Below is a very abbreviated list on common eye
health and vision conditions.
Click on the condition to learn more.
Age-Related
Maculopathy
Astigmatism
Blepharitis
Cataracts
Conjunctivitis / Pink Eye
Diabetic
Retinopathy
Dry Eye
Syndrome
Glaucoma
Hyperopia
Iritis
Myopia
Presboypia
Age-Related
Maculopathy -
Age-related maculopathy, sometimes called
macular
degeneration, is a progressive and painless condition that affects
the central part of the retina called the macula. It is one of the
leading causes of irreversible vision loss. A person with age-related
maculopathy experiences vision that is blurry, lines that may
be distorted and dark spots may appear in the center of the field of vision.
This is caused by a leakage of blood, other fluid or other deposits
behind the retina. Risk factors affecting age-related maculopathy
are: smoking, heredity, age, heart
disease, diet and nutrition
Astigmatism - Astigmatism is
a refractive condition of the eye in which There is not
one single focus point on the retina. Astigmatism is caused
by the cornea or lens being shaped more like a football and not spherical
like a baseball. Cylindrical or toric lenses are used.
Blepharitis
- Blepharitis is an inflammation of
the eyelids. The eyelids may
be red and inflamed and the eye lashes may have an crusty or flaky appearance
to them. Blepharitis can have several different etiologies. It
is often seen in association with people who have a tear film deficiency.
Treatment often includes antibiotics as well as good lid hygiene.
Cataracts
- Cataracts are a cloudiness of the crystalline lens
inside the eye. Just like a camera requires a nice clean
lens for a clear picture, the lens of the eye also needs
to be clear. A person with a cataract may experience
blurry vision, distorted colors, light sensitivity or
halos around lights. The use of anti-oxidants in your diet
may decrease the risk of cataracts, while smoking may increase your risk.
Although most cataracts are part of the natural aging process, certain
diseases, environmental factors and heredity can cause cataracts.
When vision is compromised enough, the cataract is extracted and
an artificial lens is implanted inside the eye.
Conjunctivitis / Pink Eye
-
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva,
which is the thin clear membrane covering the whites of the
eye and on the inside of the eyelids. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses,
or allergies. Treatment, of course, depends on the etiology. If you
have conjunctivitis, you may be sensitive to light, suffer itchy eyes,
have red and inflamed eyes, notice a discharge from your eyes. The discharge
may be watery or be yellowish and thick and gunky. Your eye lids
may be crusty. Some types of conjunctivitises are very contagious, so
good hygiene is important. Do not rub from one eye to the other and use
your own wash clothes and towels.
Diabetic Retinopathy - Diabetic
Retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. It is
one of the leading causes of blindness in Americans. It
occurs when small blood vessels in the retina become damaged Fluids
leak from the retinal blood vessels and neovascularization (new blood
vessel formation) takes place. Over time, almost all Type I (insulin
dependent) diabetics and about 70% of the Type II (non-insulin dependent)
diabetics will develop this diabetic eye disease. It can not
be stressed enough that all diabetic need an annual dilated eye health
and vision examination! Early detection is essential.
Dry Eye Syndrome -
Dry Eye Syndrome
is the result of changing tear chemistry and dynamics. The
tears that provide a soothing lubrication to the eye are
composed of three different layers. When one of these layers
is diminished, the tears are no longer functioning normally. As a
result your eyes may burn, feel gritty, have a foreign body sensation,
have a string mucus discharge and yes, even have excessive tearing.
(I did not create the name DRY EYE. A better name would be Tear Film
Deficiency.) Frequent use of tear supplements, bland ointments and punctal
occlusion are ways Dry Eye Syndrome is treated.
Glaucoma - Glaucoma is a disease in which increased
pressure inside the eye
caused damage to the optic nerve. Unless the disease is very advanced,
you will generally experience no symptoms. Glaucoma is diagnosed
through the use of tonometry (measuring the pressure), evaluating
the optic nerve, and accessing the visual field. This eye disease
is treated with a variety of different medication. Sometimes laser
or conventional surgery is used to treat glaucoma. The
risk factors for glaucoma include:
family history of glaucoma
- myopia (nearsightedness)
- diabetes
- race (African Americans have an increased risk)
Hyperopia
(Farsightedness) - A refractive condition
in which light rays focus
behind the retina when the eye’s focusing mechanism is relaxed. A plus
lens (convex ) is used.
Iritis
- Iritis is an inflammation
of the iris. Another name for this is Anterior Uveitis.
The iris is the the part of the eye which makes up the
color. The eye can be red, the pupil smaller and you may be very sensitive
to light. Often iritis is idiopathic (we don’t know the cause).
Other causes may be secondary to trauma, such as a foreign body,or
it could be secondary to systemic inflammation, such as rheumatoid
arthritis. Iritis is treated by medications to decrease the inflammation.
Recurrent episodes of iritis must be investigated to determine
the cause.
Myopia - Myopia is a refractive condition in
which light rays are focused in front of the retina when
the focusing mechanism of the eye is relaxed. A minus or
concave lens is used.
Presbyopia -
Presbyopia is the slow
and progressive loss on the eye’s ability to focus on
near objects. It affects everyone somewhere between the
ages of 40 and 50. Progressive power lenses, bifocals, reading glasses
or contacts are used to help you see more easily for near point tasks.
There is nothing that can prevent this normal aging process from taking
place. (Sorry!)