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Common Eye Diseases:
What they are, Risk Factors, Symptoms and Treatments
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
What is AMD? Age-Related Macular Degeneration or AMD is a disease that affects part of the back of the eye called the macula, which is the central part of the retina. This causes the central part of your vision to become blurry or wavy. It can even cause a blind spot in the center. This can lead to vision loss quickly or slowly, and can make things such as driving and reading very difficult.
What are some Risk Factors for AMD? AMD is the leading cause of vision loss for Americans age 65 and older. If you are 65 or older, remember to visit your eye doctor regularly, learn and watch for symptoms of AMD, and take care of yourself. Healthy Living, Healthy Vision. Risk factors include:
- race (Caucasian)
- smoking
- diet
- genetic factors.
What are Symptoms of AMD?
- blurry or wavy vision
- blind spot
Are there Treatments available for AMD? One drug called Lucentis was approved by FDA for treating AMD. This is injected into the eye once every month, over a course of many months. This has shown to improve vision by 3 times in about one third of patients over the course of a year. Other drugs used are Avastin and Macugen, both approved by FDA. There is also a laser treatment called Photodynamic Therapy, which uses a laser-beam with light-sensitive dye to destroy unhealthy new blood vessels under the retina. Photocoagulation is another laser treatment, but uses a stronger beam. Vitamin supplements have also shown to prevent onset and progression of AMD.
Cataracts
What is a Cataract? A cataract is the clouding of the eye's lens, which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. Your vision may become blurry or dim because the cataract stops light from properly passing through the retina.
What are some Risk Factors for Cataracts? More than 20 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts. Developing cataracts is part of getting older, but possible risk factors include:
- intense sun/heat/UV exposure
- certain diseases such as diabetes
- hereditary influences
- long-term steroid use
- events before birth
- eye injuries
- eye diseases
- smoking
What are Symptoms of Cataracts?
- blurred vision, double vision, ghost images, or sense or "film" over your eyes
- light seems very dim or you are "dazzled" by strong light
- changes in spectacle correction don't seem to help clear vision
Are there Treatments available for Cataracts? In order to prevent vision loss, it is important to get an eye exam regularly. If you are over 65, it is especially important to be checked regularly and be dilated. A simple surgical procedure can be used to remove the cloudy crystalline lens and replace it with a clear implant.
Diabetic Retinopathy
What is Diabetic Retinopathy? This affects people with diabetes and is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. It weakens the small blood vessels which can break down, leak, or become blocked affecting and impairing vision over time.
Are there Treatments available for Diabetic Retinopathy? People with diabetes should be examined regularly for early detection. Changes in the retina often happen very quickly before you even notice a change in vision. There are laser, surgical and medication therapies currently available to treat diabetic retinopathy.
Dry Eye
What is Dry Eye? Dry Eye is a disorder in which people are unable to produce enough of the natural tears that protect the eye and keep it moist. The eyes are unable to leave a "tear film" which washes and soothes the eye each time you blink. The eyes will then become very irritated and can interfere with your vision. Some cases can become very severe.
What are some Risk Factors for Dry Eye? Almost all people who have dry eye are adults and 90% are women. It is more common in pregnant and pre-menopausal women. Although an exact cause for dry eye is unsure, there are a few causes that result in dry eye. Examples include:
- Sjogrens Syndrome
- menopause and arthritis
- other eye diseases
- certain medications
- side effects from contact lenses
What are symptoms of Dry Eye?
- burning or stinging
- feeling of particles in your eye
- a gritty, sandy feeling
- itchiness
- redness and inflammation
- stringy mucus
- extreme sensitivity (especially to cigarette smoke)
Are there Treatments available for Dry Eye? Unfortunately, there is no cure for dry eye. Alternatives such as "artificial tears" can be used (consult your doctor for recommended drops). Restasis prescription eye drops and punctal plugs are other options for treating dry eye.There are also ways to avoid making your dry eye worse, such as avoid hair dryers, harsh winds, overly warm rooms, and cigarette smoke. Res
Floaters
What are Floaters? Floaters are small spots you may occasionally see in your field of vision. A clear, gel-like fluid in your eye called vitreous can clump causing small flecks of protein or material to be trapped. This causes spots or shadows over your retina.
What are some Risk Factors for Floaters? Floaters are a natural part of the eye's aging process. Common causes of floaters include:
- types of eye surgery
- eye disease
- eye injury
- crystal-like deposits that form in the vitreous (gel like fluid in eye).
What are Symptoms of Floaters? Floaters are seen in different forms such as:
- dots
- threads
- cobwebs
- floaters seem to dart away when you try and look at them
Are there Treatments available for Floaters? Surgery is rare and only recommended in severe cases. Most people learn to ignore the floaters but some are in direct line of vision. If this happens it helps to move around the eye, looking up and down, causing the fluid to shift and move. A small number of floaters occasionally is not a threat but if a large number occurs suddenly or if it gets worse consult your doctor for an eye exam.
Glaucoma
What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes loss of sight by damaging a part of the eye called the optic nerve. The nerve sends information from your eyes to your brain, and as glaucoma damages this nerve you begin losing patches of vision. These patches usually occur in side vision, or your peripheral vision.
What are some Risk Factors of Glaucoma? Anyone can get Glaucoma but certain things that can increase your risk are:
- Age (the older you are, the greater the risk)
- Race (African-Americans have glaucoma four to five times more often than others and at a younger age)
- Family History (If any immediate family with glaucoma, it is more likely you will get it as well)
- Medical History (Diabetes, eye injury, etc.)
What are Symptoms of Glaucoma? Glaucoma is often called "the sneak thief of sight." This is because people do not usually notice signs of the disease until it has gotten severe and they have already lost significant vision. More than 2.2 million Americans have glaucoma and about half don't even know they have it.
Are there Treatments available for Glaucoma? Glaucoma can be treated through numerous methods including medicines, laser surgery, glaucoma surgery and the combination of these treatments. Eye drops are usually the first step depending on the severity of the case. Your treatment method is recommended by your doctor.
This information has been provided by Prevent Blindness. For additional information you may visit their website www.preventblindness.org OR feel free to contact us at 512-258-2120.
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