| COMMON
DEFINITIONS
MYOPIA
| HYPEROPIA
| ASTIGMATISM
| PRESBYOPIA
| CATARACT
MACULAR DEGENERATION
| GLAUCOMA
| RETINAL DETACHMENT
| OCULAR MIGRAINE
PINK EYE
MYOPIA
(Nearsightedness): Most nearsighted
patients report good near vision but blurred
vision at distance. A myopic or nearsighted
eye is too strong or too long for light
to focus on the retina. A minus powered
lens is utilized to focus light and clear
the vision of nearsighted patients.
HYPEROPIA
(Farsightedness): Many farsighted
patients report good distance vision,
but blurred vision for near point tasks.
Often patients with hyperopia will have
no complaints of blurred vision, but will
experience eyestrain or headaches. A hyperopic
or farsighted eye is weaker or too short
for light to focus on the retina. A plus
powered lens is utilized to focus light
and clear the vision of farsighted patients.
ASTIGMATISM:
A condition where the patient can be both
nearsighted and farsighted at the same
time. Astigmatism results when the cornea,
the front surface of the eye, is not round.
In patients with astigmatism the cornea
is more shaped like a football than a
basketball.
PRESBYOPIA:
A condition that affects patients over
the age of forty. Normal aging changes
result in decreased ability to focus for
near vision. The muscles inside the eye
becomes weaker, the lens inside the eye
becomes more rigid and the patient’s
“arms become too short!”
CATARACT:
A clouding or opacification of the lens
inside the eye. Most cataracts are a result
of normal aging processes, but cataracts
can result from injuries, radiation and
even some systemic medications. Wearing
sunglasses can reduce the risk of cataract
by blocking harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Vision can be restored for most patients
with surgery and an intraocular lens implant.
MACULAR
DEGENERATION: The macula is a very
small area of the retina that gives us
our central or sharpest visual acuity.
A breakdown of the retinal tissue in this
area is called macular degeneration. This
degeneration has two forms, wet and dry
degeneration. While extensive research
is continuing into the causes and cures
of both forms of this disease no consistent
cure is available at this time. Surgical
and medical treatments for wet macular
degeneration have been moderately effective.
Dietary control and supplements have proven
helpful for many patients with dry macular
degeneration. While macular degeneration
rarely results in true blindness, vision
loss from this condition can be very devastating.
Often special “low vision”
aids like telescopes, microscopes, and
electronic devices can restore usable
vision to patients with macular degeneration.
GLAUCOMA:
At one time it was thought that glaucoma
meant loss of vision due to increased
intraocular pressure (pressure inside
the eye). Research in the last several
years has shown glaucoma to be much more
complex. It is a disease or condition
that attacks the optic nerve, often by
high intraocular pressure. The result
of this pressure on the nerve is loss
of vision. Undetected and untreated glaucoma
will cause blindness. With accurate diagnosis
and treatment, glaucoma can be very effectively
treated and loss of vision prevented.
Very often treatment is as simple as taking
one or two drops each day to maintain
the health of the optic nerve. At times
a surgical procedure is necessary to treat
glaucoma. Diagnosis of glaucoma can only
be made by careful analysis of several
factors; including ocular health, intraocular
pressure and visual fields.
RETINAL
DETACHMENT: The eye is comprised
of several layers. The innermost layer,
the retina, is like the film in a camera.
It is where the visual images are captured
and sent to the visual areas of the brain.
Just below the retina is a layer made
up primarily of vascular tissue (blood
vessels) that supply nourishment to the
retina. If the retina becomes separated
or detached from its underlying layer,
it loses its blood supply and the cells
of the retina can die. This can cause
blindness or partial loss of vision. Symptoms
include floaters and flashes of light.
Retinal detachments must be diagnosed
and treated quickly to prevent loss of
vision.
OCULAR
MIGRAINE: A condition that can
mimic some symptoms of a retinal detachment.
The cause is also similar, reduced blood
supply to the retina. Constriction of
blood vessels in the very early stages
of a migraine may cause partial loss of
vision often described as “gray
holes” in the field of vision. Often
patients will also describe flashing or
zig zag lightening bolts in the visual
field. The causes or triggers for ocular
migraine are too numerous to mention.
One common factor for many patients is
stress. Unlike the symptoms of a detachment,
which will continue until treatment is
begun, ocular migraine symptoms usually
last only 15 to 30 minutes.
PINK
EYE (CONJUNCTIVITIS): A genera
term to describe redness in the whites
of the eyes resulting from an inflammation
or infection. These inflammations or infections
fall into three categories:
- Bacterial
infections – characterized
by redness, itchy, at times pain, decreased
vision and a mucous discharge.
- Viral
infections – characterized
by redness, burning at times, decreased
vision and a watery discharge.
- Allergic
inflammation - characterized
by redness, itching and a water/sticky
discharge.
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