A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye. Cataracts are very common as you get older. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 70 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts.
At first, you may not notice that you have a cataract. But over time, cataracts can make your vision blurry, hazy, or less colorful. You may have trouble reading or doing other daily activities.
The good news is that a simple surgical procedure can get rid of cataracts.
Diabetes Mellitus, more commonly known as diabetes
A group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased appetite. If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications.
Of chief concern to us is Diabetic Retinopothy
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes. It affects the blood vessels in your retina.
If you have diabetes, it’s important for you to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic retinopathy may not have any symptoms at first — but finding it early can help you take steps to protect your vision. Unfortunately, once you notice any symptoms, the damage can be irreversible.
Glaucoma is a complex disease in which damage to the optic nerve
Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye’s optic nerve. It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve.
Children with Glaucoma are most often diagnosed within the first year of life. Signs to look for include excessive tearing, large eyes, cloudy corneas, hiding from bright light, and squeezing the eyelids. It is often first noticed when an acquaintance is shown photographs and they comment on very large-appearing eyes.
Older children and adults do not typically have symptoms, but may describe eye discomfort caused by an underlying condition of glaucoma. Symptoms and signs to look for include sensitivity to light, vision loss, problems adjusting to the dark, head or eye pain, and consistently red eyes.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 year of age. But blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment.
Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in the United States
There are two basic types of Macular Degeneration: “dry” and “wet.” Approximately 85% to 90% of cases of Macular Degeneration are the “dry” type. Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss, affecting more than 10 million Americans – more than cataracts and glaucoma combined.
Macular Degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina
The biggest risk factor for Macular Degeneration is age. Other risk factors include:
Genetics – People with a family history of AMD are at a higher risk.
Race – Caucasians are more likely to develop the disease than African-Americans or Hispanics/Latinos.
Smoking – Smoking doubles the risk of AMD.
Stargardt disease is a form of macular degeneration found in young people, caused by a recessive gene.
This eye condition happens when tear glands can’t make enough quality tears. Dry eyes is a very uncomfortable condition that causes burning, redness and itching. In extreme cases, loss of vision can occur. Special eye drops could stimulate real tears. In more serious cases of dry eyes, prescription drops or surgery may be necessary.