Patient Education - Eye Diseases

The following are descriptions of various eye diseases. Click on "more info" to download a PDF with a more detailed description of each disease including causes, symptoms and treatment.
 

Is a deterioration or breakdown of the Macula. The Macula is a small area in the retina at the back of the eye that allows you to see fine details clearly and perform activities such as reading and driving. When the macula doesn’t function correctly, your central vision can became affected by blurriness, dark areas or distortion. It affects your ability to see near and far, and can make some activities-like threading a needle or reading-difficult or impossible. More Info...

There are two types of diabetic retinopathy: nonproliferative (NPDR) and proliferative (PDR). NPDR commonly known as background retinopathy, is an early stage of diabetic retinopathy. In this stage, tiny blood vessels within the retina leak blood or fluid. The leaking fluid causes the retina to swell or to form deposits called exudates.More Info...

The retina is a nerve layer at the back of your eye that senses light and sends images to your brain. The eye is like a camera. The lens in the front of the eye focuses light onto the retina. You can think of the retina as the film that lines the back of a camera. A detachment occurs when the retina is pulled away from its normal position. The retina doesn’t work when it is detached. Vision is blurred. This is a very serious problem that almost always causes blindness unless it is treated. More Info...

Is a disease of the optic nerve-the part of the eye that carries the images we see to the brain. The optic nerve is made up of many nerve fibers, like an electric cable containing numerous wires. When damage to the optic nerve fibers occurs, blind spots develop. These blind spots usually go undetected until the optic nerve is significantly damaged. If the entire nerve is destroyed, blindness results.More Info...

Floaters are actually tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous, the clear gel-like fluid that fills the inside of the eye. While these objects look like they are floating in front of your eye, they’re actually inside it. What you see are the shadows they cast on the retina. The layer of cells lining the back of the eye that senses light and allows you to see.More Info...

Normally the eye constantly bathes itself in tears. Sometimes people don’t produce enough tears. This is called dry eye. The eye uses two different methods to produce tears. It can make tears at a slow, steady rate to maintain normal eye lubrication. It can also produce large quantities of tears in response to eye irritation or emotion. When a foreign body or dryness irritates the eye, or when a person cries, excessive tearing occurs. More Info...

Is a loss of eyesight that makes everyday tasks difficult. A person with low vision may find it difficult or impossible to accomplish such activities as reading, writing, shopping, watching TV, driving a car, recognizing faces or crossing a street. When vision can’t be improved with regular eyeglasses, medicine, or surgery, people with low vision need help to learn how to make the most of their remaining sight and keep their independence.More Info...

This is a type of eye surgery that treats the disorders of the retina and vitreous. The retina is the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye. The vitreous is the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye. The vitreous is removed during surgery and usually replaced by a saltwater solution.

More Info...