Common Eye Diseases and Their Symptoms

Millions of people in the U.S. over 40 are legally blind, and many more have corrected vision. Studies show that almost 7% of children under 18 have a diagnosed eye condition or disease, with another 3% visually impaired. 

Vision loss is one of the most common forms of disability in the country. Taking care of your eye health is vital for overall health and wellness. Learn about common eye diseases and their symptoms.

Cataracts 

Cataracts are among the most common eye diseases in the country and worldwide. A cataract is a clouded eye lens that can develop in the eye. The condition is the leading cause of blindness in the world. Cataracts are common among senior adults, but they occur at any age. Some children are born with cataracts. 

Symptoms of cataracts include blurry or cloudy vision, glare around lights, changes in color vision, light sensitivity, and poor night vision. Most require brighter reading lights and experience changes in color vision. 

Macular Degeneration 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition that affects central vision. It causes damage to the macula, the center of the eye retina, which is essential for seeing fine details. It is a leading cause of vision loss for seniors over 60. The disease can be wet or dry. 

Dry AMD is the most common form, affecting 70 to 90 % of all cases. Symptoms of the disease include blurry central vision and dark or black spots in the central field of vision. Patients also see straight lines as curved or wavy.  

Diabetes Retinopathy

Diabetes-related retinopathy is a complication of diabetes and is a leading cause of blindness in the country. The disease occurs due to damage to the retina blood vessels resulting from uncontrolled high blood sugar. The light-sensitive retina is vital for clear vision. In most cases, the disease does not exhibit symptoms until later stages. 

Symptoms include distorted or blurry vision, poor night vision, and color blindness or difficulty seeing colors. Others are difficulty seeing far objects and streaks or spots in the vision. 

Retinal Detachment 

Retinal detachment occurs when the retina detaches from the underlying tissues that offer stability. If not treated, the severe eye condition can cause blindness. The severity of the condition will determine whether you experience symptoms. Symptoms include flashes of light and squiggly lines or dark spots drifting across the vision. A covering or darkening of the side vision or part of the vision is a common symptom. 

Glaucoma 

Glaucoma is an eye disease that occurs due to high eye fluid pressure. It causes damage to the optic nerve, affecting the transmission of visual information to the brain. The disease usually runs in families. If not detected or treated, glaucoma can lead to vision loss or blindness. There are two types of glaucoma. 

Open-angle glaucoma does not usually show symptoms in the early stages and develops slowly over time. Closed-angle glaucoma happens suddenly and can cause quick loss of vision. Symptoms include eye pressure or pain, headaches, eye redness, and halos around lights. Other symptoms are blurry vision, low vision, blind spots, and tunnel vision. 

For more common eye diseases and their symptoms, visit Centennial Family Eyecare at our Las Vegas or Henderson, Nevada offices. Call (702) 941-7800, (702) 803-2020, or (702) 299-6200 to schedule an appointment today.