macular degeneration. Depending on how advanced the disease is, various lifestyle changes and treatment options may slow the progression of the disease. 

One way to reduce your likelihood of vision loss due to macular degeneration is to schedule regular eye exams. Early detection of macular degeneration is critical—by the time you begin to experience symptoms, you may already be at risk of permanent vision loss.

In complement to medical treatments for dry macular degeneration, your optometrist may recommend some lifestyle changes to help slow its progression. Quitting smoking, losing weight, or eating more of certain foods to ensure you get specific nutrients can help slow the progression of dry macular degeneration.

Wet Macular Degeneration, also called neovascular macular degeneration, occurs when abnormal blood vessels start to grow beneath your macula. There are several treatments available for wet macular degeneration, including:

  • Laser surgery to target and remove irregular blood vessels
  • Eye injections to inhibit new irregular blood vessel growth

These treatments can sometimes prevent further vision loss from occurring.

If AMD is apparent, our eye doctors may recommend some specific vitamins. Recent studies have shown that several vitamins and minerals can slow the progression of macular degeneration. These include:

  • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin A
  • Copper
  • Lutein
  • Zeaxanthin

Our Locations

Spokane

Our practice is located in Downtown Spokane, right across the street from the new Davenport Grand Hotel and Auntie’s Bookstore. We are just a couple of blocks east of Riverfront Park Square.

Contact Information

Address

126 N. Washington Street
Spokane, WA 99201

Hours

Monday
8 AM5:30 PM
Tuesday
8 AM5:30 PM
Wednesday
9 AM6:30 PM
Thursday
8 AM5:30 PM
Friday
8 AM5:30 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Chewelah

You can access our practice off N Park St, just north of E Webster Ave. We are located across from Safeway and have lots of parking available right in front of our office.

Contact Information

Address

306 N Park St.
Chewelah, WA 99109

Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
9 AM – 5 PM
Wednesday
9 AM – 5 PM
Thursday
9 AM – 5 PM
Friday
9 AM – 12 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

You can access our practice off N Park St, just north of E Webster Ave. We are located across from Safeway and have lots of parking available right in front of our office.

Contact Information

Address

306 N Park St.
Chewelah, WA 99109

Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
9 AM – 5 PM
Wednesday
9 AM – 5 PM
Thursday
9 AM – 5 PM
Friday
9 AM – 12 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Our practice is located in Downtown Spokane, right across the street from the new Davenport Grand Hotel and Auntie’s Bookstore. We are just a couple of blocks east of Riverfront Park Square.

Contact Information

Address

126 N. Washington Street
Spokane, WA 99201

Hours

Monday
8 AM5:30 PM
Tuesday
8 AM5:30 PM
Wednesday
9 AM6:30 PM
Thursday
8 AM5:30 PM
Friday
8 AM5:30 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Our Services

Can Dry Eyes Cause Blurry Vision?

Dry Eye, Eye Care

If you’re one of 16 million Americans experiencing dry eyes, you know how uncomfortable and irritating the symptoms can be. Dry eye and blurry vision often go hand in hand. Treating dry eye disease can help alleviate blurry vision, but sometimes it can point to something more serious. Using modern technology, The Eye Care Team’s […]

Read More…

March 16, 2023
Dr. Daniel Evans

How Is Astigmatism Measured?

Astigmatism, Eye Conditions

Your eye health and vision should be your eye doctor’s primary concern. Fortunately, diagnostic equipment allows the optometrist to check for anything that could affect your vision, including refractive errors like astigmatism. To check for astigmatism, your eye doctor typically uses a measurement tool called a phoropter to determine the shape and severity of the […]

Read More…

February 1, 2023
Dr. Daniel Evans

What is LipiFlow for Dry Eyes?

Dry Eye, Eye Care

If you’re one of the millions of Americans searching for relief from dry eyes, you may have heard of LipiFlow at your last eye exam. The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System, more simply known as LipiFlow, is a non-invasive procedure that can treat dry eyes. While other treatments might only reduce symptoms, LipiFlow addresses the root […]

Read More…

January 10, 2023
Dr. Daniel Evans
A woman sitting at her desk, rubbing her eyes due to blurry vision

If you’re one of 16 million Americans experiencing dry eyes, you know how uncomfortable and irritating the symptoms can be. Dry eye and blurry vision often go hand in hand. Treating dry eye disease can help alleviate blurry vision, but sometimes it can point to something more serious. Using modern technology, The Eye Care Team’s […]

Read More…

A woman sits behind a phoropter at the optometrist's office. A phoropter is a tool used to determine refractive errors

Your eye health and vision should be your eye doctor’s primary concern. Fortunately, diagnostic equipment allows the optometrist to check for anything that could affect your vision, including refractive errors like astigmatism. To check for astigmatism, your eye doctor typically uses a measurement tool called a phoropter to determine the shape and severity of the […]

Read More…

A young woman holds her hand against her head due to dry eye pain

If you’re one of the millions of Americans searching for relief from dry eyes, you may have heard of LipiFlow at your last eye exam. The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System, more simply known as LipiFlow, is a non-invasive procedure that can treat dry eyes. While other treatments might only reduce symptoms, LipiFlow addresses the root […]

Read More…

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