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Astigmatism
is one of a group of eye conditions known as refractive errors. Refractive
errors cause a disturbance in the way that light rays are focused
within the eye. Astigmatism often occurs with nearsightedness and
farsightedness, conditions also resulting from refractive errors.
Astigmatism is not a disease nor does it mean that you have "bad eyes."
It simply means that you have a variation or disturbance in the shape
of your cornea.
Related Links:
American
Optometric Association
SeeClearly.Com
All
About Vision
U-M
Kellogg Eye Center
Eyesite.ca
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Anophthalmia
or Microphthalmia
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Anophthalmia
is the term used when there is a total lack of an eye, indicating
some outside interruption during intrauterine foetal development very
early after conception. Anophthalmia may be monocular (affecting one
eye), or bilateral (both eyes). Obviously there is no sight and therefore
no treatment can be offered. Cosmetically, however, sockets can be
measured, moulds taken and artificial eyes (matched with parental
or sibling eye coloring) fitted.
Microphthalmia is commonly called 'small eye syndrome'. Most of
the children known to me are affected in one eye. The eye is obviously
reduced in size, and again, according to my statistics, is blind with
no vision at all. However, in Lincolnshire there are children who
have bilateral microphthalmia with resultant extreme reduced vision.
These children are all registered blind although all also have some
residual vision.
Related Links:
Micro
& Anophthalmic Childrens Society
National
Eye Institute
Ican
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Blepharitis
is a noncontiguous inflammation of the eyelids that usually affects
the lower part of the lid and eyelashes. It is usually characterized
by excess oil production in the meibomian glands near the eyelid,
which creates a favorable environment for bacterial growth. Repeated
occurrences of styes or hordeolum (inflammation of the eyelid’s
sebaceous gland) and chalazia (swelling that results from a blockage
of the meibomian glands) are also associated with blepharitis.
Related Links:
Dr.
Marcella Bauman & Associates
Todayvision.com
Handbook
of Ocular Disease Management
Health-MD.net
Visiondirect.com
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Cataract
is a clouding of the eye's lens that can cause vision problems. The
most common type is related to aging. More than half of all Americans
age 65 and older have a cataract. In the early stages, stronger lighting
and eyeglasses may lessen vision problems caused by cataracts. At
a certain point, however, surgery may be needed to improve vision.
Related Links:
St.Luke's
Cataract and Laser Institute
Today's
Vision
Sankara
Nethralaya
Eye
Search.Com
Vision
Channel
EyeMDLink.com
Dr.
Marcella Bauman & Associates
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Conjunctivitis
is commonly known as pinkeye because of the inflamed tissues that
are seen when the eyelid is pulled back, conjunctivitis is the most
common infectious disease of the eye that affects children. Although
most types of conjunctivitis are contagious, it usually causes no
danger to the eye or to your child's vision. Besides infections, conjunctivitis
can also be caused by inflammation or irritants to the eye.
Related Links:
Sankara
Nethralaya
American
Academy of Family Physicians
Review
of Optometry Online
Mckinley
Health Center
EyeMDLink.com
Dr.
Marcella Bauman & Associates
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Diabetic
Retinopathy is a Microvascular disease (involving small blood
vessels) due to diabetes affects the eyes and kidneys. Retinopathy
is damage to the retina caused by microvascular changes. On average,
a careful eye examination reveals mild retinal abnormalities about
seven years after the onset of diabetes, but the damage that threatens
vision usually does not occur until much later. Fortunately the condition
can be treated-and vision spared- with laser photocoagulation, if
it is detected early.
Related Links:
The Diabetic
Retinopathy Foundation
St.Luke's
Cataract and Laser Institute
UK
National Screening Committee (NSC)
Sankara
Nethralaya
Diabetesnet
Navh
Excerpts
Ophthalmology
Consultants
Eye
Search.Com
Schepens
Retina Associates
EyeMDLink.com
Dr.
Marcella Bauman & Associates
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Dry Eye
syndrome is a chronic lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture
in the eye. Its consequences extend from subtle but constant irritation
to ocular inflammation of the anterior (front) tissues of the eye.
It is particularly bothersome for wearers of contact lenses.
Related Links:
The
Aging Eye
Med
Help International
Ind
Medica Ltd
Eagle
Vision, Inc
Novartis
Ophthalmics
dryeyeinfo.org
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Glaucoma
is a disease that has no initial visual or pain symptoms. Patients
must have regular eye exams to detect glaucoma at its earliest stage.
While the cause of this disease is not fully known, it is a disease
that can be successfully managed through early diagnosis and optimal
treatment or therapy.
Related Links:
The
Glaucoma Foundation
The Glaucoma
Research Foundation
Glaucoma Service
& Foundation at Wills Eye Hospital
Today's
Vision
Sankara
Nethralaya
International
Glaucoma Association
American
Glaucoma Society
Greek Glaucoma
Society
All
About Vision
European Glaucoma
Society
Glaucoma
in America
Steen
- Hall Eye Institute
Glaucoma
Associates of Texas
The Glaucoma
Clinic
Silicon
Valley Medical Center
Glaucoma
Center of Michigan
Eye
Search.Com
The
Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation, Inc
Vision
Channel
EyeMDLink.com
Dr.
Marcella Bauman & Associates
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Histoplasmosis
is a disease caused when airborne spores of the fungus Histoplasma
capsulatum are inhaled into the lungs, the primary infection site.
This microscopic fungus, which is found throughout the world in river
valleys and soil where bird or bat droppings accumulate, is released
into the air when soil is disturbed by plowing fields, sweeping chicken
coops, or digging holes. Histoplasmosis is often so mild that it produces
no apparent symptoms. Any symptoms that might occur are often similar
to those from a common cold. In fact, if you had histoplasmosis symptoms,
you might dismiss them as those from a cold or flu, since the body's
immune system normally overcomes the infection in a few days without
treatment.
Related Links:
National eye Institute
ASTDHPPHE
StLukesEye.com
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Hyperopia
(Farsightedness)
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Farsightedness
or hyperopia, occurs when light entering the eye focuses behind
the retina, instead of directly on it. This is caused by a cornea
that is flatter, or an eye that is shorter, than a normal eye. Farsighted
people usually have trouble seeing up close, but may also have difficulty
seeing far away as well.
Related Links:
St.
Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute
All
About Vision
American
Optometric Association
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Keratoconus
(KC) is a non-inflammatory condition of the cornea in which there
is progressive central thinning of the cornea changing it from dome-shaped
to cone-shaped. Keratoconus comes from the Greek word meaning conical
cornea. The cornea is the clear windshield of the eye and is responsible
for refracting most of the light coming into the eye. Therefore, abnormalities
of the cornea can greatly affect the way we see the world.
Related Links:
Center for Keratoconus
National Keratoconus
Foundation
www.febo.com
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Low Vision,
problems with visual functioning do not depend only on acuity or the
ability to see an eye chart. In addition to acuity (or sharpness)
it can involve ability to discriminate color, see contrast and evaluate
the location of objects in space. If a person is unable to function
normally for any of these reasons, then the person may have partial
sight, or low vision.
Related Links:
The Low Vision
Gateway
The Low
Vision Information Center
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Macular degeneration is the
physical disturbance of the center of the retina called the macula.
The macula, which is about the size of the capital letter "O"
in this sentence, is the part of the retina which is capable of
our most acute and detailed vision. We use the macula for reading,
driving, recognizing faces, watching television, and fine work.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of legal blindness in
people over age 55.
Related Links:
Macular Degeneration
Foundation
Today's
Vision
Vision
Loss in America
Eye
Search.Com
Schepens
Retina Associates
Vision
Channel
Dr. Marcella
Bauman & Associates
OCUWELL
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Nearsightedness,
or myopia, is a vision problem experienced by up to about one-third
of the population. Nearsighted people have difficulty reading highway
signs and seeing other objects at a distance, but can see for up-close
tasks such as reading or sewing.
Related Links:
International
Myopia Prevention Association
marketing-myopia.com
The
Eye Center
Laser
surgery for eyes
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Nyctalopia
(Night blindness)
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Night
blindness is an eye disorder in which vision is abnormally impaired
in dim light or at night. It is caused by a deficiency of visual purple
(rhodopsin) in the light-sensitive rod cells of the retina at the
back of the eye. Night blindness most commonly occurs as a result
of retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative condition of the retina. Visual
purple may also decrease if there is a dietary deficiency of vitamin
A - its principal component. Exposure to bright lights may cause the
supply of visual purple to be temporarily depleted. Night blindness
may also occur in choroidoretinitis and glaucoma.
Related Links:
Diet-and-health.net
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Ocular
Albinism in an inherited condition in which the eyes lack melanin
pigment, while the skin and hair show normal or near-normal coloration.
People with ocular albinism have the same eye problems as albinos
(although without the lack of skin pigmentation). As the inside of
the eye lacks its dark pigment lining, light bounces around inside
the eyeball causing a blurred image. The retina fails to develop fully
and visual clarity is significantly reduced, especially for distance
vision which may be around 6/60. Sight is worse in bright light, which
is also uncomfortable.
Related Links:
The
National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation Achromatopsia
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Ophthalmoplegic
Migraine is a rare variety of Migraine Headache often involving
symptoms associated with the paresis of the third, fourth and sixth
cranial nerves. In a majority of the cases, this condition occurs
in childhood, with cases ranging from infants to adolescents. The
third cranial nerve is the one affected most.
Related Links:
Discovery
Communications Inc.
National
Headache Foundation
Imigraine.net
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Presbyopia
(Greek for "old eye") occurs when the lens of the eye becomes
less flexible. Specifically, the lens becomes stiffer and the muscles
that control the lens become weaker, hindering its ability to bend
and flatten in order to focus light on the retina. As a result, the
eye has difficulty focusing on objects up close.
Related Links:
All
About Vision
Laser
Surgery for Eyes
PresbyopiaFYI.com
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Retinitis
Pigmentosa is an eye disease that affects a person's night vision
and peripheral vision. It is a genetic disorder that is usually hereditary.
Symptoms start with decreased night vision and later progress to a
diminishing of peripheral vision. The rate of decline varies depending
on the genetic makeup of the disorder and also varies somewhat in
individuals.
Related Links:
Lighthouse
International
eMedicine.com,
Inc
The
Foundation Fighting Blindness
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Retinoblastoma
occurs in early childhood and affects about 1 child in 20,000. The
tumor develops from the immature retina - the part of the eye responsible
for detecting light and color. There are both hereditary and non-hereditary
forms of retinoblastoma. IN the hereditary form, multiple tumors are
found in both eyes, while in the non-hereditary form only one eye
is affected and by only one tumor.
Related Links:
The
Retinoblastoma Society
Retinoblastoma.com
Eye
Cancer Network
Intouchlive.com
The
Low Vision Gateway
National
Cancer Institute
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Retinopathy
of prematurity
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Retinopathy
of prematurity is a disease of the retinal blood vessels that
can occur in extremely premature infants. The retina is the inner
lining of the eye that consists of specialized nerve cells necessary
for sight. Blood vessels in the retina develop first from the optic
nerve area at the very back of the eye, with growth of blood vessels
within the retina toward the front of the eye. The normal process
of retinal blood vessel growth is stopped in premature infants, leading
to the formation of abnormal blood vessels and scar tissue.
Related Links:
ROPARD
Country
Hills Eye Center
Schepens
Retina Associates
The
Worldwide Braille Translation Leder
Pediatric
Ophthalmic Consultants
University
of Michigan University of Michigan W.K. Kellogg Eye Center
The
Canadian Council of the Blind
The
RetinaSourse.Com
Charles
Retina Institute
The
DRM WebWatcher
Vision
Channel
Preemieparents.com
EyeMDLink.com
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Scotoma
(sk* to"m*) is a loss of part of the field of vision, often experienced
as a blind spot. Causes include a lesion within the eyeball, choroiditis,
hemorrhage, or a lesion in the visual system in the brain. A temporary
blind spot can occur with migraine. Treatment depends on the cause.
Related Links:
www.scotoma.org
ivillage
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Strabismus,
more commonly known as crossed-eyes, is a vision condition in which
a person can not align both eyes simultaneously under normal conditions.
One or both of the eyes may turn in, out, up or down. An eye turn
may be constant (when the eye turns all of the time) or intermittent
(turning only some of the time, such as, under stressful situations
or when ill).
Related Links:
The
Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus
Optometrists
Network
Strabismus
Web Book
The
Doctor's Office
Prevent
Blindness America
Adult
Strabismus Web
The Eyestation.com
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Uveitis
means "inflammation of the uvea", or the middle layer of
the eye. The uvea consists of three structures: the iris, the ciliary
body, and the choroid. The iris is the colored structure surrounding
the pupil, visible in the front of the eye. The ciliary body is a
structure containing muscle and is located behind the iris which focuses
the lens. The choroid is a layer containing blood vessels that line
the back of the eye and is located between the inner visually sensitive
layer, called the retina, and the outer white eye wall, called the
sclera. Inflammation occurring in any of these three structures is
termed "uveitis".
Related Links:
Uveitis Information
Group
Uvetis
Complication and Treatment
Angeles
Vision Clinic
U-M
Kellogg Eye Center Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
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Vitreous
floaters are floating opacities within the central gel substance
of the eye, the vitreous body. They can range from the merely annoying
to the severely disabling.
Related Links:
vitreousfloaters.com
St.
Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute
www.EyeFloaters.com
All
about vision
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