Dr. Mark Fleckner on common eye problems and their causes.

Many people would claim that their eyesight is their most important sense, and it is important that people take care of their eyes by getting regular exams. Unfortunately, the eyes are a vulnerable part of the body and are subject to diseases and conditions. The good news is many of these conditions can be cured, especially if they are caught early. Here are some common eye problems and their causes:

Refractive Errors

These problems deal with the eyes’ ability to focus. They are usually easy to remedy, either with prescription glasses, contact lenses or new surgical techniques such as LASIK. Myopia or nearsightedness happens when the light focuses in front of the retina. For a nearsighted person, objects in the distance are blurry. In farsightedness, or hyperopia the light focuses behind the retina, and things that are close are blurry. Astigmatism is caused when the person’s cornea is irregular, so objects look wavy. Many people are a little astigmatic, and their symptoms are so slight that they don’t need to be treated.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a build-up of pressure in the eye that happens when the aqueous humor can’t drain properly through the tear ducts. Eventually, the pressure becomes so great that it damages the optic nerve, which can result in blindness. This is almost completely preventable when the glaucoma is caught early and treated.

Cataracts

A cataract happens when the clear lens of the eye becomes opaque. It is painless, but if the cataract covers the lens completely, it can interfere with vision. Signs of a cataract are blurry or double vision, night blindness and colors that become dull. Advances in surgery have made the removal of cataracts an outpatient procedure that is aided by lasers and computers.

Macular Degeneration

The macula is the very center of the retina, where images are focused. Macular degeneration happens when this part of the eye suffers damage. It is often a consequence of aging. At first, it is barely noticeable, especially if the person’s other eye is unaffected. But if both eyes are affected, the central image in a person’s vision can start to become blurry. It may even become completely dark. As with cataracts, colors may become bleached out. There’s no cure for macular degeneration as of 2019, but its spread can be slowed through laser eye surgery.

Originally posted on DrMarkFleckner.info