Glaucoma is sometimes referred to as “green cataract,” but it is not related to clouding of the eye’s lens. In glaucoma, the pressure inside the eye is elevated due to an overproduction of fluid (aqueous humor) or insufficient drainage. This gradually damages the optic nerve, leading to a progressive loss of vision.
As the pressure builds, the optic nerve becomes compressed and can eventually die. Once this damage occurs, it cannot be reversed. Early detection and continuous treatment are therefore essential.
Treatment
Damage that has already occurred cannot be reversed, but further damage can be prevented with eye drops, medication, or laser treatment.
Cataract is responsible for 48% of (avoidable) blindness worldwide. It can prevent people from living and working independently, which is why access to quality eye care is so important.
Cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens. It usually occurs later in life, as the clouding is a result of the ageing process of the lens. Symptoms include double or blurred vision, sensitivity to light, difficulty seeing in the dark, faded or distorted colours, and fluctuating vision.
If left untreated, cataract can lead to blindness.
Treatment
A cataract operation, in which the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens, is the only solution.
Myopia (nearsightedness) is a common eye condition in which light entering the eye is not properly focused on the retina at the back of the eye. This can be caused by an eyeball that is too long and/or a cornea that is too curved, preventing light rays from being sharply focused.
As a result, vision becomes blurred. Inside the eye, light is detected by “sensors” that process visual information and send it to the brain via the optic nerve. A person with myopia can see objects clearly up close, but has difficulty seeing things at a distance.
It is important to correct myopia with glasses, as it can lead to more serious eye conditions later in life, such as glaucoma, myopic macular degeneration, and retinal detachment.
Treatment
The main solution is wearing glasses. Spending more time outdoors can also help slow down the worsening of myopia, even when it’s cloudy or raining. Daylight helps the eye produce a substance (dopamine) that can reduce the growth of the eyeball.
A chalazion, a small lump on the upper or lower eyelid, is caused by a blocked oil gland. It can disappear on its own.
Treatment
An early-stage chalazion can be treated with warm compresses and gentle massage. If an infection develops, it can be treated with antibiotics and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory eye drops. If the chalazion persists, it can be removed with a minor procedure under local anaesthesia.
Retinal detachment occurs more often in older people. As we age, the composition of the vitreous—the gel-like substance between the lens and the retina—gradually changes. This can cause it to pull away from the retina. In some cases, bleeding in the vitreous or a tear in the retina may occur. Fluid can then pass through the tear and collect underneath the retina, causing it to detach.
People often notice sudden dark floaters and flashes of light. In some cases, retinal detachment begins without floaters or flashes, but with a loss of part of the visual field.
If left untreated, retinal detachment can lead to visual impairment or blindness.
Treatment
The retina can often be repaired with laser treatment or surgery.
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition affecting the retina in people with diabetes mellitus. It often begins with small changes in the blood vessels, such as microaneurysms or tiny retinal hemorrhages.
In the early stages, these changes usually do not cause noticeable symptoms. Fluctuating blood sugar levels can also lead to changes in vision, making it harder for patients to recognize the condition. This is why regular screening is so important for people with diabetes.
If not detected and treated in time, diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness.
Treatment
Treatment may include laser therapy, injections, or vitreous surgery.
Keratoconus is a progressive thinning of the cornea. Instead of maintaining its normal round shape, the cornea begins to bulge outward into a cone shape. This usually occurs in both eyes.
Vision gradually becomes more blurred, as light is no longer properly focused on the retina. People may also become more sensitive to light.
Treatment
In the early stages of keratoconus, vision can still be improved with glasses or soft contact lenses. As the condition progresses, rigid contact lenses are usually required.
Macular degeneration is the deterioration of the central part of the retina (the macula, responsible for central and reading vision). This condition usually occurs later in life.
People may notice a blurred or dark spot where they are focusing. Central vision gradually worsens over time. In some cases, distortion is the first symptom such as straight lines may appear wavy or bent.
Treatment
There are several treatment options that can help slow the progression, such as injections, surgery, or nutritional supplements.
Posterior capsule opacification (secondary cataract) can develop over time after cataract surgery. This occurs when the capsule that holds the artificial lens becomes cloudy, causing vision to become blurred again.
Treatment
Laser operation can help treat secondary cataract.