Recognize These Common Eye Problems

Many Americans Miss the Mark on Eye Diseases and Conditions

When it comes to vision loss awareness, many Americans may be a little nearsighted. A recent survey showed nearly half of American adults worry more about going blind than losing their memory, or their ability to walk or hear. Yet almost 30% of those surveyed admitted to not getting their eyes checked.

Recognize These Common Eye Problems

In the following slides, you will learn some of the most common eye diseases and some of the ways to detect them. These include mild eye diseases like pink eye, and also more serious eye conditions that can lead to vision loss like macular degeneration and glaucoma. Meanwhile you will find the symptoms of some of the most common eye problems.

Anatomy of the Eye

The anatomy of the eye is complex. The main structures of the eye include the following:

• Cornea: clear tissue in the very front of the eye
• Iris: colored part of the eye surrounding the pupil
• Pupil: dark hole in the iris that regulates the amount of light going into the eye
• Lens: small clear disk inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina
• Retina: layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and creates electrical impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain
• Macula: small central area in the retina that allows us to see fine details clearly
• Optic nerve: connects the eye to the brain and carries the electrical impulses formed by the retina to the visual cortex of the brain
• Vitreous: clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye

Eye problems can involve any and all of these parts. As you read through this article, you can refer to this illustration for reference.