All Vision health Articles

After two strokes, he was completely blind, dependent on his cane and his wife's arm to safely walk down the street. But researchers had a hunch: They suspected that, unconsciously, the man might be sensing the world around him through his eyes better than anyone realized. So the neuroscientists devised a simple experiment: They asked the man to walk down a long hallway unaided by his cane or Read more...

(Hyperopia) by Krisha McCoy, MSDefinitionPeople with farsightedness, or hyperopia, usually have difficulty seeing objects both at distance and at near, but especially at near.CausesFarsightedness is a type of refractive error, which means the shape of the eye does not bend light correctly, so images are blurred. In farsightedness, the eyeball is too short for light rays to clearly focus on the Read more...

(Chronic Glaucoma) by Diana KohnleDefinitionGlaucoma describes a group of eye disorders that causes damage to the optic nerve. This degenerative eye disease is one of the leading causes of chronic blindness in the US. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma in the United States. Within the eye, fluid is made and then drained from the eye. If either the fluid is made too quickly Read more...

(Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma, Single Angle-Closure Glaucoma) by Diana KohnleDefinitionGlaucoma represents a group of eye disorders that cause damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma is a degenerative eye disease and one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Angle-closure glaucoma is a condition in which the iris in the eye shifts and blocks the exit passageway of the aqueous Read more...

(Eyelid Surgery, Repair of Droopy Eyelids) by Krisha McCoy, MSDefinitionBlepharoplasty is a procedure to lift the eyelids and/or remove excess skin and fat tissue from the eye area.Eye© 2008 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc.Parts of the Body InvolvedEyelidsReasons for Procedure Blepharoplasty can correct: Drooping upper eyelidsPuffy bags below the eyesRisk Factors for Complications Thyroid problems (eg, Read more...

by Jacquelyn Rudis Did your mother ever threaten that you will need glasses if you didn’t eat your carrots? Well, although you may have eaten your carrots, her motivational tactics were questionable. If you were following a generally balanced diet, then those extra carrots had no affect on your vision. The connection does make sense, though. Carrots contain beta-carotene, which your body Read more...

Adapted from The Eye Surgery Education Council by EBSCO Editorial Staff LASIK , which stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis, is generally a safe and effective procedure for many common vision problems. However, not everyone with a vision disorder is a good candidate for this procedure. The Eye Surgery Education Council (ESEC) has developed guidelines to determine who is a good candidate and Read more...

(RP) by Debra Wood, RNDefinitionRetinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited eye diseases that often leads to severe visual problems. The retina is a layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. It converts visual images that we see into nerve impulses that it sends to the brain. Some types of RP are associated with other inherited conditions. This disorder is named for Read more...

by Debra Wood, RNDefinitionRetinoblastoma is a rare type of cancer found in the eye. In retinoblastoma, one or more tumors form in the retina. The retina is a layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. It converts visual images into nerve impulses in the brain that allow us to see. If not treated, the tumors will continue growing. The cancer may grow along the optic nerve Read more...

by Karen Schroeder, MS, RD Tired of holding the menu at arm's length to read the choices? In 2002, the FDA approved a new procedure for the correction of farsightedness—conductive keratoplasty (CK). Being farsighted makes it difficult to read things at a close distance, such as a computer screen, magazine, or restaurant menu. Many people use reading glasses to correct this common eye Read more...

(Retinal Detachment) by Rick AlanDefinitionA detached retina occurs when the retina is pulled or falls away from its normal position. The retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. It converts visual images into nerve impulses in the brain that allow us to see.Detached Retina© 2008 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc.Causes Many factors can cause retinal detachment. These Read more...

As told to Debra Wood, RN Laura is an executive living in New York. She was in college when she first learned she had glaucoma. Having lived with the disease for 35 years now, she has been vigilant about not letting it get her down. Here’s her story. What was your first sign that something was wrong? What symptoms did you experience? I was 19, at college, and noticed my eyes would tire Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Risk Factors | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Living With Macular Degeneration | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideThe treatment recommended for your macular degeneration will depend on whether you have juvenile or adult-onset, and whether it is wet or dry, as well as other important factors about you. The goal of Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Risk Factors | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Living With Macular Degeneration | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideYou have a unique medical history. Therefore, it is essential to talk with your doctor about your personal risk factors and/or experience with macular degeneration. By talking openly and regularly with your Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Risk Factors | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Living With Macular Degeneration | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideIn some people, macular degeneration advances so slowly that it has little effect on their vision. But in others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to vision loss. Sometimes only one eye is affected, Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Risk Factors | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Living With Macular Degeneration | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideThe purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.Both the Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Risk Factors | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Living With Macular Degeneration | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideA risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.It is possible to develop macular degeneration with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Risk Factors | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Living With Macular Degeneration | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideAmerican Academy of OphthalmologyAddress:P.O. Box 7424San Francisco, CA 94120-7424Phone:1-415-561-8500Internet Address:http://www.aao.org/Description of services provided:The American Academy of Ophthalmology Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Risk Factors | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Living With Macular Degeneration | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideThere are no established guidelines for preventing adult macular degeneration. However, the following lifestyle changes may help keep your eyes healthy and reduce your risk of developing adult macular Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Risk Factors | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Living With Macular Degeneration | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideYour healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical exam. Your healthcare provider may suspect adult macular degeneration if you are over the age of 50 and have Read more...