Most Common Adult Vision Problems Blurred vision called refractive errors Age-related macular degeneration Glaucoma Cataract Diabetic retinopathy Most Common Childhood Vision Problems Blurred vision called refractive errors Crossed eyes called strabismus Lazy eye called amblyopia Blurred vision refractive errors Nearsightedness called myopia is when you can see clearly up close but blurry in the distance. Farsightedness called hyperopia is when you can see clearly in the distance but blurry up close. If you are older than 40 and have trouble reading small print or focusing up close, this is usually due to a condition called presbyopia. One in every three people 40 years or older in the will need glasses to read smaller print. Astigmatism is another condition that causes blurred vision, but it is because of the shape of the cornea. These conditions affect the shape of the eye and, in turn, how the eye sees. They can be corrected by eyeglasses, contact lenses, and in some cases surgery. What are the risk factors for developing refractive errors? Family history – parents who have one or more refractive errors Advancing age - presbyopia affects most adults over age 35 Crossed Eyes strabismus Strabismus occurs when the eyes do not line up or they are crossed. One eye, however, usually remains straight at any given time. Common forms of strabismus include Esotropia – one or both eyes turn inward toward the nose Exotropia – one or both eyes turn out; also called wall-eyed Hypertropia – one or both eyes turn up Hypotropia – one or both eyes turn down If detected early in life, strabismus can be treated and even reversed. If left untreated strabismus can cause amblyopia. What are the risk factors for strabismus? Family history of strabismus Having a significant amount of uncorrected farsightedness hyperopia Disabilities such as Down syndrome and cerebral palsy Stroke or head injury Lazy Eye amblyopia Amblyopia — often called lazy eye — is a problem that is common in children. Amblyopia is a result of the brain and the eyes not working together. The brain ignores visual information from one eye, which causes problems with vision development. Treatment for amblyopia works well if the condition is found early. If untreated, amblyopia causes permanent vision loss. What are the risk factors for amblyopia? Premature birth Low birth weight Retinopathy of prematurity diagnosis Cerebral palsy diagnosis Intellectual disability diagnosis Family history of certain eye conditions Maternal smoking, drug or alcohol use Surgery on eye muscles for esotropia eyes turn in toward nose Diabetic Retinopathy DR All people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, are at risk for DR. It is caused by damage to blood vessels in the back of the eye retina. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get DR. People with this condition may not notice any changes to their vision until the damage to the eyes is severe. This is why it is so important for people with diabetes to have a comprehensive eye exam every year. There are four stages of DR. During the first three stages of DR, treatment is usually not needed. To prevent progression of diabetic retinopathy, people with diabetes should control their levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol. For the fourth stage of DR, called proliferative retinopathy, there are treatments that reduce vision loss, but are not a cure for DR. Warning signs of diabetic retinopathy includes blurred vision, gradual vision loss, floaters, shadows or missing areas of vision, and difficulty seeing at nighttime. People with diabetes are at greater risk for cataract and glaucoma as well. What are the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy? Type 1 or 2 diabetes Poor control of blood sugar level High blood pressure High cholesterol Pregnancy Being African American or Hispanic Smoking Normal vision Vision with diabetic retinopathy Photos courtesy of the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Age-Related Macular Degeneration AMD AMD is a disease that blurs the sharp, central vision needed to see straight-ahead. It affects the part of the eye called the macula that is found in the center of the retina. The macula lets a person see fine detail and is needed for things like reading and driving. The more common dry form of AMD can be treated in the early stages to delay vision loss and possibly prevent the disease from progressing to the advanced stage. Taking certain vitamins and minerals may reduce the risk of developing advanced AMD. The less common wet form of AMD may respond to treatment, if diagnosed and treated early. What are the risk factors for AMD? Type 1 or 2 diabetes Poor control of blood sugar level High blood pressure High cholesterol Pregnancy Being African American or Hispanic Smoking Normal vision Vision with AMD Photos courtesy of the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Glaucoma There are different types of glaucoma, but all of them cause vision loss by damaging the optic nerve. Glaucoma is called the “sneak thief of sight” because people don’t usually notice a problem until some vision is lost. The most common type of glaucoma happens because of slowly increasing fluid pressure inside the eyes. Vision loss from glaucoma cannot be corrected. But if it is found early, vision loss can be slowed or stopped. A comprehensive eye exam is important so glaucoma can be found early. What are the risk factors for glaucoma? Anyone can have glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk of developing the disease. African Americans over age 40 Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans Those with a family history of glaucoma Normal vision Vision with glaucoma Photos courtesy of the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Cataract A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. It often leads to poor vision at night, especially while driving, due to glare from bright lights. Cataracts are most common in older people, but can also occur in young adults and children. Cataract treatment is very successful and widely available. What are the risk factors for cataracts? Age, cataracts are more common after age 60 Certain diseases such as diabetes Smoking and alcohol use Too much exposure to sunlight Normal vision Vision with cataract Photos courtesy of the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health