List of Eye Condition Causes & Treatments
Eye conditions range from the mild to the severe. Some resolve on their own and never seem to appear again while others are more serious or even chronic and require medical attention. Here Dr Jade and Dr Sarah have assembled a list of common eye conditions that they and her associates treat at our optometrist office in Lloydminster.
Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
This condition concerns a lack of normal visual development in any eye despite it being healthy. Commonly known as lazy eye, it can be treated successfully if detected early enough in childhood.
Astigmatism
A common vision problem often wrongly dubbed “stigmatism,” astigmatism can be corrected with eyeglasses, contacts, or refractive surgery.
Blepharitis
Recognized by red, swollen eyelids and crusty residue at the base of your eyelashes, blepharitis is a common inflammatory disorder associated with low-grade bacterial infection or other skin condition.
Cataracts
For people over the age of 55, cataracts are a common cause of vision loss. Dr. Jade can offer safe and effective surgical correction for cataracts. There are also several non-surgical options to improve vision available. Ask us for more information and be sure to check out CNIB’s article on cataracts.
Cornea Transplant
A cornea transplant can help patients regain vision after an eye injury or disease has affected the front surface of the eye.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can cause serious vision loss and even blindness if eye health issues are left undetected and uncontrolled by medication.
Dry Eye Syndrome
There are many treatments for dry eye syndrome which is a common eye condition, especially in women over the age of 40.
Eye Allergies
Eye allergies can cause many symptoms for the eyes including redness, tearing, swollenness, or itchiness. Other symptoms connected with eye allergies could also include a runny nose, sinus congestion, or headaches. If you have questions about whether or not you have eye allergies, contact Dr. Jade and schedule an appointment.
Floaters & Spots
Floaters or spots in your vision are usually common, causing no harm. However, if you notice a sudden increase in these spots or floaters or even flashing lights, you should see an eye doctor immediately.
Glaucoma
Referring to a category of eye disorders, glaucoma occurs when there is dangerous buildup of internal eye pressure. This pressure can damage the eye’s optic nerve which is the part that transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. CNIB provides a detailed look at glaucoma and its various types along with the risk factors to be on the look out for.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia is a common vision problem known as farsightedness. It can cause headaches and eyestrain as well as make it difficult to read.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease which causes the cornea to thin and bulge forward in an odd cone-like shape. Various treatment options are available ranging from gas permeable contact lenses to corneal transplant.
Macular Degeneration
This particular eye condition is associated with aging. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss in many of our elderly patients. For resources on AMD, visit CNIB’s website.
Myopia
Commonly referred to as nearsightedness, myopia is a general vision problem or refractive error. Myopia makes it difficult to read or see objects at a distance. Learn more about nearsightedness at CNIB.
Ocular Hypertension
Ocular hypertension causes excessive pressure in the eye. The pressure in your eye is also referred to as intraocular pressure (IOP). During eye exams your doctor usually measures the level of IOP and checks it against normal levels.
Pingueculae
Pingueculae is the name for slightly raised yellowish lesions or growths that form on the white part of your eye’s surface tissue. These lesions are usually found close to the cornea’s edge. This condition is common in people who have spent a significant amount of time in the sun.
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Pink eye, medically know as conjunctivitis, is a common, yet contagious eye inflammation of the thin membrane that covers the white of your eyes. This eye condition is usually found among preschoolers and school-age children.
Presbyopia
This eye condition affects those over the age of 40. Presbyopia causes blurred near vision when you perform regular tasks like reading, sewing, or working on a computer. Also known as aging eyes, presbyopia is unavoidable and will happen to everyone at some point in their life even if you have never had a vision problem before.
Ptosis
Ptosis refers to an eye condition that causes the eyelid to droop. It can affect the upper eyelid of either one or both of the eyes. Ptosis varies from person to person. Sometimes the droop is barely noticeable while in others it may cover the entire pupil. It can be found in both adults and children, but is generally caused by aging.
Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment is caused when the retina becomes separated from its underlying supportive tissue. This generally affects middle-aged or older people and is a serious problem that requires immediate treatment.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a slow and progressive peripheral vision loss disorder. It can be inherited from members of your family. This eye condition causes loss of peripheral vision, night blindness, and even central vision loss.
Styes
A stye is an infected lid gland found at the base of an eyelash. It usually looks similar to a pimple and can grow inside or outside of the lid. They cause no harm to your vision and usually occur at any age.
Sunlight Damaged Eyes
UV rays from sunlight can cause a variety of eye conditions such as cataracts, redeye and macular degeneration. You can even sunburn the surface of your eyes! Dr. Jade explains how to protect you and your families eyes from sunlight damage in the short video, below.
Uveitis
Uveitis is an inflammatory eye disease. If left untreated it can cause permanent loss of vision.