Eye diseases can change the way a person sees the world, both literally and figuratively. A person with cataracts may have difficulty reading in dim lighting, while a person with macular degeneration may have difficulty seeing faces in a crowd. In either case, it’s important to understand how eye diseases can affect a person’s everyday activities. Knowing this can help the loved ones understand their problems better and provide the necessary care.
Cataract:
Cataracts, or clouding of the naturally clear lens, can affect one or both eyes and typically develop slowly. They can happen earlier, even in childhood, and are most prevalent in people 50 years of age and older.
The cloudiness gets denser as the cataract progresses. A cataract prevents the retina from receiving a clearly defined image by scattering and blocking light as it travels through the lens. The vision becomes hazy as a result.
Treatment of a cataract typically involves removal of the clouded lens and its replacement with an artificial one.
AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration)
Age-related macular degeneration or AMD is seen most commonly among people in the older age group, over 50 years, in which there is damage to the macula or the central part of the retina where a straight-ahead image is formed. Therefore, it leads to central vision loss while the peripheral or side vision remains fine.
Glaucoma:
A group of illnesses known as glaucoma gradually weaken the optic nerve until irreversible blindness results. Blind spots form in the vision as the nerve gradually deteriorates. Additionally, there is a decreased contrast sensitivity, reduced image quality and loss of peripheral field.
Diabetic Retinopathy:
High blood sugar damages the retina’s blood vessels, which results in diabetic retinopathy (a light-sensitive layer of cells in the back of the eye).
Blood flow may be halted or vision may become blurry as a result of swollen, leaking, damaged blood vessels.
Significant vision loss occurs when blood vessels in the retina leak fluid into the macula, a region of the retina required for clear, central vision.
Keratoconus:
Keratoconus (KCN) is a disease of the cornea, the eye’s outermost transparent window. The cornea becomes thinner progressively and protrudes outward due to weakening of its stromal layer.
It is a bilateral condition, but it may be asymmetrical. One eye may have advanced keratoconus, while the other may show only mild symptoms.
KCN is, however, a progressive disease, so even a mild case requires management.
Disclaimer: The experience of people with the aforementioned disorders may differ from that depicted in these computer-generated images. The article’s objective is to inform readers about the seriousness of the sight impairment these individuals experience.