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Can you see your future?

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Keith Ballard
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  An Airman sits at his desk staring at a monitor. One day he notices a little black dot floating wherever he looks. He's not overly concerned with it, but should he be?

"People should get regular eye exams", said Capt. Caitlyn Woods, 5th Medical Operations Squadron chief of optometry services at Minot Air Force Base. "Even if they think everything is normal, even if they don't need glasses, they should still be seen every two years. Things like glaucoma, retinal detachments, and holes in the retina could be occurring and you wouldn't even know until it's too late."

Glaucoma is a degeneration of the optic nerve which connects the eye to the brain. As the nerve deteriorates, one may start to lose vision from their periphery in.

"People don't even realize it is happening because it is a slow, long term disease," said Captain Woods.

Over time, this disease can cause people to go blind. Although there is no cure for glaucoma, there are some treatments that can slow the onset of the disease and prolong vision.

Retinal detachment occurs when the two layers of a retina become separated from each other. This can lead to severe vision loss or blindness. Some early warning signs of this disease are "floaters" or dark specks in the field of vision, or flashes of light when one moves their head or eyes. It is important to tell an eye care provider if these things are noticed because it could lead to more serious consequences down the road. Surgery can repair retinal detachments and restore vision in most cases.

Retinal holes are less understood. They are a weakening of the eye causing a tear in the retina. Most of these are in the periphery and most people don't know that it has occurred. The concern most doctors have for this condition is that it could lead to retinal detachments requiring surgery. However, preventative eye care could find these problems before they become an issue.

"Even if you don't have any problems or you've never had an eye exam before, come get checked to make sure your eyes are healthy," said Captain Woods.

For more information or to set up an eye appointment, contact your local base optometry clinic.