Best Tennessee Ocular Surgery Specialists

Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a membrane that covers the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelid. There are many causes of conjunctivitis.

Cataract
A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens that causes decreased vision. The lens of the eye focuses light rays onto the retina (the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) where an image is recorded. This allows us to see things clearly. The lens of the eye comprises mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it. A cataract develops when some of the protein clumps together and starts to cloud an area of the lens. A cataract won't spread from one eye to the other, although many people develop cataracts in both eyes.

Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in visual loss or blindness. The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers. It connects the retina with the brain. The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye; it contains millions of cells called rods and cones. When the rods and cones pick up light, a chemical reaction takes place. This sends an electrical impulse from the retina, through the optic nerve, and to the brain. This is the sensation of sight. A healthy optic nerve is essential for good vision.

Detached Retina
A 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.

Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis 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 the irregular clumps of black pigment that usually occur in the retina with this disease.

Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma 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 and reach the brain or it may travel to other parts of the body.

Night Blindness
Night blindness means having difficulty seeing in the dark or in low light. One of the most common issues with night blindness is difficulty driving in the evening or at night.

Chorioretinitis
Chorioretinitis is an inflammation of the choroid, a lining of the retina deep in the eye. This inflammation can affect vision.



Eye Contusion
An eye contusion is a bruise around the eye, commonly called a black eye. It may occur when a blow is sustained in or near the eye socket. If a bruise appears, it will usually do so within 24 hours of the injury.

Color Blindness
Color blindness usually affects a person's ability to distinguish between shades of red and green or between shades of blue and yellow. Complete color blindness, which is very rare, causes a person to see most objects in shades of gray.