As a neuro-ophthalmologist, Dr. Aguilera works with more than just the eye itself. She has experience diving deeper into issues stemming from retinal diseases, nerve diseases, and also issues dealing with the orbital structure and the brain itself.
Did you know that we actually use almost half of our brain for visual activities? Our eyes do the work of seeing and get credit for the visuals created, but it’s actually the brain that makes it all work. For this reason, a neuro-ophthalmologist has the important job of diagnosing not only issues with your eyes, but your brain as well.
What Can a Neuro-Ophthalmologist Find?
A neuro-ophthalmologist is someone who is jointly trained in diagnosing the eye and the eye functions within the brain. For the most part, issues needing to be seen by a neuro-ophthalmologist shouldn’t sound alarm bells. But there are some conditions that could worsen over time or lead to permanent vision loss. When dealing with both the eye and the brain, the list of issues broadens a bit.
Physicians in this role have the unique ability to evaluate patients in the neurologic, ophthalmologic, and medical standpoints, which leads them to be able to diagnose for a wider variety of problems. Some common problems that can be evaluated are:
- Optic nerve problems
- Visual field loss
- Visual disturbances
- Thyroid eye disease
- Abnormal movements in the eye
- Double vision
- Abnormal eyelids
- Differing pupil sizes
What Happens During an Evaluation with a Neuro-Ophthalmologist?
It’s dealing with your brain and your eyes so it sounds sort of scary, right? While the evaluation will be comprehensive, it won’t be anything fearful.
The evaluation itself will consist of a complete eye examination as well as a partial or complete neurologic exam. This will include testing for strength, sensation, and coordination between your eyes and your brain. A series of these tests can be run in order to find common issues.
If a diagnosis is found during this evaluation, it will be discussed with you and proper steps to preserving your vision will be taken. If any additional tests need to be run, this information will be discussed at this time as well.
Concerned You May Have Vision Impairments?
If you’re feeling as though you might be developing vision problems or simply want to have an examination you give you some peace of mind, give our office a call and we can set up a time to see you. The evaluation can include a consultative portion where we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.