4 Most Common Eye Disorders Explained

Written by
SickNWell Staff Writer

Overview 

Did you know that in the US, nearly 25 million people have some form of vision impairment or blindness?^[1] That’s a lot of people. In fact, it’s approaching the 10 percent mark of the entire population, and as we age, that number is expected to rise.  

The threat of hundreds of eye disorders necessitates properly caring for your eyes and regularly testing your vision and eye health. 

Some eye diseases are not curable, but the good news is that the majority can be avoided, cured, or even reversed.

Let’s take a look at the most frequently occurring ones. 

The Most Common Eye Disorders

1) Cataracts 

Cataracts are characterized by the clouding of the eye lens and are the leading cause of blindness worldwide.^[2] 

Most frequently associated with people over 50, this eye disease can happen at any time in one’s lifespan – even at birth! 

Risk factors are mainly environmental, with sun exposure, diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and certain types of drugs leading the way.^[3] 

Repairing the condition is relatively simple and widely available in the form of routine cataract removal and replacement with an artificial lens. The procedure boasts a 90 percent success rate for improved vision. 

Symptoms:

· Cloudy and blurry vision

· Double vision

· Glare around lights at night

· Poor night vision

· Natural and artificial lights seem too bright

· Need for bright light to read

· Colors appear faded

· You need to change your eyeglass prescription frequently 

2) Glaucoma 

Glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in the US and most frequently happens in older people. 

The condition arises due to higher-than-normal fluid pressure in the affected eye, which eventually causes damage to the optic nerve that can lead to vision loss.^[4] 

Although there are several sub-types of the disease, the result is vision loss if left untreated. The risk of developing this disorder is increased if you are 60 years of age and older or have a family history of glaucoma. 

Symptoms:

· Eye pain/pressure

· Headaches

· Multi-colored halos around lights

· Blurred/low/tunnel vision

· Red eyes

3) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) 

AMD is the leading cause of vision loss for people over 60. The disorder affects the macula, the part of your eye that processes your central vision (what you see directly in front of you). 

AMD weakens your ability to read or to see smaller print and even small objects close-up. 

There are two forms of the disease: dry, accounting for 80 percent of cases, and wet, which is the form that can lead to more severe vision loss as it involves abnormal blood vessel growth under the retina that leaks fluid. 

Smoking is the most significant risk factor for developing AMD, whereby smokers carry up to three times higher risk than their non-smoking counterparts,^[5] followed by a family history of the disorder and being Caucasian. 

Symptoms: 

· Blurry vision

· Straight lines appear wavy

· The center of vision can have a dark or blind spot 

· Reading, identifying small objects close-up, and even recognizing faces may become more challenging due to the effects on central vision

4) Diabetic Retinopathy 

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disorder that can happen as a long-term consequence of diabetes (both type 1 and 2), cause vision-threatening damage to the retina, and eventually lead to blindness.^[6] 

If you have had diabetes for a long time or don’t control your blood sugar level well, you may be at risk for developing this disease. 

Additionally, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, pregnancy, or being Black, Hispanic, or Native American have been linked to higher occurrences of diabetic retinopathy. 

Symptoms: 

· Often (and especially in the early stages of the disorder), you may not experience symptoms at all 

· Floaters (strings or spots appearing in your vision)

· Dark areas or blind spots in your vision

· Blurred vision

· Vision loss

The Takeaway 

Your vision is, without question, one of the most essential parts of your life. Don’t let disorders and diseases of the eye take this precious gift away. 

Please be aware of the common eye conditions, causes, and symptoms. And remember to get your eyes checked at appropriate intervals by your eye care professional. 

References: 

1. Rein, D. B., Lamuda, P. A., Wittenborn, J. S., Okeke, N., Davidson, C. E., Swenor, B. K., Saaddine, J., & Lundeen, E. A. (2021). Vision Impairment and Blindness Prevalence in the United States: Variability of Vision Health Responses across Multiple National Surveys. Ophthalmology, 128(1), 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.06.064
2. Cicinelli, M. V., Buchan, J. C., Nicholson, M., Varadaraj, V., & Khanna, R. C. (2023). Cataracts. Lancet (London, England), 401(10374), 377–389. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01839-6
3. West, S. K., & Valmadrid, C. T. (1995). Epidemiology of risk factors for age-related cataract. Survey of ophthalmology, 39(4), 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0039-6257(05)80110-9
4. Dietze, J., Blair, K., & Havens, S. J. (2022). Glaucoma. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
5. Armstrong, R. A., & Mousavi, M. (2015). Overview of Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Journal of stem cells, 10(3), 171–191.
6. Shukla, U. V., & Tripathy, K. (2023). Diabetic Retinopathy. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.