Chorioretinitis is a condition of the eyes in which the choroid and the retina get inflamed. The choroid is the pigmented layer of the eye that contains the blood vessels, while the retina is the light-sensitive tissue that lines the eye. Any abnormality in vision must be reported to the doctor immediately, since chorioretinitis is often an indication of an underlying, more sever condition. In extreme cases, undiagnosed chorioretinitis might lead to blindness. The disease is also referred to as choroid-retinitis.

Symptoms:

• Floating black spots
• Blurred vision
• Pain in the eye
• Excessive watering
• Swelling
• Redness 
• Progressive loss of vision

Most of these symptoms are found in other eye diseases as well, so it is very difficult to conclude that you are suffering from chorioretinitis solely on the basis of these symptoms. You shall need to undergo a detailed eye examination for your doctor to be able to diagnose the disease. This exam will start with the doctor putting some eye drops in your eyes to numb them and dilate the pupils, after which he shall use a slit-lamp microscope to study the internal structure of your eye and ascertain the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Causes:

• The disease can be caused by toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus infections, or infection due to various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungus or protozoa, which cause inflammation in the eye. 
• The inflammation can also be caused by noninfectious diseases like sarcoidosis, in which abnormal deposits in the eye leads to inflammation.
• Another cause of the disease could be autoimmune diseases like HIV and AIDS , Syphilis , Sarcoidosis , Onchocerciasis, and Tuberculosis; or immunosuppressant drugs.
• Congenital toxoplasmosis via transplacental transmission- This is usually accompanied by hydrocephalus and cerebral calcifications.
• Interestingly, the symptoms of the disease can take as long as 10-15 years to appear, which means that the inflammation that you are experiencing now could be a result of an infection that you encountered as a child.

Treatment-

• The patient is administered with antibiotics, which can be combined with corticosteroids. 
• If the underlying cause of the disease is another disease like AIDS or Syphilis, treatment for that disease must also be initiated.
• Steroid eye drops are the most commonly administered medicine for the disease.
• Your doctor might also prescribe dilating drops to reduce discomfort.

To know more about Chorioretinitis and its treatment, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center located at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen or call us at 254-634-7805.

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Vision therapy basically refers to a variety of procedures and techniques that are employed by optometrists to improve vision, and treat various eye disorders. It aims at reducing visual discomfort, increasing clarity, and helping in the alleviation of vision-related problems in learning disorders. A typical vision therapy program can last over a period of a few weeks, to several months, depending on the intensity of the disorder being cured.

It consists of exercises, which are carried out under the supervision of a trained professional, and at home reinforcement exercises, which the patient is required to perform regularly, on his own. Apart from teaching the patient various exercises that improve eye function, the experts in this field also employ certain additional visual aids, including learning glasses, balance boards, filters, prisms, patches, and electronic targets.

The therapy includes exercises like near point of convergence exercises, computerized training programs, use of concave lenses, use of convex lenses, anti-suppression exercises, and “Cawthorne Cooksey Exercises”.
Vision therapy can be of three types-

• Orthoptic vision therapy- The main focus of the exercises included in such a program is to improve binocular vision. Professionals who specialize in this technique are known as orthoptists. It has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of symptomatic convergence insufficiency.
• Behavioral/perceptual vision therapy- The aim of the exercises included in such a program is to improve visual perception and processing. Even though its efficiency stands scientifically unproven, some experts claim that it is effective in improving visual perception. This method is gaining popularity among athletes as a way of improving their field of vision beyond normal.
• Myopia related vision therapy- This category of vision therapy aims at preventing or curing myopia, or near-sightedness, which is one of the most common vision disorders among children.

One of the most common applications of vision therapy is in increasing the educational performance of children with learning disabilities, by improving their ocular coordination and visual processing. Vision therapy is usually recommended by school teachers when they notice that the child is exhibiting trouble in reading or writing.

If your child has been referred for vision therapy, be sure to get a proper diagnosis of the eye disorder that your child is suffering from. For more details, contact us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen or call us at 254-634-7805.

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While eyeglasses have made it possible for millions of people to see the world clearly, the invention of contact lenses has proved to be very useful in instances where people cannot or do not want to wear eyeglasses. For people with poor vision, contact lenses are an effective and almost invisible tool that   enables them to see clearly without letting anyone know that they are using any aid. The thin plastic lenses are fitted over the cornea of the eye to correct a number of vision problems like myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism etc.

There are a variety of contact lenses available these days. The most popular ones include:

• Soft lenses: These are the choice of most contact lens wearers. These lenses offer comfort and come in many versions, depending on how you want to wear them.
• Daily-wear lenses:  These are the least expensive, are removed nightly and are replaced on an individualized schedule. They should not be used as an extended-wear lens.
• Extended-wear lenses: These can be worn overnight but must be removed at least once in a week for thorough cleaning and disinfection. They are recommended less because there is a greater risk of corneal infection with any overnight wear of contact lenses.
• Disposable-wear lenses: These are more expensive, but convenient. They are removed nightly and replaced on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Disposable lenses are sometimes recommended for people with allergies and for those who tend to form deposits on their lenses.
• Cosmetic contact lenses: These are colored contact lenses that change the appearance of your eye color, and in the case of circle lenses also make your iris appear bigger. Decorative lenses are available by prescription and should only be worn after an eye exam and fitting by qualified eye care professional.
• Toric soft contact lenses: These can correct astigmatism, but sometimes not as well as RGP lenses do. They usually cost more than other contact lenses.

No matter which type of lens you choose, expert fitting and daily maintenance is very crucial task. We at Killeen Eyecare Center provide you with highest quality eye exam, training and follow up as required in the complete eye care plan. We will suggest you the right contact lenses as per your eye vision and social needs.

To know more about contact lenses or our services, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254- 634- 7805.

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Choroideremia is a rare, genetic disease of the eyes, which is progressive, and ultimately leads to blindness. The disease is much more common in males than in females, and even if found in females, is usually mild. It affects the retina and choroid, causing the degeneration of the region that acts as the photoreceptor of the eye. The first symptom of the disease is usually night blindness, which might occur in early childhood. This gradually results in complete vision loss by middle age. The underlying cause of the disease is the atrophy of the light-sensitive tissue (retina) and blood vessels (choroid).

Cause:
The cause of the disease is purely genetic, with the deletion of a protein known as the Rab Escort Protein 1 (REP 1) causing the disease. Even though patients have the REP 2, which is essential for the normal functioning of any cell, this is not sufficient for normal vision. There is also an established link between increased levels of unprenylated Rab27 in lymphoblasts in patients with the disease, even though it is not known how this affects vision. Mothers serve as the carriers of the disease to their sons, since the gene for this disease is located on the x-chromosome.

Symptoms:

• Night blindness
• Poor coordination
• Loss of peripheral vision, also known as “tunnel vision”
• Loss of depth perception
• Loss of color perception
• Loss of visual acuity
• Complete vision loss in later stages
• The disease continues to progress throughout the patient’s life, even though the rate of progress and intensity of symptoms varies from patient to patient, even in the same family.

Treatment:

• Even though there is no known treatment for the disease yet, research is underway to find a cure for choroideremia.
• A gene therapy is being evaluated on animals, and is expected to result in a cure for the disease. This therapy involves introducing functional copies of the affected gene in the eye, in an attempt to halt cell death.
• The disease can be detected prenatally with the help of a genetic counselor. This is recommended in all family members of a patient with the disease. The National Eye Institute at the US National Institutes of Health provides free screening for residents of Canada and the US under the eyeGENE project.
• Presently, patients are provided with symptomatic relief, such as the use of low vision aids, vocational counseling, adaptive training, and personal counseling.

For more details, contact us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen or call us at 254-634-7805.

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