Common Eye Conditions
CATARACTS
A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. Cataracts usually develop in both eyes, but sometimes they only affect one. Most cataracts occur as a result of getting older, usually sometime after age 40.
Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss worldwide, but they are treatable.
As we age, the proteins that make up the eye's natural lens can clump together. These clumps are the cataracts and are what cause the cloudiness. Over time, they may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.
DRY EYES AND BLEPHARITIS
Blepharitis is eyelid inflammation that causes red, swollen eyelids and crusty eyelashes. The condition can be difficult to treat and tends to recur. For this reason, it's also known as chronic blepharitis.
Blepharitis is very common.
Blepharitis is usually associated with an overgrowth of bacteria that live along the edge of each eyelid and base of each eyelash.
Over time, these bacteria multiply and create a structure called a biofilm. This biofilm becomes a toxic environment, much like the plaque that forms on your teeth.
GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma is defined as a group of eye conditions that can damage your optic nerves, the information pathways between the eyes and brain.
Glaucoma is almost always caused by too much pressure inside one or both eyes. Once this pressure starts to affect the optic nerve, it can lead to irreversible levels of blindness.
People don’t typically experience symptoms until the optic nerve has already been damaged. Scheduling regular eye exams helps doctors catch eye pressure or optic nerve problems before vision loss occurs or worsens.
Glaucoma usually occurs later in life, but it can happen at any age.
MACULAR DEGENERATION
Macular Degeneration (also called age-related macular degeneration or AMD) is a condition in which the eye's macular breaks down, causing a gradual or sudden loss of central vision. Macular degeneration usually affects people over age 65, which is why the term age-related macular degeneration (AMD) often is used to describe the condition. However, certain drugs can cause macular degeneration, and some cases are inherited, such as Stargardt's disease, which can affect children and young adults.