Understanding Diseases Of The Eye.

If you value healthy sight, then understanding the basics about eye diseases should be part of your vision education. While some eye diseases present themselves with obvious symptoms, other diseases of the eye don’t present themselves so obviously.

Here are some of the most common eye diseases. Take note of them certainly, but remember: this is not a substitute for the expert advice of an eye health professional. You should visit your eye care professional on a routine basis—as preventative maintenance for your valuable healthy sight, and as an ongoing protection against diseases of the eye.

Minor Eye Irritation: Sand, dirt, or other foreign matter on the eye's surface can cause irritation. Wash your hands and then flush the eye with lukewarm water for up to 15 minutes. If the object remains embedded, seek professional medical help immediately.

Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye): Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, or clear membrane covering the white part of the eye and lining of the eyelids. Symptoms often include a gummy excretion on the lid of the eye that can make eyelids feel as if they are sticking. There are actually 20 different types of conjunctivitis, from fairly common strains that usually pose no long-term danger to you or your child's vision, to types that are resistant to antibiotics. Call or see your eye doctor or family physician to treat pinkeye.

Dry Eye Syndrome: Itching, burning, and irritation of the eyes, sometimes called "dry eye syndrome," is one of the most common diseases of the eye treated by eye care professionals. It is usually caused by the reduction in the quality of the tears that lubricate our eyes. As we age, our bodies produce less oil to seal the eyes' watery layer. Hot, arid climates, air conditioning, certain medicines, and irritants such as cigarette smoke can all increase dryness. Your eye care professional might prescribe "artificial tears" or other eye drops to help alleviate the problem.

Floaters and Spots: Ever notice a small speck moving in your field of vision? It might be what's called a floater—a tiny, free-floating clump of gel or cells in the vitreous. (The clear, jelly-like fluid inside your eye.) Aging, eye injury, and breakdown of the vitreous are the main causes of floaters, and they are generally harmless. If you notice a sudden increase in the number of spots you see, call your eye care professional.

Pterygium: This is a raised growth on the eye that is most often directly related to over-exposure to the sun. Dry, dusty conditions may also be a factor. Protecting your eye from UV radiation is a critical preventive measure. As a disease of the eye, pterygium is a benign growth, often requiring no treatment. If, however, the growth obstructs or interferes with the pupil, surgery may be required.

Cataracts: A cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens in the eye, making it harder to see through. In a normal eye, the crystalline lens is almost transparent and can change shape to focus objects at different distances from the eye. When the lens becomes “opaque,” it is called a cataract. Some types of cataract formation have been linked to overexposure (over a long period of time) to ultraviolet (UV) light. As people age, they have an increased chance of developing this eye disease, however cataracts can often be treated with a safe and simple surgical procedure performed by an ophthalmologist.

NOTE: In almost all cases of macular degeneration, some vision remains. Few macular degeneration patients experience total visual loss, since the area of the macula makes up about 5% of the retina. That means the macula is responsible for about 35% of the visual field. The remaining 65% (your peripheral field) remains largely unaffected by the disease. But what it does affect is the very core of your visual capability. As you age, be sure to discuss ways to slow down the potential onset of this eye disease with your eye health professional.

Macular Degeneration: This is an eye disease you'll likely hear more about as the US population ages. Also known as AMD or ARMD (age-related macular degeneration), this disease of the eye occurs when the macula breaks down, or degenerates. (The macula is the part of the retina responsible for the sharp, central vision needed to read or drive.) It is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in those 65 years of age and older.

Glaucoma: This is actually a group of eye diseases specific to the optic nerve—the pathway of information from the eye to the brain. Interocular pressure (pressure within the eyeball itself) is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma, however there is no set threshold of pressure that indicates this eye disease will take hold. Since the damage done is to the optic nerve itself, glaucoma damage cannot be reversed, only treated (with either surgery or medications). It is a sneaky disease that usually develops over long periods of time. That’s why it’s so important to have regular eye examinations during which the interior of the eye and the optic nerve can be examined.