Vision Conditions Age-Related Macular Degeneration Cataracts Glaucoma Diabetic Retinopathy Corneal Conditions

Vision Conditions

Eye Health Conditions

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Results from deterioration of the macula, which is the back portion of the retina responsible for clear, sharp vision.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of part or the entire lens inside the eye, resulting in blurred or distorted vision.

Glaucoma

An eye disease in which the passages that allow fluid in the eye to drain become clogged or blocked, or there is too much fluid produced inside of the eye. Increased pressure inside the eye then damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially blinding complication of diabetes that damages the eye's retina. This disease is a leading cause of blindness in American adults.

Infections of the Eyes

Bacterial, fungal or viral infections that can appear on the surface of the eye or within the eye itself.

Corneal Dystrophy or Degeneration

Involves abnormal corneal development and results in defects in structure or clarity. Corneal dystrophies may begin early in life, but can also manifest with age. Click here for more information on corneas and corneal conditions.

Retinal Detachments

Most often caused by age-related contraction of the vitreous jelly within the eye. The vitreous may pull strongly enough on the retina to cause it to tear. Fluid can leak beneath the torn retina and lift the retina out of place.

Keratoconus

A degenerative disease in which the center of the cornea thins and the shape of the cornea becomes conical rather than spherical.

Visual Conditions

Amblyopia ("Lazy Eye")

A condition of diminished visual acuity in the absence of any detectable cause.

Anisometropia

A difference in the refractive power of the two eyes. For example, one eye is farsighted while the other is normal.

Astigmatism

A condition that occurs when the front surface of the eye, the cornea, is slightly irregular in shape. This irregular shape prevents light from focusing properly on the back of the eye, the retina. As a result, vision may be blurred at all distances.

Color Blindness

The inability to distinguish some colors and shades. Affects about 8 percent of men and 1 percent of women in the United States.

Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

The inability to see objects up close. It is the result of an eyeball that is too short or whose outside surface (the cornea) is too flat.

Nearsightedness (Myopia)

The inability to see clearly at a distance. It is caused by an eyeball that is too long or whose outside surface (the cornea) is too curved. Nearsightedness can be inherited or caused by the stress of concentrating for long periods on work at a close distance.

Presbyopia

The gradual loss of the eye's ability to change focus for seeing near objects. With age, the lens inside the eye gradually loses its flexibility and focusing ability. It occurs in almost all people over age 45.

Medical Conditions

Tumors
(e.g., brain, eye, near eye)

Abnormal growth of tissue.

Cardiovascular Disease
(e.g., Hypertension, Atherosclerosis, Arteriosclerosis)

Diseases pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.

Demyelinating Diseases
(e.g., Multiple Sclerosis)

Diseases which destroy the body's myelin, the white matter that insulates nerves and allows the conduction of impulses from one part of the body to the other.

Endocrine Conditions
(e.g., Diabetes, Thyroid Dysfunction)

Conditions which involve the over-production or under-production of hormone substances from an endocrine gland.

Inflammatory and Rheumatologic Conditions
(e.g., Rheumatoid Arthritis)

Inflammatory conditions that affect joints in the body.

Neuromuscular Disorders
(e.g., Myasthenia Gravis)

Disorders pertaining to the body's muscles and nerves.