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Eye Problems and Diseases

This section has complete information on eye and vision problems. Jump down this page to alphabetical lists of:

• Eye Conditions
• Eye Diseases
• Surgical Eye Procedures
• Vision Problems

. . . or begin with these general articles:

Table of Contents

Common Eye Disorders
How to identify and deal with everyday eye problems.

UV Radiation and Eye Health Dangers - Sponsored Section
Learn about the variety of eye problems caused by overexposure to UV radiation and how you can protect your eyes.

Eye Symptoms A to Z
Use our list of almost 100 eye symptoms to learn about the problems and diseases associated with each.

Eye Infections
Learn about bacterial, viral and fungal eye infections, including symptoms. Also, visit our pink eye resources for more information about this common eye problem.

Eye Injury: A Guide to Treatment
Accidents cause many kinds of eye injuries, from corneal scratches to penetrating wounds. What to do for an eye emergency.

Clinical Trials Related to Eye Diseases
Consider participating in a clinical trial for treatment of glaucoma, macular degeneration, blepharitis or other eye problems and diseases.

See also: New Products for the Eyes | News About Eyes and Vision

Eye Conditions

Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Poor contact lens hygiene often causes this rare but serious eye infection.

Allergies
Itchy, red, swollen, tearing eyes may mean eye allergies. Get tips for relief, and read our Eye Doctor Q&A about common eye allergy symptoms.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
Amblyopia (or "lazy eye") is a vision development problem in infants and young children that can lead to permanent vision loss. Learn the symptoms, causes and treatments.

Bell's Palsy
This condition causes sudden paralysis of one side of the face. Because of inability to blink, you may develop severe dry eye.

Blepharitis
Inflammation of the eyelids can cause chronic eye irritation, tearing, foreign body sensation and crusty debris.

Cataracts
If you live long enough, it's likely you eventually will notice cloudy vision from cataracts. Learn about causes and about cataract surgery, which replaces your eye's natural lens with an artificial one. Also check out the newer, high-tech laser cataract surgery method.
See also: Cataract news | FAQ | Eye Doctor Q&A | Congenital cataracts

Chalazion
A swollen bump in the eyelid could be a chalazion. Learn about causes and treatments.

Color Blindness
Learn the varieties of color deficiency and how to cope in our color-coded world.

Corneal Ulcer
Treatment may help prevent scarring on your eye.

Detached Retina
Flashes of light and floating spots are classic warning signs of a detached retina — get them checked out ASAP. Also read our Eye Doctor Q&A on retinal problems.

Dry Eye Syndrome
Why eyes get dry. Read about eye drops, tear duct (punctal) plugs and nutritional supplements for more eye moisture. Also, see the dry eye doctor's answers to reader questions. To learn more, view details about how punctal plugs work and our FAQ on dry eyes and the best contact lenses for them.

Eye Occlusions (Eye Strokes)
Sudden vision loss can occur when a clot or blockage interrupts blood flow to vital eye structures.

Eye Pain - New!
How to know if a painful eye is an emergency.

Eye Twitching
Eyelid twitches, tics and spasms are maddening. Here are common causes.

Floaters, Flashes and Spots
Eye floaters and flashes may be harmless, or they may signal a serious problem, like a detached retina.

Macular Hole
Suddenly blurry or distorted vision, especially in seniors and diabetics, may mean a macular hole.

Nystagmus
Uncontrollable eye movements from nystagmus often have neurological causes.

Ocular Migraine
Ocular migraine causes a sensation of looking through shattered glass. What's happening? Also, read our Eye Doctor Q&A about ocular migraines.

Ocular Rosacea
How to solve eye and eyelid irritation.

Optic Neuritis and Optic Neuropathy
An inflamed optic nerve can cause blurry vision and blind spots.

Photophobia (Light Sensitivity)
Sensitive to light? Many eye conditions can cause this problem.

Pinguecula and Pterygium
Pingueculae and pterygia are growths on the eye. Are they serious?

Ptosis (Drooping Eyelid)
Drooping eyelids can be corrected with eyelid surgery (also called blepharoplasty).

Red Eyes
Red eyes can be caused by allergies, eye infections and eye injuries. Learn more causes of red eye and how to treat bloodshot eyes.

Sjogren's Syndrome
Dry eye is a common symptom of this autoimmune disorder.

Sleep in Your Eyes - New!
Do you often wake up with sticky, slimy, crusty "eye gunk"? Article explains where eye discharge comes from and when it's cause for alarm.

Strabismus
Key facts about strabismus and crossed eyes, including causes and treatments (strabismus surgery, vision therapy and orthoptics).

Stye
What causes styes in your eyelid — and how to prevent and treat them.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Sudden redness in the white of your eye may be a subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Swollen Eyelids
Swollen eyes have many causes. Here are tips for prevention and treatment.

Uveitis
Painful inflammation of the uvea causes light sensitivity, floaters and blurred vision.

Eye Diseases

CMV Retinitis
About 80 percent of adults have been exposed to the cytomegalovirus (CMV), but it mostly affects people with poor immune systems, such as AIDS patients.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
What you can do about redness, swelling, itching and tearing of pink eye. Also read about pink eye treatment and the various conjunctivitis types. Find out answers to common questions such as how long pink eye lasts, how to get rid of pink eye and how long pink eye is contagious.

Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes causes sight-threatening retinal degradation. Also read about treatment for diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. More details are found in our Eye Doctor Q&A on how diabetes affects your eyes and our diabetic retinopathy FAQ, as well as the latest diabetic retinopathy news.

Eye Herpes
Ocular herpes is a recurrent viral infection that may lead to serious vision loss. Read how herpes of the eye is transmitted and treated.

Fuchs' Corneal Dystrophy
Causes loss of vision and clouding of the cornea due to degeneration of the corneal endothelium and corneal edema.

Glaucoma
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and diminishes the field of vision. Learn about glaucoma causes, eye drops for glaucoma, narrow-angle glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma and glaucoma surgery.
See also: Eye Doctor Q&A | Glaucoma News & Research | Glaucoma FAQ

Keratoconus
Special contact lenses can help this condition that changes the shape of your eye. Also read more about keratoconus in our Eye Doctor Q&A and Intacs for keratoconus articles.

Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Our 10-page section covers this sight-threatening disease, plus FDA-approved macular degeneration treatments, investigational treatments, macular degeneration prevention, how to use an Amsler Grid and the Lucentis vs. Avastin treatment debate. Stargardt's disease is a form of macular degeneration that can affect children.
See also: News | Eye Doctor Q&A | FAQ

Macular Dystrophy
Central vision loss can be associated with this inherited eye disease.

Ocular Hypertension
High eye pressure has no symptoms, but can be easily detected in an eye exam. Learn what can be done to prevent glaucoma and possible eye damage.

Retinitis Pigmentosa
Poor night vision and a narrowing field of vision beginning in childhood herald this rare disorder. Can vitamin A and beta carotene help? Also read our Eye Doctor Q&A on retinal problems.

Stargardt's Disease (STGD)
Children and young people can develop Stargardt's disease, often leading to central vision loss.

Surgical Eye Procedures

Cataract Surgery
It's the most common non-elective surgery in the United States. Recent innovations include laser-assisted cataract surgery. Also learn about options for intraocular lenses (IOLs), including accommodating and multifocal types.
See also: Cataract Surgery Cost | Cataract Surgery Recovery
Choosing a Cataract Surgeon | Cataract Surgery Complications
Crystalens & Accommodating IOLs | Multifocal IOLs | Mixing Multifocal Lenses
IOLs for Presbyopia FAQ | A Cataract Surgeon Undergoes Cataract Surgery

Cornea Transplant
Eye injuries and diseases like keratoconus may require a cornea transplant, using healthy tissue from an eye donor.

Corneal Collagen Crosslinking (CXL, C3R)
Not yet FDA-approved, these procedures can strengthen the front surface of the eye and help keratoconus patients avoid a cornea transplant.

Glaucoma Surgery
New options for controlling glaucoma with surgery.

Intacs for Keratoconus
These tiny corneal inserts can flatten a bulging eye.

Strabismus Surgery
These procedures adjust eye muscles to straighten misaligned eyes. Also, read an Eye Doctor Q&A about what to expect.

Vitrectomy & Vitreoretinal Procedures
These delicate surgical procedures for macular holes, retinal detachments and other conditions are performed in the eye's deep interior.

Vision Problems

Astigmatism
Usually caused by an irregular cornea, astigmatism causes blur at all distances. Also see the Eye Doctor Q&A on astigmatism.

Blurry Vision
Blurry vision has many causes, from fatigue and eyestrain to serious eye diseases such as glaucoma. A video helps explain blurry vision causes and treatments.

Double Vision (Diplopia)
Many conditions cause double vision, including stroke and cataracts. What to do.

Higher-Order Aberrations (HOAs)
Higher-order aberrations are vision errors causing poor night vision or double images.

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Farsighted people can have poor near vision or blurred vision at all distances.

Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Nearsighted people can see fine up close, but distant objects are a blur.

Peripheral Vision Loss
"Tunnel vision" can have various causes, including glaucoma.

Presbyopia
Presbyopia means difficulty seeing close up for people 40 and older. Also, read answers to frequently asked questions for a quick overview.

[Page updated November 2013]