There are hundreds of different eye diseases and visual impairments. Some things are incurable, but there are many things that can be treated. You can contribute to your eye health by following a healthy lifestyle and visiting your eye doctor regularly when your vision changes.
The mission of Allied Pharmacy is to improve patient health through a rigorous commitment to excellence. This is accomplished by educating and engaging patients. By working with doctors, health plans, and manufacturers, we also help patients address their individual medication needs and challenges.
How common are eye diseases and disorders?
More than 3.4 million people over the age of 40 in the United States meet the definition of “legal blindness” (visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the good eye or a visual field of 20 degrees or less) or have corrected vision (Disease Control Visual acuity is 20/40 or less, according to the Prevention Center). Nearly 7% of children under the age of 18 in the United States have been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition. Nearly 3% of children under the age of 18 are blind or partially sighted. Vision loss is one of the top 10 causes of disability in adults 18 and older in the United States and one of the most common disabilities in children.
Fortunately, it’s never too late to take care of your eye health. Regular eye examinations and ophthalmologic examinations lead to early diagnosis. This is the key to correcting or delaying most eye diseases. If your vision problems persist for more than a few days or get worse, be sure to see your eye doctor.
What are the most common eye diseases?
The four most common eye conditions that lead to blindness or blindness are:
- Cataract
- Diabetes-related retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Age-related macular degeneration
However, there are hundreds of different eye diseases and conditions.
What is macular degeneration?
Macular degeneration (also known as age-related macular degeneration or AMD) is an eye condition that affects central vision. It damages the macula, the central part of the retina, allowing you to see fine details. It is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60.
Macular degeneration can be either wet or dry. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula and leak blood or fluid. This damages the macula and leads to loss of central vision. Dry AMD leads to a thinning of the macula, blurring central vision over time. Dry AMD is more common than wet AMD, accounting for 70% to 90% of cases.
Symptoms of AMD that are usually not noticed until the disease is advanced include:
- Blurred central vision
- A black or dark spot in the central portion of the visual field
- A wavy or curved appearance to a straight line
There is no cure, but treatment can slow the progression of the disease and prevent severe blindness. Recent advances have been made in the treatment of wet AMD using intraocular injections of anti-VEGF drugs.