Our eyesight is one of our most valuable assets. It allows us to have an excellent quality of life and perform our daily tasks. Because it’s crucial to maintain proper eye health, you must be aware of the most common eye issues and disorders we can develop.

If you feel like you have any of these conditions, do have yourself checked with an affordable eye exam from clinics like Dr. Tavel.

1. Cataracts

Cataracts are characterized by a cloudy and milky white lens in the eyes. This condition is usually age-related and more common in those over 50 years old, though it may develop at any age.

The condition may be caused by an injury, UV exposure, or protein deterioration, causing the eyes’ lenses to cloud. If left untreated, it may cause severe vision loss. An eye doctor lafayette in can treat cataracts through surgery.

2. Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy develops due to prolonged high blood sugar associated with diabetes. This can result in blindness if left untreated.

Too much blood sugar may alter the blood vessels from the back of your eyes, preventing the retina from getting enough nutrients required to maintain proper vision.

Anyone diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes has the risk of developing this condition. However, various factors affect one’s risk, such as the type of diabetes diagnosed with, the frequency of blood glucose fluctuations, how they control blood sugars, etc.

eye doctor honolulu hi would treat diabetic retinopathy through laser photocoagulation, which seals and. Destroys growing and leaking blood vessels around the retina.

3. Macular Degeneration

Also called AMD, this is a leading cause of blindness due to damage to the macula, the part of your retina perceiving light.

Age, smoking, family history, and the female gender are risk factors, and unfortunately, there isn’t any known cure. Some treatments can slow the disease’s progression, such as laser therapy, proper diet and supplementation, and anti-angiogenic drugs.

4. Refractive Errors

This condition is the most common cause of vision issues! Refraction in the eye happens when light passes through your lens and cornea. As such, errors occur from the length of your eyeball, natural lens aging, or changes in the cornea’s shape.

Refractive errors are categorized by astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. This can be treated through contact lenses, eyeglasses, and surgery.

5. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a severe condition causing damage to the eye’s optic nerve, worsening over time. Unfortunately, glaucoma may be inherited and doesn’t show up until we’re older! It’s a condition associated with a pressure buildup in one’s eyes.

Since glaucoma doesn’t cause any early symptoms or pain, it’s crucial to see your eye doctor regularly for comprehensive exams to diagnose and treat conditions like these early on. After detecting glaucoma, eye doctors would treat it with surgery, lasers, or eyedrops.

Wrapping It Up

It’s essential to be aware of these common eye disorders and diseases to detect them early on before they worsen.