Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Symptoms: Poor vision in 1 eye

Diagnosis: Eye exam

Treatment: Eye drops or wearing an eye patch

Amblyopia (also called lazy eye) is a type of poor vision that usually happens in just 1 eye but less commonly in both eyes. It develops when there’s a breakdown in how the brain and the eye work together, and the brain can’t recognize the sight from 1 eye. Over time, the brain relies more and more on the other, stronger eye — while vision in the weaker eye gets worse.

It’s called “lazy eye” because the stronger eye works better. But people with amblyopia are not lazy, and they can’t control the way their eyes work.

Amblyopia starts in childhood, and it’s the most common cause of vision loss in kids. Up to 3 out of 100 children have it. The good news is that early treatment works well and usually prevents long-term vision problems.


Astigmatism

Symptoms: Headaches, blurry vision, eye strain, trouble seeing at night

Diagnosis: Dilated eye exam

Treatment: Eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgery

Astigmatism is a common eye problem that can make your vision blurry or distorted. It happens when your cornea (the clear front layer of your eye) or lens (an inner part of your eye that helps the eye focus) has a different shape than normal.

The only way to find out if you have astigmatism is to get an eye exam. Eyeglasses or contact lenses can help you see better — and some people can get surgery to fix their astigmatism.


Blepharitis

Symptoms: Red, itchy, burning eyes or eyelids, crusty eyelids or eyelashes

Diagnosis: Eye exam

Treatment: Keeping eyelids clean and free of crusts, warm compresses, antibiotics, or steroid eye drops (in certain cases)

Blepharitis is a common eye condition that makes your eyelids red, swollen, irritated, and itchy. It can cause crusty dandruff-like flakes on your eyelashes.

Blepharitis can be uncomfortable. But it isn’t contagious, and it usually doesn’t cause any lasting damage to your eyes.

The main treatment for blepharitis is regularly cleaning your eyelids and keeping them free of crusts. Blepharitis usually doesn’t go away completely, but you can take steps to manage your symptoms. Talk to your eye doctor about what’s causing your blepharitis and the best ways to manage it.


Cataracts

Later Symptoms: Blurry vision, colors that seem faded, sensitivity to light, trouble seeing at night, double vision

Diagnosis: Dilated eye exam

Treatment: Surgery

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye (the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light). Cataracts are very common as you get older. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts.

At first, you may not notice that you have a cataract. But over time, cataracts can make your vision blurry, hazy, or less colorful. You may have trouble reading or doing other everyday activities.

Over time, cataracts can lead to vision loss.

The good news is that surgery can get rid of cataracts. Cataract surgery is safe and corrects vision problems caused by cataracts.


Diabetic Retinopathy

Early Symptoms: None

Later Symptoms: Blurry vision, floating spots in your vision, blindness

Diagnosis: Dilated eye exam

Treatment: Injections, laser treatment, surgery

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes. It affects blood vessels in the retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye).

If you have diabetes, it’s important to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic retinopathy may not have any symptoms at first — but finding it early can help you take steps to protect your vision.

Managing your diabetes — by staying physically active, eating healthy, and taking your medicine — can also help you prevent or delay vision loss.


Floaters

Symptoms: Small dark spots or squiggly lines that float across your vision

Diagnosis: Dilated eye exam

Treatment: None (in most cases), surgery

Floaters are small dark shapes that float across your vision. They can look like spots, threads, squiggly lines, or even little cobwebs.

Most people have floaters that come and go, and they often don’t need treatment. But sometimes floaters can be a sign of a more serious eye condition. So if you notice new floaters that appear suddenly and don’t go away, it’s important to tell your eye doctor.


Glaucoma

Early Symptoms: Often none

Later Symptoms: Loss of side (peripheral) vision, blind spots, blindness

Diagnosis: Dilated eye exam with visual field testing

Treatment: Medicine (usually eye drops), laser treatment, surgery

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve.

The symptoms can start so slowly that you may not notice them. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision.


Presbyopia

Symptoms: Trouble seeing things up close, eye strain

Diagnosis: Eye exam

Treatment: Eye glasses, contact lenses

Presbyopia is a refractive error that makes it hard for middle-aged and older adults to see things up close. It happens because the lens (an inner part of the eye that helps the eye focus) stops focusing light correctly on the retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye).

Presbyopia is a normal part of aging. Everyone gets presbyopia as they get older — usually after age 45. Many people have another refractive error in addition to presbyopia.


Retinal Detachment

Symptoms: A sudden increase in floaters (small dark spots or squiggly lines that float across your vision), flashes of light in one eye or both eyes, a “curtain” or shadow over your field of vision

Diagnosis: Dilated eye exam

Treatment: Laser treatment, surgery If you have symptoms of retinal detachment, go to your eye doctor or the emergency room right away. Retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss — but getting treatment right away can help protect your vision.

Retinal detachment is an eye problem that happens when your retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye) is pulled away from its normal position at the back of your eye.


https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases