Understanding Eye Disorders

There are nearly 11 million people in the US suffering from eye disorders that may be cured by refractive correction. The AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology), has claimed that sight-threatening eye diseases can be treated, cured or slowed down of they are detected in their early stages. When it comes to eye diseases, however, early detection can be tricky since many eye diseases don’t show any symptoms until they have progressed. This is why understanding eye diseases is important so people can be on the lookout for symptoms and catch any diseases in their early stages.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration occurs with the progression of age. AMD affects the center of the retina which is also known as the macula. It can either be caused by a dry accumulation of deposits under the macula. In case of wet macular degeneration, certain blood vessels grow around the macula. In both cases, there is an appearance of an obstruction in front of the center of the eye leading to a loss of central vision. Symptoms include blurred vision, a dark spot in the central part of vision and straight line distortion.

Cataracts

This involves the clouding of the eye lens which obstructs the entrance of light into the eye and distorts vision. Cataracts is very common and occurs naturally with age. Most people develop a cataract by the age of 65. Symptoms include blurred, distorted vision, light sensitivity, double vision and poor vision at night.

Color Blindness

Although this cannot be considered technically as actual blindness, color blindness refers to the inability of the mind to process certain colors. Color blindness is an eye disorder that affects individuals differently. Red and green are the most common colors that those diagnosed with color blindness have difficulty in seeing. Some have difficulty in differentiating between yellow and blue. Rarely, individuals may be diagnosed with monochromatism which only lets the affected person view in black and white. Color blindness is more common among men than in women.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma occurs as a result of build-up within the eye. As this build-up increases, pressure within the eye and damages the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the nerve that connects the eyes to the brain and transmits images to it. Nearly 2 million people in the US suffer from glaucoma. Glaucoma is hard to detect and does not appear until it has significantly progressed. The symptoms for glaucoma are often sudden and severe. They include severe pain in the eyes, blurred vision, headaches, nausea and vomiting.

It is very important for people to be aware of the symptoms of various eye diseases especially when they are so difficult to detect. Since early diagnosis can help prevent any major vision loss, it is imperative that people visit an ophthalmologist as soon as they suspect something. Eye disorders are fairly common in the US and it is important for people to know about their detection. They should be especially attentive in their later years when the chances of eye disease are high.