Blepharitis
The inflammation of the eyelids, which occurs when oil glands around the base of the eyelashes become clogged. Blepharitis is a chronic condition that is difficult to treat. It will not cause permanent damage to eyesight, and is not contagious. Possible causes of blepharitis include: bacterial eyelid infection, dry eyes, fungal eyelid infection, parasites, etc.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Watery eyes
- Red eyes
- Burning or stinging sensation in the eyes
- Itchy eyelids
- Red, swollen eyelids
- Flaking around the eyes
- Crusted eyelashes when waking up
- Sticky eyelids
- Blinking more frequently
- Light sensitivity
- Loss of eyelashes
Cataracts
Commonly caused by aging and is when the lens in our eye becomes cloudy. This is due to the normal proteins in the lens breaking down which occurs naturally around age 40. People after the age 60 usually start to have some clouding of lenses, yet vision problems may not happen until years later. Causes of cataracts include: having family members who have cataracts, certain medical issues such as diabetes, eye injuries, damage from UV rays, and certain medications such as corticosteroids.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Blurry vision
- Seeing double
- Light sensitivity
- Trouble with night vision
- Bright colors become faded
Conjunctivitis
Also known as pink eye and is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the sclera (white part of eye). Pink eye is very common for children and is highly contagious. Though a minor infection, conjunctivitis can develop into a bigger issue. Causes of conjunctivitis include, allergies due to pollen and smoke, chlorine in swimming pools, and products that come in contact with the eyes.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Gritty feeling in eyes
- Itchy or burning sensation in eyes
- Watery eyes
- Discharge from eyes
- Swollen eyelids
- Pink eyes
- Light sensitivity
Diabetic Retinopathy
Caused by diabetes and when high blood sugar levels damage the retina’s blood vessels it will affect vision. There are two main stages of diabetic retinopathy. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the early stage of diabetic retinopathy where tiny blood vessels leak, causing swelling in the retina. The second stage is proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), which is when the retina begins growing new blood vessels, a process known as neovascularization.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Blurry vision
- Recurring change between clear and blurry vision
- Blank or dark areas in field of vision
- Poor night vision
- Faded colors
Dry Eye Syndrome
A condition due to an insufficiency of quality tears which lubricate and nourish the eyes. A common, often chronic, problem, especially among older adults. It can develop due to age, gender (women are more likely), medications, medical conditions, environmental conditions, and other factors such as contact lenses or eye surgeries. Dry eye symptoms can be reduced by blinking regularly, increasing humidity in environment, wearing sunglasses outdoors, drinking the recommended daily water intake, and nutritional supplements.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Dryness
- Watery eyes
- Itchy, stinging, or burning sensations
- Redness
- Blurry vision
Glaucoma
A disease which damages the eye’s optic nerves. This is caused by fluid building up in the front part of eye which increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve. Glaucoma is known as a leading cause of blindness for people above the age of 60, however early treatment makes prevention possible.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Severe pain in eye or forehead
- Eye redness
- Blurry vision
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Macular Degeneration
Relating to age and is a problem with the macula part of the retina. Macular Degeneration causes loss of central vision and fine detail vision. There are two types of AMD (Age-related macular degeneration), Dry AMD (most common), and Wet AMD (more serious). People at risk for AMD include those who have fatty diets, overweight, smoke cigarettes, over 50 years old, hypertension, and family history with AMD.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Blurry vision
- Straight lines appearing distorted
- Blurry areas on printed page
- Difficulty reading in low light
- Glare sensitivity
Retinal Detachment
A problem where the retina is pulled away from its normal position at the back of eye. Those at risk for retinal detachment include people with family history with retinal detachment, serious eye injuries, eye surgery, etc. The risk of retinal detachment can be lowered by wearing protective eye gear when doing risky activities such as playing sports. Please go to a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms stated below.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- A lot of gray or black specks in vision
- Seeing flashes of light
- Dark shadow on side or middle of vision
- Blurry vision
- Recurring change between clear and blurry vision
- Blank or dark areas in field of vision
- Poor night vision
- Faded colors