Common eye conditions

Most people would have experienced eye conditions such as dry or tired eyes at some point in their lives. These are common problems that can be easily resolved with some rest or eye drops. However, other more serious eye conditions have longer lasting and permanent impact on your vision.

Here are the symptoms and causes of some common eye conditions.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is time to take steps to improve the overall health of your eyes. One of the most effective ways to keep an eye on eye diseases is to go for regular eye screenings.

Short-sightedness (also known as near-sightedness or myopia)

Description: Difficulty seeing objects at a distance

Signs: persistent squinting, the need to sit very close to the television or blackboard, having to hold books very close while reading

Causes/Risk factors: An eyeball that is too long, causing light rays to pass through the eye and to focus in front of the 'seeing' retina instead of on it. Partly hereditary, short-sightedness can also be caused by excessive close work and lack of outdoor activity as children

Far-sightedness (also known as long-sightedness or hyperopia)

Description: Difficulty focusing on near objects

Signs: persistent squinting, inability to perceive fine detail or small objects

Causes/Risk factors: An eyeball that is too short, causing light rays to pass through the eye and to focus behind the 'seeing' retina instead of on it. Partly hereditary, far-sightedness can also be caused by age-related changes in the eyeball

Cataracts

Description: A cataract forms when the clear crystalline lens of the eye turns cloudy

Signs: Blurred foggy vision, colours appearing faded or washed out, lights may become too glaring, poor night vision,

Causes/Risk factors: Age, diabetes, smoking, alcoholism, prolonged exposure to ultra-violet light

Glaucoma

Description: Damage to the optic nerve due to excessive fluid pressure inside the eyeball

Signs: Severe eye and head pain, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, seeing a halo around lights

Causes/Risk factors: Excessively high fluid pressure in the eye can be caused by age, diabetes, genes, hypertension

Macular degeneration

Description: In age-related macular degeneration (AMD), there is irreversible vision loss of central vision causing difficulties in reading and recognising faces

Signs: Shadows or missing areas of vision, distorted vision (straight lines appear wavy), loss of ability to discern contrast

Causes/Risk factors: Largely due to age-related changes in the eye, AMD can also be due to genes, smoking, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Women are also at higher risk

This article has been published with permission and is courtesy of GNC LiveWell, Malaysia