Fw: Vision: How Common Diseases Affect The Eyes

April 18, 2008

The one thing I do not like about Hopkins Health Alerts, is they try to sell a book everytime! There is some good info in this. Blessings, Joy

Vision: How Common Diseases Affect The Eyes

s Hopkins Health Alerts: Vision and Eye Care How Common Diseases Affect The Eyes

The eye is a made up of numerous parts that work together to make vision possible. In this Health Alert we provide a brief introduction to the anatomy of the eye and an explanation of four common eye diseases that afflict many of us.

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How Common Diseases Affect The Eyes

The eye is a made up of numerous parts that work together to make vision possible. Here is a brief introduction to the anatomy of the eye and an explanation of four common eye diseases that afflict many of us.

How does the eye work? When you look at something, you are able to see it because the surface of the object reflects light rays. These rays pass sequentially through the cornea, the pupil, and the lens of your eye. The cornea and the lens focus the light rays onto a precise point on the retina (the fovea). Light-sensitive cells within the retina translate the patterns of light into chemical signals that are conveyed to the brain via impulses in the optic nerve. In essence, the eye works in much the same way that the lens of a camera focuses light onto film. The sclera, the conjunctiva, and the choroid are tissues that protect and nourish the eye. Diseases of the eye can perturb this process at many different points to interfere with vision. The four most common causes of blindness and vision loss are:

Eye Condition 1: Cataract. A cloudy or opaque area in the lens can interfere with its ability to transmit light rays from the front of the eye to the back of the eye. This can cause cloudy or filmy vision, the appearance of halos around lights, and loss of contrast or brilliance of colors.

Eye Condition 2: Glaucoma. Buildup of aqueous humor, a fluid that occupies the space between the cornea and the lens, can damage the optic nerve by increasing pressure within the eye, often because its normal drainage is blocked. The result is loss of side vision and, eventually, of vision directly in the center, with poor visual clarity and, if the problem is not treated effectively, gradual blindness.

Eye Condition 3: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The macula, the central part of the retina, is responsible for central (as opposed to peripheral) vision and for perception of detail and colors. In the less common and more severe type of AMD, called neovascular or “wet” AMD, abnormal blood vessels from the choroid grow and may bleed and leak fluid under and within the macula. As they heal, they typically leave scars that prevent the macula from functioning well. More common is the non-neovascular or “dry” form of AMD, in which deposits called drusen collect under the retina and may lead to thinning or loss of retinal cells. This can result in blank spots in the central vision.

Eye Condition 4: Diabetic retinopathy. Some people with diabetes gradually develop damage to small blood vessels in the retina, which can lead to leakage of fluid and swelling of the macula. This itself can blur vision in the eye. In advanced stages, fragile blood vessels grow from the retina into the vitreous humor in the back of the eye. These may bleed and form scar tissue, which can eventually cause the retina to detach, leading to blindness. Adequate blood sugar control can minimize this damage and may prevent its progression.

If you found this Health Alert interesting and want to learn more about macular degeneration, glaucoma, low vision, diabetic retinopathy, and other vision-related issues, we recommend our popular 2008 Vision White Paper.

Written by Dr. B. Bressler, professor of ophthalmology at the acclaimed Wilmer Eye Institute, and a team of top s Hopkins doctors, this comprehensive 68-page guide is essential reading for anyone affected by a vision disorder. And it's available for less than $20 in either a print or PDF download edition.

For more information, or to order, go to: 2008 Vision White Paper

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Vision

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2008 Vision White PaperWritten by Dr. B. Bressler, professor of ophthalmology at the acclaimed Wilmer Eye Institute, and a team of top s Hopkins doctors, this 65-page report is essential reading for anyone affected by a vision disorder, including low vision, cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Featured highlights for 2008 include:

How to find low vision rehabilitation services

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Fw: Vision: How Common Diseases Affect The Eyes

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