Eye conditions and diseases that can rob your family of their vision could strike people at any age in life, from newborns to seniors.

In honor of May’s Healthy Vision Month, Eye M.D.s across the country are urging Americans to take care of their eyes, as well as the eyes of their family. Pay attention to warning signs and visit your eye doctor regularly.  For Steve McQuaig, M.D. and Davis Williamson, M.D., 2010 will mark 30 years of caring for the eyes of many Central Georgians.  Together with the help of James Craig, O.D. and Charles McQuaig, O.D., Family Eye Care Associates offers our patients comprehensive eye exams as well as acute care. All of our physicians diagnose, manage, and assist in the treatment of glaucoma, diabetes with ocular complications, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

“Many people associate eye problems with getting older. While it’s true that seniors are at higher risk for a lot of eye problems, some of those problems actually start earlier, and vision loss could have been prevented if the problem was caught sooner,” says Dr. Williamson. “Preschoolers, senior citizens and people with diabetes, as well as others with high risk factors for certain eye problems, all need regular eye care.”

Infants and toddlers should be screened for common childhood eye problems, such as strabismus (crossed eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye), during their regular pediatric appointments. Vision testing is recommended for all children starting at around 3 years of age.

Some warning signs that your child may have vision problems include wandering or crossed eyes, a family history of childhood vision problems, redness, discharge, a disinterest in reading or viewing distant objects, and squinting or turning the head in an unusual manner while watching TV.

Even the young adult and middle-aged groups can be affected by eye problems. Those at risk for eye disease include African-Americans over age 40 (glaucoma), people with diabetes (diabetic retinopathy), those over age 60 (macular degeneration and cataracts) and those with a family history of eye problems. If you fall into one of these groups, check with your eye doctor to find out how often you need to have a complete eye exam. These individuals should have a complete eye exam at least once between the ages of 20 and 29, at least twice between the ages of 30 and 39 and every two to four years between the ages of 40 and 65.

“It’s very important to know if you are at risk for primary open angle glaucoma, as there are no early warning signs, which is why it is often called the ‘sneak thief of sight,’” says Dr. Charles McQuaig.  The only signs you will notice with this type of glaucoma if gone unchecked is peripheral vision loss that cannot be reversed. 

Seniors over age 65 should be examined at least every one to two years for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other eye conditions. Those with diabetes should be examined every year.

Family Eye Care has state-of-the-art diagnostics at both locations such as Ocular Fundus Photography which we use to monitor and diagnose macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal diseases. Our patients with glaucoma and macular degeneration are monitored through Optical Coherence Tomography, a cutting edge, non-contact imaging technology that provides high-resolution, cross-sectional views of the retina at much higher resolution than other imaging modalities such as MRI or ultrasound.  We also offer access to specialists for our patients with advanced retinal or corneal diseases.  Protecting your eyes from accidents, as well as early detection and treatment of eye problems, are the best ways for you and your family to take care of your vision throughout life. So if you or your family are at risk for eye diseases or experience any eye problems, visit your eye doctor.

Help Family Eye Care Associates celebrate their 30th anniversary in the month of June at either location; enjoy optical sales, and we will have free personalized mementos for all patients to mark this important milestone!

Family Eye Care Associates see patients Tuesday through Friday in the Willow Cottage (Suite W-200) on the Cowles Clinic campus.  You can call 706-999-2020 for appointments.