Common Eye Problems

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S., and is the single most common cause of blindness among African-Americans. Almost 80,000 Americans are blind from glaucoma, and at least another 2 million currently have the disease. Half of those with glaucoma don't know it. Glaucoma is often called the "sneak thief" of sight because the most common type causes no symptoms until vision is already damaged. Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be regained, and there is no "cure" for the condition.

Cataracts

Over 50% of people over the age of 60, and quite a few younger than that, suffer from cataracts. In fact, cataracts are so common that it is said that everyone will develop a cataract if they live long enough. A cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye's natural lens that interferes with light passing through the retina. Sufferers usually describe the condition as being similar to looking through a waterfall, or piece of wax paper, with a gradual blurring or dimming of vision.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the most common cause of severe vision loss among people over 65, and, as life expectancy increases, the disease is becoming an increasingly important problem. Depending on the type of macular degeneration, there may be few options for treating the disease. But the good news is: numerous studies and research are being conducted that will, hopefully, offer more solutions in the future.

Diabetic Retinopathy

If you have diabetes mellitus, your body does not use and store sugar properly. Diabetes can cause high blood-sugar levels and changes in the blood vessels that nourish your body. Because diabetes affects your body in these ways, it can affect vision by causing cataracts, glaucoma and, most importantly, damage to blood vessels inside the eye.

Dry Eye

Some people do not produce enough tears to keep the eye comfortable. This is known as "Dry Eye."

Strabismus

Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. Adult strabismus occurs in approximately one percent of the population.

Amblyopia

Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. It is sometimes called "lazy eye." The best time to correct amblyopia is during infancy or early childhood. Parents must be aware of this potential problem if they want to protect their child's vision.

Ptosis

Ptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid. The lid may droop only slightly, or it may cover the pupil entirely. In some cases, ptosis can restrict and even block normal vision. It can be present in children, as well as adults, and is usually treated with surgery.

Uveitis

Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of your eye. The uvea contains blood vessels responsible for nourishing many important parts of the eye such as the retina. Any inflammation of the uvea can damage your sight.

Low Vision

If ordinary eyeglasses, contact lenses or intraocular lens implants don't give you clear vision, you are said to have low vision. Don't confuse this condition with blindness. People with low vision still have useful vision that can often be improved with visual devices. Whether your visual impairment is mild or severe, low vision generally means your vision does not meet your needs.

Refractive Errors

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