Symptoms
of Cataracts:
•
Decreasing vision with age
• Blurred or double vision
• Seeing halos around
bright lights
• Difficulty seeing at
night
• Vision that worsens
in sunlight
• Difficulty distinguishing
colors
• Poor depth perception
• Frequent prescription
changes for glasses
Treating
Cataracts: Cataracts can't be treated with lasers or medication.
Surgery is still the only treatment option. During surgery the
cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear, manmade intraocular
lens (IOL). Cataract surgery is one of the most common and reliable
operations. Each year, more than a million people have their vision
improved through cataract surgery. Now the clear-cornea technique
makes the procedure even safer than before and makes recovery
quicker.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
|
Without
treatment, people with glaucoma may find that they suddenly
have no side vision. It may seem as though they are looking
through a tunnel.
|
What
is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually
steals sight without warning and often without symptoms. Vision
loss is caused by damage to the optic nerve. This nerve acts like
an electric cable with over a million wires and is responsible
for carrying the images we see to the brain.
Symptoms
of Glaucoma:
•
At first, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms. Vision stays
normal, and there is no pain. As glaucoma remains untreated, people
may notice that although they see things clearly in front of them,
they miss objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye.
• Without treatment,
people with glaucoma may find that they suddenly have no side
vision. It may seem as though they are looking through a tunnel.
Over time, the remaining forward vision may decrease until there
is no vision left.
Glaucoma
treatments include:
Medicine: Medicines are the most common early treatment for
glaucoma. They come in the form of eyedrops and pills. Some cause
the eye to make less fluid. Others lower pressure by helping fluid
drain from the eye.
Laser surgery (also called laser trabeculoplasty): Laser
surgery helps fluid drain out of the eye. Although your eye care
professional may suggest laser surgery at any time, it is often
done after trying treatment with medicines. In many cases, you will
need to keep taking glaucoma drugs even after laser surgery.
Conventional Surgery: The purpose of surgery is to make a
new opening for the fluid to leave the eye. Although your eye care
professional may suggest it at any time, this surgery is often done
after medicine and laser surgery have failed to control your pressure.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
Diabetes
can affect sight. If you have diabetes mellitus, your body
does not use and store sugar properly. High blood-sugar levels
can damage blood vessels in the retina, the nerve layer at the
back of the eye that senses light and helps to send images to
the brain. It is a potentially blinding complication that affects
half of all Americans diagnosed with diabetes.
Symptoms
of Diabetic
Retinopathy:
Diabetic
retinopathy often has no early warning signs. At some point, though,
you may have macular edema. It blurs vision, making it hard to
do things like read and drive. In some cases, your vision will
get better or worse during the day.
As new blood vessels form at the back of the eye, they can bleed
(hemorrhage) and blur vision. The first time this happens it may
not be very severe. In most cases, it will leave just a few specks
of blood, or spots, floating in your vision. They often go away
after a few hours.
These spots are often followed within a few days or weeks by a
much greater leakage of blood. The blood will blur your vision.
In extreme cases, a person will only be able to tell light from
dark in that eye. It may take the blood anywhere from a few days
to months or even years to clear from the inside of your eye.
In some cases, the blood will not clear. You should be aware that
large hemorrhages tend to happen more than once, often during
sleep.
Diabetic
Retinopathy treatments include:
There are two treatments for diabetic retinopathy. They are
very effective in reducing vision loss from this disease. In fact,
even people with advanced retinopathy have a 90 percent chance of
keeping their vision when they get treatment before the retina is
severely damaged.
These two treatments are laser surgery
and vitrectomy. It is important to
note that although these treatments are very successful, they do
not cure diabetic retinopathy.
Early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best protection against
loss of vision. A medical eye examination is the only way to find
changes inside your eye. An ophthalmologist can often diagnose and
treat serious retinopathy before you are aware of any vision problems.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
|
|
One
of the common ways vision loss is detected is when
straight lines look distorted, as in the diagram above.
You
can check your vision daily by using an Amsler grid.
Click
here for a downloadable
test.
|
|
What
is Macular Degeneration? Macular degeneration is a deterioration
or breakdown of the macula. The macula is a small area in the
retina at the back of the eye that allows you to see fine details
clearly and perform activities such as reading and driving. When
the macula doesn't function correctly, your central vision can
be affected by blurriness, dark areas or distortion. Macular degeneration
affects your ability to see near and far, and can make some activities–like
threading a needle or reading–difficult or impossible.
Although macular degeneration reduces vision in the central part
of the retina, it does not affect the eye's side or peripheral
vision. For example, you could see the outline of a clock but
not be able to tell what time it is.
Macular degeneration alone does not result in total blindness.
Even in more advanced cases, people continue to have some useful
vision and are often able to take care of themselves. In many
cases, macular degeneration's impact on your vision can be minimal.
Symptoms
of Macular Degeneration:
•
Macular degeneration can cause different symptoms in different
people. The condition may be hardly noticeable in its early stages.
Sometimes only one eye loses vision while the other eye continues
to see well for many years.
But when both eyes are affected, the loss of central vision may
be noticed more quickly.
Following are some common ways vision loss is detected:
• words on a page look
blurred;
• a dark or empty area
appears in the center of vision;
• straight lines look
distorted, as in the above diagram.
Macular
Degeneration treatments include:
Despite ongoing medical research, there is no cure yet for
"dry" macular degeneration. Some doctors believe that
nutritional supplements may slow macular degeneration, although
this has not yet been proven. Treatment of this condition focuses
on helping a person find ways to cope with visual impairment.
Laser surgery and photodynamic therapy
Certain types of "wet" macular degeneration can be treated
with laser surgery, a brief and usually painless outpatient procedure.
Laser surgery and photodynamic therapy use a focused beam of light
to slow or stop leaking blood vessels that damage the macula. The
procedure may preserve more sight overall, though it is not a cure
that restores vision to normal.
Despite advanced medical treatment, many people with macular degeneration
still experience some vision Loss.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
Diseases
and disorders affecting the cornea: The cornea is the eye's
outermost layer. It is the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers
the front of the eye. Some diseases and disorders of the cornea
are: Allergies, Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye),
Corneal Infections, Dry Eye, Fuchs' Dystrophy, Herpes Zoster (Shingles),
Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome, Keratoconus, Lattice Dystrophy,
Map-Dot-Fingerprint Dystrophy, Ocular Herpes, Pterygium and Stevens-Johnson
Syndrome.
Corneal
Disease treatments include:
Many minor corneal disorders can be treated with the following:antibiotics,
anti-bacterial eyedrops, eye ointment, wearing
an eye patch, wearing corrective glasses or contact lenses.
Corneal
Transplant: Corneal transplants are very common in the United
States; about 40,000 are performed each year. A corneal transplant
involves replacing a diseased or scarred cornea with a new one,
usually donated through an eye bank.
Phototherapeutic
keratectomy (PTK): Phototherapeutic
keratectomy (PTK) is one of the latest advances in eye care for
the treatment of corneal dystrophies, corneal scars, and certain
corneal infections. Only a short time ago, people with these disorders
would most likely have needed a corneal transplant. By combining
the precision of the excimer laser with the control of a computer,
doctors can vaporize microscopically thin layers of diseased corneal
tissue and etch away the surface irregularities associated with
many corneal dystrophies and scars. Surrounding areas suffer relatively
little trauma. New tissue can then grow over the now-smooth surface.
The PTK procedure is especially useful for people with inherited
disorders, whose scars or other corneal opacities limit vision by
blocking the way images form on the retina.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
is Blepharitis? Blepharitis is a common and persistent inflammation
of the eyelids. This condition frequently occurs in people who
have a tendency towards oily skin, dandruff, or dry eyes. Blepharitis
can begin in early childhood, producing granulated eyelids, and
continue throughout life as a chronic condition, or develop later
in life.
Symptoms
of Blepharitis:
•
Symptoms
include irritation, itching, and occasionally, a red eye.
Blepharitis
treatments include:
Blepharitis is a condition that
may not be cured, but can be controlled with a few simple daily
measures:
•
At
least twice a day, wet a washcloth with comfortably warm water,
wring it out, and place over the closed eyelids for a minute. Rewet
it as it cools, two or three times. This will soften and loosen
scales and debris. More importantly, it helps liquefy the oily secretions
from the eyelids' oil glands that help prevent the development of
a chalazion, an inflamed lump in an eyelid oil gland.
•
With
your finger covered with a thin washcloth, cotton swab, or commercial
lint-free pad, gently scrub the base of the lashes about 15 seconds
per lid.
•
If
an antibiotic ointment has been prescribed, apply a dab at the base
of the lashes (usually at bedtime), using your fingertip or a cotton
swab. Simple, daily hygienic measures will minimize the following
additional medications that might be needed to control blepharitis
and its symptoms:
•
Artificial
tears may be used to relieve symptoms of dry eye. (These are eye
drops that are available without a prescription.)
•
Steroid
eye drops may be used short-term to decrease inflammation.
•
Antibiotic
ointment or antibiotic pills may be used to decrease the bacterial
content of the eyelids.
Medications alone are not sufficient; the application of warmth
and detailed cleansing of the lashes daily is the key to controlling
blepharitis.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
is Dry Eye Syndrome? Some people do not produce enough tears
to keep the eye comfortable. This is known as dry eye.
Symptoms
of DES:
•
stinging or burning eyes
• scratchiness
• stringy mucus in or
around the eyes
• eye irritation from
smoke or wind
• excess tearing
Excess tearing from "dry eye" sounds illogical, but
if the tears responsible for maintenance lubrication do not keep
the eye wet enough, the eye becomes irritated. When the eye is
irritated, the lacrimal gland produces a large volume of tears
which overwhelms the tear drainage system. These excess tears
then overflow from your eye.
DES
treatments include:
Eye drops called artificial tears are similar to your own
tears. They lubricate the eyes and help maintain moisture.
Artificial tears are available without a prescription. There are
many brands on the market, so you may want to try several to find
the one you like best.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
are Floaters? You may sometimes see small specks or clouds
moving in your field of vision. They are called floaters. Floaters
can have different shapes: little dots, circles, lines, clouds
or cobwebs.
Floaters are actually tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous,
the clear jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eye.
While these objects look like they are in front of your eye, they
are actually floating inside. What you see are the shadows they
cast on the retina, the nerve layer at the back of the eye that
senses light and allows you to see.
Are
Floaters ever serious?
The
retina can tear if the shrinking vitreous gel pulls away from
the wall of the eye. This sometimes causes a small amount of bleeding
in the eye that may appear as new floaters.
A torn retina is always a serious problem, since it can lead to
a retinal detachment. You should see your ophthalmologist as soon
as possible if:
• even one new floater
appears suddenly;
• you see sudden flashes
of light.
If you notice other symptoms, like the loss of side vision, you
should see your ophthalmologist.
What
can be done about Floaters?
Because you need to know if your retina is torn, call your
ophthalmologist if a new floater appears suddenly.
Floaters can get in the way of clear vision, which may be quite
annoying, especially if you are trying to read. You can try moving
your eyes, looking up and then down to move the floaters out of
the way.
What
causes Flashing Lights? When the vitreous gel rubs or pulls
on the retina, you may see what look like flashing lights or lightning
streaks. You may have experienced this same sensation if you have
ever been hit in the eye and seen "stars."
The flashes of light can appear off and on for several weeks or
months. As we grow older, it is more common to experience flashes.
If you notice the sudden appearance of light flashes, you should
visit your ophthalmologist immediately to see if the retina has
been torn.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
is Dermatochalasis? This is the long medical term for baggy
eye lids. It occurs most frequently in patients older than 50.
The
cause of the disorder lies in the elastic fibers underneath the
skin surface. These become stretched, and with this stretching there
is thinning and protrusion of the skin. The tissues around the eyes
are very loose and movable, thereby making this area the most likely
of all in the body for early wrinkles and droops. The true cause
of the elastic degeneration, other than aging, is unknown. It is
not a dietary or vitamin deficiency. It is aggravated by exposure
to the sun, however.
Dermatochalasis
is most easily seen in the soft, loose skin of the upper lids. Sometimes
this skin actually lies on top of the lashes. Some patients are
able to keep their eyes open only by keeping the brow elevated with
the muscles of the forehead and scalp. This may cause headaches
and excessive fatigue, especially with reading. The upper portion
of the vision may also be cut off by this excessive tissue. The
lower lids are also affected, but usually to a lesser degree. They
do not cause the functional problems, i.e. reading and general vision
difficulties as with upper lids; however, they do present a cosmetic
concern for many patients.
Dermatochalasis
treatments include:
Treatment is first directed at prevention by avoiding the
harmful rays of the sun. Dermatochalasis is probably hereditary,
will occur with time, and is a part of the normal aging process.
The only treatment we have to offer is surgery. This procedure is
simply a tightening of the loose tissues around the eyes. The excess
skin is removed, and sometimes the muscle underlying the skin is
also taken. Occasionally the deeper layers of fat are also excised.
The scarring after surgery is usually minimal; these tissues are
very forgiving and heal very well.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
|
Normal vision.
|
|
| The
myopic eye is longer than normal. Incoming light focuses
in front of, instead of directly on, the retina.
|
|
What
is Nearsightedness? Nearsightedness, or myopia, occurs when
the cornea is too steep or the eye is too long. This causes visual
images to focus in front of the retina causing blurry distance
vision. Treatments include glasses, contact lenses, or refractive
surgery.
Signs
of Nearsightedness:
Myopic
people often have headaches or eyestrain, and might squint or
feel fatigued when driving or playing sports. If you experience
these symptoms while wearing your glasses or contact lenses, you
may need a comprehensive eye examination as well as a new prescription.
Nearsightedness
treatments include:
Nearsightedness may be corrected with glasses,
contact lenses, or refractive
surgery. Refractive surgery, such as
IntraLASIK, PRK
or Refractive Lensectomy can
reduce or even eliminate your dependence on glasses or contacts.
The most common procedures are performed with an excimer laser.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
|
Normal vision.
|
|
| The
hyperopic eye is shorter than normal. Incoming light
focuses behind, instead of directly on, the retina. |
|
What
is Farsightedness? Farsightedness, or hyperopia, occurs when
the cornea is too flat or the eye is too short. This causes visual
images to focus at a point behind the retina resulting in blurry
vision at near tasks and occasionally at distance as well.
Signs
of Farsightedness:
Farsighted
people sometimes have headaches or eyestrain, and may squint or
feel fatigued when performing work at close range. If you get
these symptoms while wearing your glasses or contact lenses, you
may need an eye exam and a new prescription.
Farsightedness
treatments include:
Farsightedness can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses
to change the way light rays bend into the eyes. Refractive surgery,
such as IntraLASIK®,
PRK or Refractive
Lensectomy is another option for correcting hyperopia. It may
reduce or eliminate your need to wear glasses or contact lenses.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
|
Normal vision.
|
|
| Astigmatism
occurs when the cornea is shaped more like an oblong
football than a spherical baseball, which is the normal
shape. The oblong shape causes light rays to focus on
two points in the back of your eye, rather than on just
one. |
|
What
is Astigmatism? Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is curved
more in one direction than another (like a football). A patient
with astigmatism will have difficulty focusing on objects at any
distance. Astigmatism often occurs in combination with nearsightedness
(myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia).
Signs
of Astigmatism:
If
you have only a small amount of astigmatism, you may not notice
it or have just slightly blurred vision. Sometimes uncorrected
astigmatism can give you headaches or eyestrain, and distort or
blur your vision.
Astigmatism
treatments include:
Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses
or contact lenses. You also may choose
refractive surgery for
correcting your astigmatism.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
is Presbyopia? Presbyopia occurs when the lens of the eye
loses its flexibility. This condition usually starts around the
age of 40. A patient with presbyopia will have difficulty focusing
on objects up close and difficulty adjusting focus when switching
from distance to near.
Signs
of Presbyopia:
When
people develop presbyopia, they find they need to hold books,
magazines, newspapers, menus and other reading materials at arm's
length in order to focus properly. When they perform near work,
they may have headaches or eyestrain, or feel fatigued.
Presbyopia
treatments include:
Glasses with bifocal or progressive addition lenses (PALs)
are the most common correction for presbyopia. Reading glasses are
another choice. They may be worn just while doing close work, and
may even be prescribed to wear over the top of contact lenses (usually
worn for distance correction).
There
are contact lenses for presbyopes, called multifocal lenses. You
can obtain multifocal contact lenses in gas permeable or soft lens
materials. Another type of contact lens correction for presbyopia
is monovision, in which one eye wears a distance prescription, and
the other wears a prescription for near vision. The brain learns
to favor one eye or the other for different tasks. But while some
people are delighted with this solution, others complain of dizziness
or nausea, or miss the depth perception they once had.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
is Monovision? Monovision is a technique that allows presbyopic
patients to see distance clearly in one eye (usually the dominant
eye) and up close clearly with the other eye. Patients who have
monovision are often able to see well both at distance and near
without corrective lenses. Monovision can be achieved with contact
lenses or with refractive surgery procedures.
Your
eye doctor can fit you with trial monovision contact lenses before
you have your eyes corrected surgically with monovision. Most people's
brains get accustomed to monovision within a matter of weeks.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
is Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction? The tears are constantly
manufactured by glands within the eyelids. After lubricating the
eye, the tears normally drain into two small holes ("puncta")
located on the inner corner of the upper and lower eyelids. From
there, the tears drain into the back of the nose via the tear
duct (a.k.a. nasolacrimal duct). This is why we tend to have a
runny nose when we cry!
Approximately
six percent of all infants are born with a nasolacrimal duct obstruction
(tear duct blockage) affecting one or both eyes. Fortunately,
at least 90% of these obstructions will clear by themselves within
the first year of life. Infants with a nasolacrimal duct obstruction
typically have a blockage at the most distant end of the duct
immediately before it empties into the nose.
Symptoms
of Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction:
As
the tears have nowhere to drain, they will well up on the surface
of the eye and often overflow onto the eyelashes, lids and cheek.
Normally there are bacteria in the tears which also have nowhere
to drain when a blockage is present. These bacteria tend to grow
within the tear duct and cause a pus-like discharge from the inner
corner of the eye and on the lashes.
Nasolacrimal
Duct Obstruction treatments include:
As the majority of tear duct obstructions will resolve without
any intervention by age twelve months, conservative measures are
usually recommended. The typical treatment protocol includes:
•
Tear
duct massage (as demonstrated by the doctor) three times each day
if any signs of a tear duct obstruction are evident. The massage
is performed only on the affected side.
•
Antibiotic
eye drops three times daily after the massage. These eye drops should
be used only when a yellow or green pus-like discharge is present
throughout the day. The eye drops should be discontinued if only
a white mucus-like discharge or no discharge is present.
A
probing of the nasolacrimal duct is a surgical procedure performed
to relieve the obstruction for any of the following reasons:
•
If
the signs of the tear duct obstruction persist by the first birthday.
•
If
the pus-like discharge persists despite use of the antibiotic eye
drops and massage.
•
If
a more serious infection of the tear duct ("dacryocystitis")
or infection of the skin over the tear duct occurs as a result of
the obstruction.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
is Retinal Detachment? Retinal detachment is a serious and
sight-threatening event, occurring when the retina becomes separated
from its underlying supportive tissue. The retina cannot function
when these layers are detached, and unless it is re-attached soon,
permanent vision loss may result.
Symptoms
of Retinal Detachment:
If
you suddenly notice spots, floaters and flashes of light, you
may be experiencing the warning signs of retinal detachment.
Your vision might become blurry, or you might have poor vision.
Another sign is seeing a shadow or a curtain coming down from
the top of the eye or across from the side. These signs can
occur gradually as the retina pulls away from the supportive
tissue, or they may occur suddenly if the retina detaches immediately.
There
is no pain associated with retinal detachment. If you experience
any of the signs, consult your eyecare practitioner right away.
Immediate treatment increases your odds of regaining lost vision.
Retinal
Detachment treatments include:
An eye surgeon must reattach a detached retina. Laser photocoagulation,
a method of sealing off leaking blood vessels and destroying new
blood vessel growth with a laser beam, is another way to reattach
the retina.
Some
eyecare practitioners inject silicone oil into the eye to keep the
detached retina in place. A similar treatment is pneumatic retinopexy,
in which a bubble of gas is injected into the vitreous humor, the
transparent gel filling the eyeball in front of the retina. The
gas bubble expands and presses against the retina to hold it against
its supportive tissue. Cryotherapy (freezing) or photocoagulation
will then permanently reattach the retina.
Sometimes
vision lost by a retinal detachment will come back after treatment.
The sooner the retina is reattached, the better the chances of regaining
vision.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
is Pterygium? A pterygium is fleshy tissue that grows over
the cornea (the clear front window of the eye). It may remain
small or may grow large enough to interfere with vision. A pterygium
most commonly occurs on the inner corner of the eye, but can appear
on the outer corner as well.
Pterygium
treatments include:
When a pterygium becomes red and irritated, eyedrops or ointments
may be used to help reduce the inflammation. If the pterygium is
large enough to threaten sight, grows or is unsightly, it can be
removed surgically.
Despite
proper surgical removal, the pterygium may return, particularly
in young people. Surface radiation or medications are sometimes
used to help prevent recurrences.
Protecting
the eyes from excessive ultraviolet light with proper sunglasses
and avoiding dry, dusty conditions and use of artificial tears may
also help.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
 What
is Chalazion? The term chalazion comes from a Greek word meaning
a small lump. It refers to a swelling in the eyelid caused by
inflammation of one of the small oil-producing glands (meibomian
glands) located in the upper and lower eyelids.
A
chalazion is sometimes confused with a stye, which also appears
as a lump in the eyelid. A stye is an infection of a lash follicle
that forms a red, sore lump near the edge of the eyelid.
A
chalazion is an inflammatory reaction to trapped oil secretions.
It is not caused by bacteria, although the site can become infected
by bacteria.
Chalazions
tend to occur farther from the edge of the eyelid than styes and
tend to "point" toward the inside of the eyelid.
Sometimes
a chalazion can cause the entire eyelid to swell suddenly, but
usually there is a definite tender point.
Chalazion
treatments include:
When a chalazion is small and without symptoms, it may disappear
on its own. If the chalazion is large, it may cause blurred vision.
Chalazions
are treated with any or a combination of the following methods:
• Warm compresses:
Warm compresses can be applied in a variety of ways. The simplest
way is to hold a clean washcloth, soaked in hot water, against the
closed lid. Do this for five to ten minutes, three or four times
a day. Repeatedly soak the washcloth in hot water to maintain adequate
heat. The majority of chalazions will disappear within a few weeks.
Sometimes antibiotic ointments are used in combination with warm
compresses.
•
Steroid injections:
lnjections can be useful after soaks have been tried and a small
lump remains.
•
Surgical incision or excision:
Large chalazions which do not respond to other treatments can be
surgically opened after the early inflammation is reduced.
Chalazions
usually respond well to treatment, although some people are prone
to recurrences. If a chalazion recurs in the same place, your ophthalmologist
may suggest a biopsy to rule out more serious problems.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
|
Keratoconus,
side view
|
What
is Keratoconus? Keratoconus is an uncommon condition in which
the cornea (the clear front window of the eye) becomes thin and
protrudes. Keratoconus literally means a cone-shaped cornea. This
abnormal shape can cause serious distortion of vision.
Symptoms
of Keratoconus:
Blurring
and distortion of vision are the earliest symptoms of keratoconus.
Symptoms usually appear in the late teens or early twenties.
The disease will often progress slowly for 10 to 20 years, then
stop.
In
the early stages, vision may be only slightly affected, causing
glare, light sensitivity and irritation. Each eye may be affected
differently. As the disease progresses and the cornea steepens
and scars, vision may become distorted.
A
sudden decrease in vision can occur if the cornea swells. The
cornea swells when the elastic part of the cornea develops a
tiny crack, created by the strain of the cornea's protruded
cone-like shape. The swelling may persist for weeks or months
as the crack heals and is gradually replaced by scar tissue.
Keratoconus
treatments include:
If eyeglasses cannot fully correct
vision, rigid contact lenses can make
a remarkable difference in the clarity of vision. Newer materials
and designs enable many people with keratoconus to enjoy wearing
contact lenses longer.
Other
ocular conditions are often seen in association with keratoconus,
such as eyelid inflammation (blepharitis) or atopic or allergic
red eye (conjunctivitis). These conditions can be treated with the
appropriate drops and cleansing routine to enable comfortable contact
lens wear. Your ophthalmologist can advise you on how to appropriately
treat these conditions.
When
contact lenses cannot improve your vision adequately, a corneal
transplant may be necessary. (It is estimated that only 20%
of people with keratoconus will require corneal transplant surgery.)
Keratoconus is one of the most common reasons for corneal transplant,
and one of the most successful. Your ophthalmologist can discuss
the risks, benefits, and alternatives to surgery in your particular
case.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
|
Normal
eyelid, Ectropion, Entropion
|
What
is Ectropion? Ectropion is the outward turning of the lower
eyelid. Stretching of the lower eyelid with age allows the eyelid
to droop downward and turn outward. Eyelid burns or skin disease
may also cause this problem. Ectropion can cause dryness of the
eyes, excessive tearing, redness and sensitivity to light and
wind.
How
is Ectropion treated?
Surgery may restore the normal position of the eyelid, improving
these symptoms.
What
is Entropion? Entropion is the inward turning of the lower
eyelid. It most commonly occurs as a result of aging. lnfection
and scarring inside the eyelid are other causes of entropion.
When the eyelid turns inward, the eyelashes and skin rub against
the eye, making it red, irritated and sensitive to light and wind.
How
is Entropion treated?
If entropion is not treated, an ulcerous infection may develop
on the clear surface of the eye called the cornea.
With
surgery, the eyelid can be turned outward to its normal position,
protecting the eye and improving these symptoms.
Eyelid
plastic surgery
Eyelid plastic surgery is almost always performed on an outpatient
basis using local anesthesia. Before surgery, your ophthalmologist
will perform an eye examination and make recommendations. Photographs
and visual field testing are often required by insurance companies
before blepharoplasty and ptosis surgery.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
What
is Iritis? Iritis, a form of Anterior Uveitis is a term for
an inflammatory disorder of the colored part of the eye (iris).
In the majority of cases there is no specific cause. Occasionally,
iritis is just one symptom of a disease that affects other organ
systems. These are called connective tissue diseases and include:
rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoid, lupus, scleroderma, Behcet's disease,
anklylosing spondylitis, Reiter's disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative
colitis, and B-27 disease. Sometimes, it is necessary to establish
whether iritis/uveitis is a manifestation of one of these or some
other underlying systemic disease.
Symptoms
of Iritis:
The
symptoms of iritis include light sensitivity, red eye, blurred
vision, tearing, pain, and sometimes floaters . The pupil may
appear small in the affected eye when compared to the normal
pupil. Frequently iritis is a recurrent problem; after a few
episodes patients become very astute at early diagnosis. Iritis
is sometimes confused with conjunctivitis , a much less serious
disorder of the clear outer lining of the eye.
Iritis
treatments include:
Treatment of iritis is often directed at finding and removing
the cause of the inflammation. In addition, eye drops and ointments
are used to relieve pain, quiet the inflammation, dilate the pupil,
and reduce any scarring which may occur. Both steroids and antibiotics
may be used. The application of hot packs may also provide relief
from the symptoms of iritis. In severe cases, oral medications and
injections may be necessary to treat the condition.
A
case of iritis usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks. During this time, the
patient must be observed carefully to monitor potential side effects
from medications and any complications which may occur. Cataracts,
glaucoma, corneal changes, and secondary inflammation of the retina
may occur as a result of iritis and the medications used to treat
the disorder.
«
Back to Common Eye Conditions list
|
