The eyes are complex organs and contain multiple parts that must work individually and in coordination to produce clear vision. Here’s an overview of the common eye conditions that one should know about:
Refractive errors: When light is not focused properly, it results in blurry vision. Surgery, contact lenses, or glasses can usually end up correcting these refractive errors, which include the likes of:
- Presbyopia, also known as farsightedness, which is caused due to loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye due to age.
- Astigmatism, which could end up resulting in blurry vision due to the cornea not being shaped perfectly for directing light into the eye.
- Hyperopia, which occurs when objects that are close appear blurry.
- Myopia, which is nearsightedness when faraway objects appear blurry.
Glaucoma: Glaucoma occurs when there is increased pressure of the fluid that lies inside the eye, which could even lead to possible optic nerve damage. What’s more, glaucoma is also a common reason for blindness. Other important risk factors of glaucoma are family history, race, and age.
Cataract: Cataract happens when there is clouding of the lens of the eye, causing vision that is color-tinted or blurry. People with cataracts often report that the objects they’re looking at have “halos” surrounding them, especially at night. Older adults usually face this condition the most. Cataracts can be removed by surgery, which involves replacing the damaged lens with an artificial one.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): AMD is gradual damage that happens to the cells of the macula, which is the sensitive spot right in the center of the retina. It’s usually adults older than 60 years who suffer from AMD, which causes blurry vision, particularly in the center of the field of view. It is also the most important cause of vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 65 years in the country.
Amblyopia: Also known as “lazy eye,” amblyopia occurs when the vision hasn’t properly developed in the eyes. So, the brain starts to favor the eye that has better vision, and the other one begins to slack. This happens when one of the eyes does not produce clear images between birth and 6 years of age, which are the critical years. One eye could be inhibited by problems such as misaligned eyes or strabismus, tumor, or lid droop, which aren’t corrected when the child is young.
Dry eye syndrome: Dry eyes happen when there is a problem with the production of tears. Dry eyes usually occur due to a problem with the eyelids, tear ducts, or tear formation, or are a side effect of some medications. This condition can cause blurry visions and pain.
Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy basically is damage to blood vessels in the retina due to diabetes. It results in dark or blurred spots in the field of vision and could even result in blindness.
Retinal detachment or tear: A detached retina is when the retina separates from the back of the eye, causing partial/complete vision loss or blurry vision.