Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central vision loss in Americans age 50+. Although it affects white people more than blacks, a study in East Baltimore showed that AMD was the third leading cause of bilateral (both eyes) blindness in blacks after cataracts and glaucoma. Whatever the risk rate, it is important [...]

By Cheryl L. Dejewski Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the U.S., especially for African Americans. In fact, Black Americans have a 6-8 times higher risk of developing glaucoma than whites, and a recent study found that one in five Black Americans age 75 and older has glaucoma. What exactly is glaucoma? It’s [...]

Diabetes is being diagnosed in epidemic numbers across all ages and races. This increase means a corresponding surge in complications related to the disease, including sight-robbing “diabetic retinopathy”—now the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. And, if you are black, you have a three times greater risk of losing vision to diabetes than a [...]

What is macular degeneration? “AMD is a condition in which the macula, a highly sensitive area of the retina responsible for central and detail vision (about the size of this “O”), is damaged. There are two forms of AMD. Both cause loss of central or straightahead vision (as needed for driving a car, reading fine [...]

By Cheryl L. Dejewski Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the U.S., especially for African-Americans. In fact, black Americans have a 6-8 times higher risk of developing glaucoma than whites, and a recent study found that one in five black Americans age 75 and older has glaucoma. What exactly is glaucoma? It’s an [...]

Eye Care Specialists utilize breakthrough procedure to save vision When Lois Rose, 80, of Racine was referred by her optometrist to Eye Care Specialists ophthalmology practice in the Milwaukee area, she had already been coping with “dry” age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in both eyes for a number of years. “The macular degeneration was a gradual [...]

by Cheryl L. Dejewski If you live long enough, you will probably develop one. Six out of 10 people over age 60, and almost everyone over age 80 has one. Has what? A cataract. Despite this prevalence, most people don’t know the facts about cataracts until they’re “eye-to-eye” with one. Now is the time to [...]

The YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee’s Community Development Center, in partnership with VSP Mobile Eyes, will be offering eye exams and eye care services at the Northside YMCA, located at 1350 W. North Avenue. On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, the VSP Vision Care’s mobile clinic, VSP Mobile Eyes, will be providing free eye exams to qualified [...]

Arnold “Alex” Luessi, 80, has a colorful life story that spans time and geographical boundaries, including immigration to the United States from Switzerland in 1952 onboard the Queen Elizabeth. But, more recently, his ability to reflect on pictures of past adventures was threatened by two increasingly common eye disorders. In 2003, Luessi’s family doctor recommended [...]

By Cheryl L. Dejewski & Carolyn Vescio Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the U.S., especially for African-Americans. In fact, black Americans have a 6-8 times higher risk of developing glaucoma than whites, and a recent study found that one in five black Americans age 75 and older has glaucoma. Glaucoma also has [...]