Common Eye Conditions
Cataracts
Cataracts are cloudy areas that develop in the lens in the front of the eye. Normally, the lens of the eye is clear like a camera lens. Cataracts keep light from easily passing through the lens to the back of the eye (the retina), causing blurry vision.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is usually related to increased pressure inside the eye. If it isn’t treated, this condition can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness, often without symptoms. Risk factors for glaucoma include heredity, age, race, diabetes and some medications.
AMD – Age Related Macular Degeneration
The macula is the small central portion of the retina containing millions of nerve cells (cones) that are sensitive to light. This area of the retina is responsible for detailed vision, such as facial recognition and reading. AMD is characterized by the loss of cells in this area causing blurred or distorted central vision.
Diabetic Retinopathy
This disorder is a complication of diabetes. It occurs when small blood vessels stop feeding the retina properly. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels may leak fluid, causing blurred vision or no symptoms at all.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis Pigmentosa is the name given to a group of diseases which affect the light sensitive cells of the retina.
Symptoms will include but are not limited too:
- Night blindness
- Loss of side (peripheral) vision
- Difficulty seeing in dim light
Sight Impairments Following Stroke
Following a stroke a person may experience sight impairment. Such visual issues often resolve themselves as the problem is not in the eye itself but as a result of damage to the brain caused by the stroke.
ESVS can offer help and advice on how to cope meanwhile.