Dry Eye

Dry Eyes

Sat, 31 May 2008 23:30:46 +0000

Dry eye is a common ailment that can occur after refractive surgery. Everyone knows that tears run from our eyes when we cry or when our eyes are irritated. But tears have a much more important everyday function. A film of tears, spread over the eye by a blink, makes the surface of the eye [...]

Corneal Disease and Transplants

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:27:14 +0000

What is the cornea? The cornea is the clear front window of the eye. It transmits light to the interior of the eye allowing us to see clearly. Corneal injury, disease, or hereditary conditions can cause clouding, distortion, and scarring. Corneal clouding blocks the clear passage of light to the back of the eye, reducing sight [...]

Uveitis

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:24:52 +0000

Uveitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the eye or more specifically the uvea. The eye is shaped like a ball, hollow inside with three different layers of tissue surrounding a central cavity. The outer most layer is the sclera (white coat of the eye) and the innermost is the retina (the inner neural-lining of [...]

Glaucoma

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:23:13 +0000

Chronic glaucoma The most common type of glaucoma is painless. Left untreated, it slowly destroys vision. In fact, most people who have chronic glaucoma are not aware that they are gradually robbed of their eyesight. In most cases, there are no warning symptoms and, by the time vision problems develop, irreversible visual damage may already [...]

Macular Degeneration

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:21:30 +0000

As the eye looks straight ahead, the macula is the point of the retina upon which the light rays meet as they are focused by the cornea and the lens of the eye. Similar to the film in a camera, the retina receives the images that come through the “camera-like” lens. If the macula is [...]

Diabetic Retinopathy

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:19:42 +0000

Diabetes mellitus is a condition which impairs the body’s ability to use and store sugar. Elevated blood sugar levels, excessive thirst with an increase in urine excretion, and changes in the body’s blood vessels are all characteristic of the disease. Diabetes may cause serious changes in the eyes as well. Conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, [...]

Keratoconus

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:17:32 +0000

Keratoconus is an uncommon condition in which the cornea (the clear front window of the eye) becomes thin and protrudes. Keratoconus literally means a cone shaped cornea. This abnormal shape can cause serious distorting of vision. What causes Keratoconus? Despite continuing research, the cause of keratoconus remains unknown. Although keratoconus is not considered an inherited disorder, the [...]

Fuchs’ Corneal Dystrophy

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:13:44 +0000

Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy is an inherited condition that affects the delicate inner layer (endothelium) of the cornea. The endothelium functions as a pump mechanism, constantly removing fluids from the cornea to maintain its clarity. Patients gradually lose these endothelial cells as the dystrophy progresses. Once lost, the endothelial cells do not grow back, but instead [...]