There are many different eye conditions or diseases that occur – some are rare forms while others are very common especially as we age. Finding and treating eye conditions early may cure the disease – or slow the vision loss. The following are common eye conditions that are treated through Halifax Health – Ophthalmology.
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. This is an area that is normally clear. As this clouding occurs, it keeps light rays from passing through the lens and focusing on the retina.
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
Symptoms may include:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Lights are too bright and/or give off a glare or a halo
- Poor night vision
- Colors seem faded
- Increasing the need to change eyeglass prescriptions
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a health problem where the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly builds up and doesn’t drain properly. Instead, the fluid collects and causes damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the retina with the brain. This damage leads to loss of eyesight.
What are the symptoms of Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is dangerous because usually there are no symptoms until it is in a late or severe stage. By that time a lot of your vision might be damaged and it is irreversible. This is why it is so important to get diagnosed early by an ophthalmologist. It is highly recommended that if you have a family history of glaucoma that you get checked out even without any type of symptoms.
Dry Eye Syndrome
The feeling of sand-like grittiness in your eyes that can range from mild to severe. Dry Eye is caused by the body not making enough tears, or the chemicals in the tears are out of balance.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), over 3 million women and over 1 million men suffer from dry eye syndrome. This generally increases with age. Dry eye is not just an annoyance. It can cause inflammation, blurred vision, and even blindness in extreme cases.
Other Common Eye Diseases or Conditions are:
- Eye Allergies
- Blurry Vision
- Detached or torn Retina
- Refractive errors (near sighted, far sighted, astigmatism)
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
- Diabetic Retinopathy
Eye Trauma in Children
Eye trauma means an injury to the eye. Eye trauma sometimes causes vision loss in children. As a parent, you can help your child avoid eye trauma by having him or her use safety eye gear during sports and recreational activities, as well as teaching proper hygiene of washing hands or not rubbing their eyes after touching items or other children.
Some common eye conditions in children are:
- Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
- Hordeolum (Stye)
- Eye Injury (Black Eye)
- Blurry Vision