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<Your eyes, in focus
EYE CARE
COMMON EYE CONDITIONS
The eye has many moving parts that work together to maintain healthy vision. While these parts usually function without too many problems, it’s possible for a condition to develop and create issues.
Below are some of the most common conditions eye doctors diagnose during a comprehensive eye exam. When eye exams are performed regularly, eye doctors can catch these vision issues early and provide prompt correction and treatment.
MYOPIA
Also known as nearsightedness, myopia is a common vision condition that affects about 40% of the U.S. population. When someone is nearsighted, they see close objects clearly, but struggle to clearly see things in the distance.
Myopia often develops during childhood and usually occurs when the eyeball is longer than it should be. This may be because the cornea is too curved for the length of the eyeball, or because the lens is too curved. Either way, the shape or structures of the eye don’t bend light correctly.
This causes incoming light rays to focus images at a point in front of the retina instead of directly on it. As a result, your distance vision is blurry.
Heredity can play a role in passing myopia down from parent to child. Environmental risk factors include spending a lot of time doing near work — like reading, coloring or looking at a handheld screen — without visual breaks1.
HYPEROPIA
Hyperopia, also called farsightedness, is a common vision condition that affects 5% to 10% of Americans3. When a person is farsighted, their distance vision is clear, but it can be a struggle to focus on close-up objects.
Hyperopia occurs when the eyeball is shorter than it should be, or the cornea isn’t curved enough. This means the eye doesn’t bend light correctly, which causes incoming light rays to focus images behind the retina instead of directly on it.
ASTIGMATISM
Astigmatism is a refractive error that affects approximately 1 in 3 Americans. It is caused by irregularities in the cornea — the outer surface of the eye.
Normally, the eye’s cornea and lens are equally curved, which allows incoming light to focus precisely on the retina like a spotlight. When the cornea is irregularly curved, it causes incoming light to scatter instead of focus. This can make vision blurry at any distance and can often get worse in low-light conditions such as driving at night.
Explore the Toric Contact Lenses which are specifically dedicated to this condition here.
PRESBYOPIA
Presbyopia is an age-related refractive error that affects a person’s ability to see clearly up close. It typically begins around age 40 and can progress until age 60 to 65, when it stabilizes4.
The condition is caused by age-related changes in the eye’s lens. Mature age causes the lens to thicken and lose flexibility. The muscles around the lens also weaken, which makes it harder to focus on up-close objects.
People with presbyopia may find that they need to hold their phones or restaurant menus farther away than in the past to read clearly. They may also experience eye strain or headaches when performing near work.
Depending on your prescription, you may be able to treat presbyopia with a pair of reading glasses that help compensate for the loss of near vision. Progressive lenses are another option that can help people who have another refractive error in addition to presbyopia. Contact lenses, refractive surgery and lens implants are other less common treatment options5.
DRY EYE
Dry eye syndrome s a common condition that happens when a person’s tear film is not stable and does not moisturize or nourish the eyes well enough. It can occur if not enough tears are made, or if the tears being made lack the oil that prevents them from evaporating too quickly.
Several biological factors can cause dry eyes. These include mature age, menopause and certain eye or medical conditions, as well as taking medications like antihistamines, antidepressants and some blood pressure medicines. Environmental factors such as a dry, dusty climate or excessively dry heating or air conditioning can also contribute to dry eyes.
EYE ALLERGIES
The tell-tale signs of eye allergies occur when allergens — such as grass, pollen and mold — irritate your eyes. To fight off allergens, your eyes produce a chemical called histamine. It's histamine that causes the eyelids and thin membrane inside them (the conjunctiva) to become red, swollen and itchy.
HOW TO WEAR CONTACT LENSES WITH ALLERGIES
If you wear contacts, eye allergies can be especially bothersome. Allergens can build up on your contact lenses, causing discomfort. To combat this, try daily disposable lenses. Changing your contacts every day won’t give allergens time to build up.
Another tip is to give your eyes a break from contacts when your allergies are flaring up. Switching between contacts and glasses allows your eyes to breathe and may help relieve eye allergy symptoms.
Remember to never share contact lenses with another person. Doing this is an instant germ spreader that can quickly lead to an eye infection.
DIABETIC EYE
DISEASE
Diabetes affects a huge portion of the population, making it one of the biggest culprits of vision loss. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to lose their vision than the rest of the population8.
This happens when high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes damage the capillaries that help to nourish the retina. Continued damage to retinal tissue can lead to diabetic retinopathy and result in vision loss or blindness.
During an eye exam, if your doctor sees signs of diabetic eye disease, they can refer you to a specialist or begin treatment to help preserve your eyesight. Treatment for diabetic retinopathy can repair eye damage and potentially prevent vision loss in most people9.
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