Common eye problems

There are several eye problems that are more common among people as they age. They include:

• Presbyopia. This is the loss of the ability to see close objects or small print clearly. It is a normal process that happens slowly over a lifetime, but you may not notice any change until after age 40. Presbyopia is often corrected with reading glasses.
• Floaters. These are tiny spots or specks that float across the field of vision. Most people notice them in well-lit rooms or outdoors on a bright day. Floaters are often considered normal, but can sometimes indicate a more serious eye problem. These include conditions such as a retinal detachment, especially if floaters are accompanied by light flashes, or any reduction in your field of vision, like a curtain falling over the eye. If you notice a sudden change in the type or number of spots or flashes you see, seek medical advice as soon as possible

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• Dry eyes. This happens when tear glands cannot make enough tears or produce poor quality tears. Dry eyes can be uncomfortable, causing itching, burning or, rarely, some loss of vision. Your doctor or eye specialist may suggest using a humidifier in your home, special eye drops that simulate real tears, or plugs that are placed in tear ducts to decrease tear drainage. Surgery may be needed in more serious cases of dry eyes.
• Tearing. Having too many tears can come from being sensitive to light, wind or temperature changes. Protecting your eyes by shielding them or wearing sunglasses can sometimes solve the problem. Tearing may also mean that you have a more serious problem, such as an eye infection or a blocked tear duct. Your doctor or eye specialist can offer advice about treatment for these conditions.
• Cataracts. Cataracts are cloudy areas that develop within the eye lens. Since the lens in a healthy eye is clear like a camera lens, light has no problem passing through the lens to the back of the eye to the retina where images are processed. When a cataract is present, the light cannot get through the lens as easily and, as a result, vision can be impaired. Cataracts often form slowly, causing no pain, redness or tearing in the eye. Some stay small and do not alter eyesight. If they become large or thick and affect vision, cataracts can usually be treated with surgery to replace the lens.
• Glaucoma. This condition develops when there is too much fluid pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma occurs when the normal flow of the watery fluid cannot drain properly. If not treated early, this can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma is less commonly caused by other factors such as injury to the eye, severe eye infection, blockage of blood vessels or inflammatory disorders of the eye. Because most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain, it is very important to get your eyes checked regularly. Treatment may include prescription eye drops, oral medications or surgery.
• Retinal disorders. The retina is a thin lining on the back of the eye made up of cells that collect visual images and pass them on to the brain. Retinal disorders interrupt this transfer of images. They include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment. Early diagnosis and treatment of these conditions is important to maintain vision.
• Conjunctivitis. This is a condition in which the tissue that lines the eyelids and covers the cornea becomes inflamed. It is sometimes called "pink eye" or "red eye". It can cause redness, itching, burning, tearing, discharge or a feeling of something in the eye. Conjunctivitis occurs in people of all ages and can be caused by infection, exposure to chemicals and irritants, or allergies.
• Corneal diseases. The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped "window" at the front of the eye. It helps to focus light that enters the eye. Disease, infection, injury and exposure to toxic agents can damage the cornea causing eye redness, watery eyes, pain, reduced vision or a halo effect. Treatments include making adjustments to the eyeglass prescription, using medicated eye drops or having surgery.
• Eyelid problems. The eyelids protect the eye, distribute tears and limit the amount of light entering the eye. Pain, itching, tearing and sensitivity to light are common symptoms of eyelid problems. Other problems may include drooping eyelids, blinking spasms or inflamed outer edges of the eyelids near the eyelashes. Eyelid problems often can be treated with proper cleaning, medication or surgery.
• Temporal arteritis. This condition is an inflammation of the arteries in the temple area of the forehead. It can begin with a severe headache, pain when chewing, and tenderness or swelling in the temple area. It may be followed in a few days or weeks by sudden vision loss -- usually in one eye. Other symptoms can include shaking, weight loss and low-grade temperature. Scientists don't know the cause of temporal arteritis but they think it may be caused by an impaired immune system. Sudden vision loss in the other eye may occur within a few days or weeks of the first eye. Getting to an ophthalmologist -- an eye specialist -- whenever sudden vision loss occurs is critical. Early treatment with medication may help prevent vision loss in one or both eyes.