Your eyes can feel perfectly healthy and still have a problem. Refractive errors — the need for glasses or contacts — are the most common reason people cannot see clearly, but some eye diseases cause no symptoms at all and can lead to permanent vision loss. That is why regular eye exams matter.
Common eye diseases and conditions
| Condition | What happens |
|---|---|
| Cataracts | The clear lens at the front of the eye turns cloudy. Common with age, and can cause vision loss |
| Optic nerve disorders, including glaucoma | Glaucoma usually develops as fluid pressure inside the eye slowly rises |
| Retinal disorders | Problems with the layer of nerve tissue at the back of the eye |
| Macular degeneration | Destroys sharp, central vision |
| Diabetic eye problems | Can cause vision loss and blindness |
| Conjunctivitis (pink eye) | An infection that makes eyes pink or red and itchy; some types spread very easily |
Warning signs
Because many eye diseases do not always cause symptoms, a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best way to catch them early — and early treatment can slow or prevent vision loss. Call your eye care professional right away if you notice:
- a sudden change in vision
- everything looking dim
- flashes of light
- eye pain
- double vision
- fluid coming from your eye
- swelling (inflammation)
Who is at higher risk
Age raises the risk of some eye diseases. So can:
- being overweight or having obesity
- a family history of eye disease
- being African American, Hispanic or Native American
- health conditions such as high blood pressure
Treatment
Treatment depends on the condition, and may include:
- new glasses or contact lenses
- bright lights or magnifying lenses for reading and other tasks
- medicines, including prescription eye drops or ointments
- laser treatment
- surgery
For some conditions, treatment can slow vision loss but not restore what has been lost. Your provider can advise on the best option.
Protecting your sight
The best defense is regular checkups — and telling your provider about any eye disease in your family. Lowering your risk of the health conditions that damage vision helps too:
- protect your eyes from the sun
- wear protective eyewear when using tools or playing certain sports
- stay physically active and at a healthy weight
- don’t smoke, or quit
- eat a healthy diet
Sources
Based on "Eye Diseases," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the National Eye Institute; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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