Ocular Disease

A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens in the eye. As cataracts develop, your vision gradually worsens over time and you may find it difficult to see at night. Approximately half of all Americans have cataracts by age 75. By having a yearly eye exam, your cataracts can be monitored until surgery is needed to improve your vision.

Dry eye is a common condition that affects both men and women of all ages especially as we get older. Seasonal changes and excessive screen time can also worsen dry eye. Depending on the severity of your dry eye, we can provide the best recommendations to improve your symptoms.

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that causes irreversible vision loss. Damage to the optic nerve is normally slow and painless and can remain undetected for many years without a regular eye exam. It is important to keep up with your annual eye exams to screen for early signs of glaucoma. At Coastal Plains Eye Care, we have the latest technology to monitor and treat glaucoma to reduce risk of disease progression.

Macular degeneration is an eye disease that occurs when the central area of the retina, called the macula, is damaged by age related processes. This can lead to the loss of sharp, central vision that is required for reading, driving and recognizing faces. It is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans over the age of 60 and affects nearly 20 million people in the United States. At Coastal Plains Eye Care, we have the technology and expertise to monitor for the earliest signs of the disease.

Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that affects the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. The disease leads to thinning of the cornea, which can cause progression of blurred, distorted vision. Vision with glasses is usually unsatisfactory. Standard contact lenses also do not provide adequate vision correction due to the soft material taking the shape of the cornea. Keratoconus is best corrected with a hard contact lens which can provide near normal vision and delay the need for a corneal transplant. Dr. Piche has extensive experience with fitting scleral lenses for keratoconus and other diseased corneas.