Eye Diseases

Vision is something most people take for granted and eye diseases can take advantage of that. There are many common vision ailments with specific symptoms that can be diagnosed and treated if people receive eye exams.

1. Glaucoma. This eye disease affects the optic nerve to cause vision loss. It produces pressure inside the eye that can be chronic or sudden. There are no symptoms in the early stages and when people start noticing vision loss, the glaucoma cannot be reversed, only halted. eye drops, lasers and surgery are treatments.
2. Cataracts. Cloudy lenses characterize this eye disease. Diabetes and cortisone medicine can cause them but simply aging does as well. Most people will develop them if they live long enough. Cataract removal is only done if the vision loss cannot be compensated for with eyeglasses, better lighting or magnifying glasses.
3. Bacterial Conjunctivitis. Commonly called Pink Eye, this eye disease is characterized by redness and inflammation. It is highly contagious and happens often in children. Discharge from the eye can be clear and watery or green and yellow and pus-like. Antibiotic eye drops are required for treatment. 
4. Uveitis. This eye disease involves inflammation of the entire middle layers of the eye, called the uvea. This area contains many important vessels and arteries critical for vision so this is a serious disease. Symptoms include light sensitivity, eye pain, blurred vision and eye redness.
5. Keratoconus. The cornea is the clear, round, central part of the eye front that people see through. When the cornea isn't strong enough to hold this shape, the pressure causes it to bulge outward, leading to distorted vision. Corneal transplants or rigid contact lenses may be needed to correct this eye disease.
6. Strabismus. This is the eye disease that causes crossed eyes, meaning the eyes don't look at an object together. The danger with this is that the brain may rely on one eye more than another, thus causing one to become under-developed. This can lead to blindness in one eye. Surgery might be necessary though covering the stronger eye with a patch forces the weaker eye to compensate.
7. Astigmatism. This eye disease is common and causes blurred vision. It is caused by an irregular curve of the cornea, making it shaped similar to a football. Laser eye surgery or glasses and contacts can correct the vision distortion.
8. Color Blindness. This is a hereditary eye disease. Color-sensitive cells in the back of the retina are either malfunctioning or simply not there for people with color blindness. It causes people to have trouble recognizing red, green and blue. There is no treatment to correct color blindness. 
9. Retinal Detachment. The retina can become detached from the tissues surrounding it. This causes liquid to build up behind the retina. Flashing lights and floating specks are the initial visual symptoms. This eye disease most commonly happens in younger adults. Reattachment surgery is necessary.
10. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. This is a progressive eye disease that affects people who are over sixty. The center portion of the retina, the macula, is slowly destroyed, causing central vision impairment. Blood and fluid builds up under the macula. Some treatments, like surgery and injections, can halt the disease but in latter stages, vision loss cannot be corrected.