Major Eye Conditions: Causes, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

Eye health can be compromised by various conditions that may lead to vision impairment or blindness. While some issues are manageable with early treatment, others require specialized medical intervention. The primary causes of significant eye concerns include glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. Understanding their symptoms and risk factors is essential for prevention and prompt diagnosis.

Glaucoma
Glaucoma ranks as the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. It involves increased intraocular pressure due to fluid buildup within the eye's anterior chamber, which includes the iris, lens, and pupil. This pressure can damage the optic nerve over time.

This fluid, known as aqueous humor, is vital for maintaining eye shape and delivering nutrients. Elevated intraocular pressure from excess fluid causes glaucoma. Symptoms often develop gradually and may include nausea, blurred vision, eye pain, redness, halos around lights, and headaches. Risk factors include ethnicity—particularly higher risk in African-American populations—family history, age (more common after 40-60 years), existing myopia, and diabetes.

Cataracts
Characterized by cloudiness in the eye's lens, cataracts impair vision as the cloudy area enlarges, potentially leading to blindness if untreated.

Symptoms
Signs include blurry vision, dulled colors, glare, and difficulty seeing at night.

Risk factors
Primarily affects older adults, but can also occur in children. Family history, excessive alcohol use, steroid intake, and diabetes increase susceptibility.

Diabetic Retinopathy
As a complication of diabetes, this condition damages the retinal blood vessels and may cause vision loss if not detected early.

Symptoms
Often asymptomatic initially, it requires routine screenings for detection.

Risk factors
High blood sugar levels, ethnicity (notably African-American, Hispanic, Native American), pregnancy, and elevated blood pressure or cholesterol elevate risk.