Eye Diseases

Summary

Some eye problems are minor and don’t last long. But some can lead to a permanent loss of vision.

Common eye problems include:

• Refractive errors
• Cataracts – clouded lenses
• Optic nerve disorders, including glaucoma
• Retinal disorders – problems with the nerve layer at the back of the eye
• Macular degeneration – a disease that destroys sharp, central vision
• Diabetic eye problems
• Conjunctivitis – an infection also known as pink eye

Your best defense is to have regular checkups, because eye diseases do not always have symptoms. Early detection and treatment could prevent vision loss. See an eye care professional right away if you have a sudden change in vision, if everything looks dim, or if you see flashes of light. Other symptoms that need quick attention are pain, double vision, fluid coming from the eye, and inflammation.

NIH: National Eye Institute

National Eye Institute

Prevention and Risk Factors

• 5 Top Foods for Eye Health Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Four Fantastic Foods to Keep Your Eyes Healthy American Academy of Ophthalmology

Related Issues

• Abnormal Head Position American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Floaters Prevent Blindness America
• Headaches in Children American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Inflammation of the Orbit Merck & Co., Inc.
• Neurofibromatosis American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Ocular Hypertension American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Red Eye Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Smoking and Eye Disease American Academy of Ophthalmology
• What Is an Ocular Migraine? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• What’s Your Risk of Eye Damage from UV Light? American Academy of Ophthalmology

Children

• About the Eye National Eye Institute
• Anisocoria and Horner’s Syndrome American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia National Eye Institute
• Excessive Blinking in Children American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Persistent Fetal Vasculature (PFV) American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Photoscreening American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Subconjunctival Hemorrhage (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Warning Signs of Vision Problems in Infants and Children American Academy of Pediatrics
• Your Eyes Nemours Foundation

Encyclopedia

• Aging changes in the senses Medical Encyclopedia
• Eyes – bulging Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American Foundation for the Blind American Foundation for the Blind
• Find an Ophthalmologist American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Finding an Eye Doctor National Eye Institute
• National Eye Institute National Eye Institute

Specifics

• Aniridia American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Choroideremia Foundation Fighting Blindness
• Facts about Coloboma National Eye Institute
• Holmes-Adie Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Iritis American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Kearns-Sayre Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Leukocoria American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Subconjunctival Hemorrhage (Broken Blood Vessel in Eye) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Toxoplasmosis (and the Eye) American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Uveitis American Academy of Ophthalmology
• What Is a Pinguecula and a Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye)? American Academy of Ophthalmology

Genetics

• Aniridia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Blau syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Coloboma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Congenital stromal corneal dystrophy: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Fraser syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Genetic Testing and Eye Disease American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Gillespie syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Isolated ectopia lentis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Kearns-Sayre syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Lattice corneal dystrophy type I: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Learning about WAGR Syndrome National Human Genome Research Institute
• Lowe syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Microphthalmia with linear skin defects syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Microphthalmia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Norrie disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Oculocutaneous albinism: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Oculofaciocardiodental syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• RAB18 deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• WAGR syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Weill-Marchesani syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Patient Handouts

• Anisocoria Medical Encyclopedia
• Choroidal dystrophies Medical Encyclopedia
• Coloboma of the iris Medical Encyclopedia
• Episcleritis Medical Encyclopedia
• Eye and orbit ultrasound Medical Encyclopedia
• Eye burning – itching and discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Eye pain Medical Encyclopedia
• Eye redness Medical Encyclopedia
• Fluorescein angiography Medical Encyclopedia
• Fluorescein eye stain Medical Encyclopedia
• Heterochromia Medical Encyclopedia
• Ophthalmoscopy Medical Encyclopedia
• Orbit CT scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Orbital pseudotumor Medical Encyclopedia
• Photophobia Medical Encyclopedia
• Pinguecula Medical Encyclopedia
• Pterygium Medical Encyclopedia
• Pupil – white spots Medical Encyclopedia
• Scleritis Medical Encyclopedia
• Slit-lamp exam Medical Encyclopedia
• Standard eye exam Medical Encyclopedia
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage Medical Encyclopedia
• Uveitis Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Eye Diseases National Institutes of Health

Start Here

• Common Eye Disorders Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Living With

• Diet and Nutrition American Academy of Ophthalmology

Diagnosis and Tests

• Dilating Eye Drops American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• Eye Exam and Vision Testing Basics American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Eye Problems: Symptom Checker Flowchart American Academy of Family Physicians
• Get a Dilated Eye Exam National Eye Institute
• Get an Eye Disease Screening at 40 American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Getting Professional Eye Care Prevent Blindness America
• Vision Screening National Library of Medicine

Treatments and Therapies

• Enucleation American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• How to Use Eye Drops American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• How to Use Eye Ointments and Gels American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Statistics and Research

• Eye Health Data and Statistics National Eye Institute

Symptoms

• Eye Symptoms American Academy of Ophthalmology

Images

• Flashes and Floaters VisualDX

Reference Desk

• How the Eyes Work National Eye Institute
• NEI for Kids: Glossary National Eye Institute

Journal Articles

• Eye Diseases

Teenagers

• Taking Care of Your Vision Nemours Foundation

Older Adults

• The Aging Eye National Eye Institute