Your eye health is important to us. No one wants to be caught with a serious eye disease or condition that could have been prevented or treated early by visiting the eye doctor annually. Our optometrists at Menard Eye Center have the tools and experience needed to keep your vision healthy for years to come.
If you are experiencing changes in your vision, don’t wait to contact Menard Eye Center. Instead of visiting an urgent care center, call us and we’ll treat you today.
Many common eye problems have telltale signs that may indicate serious eye health issues. Hover over the images below to see how these common eye conditions may affect your vision.
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Common Eye Diseases
A cataract is a cloudy area in the normally clear lens of the eye. Depending upon its size and location, it can interfere with normal vision. Most cataracts develop in people over age 55, but they occasionally occur in infants and young children. Usually cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may be worse than the other.
Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the internal pressure in your eyes increases enough to damage your optic nerve and cause vision loss. The increased pressure occurs when the passages that allow fluid in your eyes to drain become clogged. The reasons the passages become blocked are not known.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in America. It results from changes to the macula, a portion of the retina that is responsible for clear, sharp vision and is located at the back of the eye.
Also known as retinopathy of prematurity, the disease affects premature infants. It is caused by the abnormal development of blood vessels in the infant’s retina, and it is usually only detected through an eye examination. Infants with the condition may exhibit abnormal eye movements, crossed eyes, severe nearsightedness and white-look pupils.
Diabetes is a disease that interferes with the body’s ability to use and store sugar and can cause many health problems. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when small blood vessels in your eyes become damaged. These blood vessels nourish your eye’s retina, the delicate, light-sensitive lining of the back of the eye.
Hypertensive retinopathy is caused by high blood pressure, which can damage the blood vessels within the retina. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it remains at a high level, the more damage it causes to your vision. Those with the condition may experience headaches, visual disturbances and occasionally sudden vision loss.
Common Eye Conditions
The tears your eyes produce are necessary for overall eye health and clear vision. Dry eyes occur when the body can’t produce enough tears or the specific components that make up tears.
Nearsightedness/Myopia: Close objects are seen clearly, but objects at a distance appear blurred.
Farsightedness/Hyperopia: Objects at a distance are seen clearly, but closer or near objects appear blurred.
Astigmatism: Vision appears blurry, because there is an irregularity in the shape of the cornea, or in the curvature of the lens within the eye.
Presbyopia: This is an age-related condition, affecting people age 40 and over, in which one gradually loses of the ability to focus on near objects.
Strabismus occurs when one or both of your eyes turns in, out, up or down. Poor eye muscle control usually causes strabismus. This misalignment often first appears before a child reaches 21 months but may develop as late as age 6.
COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME
Computer Vision Syndrome is a grouping of eye and vision-related problems that can result from prolonged computer use. Symptoms can include sensations such as burning, irritated or tired eyes, and fluctuating vision.
BLEPHARITIS/MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION
Belpharitis and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction are conditions caused by an inflammation of the eyelids and eyelashes. Symptoms can include: red, irritated or itchy eyelids and the formation of dandruff-like scales on the eyelashes.
Red eyes are caused by enlarged, dilated blood vessels, which can lead to the appearance of redness on the surface of the eye. Red eyes can occur for a number reasons, ranging from minor conditions to emergencies. The amount of redness does not signify the severity of the condition.
Eye infections occur when harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi or a virus enters the eye or the surrounding area. Eye infections generally affect only one eye. Symptoms can include itchy or watery eyes, and infections can lead to redness, pain, discharge, watering and light sensitivity.
An inflammation can occur in response to a viral or bacterial infection, allergies, environmental irritants, surgery or trauma. It is important to treat and control an inflammation to avoid any scarring or permanent damage. Even a small amount of scar tissue can cause permanent vision damage.
Eye allergies are often hereditary and can occur with other types of allergic responses. Allergies can trigger other conditions such as, conjunctivitis or pink eye. Symptoms can include red, swollen or itchy eyes.
Floaters or flashes are shadowy images that can appear in person’s field of vision. They are caused by particles floating in the fluid that fills the inside of the eye. Floaters or flashes are often symptoms of a retinal tear or detachment.
Retinal tears and detachment are a tearing or separation of the retina from the eye’s underlying tissue. This alters the way light enters the eye. Retinal tears and detachment can occur after trauma or an eye surgery. Symptoms can include floaters and flashes.