What are the Most Common Types of Eye Disease?

Age Related Eye Disease

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a disease of the eye that causes deterioration of the pigment in the center of the retina. It is the number one cause of irreversible blindness in men and women above 65 years old. Macular degeneration is not reversible though it can be treated with medication and vision therapy.

Presbyopia

Once you reach 40 and above you will start to notice that it is becoming more difficult to focus on objects that are close up. This is known as presbyopia. It is a perfectly normal change in vision and occurs due to a hardening of the lens in your eyes. Initially you may be able to compensate for this change by holding your newspaper or book further away. Gradually it will worsen and you will need to wear corrective glasses. Presbyopia advances more quickly beyond 50 and you will notice that you will need your prescription lenses change more frequently.

Cataracts

Around half of all Americans age 65 and above have some stage of cataract formation in their eyes. Once you reach 70, the percentage increases dramatically. These days surgery for the removal of cataracts is safe and so effective that it can restore 100 percent of vision.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a degenerative disease of the eye which causes progressive damage to the optic nerve and eventually leads to irreversible loss of vision. It is the second most common cause of blindness throughout the world. Glaucoma affects between one and 200 people age fifty and younger and one in 10 eight and older. It is treatable with laser surgery.

Common Minor Eye Diseases and Conditions

Pink Eye

Pink eye is one of the most common eye conditions among children, although adults can also contract it. It causes the whites of the eyes to turn pink and become itchy sore and weepy. It is most commonly caused by a form of conjunctivitis. Although the allergic form of conjunctivitis is not contagious, the bacterial and viral forms are.

Spots and Floaters

Many spots and floaters are quite normal. They occur throughout life as rubbing or foreign objects in the eye sometimes cause tiny pieces of the retina to come loose and float around in the eye’s vitreous liquid. You tend to notice them more when you are looking at a light background such as the sky. Although they may become annoying they are generally harmless. However, there are occasions when spots and floaters may indicate that you may have a detached retina, in which case you will need to have it diagnosed and treated. Usually if you have tiny thread-like floater or small dots then you have the normal kind. If you suddenly see cloud-like floaters or flashes of light then you

Broken Blood Vessels

This eye condition cause one or more tiny blood vessels in the white of the eye to rupture. It is usually caused from rubbing or straining the eye. They are usually harmless and heal within a few days.