Common Eye Disorders

In this post I have compiled some common eye disorders, their definitions, causes, symptoms and treatment. Our awareness helps us care for our health.

RED EYE

Red Eye

DEFINITION: A Red Eye Is Caused By An Increase In Blood Flow When Blood Vessels Dilate.

CAUSES: Can Be Caused By An Allergy, Infection, Trauma Or Sensitivity.

SYMPTOMS: Redness of Any Anterior Part of the Eye.

TREATMENT: Visit and Ask Your Optometrist

DRY EYE

Dry Eye

DEFINITION: the tear film is made up of an aqueous layer, lipid layer and a mucin layer. if any of these layers is deficient then the person suffers from a dry eye.

CAUSES: Imbalance In Tear Production And Drainage. Medications like oral contraceptives, anti-histamine, anxiety medications etc. irregular blinking mechanism. diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and sjogrens syndrome. corneal abnormalities like pterygia and keratoconus.

SYMPTOMS: Excessive Tearing, Red Eyes, Gritty/Sandy/ Foreign Body Senasation.

TREATMENT: Visit And Ask Your Optometrist.

BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

Bacterial Conjuctivitis

DEFINITION: Inflammation of the Conjunctiva

CAUSES: Common Bacteria like Staphylococcus Aureus and Haemophilius Pneumonia.

SYMPTOMS: A Red Eye With Mucous/Pus Like Discharge And Crusting On Eyelashes.

TREATMENT: Visit and Ask Your Optometrist

VIRAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

Viral Conjuctivitis

DEFINITION: Inflammation of The Conjunctiva.

CAUSES: Adenoviruses Or Viral Infection Of The Upper Respiratory Tract In Coughs And Colds.

SYMPTOMS: Eyelid Oedema, Watery Discharge, Gritty Or Burning Feeling.

TREATMENT: Visit And Ask Your Optometrist.

UVEITIS

Uveitis

DEFINITION: inflammation of the anterior or the posterior structures of the eye or both. The structures affected are the iris, cilliary body and the choroid. If untreated uveitis can lead to cataracts, Glaucoma And Even Blindness.

CAUSES: Trauma, Infections ( Herpes, Syphilis, Tuberculosis, Histoplasmosis, Sarcoidosis), Auto-Immune Or Systemic Diseases (Multiple Sclerosis, Reiters Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis) Some Causes Are Also Unknown.

SYMPTOMS: Extremely Painful Eye, Acute Redness Around The Iris, Light Sensitivity.

TREATMENT: Visit And Ask Your Optometrist.

GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma

DEFINITION: An Increase or Elevation in Pressure Caused by an Imbalance Between the Production and Drainage of Aqueous Humor in the Anterior Chamber of the eye. This will further cause Optic Nerve fiber damage and visual field loss.

CLASSIFICATION AND CAUSES:

PRIMARY GLAUCOMA: Caused By A Direct Known Or Unknown Disturbance In Aqueous Circulation.

SECONDARY GLAUCOMA: Caused By the Mechanism Of Another Disease.

The angle at which this occurs in the anterior chamber can further classify glaucoma into acute and chronic.

ACUTE GLAUCOMA (LESS THAN 20˚)
USUALLY INVOLVES ONE EYE.

SYMPTOMS: Are Headaches, Haloes Around Lights, Eye Pain, Nausea, and Vision Loss.

TREATMENT: Visit And Ask Your Optometrist Because It Can Lead To Irreversible Blindness Within 2-5 Days.

CHRONIC GLAUCOMA (GREATER THAN 20˚)
Has no abrupt symptoms except:
Gradual loss of peripheral vision.
A dull pain or blurred vision may occur.

TREATMENT: Visit And Ask Your Optometrist Because It Can Lead To Irreversible Blindness.

ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS

Allergic Conjunctivitis

DEFINITION: Inflammation Of The Conjunctiva.

CAUSES: Allergic Reaction To Various Agents Like Cosmetics, Pollen, Drugs, Dust, Or Animal Fur.

SYMPTOMS: Itching Red Eye, Swollen Eyelid And Mucoid Discharge.

TREATMENT: Visit And Ask Your Optometrist.

SUBCONJUNCTIVAL HAEMORRHAGE

Subconjunctival Haemorrhage

DEFINITION: A Portion Or Even The Whole Of The White Part Of The Eye Appearing Bright Red With No Sensation Of Pain.

CAUSES: A Rupture Of One Or more blood vessels underneath the conjunctiva. May occur spontaneously with; hypertension or coughing and or lifting/straining with heavy items.

TREATMENT: Visit And Ask Your Optometrist.