Causes
The eye has a rather complex structure; its structure includes the macula, ciliary body, cornea, lens, iris (iris), sclera, and conjunctiva. Pathologies of the visual organs can affect different parts and develop for various reasons.
For your information! A cataract is often confused with a cataract. But with cataracts, the lens becomes cloudy, and the cataract is a clouding of the cornea of the eye.
Eye sores, which may appear as white or yellow spots, affect the cornea. But why does such a disease appear? The main reason for the development of a cataract is cicatricial changes in the structure of the cornea (sometimes the lens). Normally, the cornea consists of special endothelial cells that are not able to regenerate, that is, repair themselves. The cornea is transparent, allows light to pass through to the lens and provides a person with the ability to see clearly.
With various injuries and other pathological influences that can appear under different circumstances, the process of inflammation or scarring starts. During inflammatory reactions, keratocytes included in the structure of the cornea synthesize special substances: chemoattractants and enzymes. The stroma swells, the vessels dilate, and leukocytes move from the bloodstream into the affected area, triggering cellular infiltration. Normal corneal cells are destroyed and replaced by connective tissue cells that are denser and more opaque.
It is because of such processes that a cloudy area appears, which at first has a white or whitish tint. And as the tissues degenerate and fat cells are included in their structure, the thorn becomes yellow or yellowish in color.
So why do eyesores appear? The reasons are as follows:
- injuries to the cornea, for example, from blows, bruises to the eyes;
- injuries to the cornea when hit by sharp foreign objects;
- thermal effects, burns;
- chemical tissue burns that develop when aggressive substances that damage tissue come into contact with the cornea of the eye;
- inflammatory diseases of the cornea (keratitis) of a bacterial or viral nature, which may appear due to the activity of pathogenic microorganisms;
- ulcers localized on the cornea;
- previous surgical interventions on the eyes (especially unsuccessful ones);
- persistently high intraocular pressure, glaucoma;
- pterygiums (recurrent or false).
Eye diseases in humans: list, symptoms
The reason for this is many factors. For example, the rapid development of computer technology and the deterioration of the environmental situation every year. Next, we will consider the most common diseases, and also highlight their characteristic symptoms.
Pathology of the optic nerve
Glaucoma
- a chronic disease. Due to increased pressure inside the eyes, optic nerve dysfunction occurs. As a result, vision decreases, which may disappear in the future. The disease progresses very quickly, so the patient risks completely losing his vision if he delays going to the doctor. Signs: impaired lateral vision, black spots, “hazy” images, inability to distinguish objects in the dark, colored rings appear in bright light.
Ischemic optic neuropathy
– circulatory disorders in the intraocular or intraorbital region. Symptoms: decreased visual acuity, appearance of “blind” spots in some areas. Reducing viewing angle.
Ischemic neuropathy
Neuritis
- infection. An inflammatory process in the optic nerve is characteristic. Signs: loss of sensitivity in the area around the eye, pain, weakening of the muscles associated with the optic nerve.
Nerve atrophy
– a disease characterized by dysfunction of arousal conduction. Color perception and viewing angle are impaired. Vision decreases and a person can become completely blind.
Nerve atrophy
Pathology of the eye orbit, eyelids, lacrimal canals
Blepharitis
- inflammation that occurs along the edges of the eyelids. Symptoms: swelling of the tissue, accompanied by burning and redness. The patient feels as if a speck has gotten into his or her eye. There is itching and characteristic discharge. Bright light is difficult to perceive, tearing, pain. Dry eyes and peeling of the eyelid margins may occur. After sleep, purulent scabs form on the eyelashes.
Blepharitis
Cryptophthalmos
- a common disease in which the edges of the eyelids fuse together. This causes the palpebral fissure to narrow or even disappear.
Lagophthalmos
– a pathology characterized by a violation of the closure of the upper and lower eyelids. As a result, some areas remain open all the time, including during bedtime.
Turn of the century
– the place where eyelashes grow is turned towards the eye socket. This creates severe discomfort due to rubbing and irritation of the eyeball. Small ulcers may form on the cornea.
Turn of the century
Coloboma of the century
- disturbance in the structure of the eyelids. Usually occurs along with other morphological defects. For example, cleft palate or cleft lip.
Swelling of the eyelid
– localized accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues around the eyelid. Symptoms: local redness of the skin, discomfort. Eye pain worsens when touched.
Swelling of the eyelid
Blepharospasm
- looks like a convulsive contraction of the facial muscles, as if the person is quickly squinting his eyes. Not controlled by the will of the patient.
Ptosis
– drooping of the upper eyelid. Pathology is classified into several subtypes. In some cases, the eyelid droops so much that it completely covers the eyeball.
Ptosis
Barley
– an infectious disease of an inflammatory nature that occurs with pus discharge. Signs: swelling of the edges of the eyelids, redness and peeling. Pressing is accompanied by severe pain. Discomfort (feeling of a foreign object in the eye) and lacrimation are common. The acute form is characterized by signs of intoxication - loss of strength, fever, headache.
Barley
Trichiasis
– improper eyelash growth. The danger is that pathogens can easily enter the eyes. This provokes inflammation, conjunctivitis and other problems.
Dacryocystitis
– an infection of the tear duct that causes inflammation. There are several types of pathology: acute, chronic, acquired, congenital. Symptoms: painful sensations, the lacrimal sac is red and swollen, suppuration of the canals and constant tearing.
Dacryocystitis
Pathology of the tear-producing system
Dacryodenitis
- damage to the lacrimal glands. It occurs due to chronic pathologies, or due to infection entering the body. If there is a disruption in the functioning of the circulatory system, the disease can take a chronic form. Symptoms: the upper eyelid becomes red and swollen. In some cases, the apple of the eye protrudes. If dacryodenitis is not treated, the inflammation spreads, ulcers form, a high temperature rises, and general malaise appears.
Dacryoadenitis
Lacrimal gland cancer
– develops as a result of abnormal activity of gland cells. Tumors can be either benign or malignant. The second group includes, for example, sarcoma. Signs: pain in the eyes and head. Associated with an increase in formation that puts pressure on the nervous tissue. In some cases, the pressure is so strong that it causes delocalization of the eyeball, making it difficult for them to move. Additional symptoms include swelling and loss of vision.
Pathology of the connective membrane of the eye
Xerophthalmia
– an eye disease during which tears are produced less than normal. There are several reasons for this: chronic inflammatory processes, various injuries, tumors, long-term use of medications. Elderly people are at risk.
Conjunctivitis
- inflammation that occurs in the conjunctival mucosa. It can be allergic, infectious and fungal. All of these varieties are contagious. Infection occurs both through physical contact and through everyday objects.
Tumors of the conjunctiva
– appearing in the coal on the inner side of the mucosa (pterygium) and forming in the area of the connection with the cornea (pinguecula).
Lens pathology
Cataract
– gradual clouding of the eye lens. The disease develops very quickly. It can affect one eye or both. In this case, either the entire lens or one part is damaged. The main category of patients is elderly people. It is this disease that can reduce vision in a very short time, even to the point of blindness. In young people, cataracts are possible due to injuries or somatic diseases. Symptoms: rapid loss of vision (this forces you to change lenses very often), inability to distinguish objects in the dark (“night blindness”), impaired color perception, eyes get tired quickly, and in rare cases, double vision.
Cataract
Lens abnormalities
– cataracts, bifaf, spherophakia, lens luxation, coloboma developing from birth.
Retinal pathology
Retinitis (retinal pigmentary dystrophy)
– a disease manifested by the occurrence of inflammation in various parts of the retina. The causes include injury to the organs of vision and prolonged exposure to sunlight. Symptoms: the normal field of vision narrows, visibility decreases, the image doubles, insufficient visibility at dusk, characteristic colored spots appear before the eyes.
Retinal detachment
– a pathology in which destruction of the retina is observed. Its inner layers begin to peel away from nearby epithelial tissues and blood vessels. In most cases it is treated surgically. Lack of treatment results in vision loss. Signs: “fog” before the eyes, distortion of the geometric shape of objects, sometimes flashes of light and bright sparks flash through.
Retinal detachment
Retinal angiopathy
– destruction of the structure of the choroid in the eyes. This disease is caused by physical trauma, high intraocular pressure, disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system, diseases of the circulatory system (arterial hypertension), poisoning, and pathological defects in the morphology of blood vessels. Symptoms: noticeable decline in vision, blurred vision, foreign flickers, image distortion. In the most severe cases, vision loss occurs.
Retinal dystrophy
– an extremely dangerous disease that can have a wide variety of causes. The tissue of the retina of the eye dies or decreases. This can happen if qualified assistance from specialists is not provided in a timely manner.
Corneal pathology
Keratitis
– an inflammatory process that affects the cornea of the eye. As a result, clouding of the cornea and the occurrence of infiltrates. The cause may be an infection: viral, bacterial. Injuries can also trigger the development of the disease. Symptoms: lacrimation, redness of the mucous membrane of the eye, atypical sensitivity to bright light, the cornea loses its normal properties - shine, smoothness. If treatment is neglected, the infection spreads to other areas of the visual system.
Keratitis
Belmo
– formation of scar tissue on the cornea of the eye, its persistent clouding. The cause is prolonged inflammatory processes in the body or injury.
Belmo
Corneal astigmatism (keratoconus)
– degeneration of the cornea, which occurs due to increased pressure inside the eye. This leads to a change in the shape of the cornea of the eye. Symptoms: light fringe around the light bulbs, immediate decrease in vision in one of the eyes, myopia.
Keratoconus
Change in eye refraction
Myopia (myopia)
– a refractive error in the eye, in which a person has difficulty seeing distant objects. In case of myopia, the image is fixed in front of the retina. Signs: poor discrimination of distant objects, discomfort, rapid eye fatigue, pressing pain in the temples or forehead.
Myopia
Farsightedness (hypermetropia)
– a refractive error in which the image is read behind the retina, is the opposite of myopia. In this case, the patient has difficulty seeing both near and distant objects. Symptoms: very often there is blurriness before the eyes, sometimes the patient exhibits strabismus.
Farsightedness
Astigmatism
– the disease is characterized by the inability to focus light rays on the retina. Usually appears in people with physiological disorders of the visual organs: cornea, lens. Symptoms: blurred and unclear image, a person gets tired quickly, often complains of a headache; in order to see something, one has to strain the eye muscles.
Astigmatism
Other eye diseases
Nystagmus
– uncontrollable oscillatory movements of the eyeballs.
Lazy eye syndrome or amblyopia
– a pathology in which the eye, due to damage to its muscles, stops working and making movements.
Anisocoria
– difference in pupil size. Basically, it appears with all kinds of eye injuries. Involves acute sensitivity to light and decreased vision. Sometimes this pathology indicates a disruption in the functioning of one of the parts of the brain - the cerebellum.
Anisocoria
Episcleritis
- inflammation that forms in the episcleral tissue. First, redness appears near the cornea, then this area swells. Signs: feeling of discomfort, eyes hurt from bright light. There are discharges from the connective membrane. In most cases, episcleritis goes away on its own.
Episcleritis
Aniridia
– complete absence of the iris of the eye.
Aniridia
Polycoria
– an eye defect when a person has several pupils.
Polycoria
Ophthalmoplegia
– a disease when the nerves of the eye that are responsible for its movement cease to function correctly. This causes paralysis and the inability to rotate the eyeballs. Symptoms: eyes are turned to the nose, do not change this position.
Exophthalmos
– pathological exit of the eyeball beyond the orbit of the eye, occurs due to swelling of its tissue. In addition to the main symptoms, redness of the eyelids and pain when touching the inflamed area are noted.
Diplopia
– a disorder of the visual system, consisting of constant double vision of visible objects.
Types of cataracts
An eyesore can be congenital or acquired. The congenital form is usually caused by intrauterine infection of the fetus during gestation and is often accompanied by other pathologies, for example, clouding of the lens or complete blindness of the baby. Acquired cataracts are the result of various eye injuries or diseases.
Also, cataracts can develop separately and have characteristic symptoms without complications or be combined with other eye pathologies: clouding of the lens, synechiae (adherence of the cornea to the iris or soldering of the iris to the lens and cornea).
In addition, the eyesore may be adhesive and ectatic. In the first case, the cornea fuses (sticks together) with the iris due to significant damage or severe inflammation. Ecstatic leukoma is accompanied by curvature of the cornea, its protrusion.
Forms and types of cataracts
According to the nature of origin, congenital and acquired forms of leukoma are distinguished. Congenital occurs as a result of transplacental infection. Transmitted from mother to fetus. In the acquired form, the formation of a cataract occurs due to external factors.
According to the severity of turbidity, they are distinguished:
- cloud - minor changes;
- corneal spot - partial spread of leukoma;
- thorn - dense and extensive localization.
The cataract can be flattened, convex, or fused to the iris.
According to its location, the leukoma can be central, when the cataract completely or largely covers the pupil. Total - the cornea is completely closed. In these cases, visual acuity is significantly reduced. With peripheral leukoma, the pupil is not affected by clouding and vision does not decrease.
Symptoms
If a cataract appears, it will look like a spot on the cornea: white or yellow. In the first stages of development of leukoma, it has a white tint, and as the tissue degenerates into fat, it becomes yellow or yellowish in color.
The thorn can be located anywhere. If it appears on the iris or on the pupil in front of the lens, it will be more noticeable. This leukoma looks like a whitish spot or cloud, clearly visible against a dark background. When localized in the peripheral zones of the cornea above the sclera, cataracts often remain invisible and have virtually no visible external symptoms.
The main symptom is direct clouding of the cornea with the formation of a whitish, white, yellowish or yellow spot (depending on the degree of tissue damage and the stage of development of leukoma). But concomitant symptoms may also occur, depending on the underlying disease or pathology that provoked the development of the eyesore.
Important!
The thorn may affect only one eye (left or right). Sometimes cataracts appear on both the right and left eyes at the same time.
The clinical picture may include the following manifestations:
- decreased visual acuity (up to its complete loss) when the cataract is located on the iris or pupil (this symptom develops if the clouded area blocks the natural lens of the lens and makes it impossible to see);
- blurred vision, veils, spots before the eyes (any such symptom can occur when the cataract is localized in the optical zone, when the lens is partially or completely covered by a clouded area);
- blurred vision and changes in visual perception (objects look blurry, without clear contours, distorted);
- swelling of the cornea and other parts of the eyes, redness, increased lacrimation (such symptoms indicate inflammatory diseases);
- sensation of a foreign body in the eye (this symptom occurs when the cataract grows and thickens).
What is amblyopia
Amblyopia is a persistent progressive decrease in vision in one or both eyes in the absence of pathological structural changes. Another name for the pathology is “lazy eye” syndrome.
Most often, with amblyopia, the visual function of one eye is suppressed. That is, a person perceives an image with only one healthy eye, monocularly, while the second eye does not participate in the visual process. In this case, we are not talking about blindness; the suppressed visual organ retains its functions. That is why the disease is considered reversible if treatment is started in time.
Amblyopia is a reversible disease, but it is important to start treatment on time
The suppressed eye gradually loses visual acuity, accommodative abilities and contrast sensitivity. Therefore, treatment for amblyopia must begin as early as possible, before all visual functions in the affected eye are impaired.
In rare cases, amblyopia can affect both eyes.
Treatment
How to get rid of a thorn? If the leukoma is not located in the optical zone, does not cover the lens, does not in any way make vision worse and is not accompanied by obvious manifestations, then treatment is not required. But regular visits to an ophthalmologist are required to monitor the dynamics. If the condition worsens, for example, the growth of the cataract and the involvement of other parts of the visual organs in pathological processes, therapy is prescribed.
Conservative treatment
Conservative treatment is effective only in the earliest stages and usually includes the use of drugs that promote the resorption of scars and trigger regeneration. Korneregel, Lidaza, Actovegin are prescribed.
Physiotherapeutic procedures can also be prescribed for leukomas that eliminate progression, stop pathological changes and help restore the normal structure of the visual organs. Ophthalmologists use the following techniques:
- iontophoresis – exposure to low-frequency currents;
- diathermocoagulation – cauterization of damaged and altered tissues with high-frequency alternating currents;
- Diathermy – heating of tissues with high-frequency currents.
To eliminate an obvious visible external defect, the doctor may recommend that a patient with a cataract wear a colored contact lens, which will cover the cloudy area and create a normal iris color.
Important! If the thorn grows and becomes more cloudy, then you will not get rid of it with conservative treatment. Only radical methods will be effective.
Surgery
The surgical treatment method is the most effective and is indicated when the cataract interferes with vision and the person sees worse due to leukoma. Only surgery can completely get rid of the cataract. Keratoplasty or keratoprosthesis is performed. In the first case, the surgeon makes incisions in the cornea with special instruments or a laser beam, and then replaces the clouded area of the cornea with donor material. During keratoprosthesis, instead of the excised area with a cataract, an artificial prosthesis is installed, which has all the properties of the natural cornea.
Usually, combined operations are performed on the right or left organ of vision, during which, in addition to removing the cataract, other manipulations are performed, for example, installing an intraocular lens, replacing the lens, and others.
Types of amblyopia
The classification of the disorder depends on the causes of the “lazy eye” syndrome.
Refractive amblyopia
appears against the background of such visual disorders as farsightedness, myopia, astigmatism, anisometropia. Amblyopia develops due to the lack of a clear image on the retina.
Dysbinocular amblyopia
appears with strabismus. This is the most common cause of amblyopia. With strabismus, the eyes perceive two different images. The brain is not able to connect the image from both eyes and process the information received, so the image transmitted by the weaker eye is simply suppressed. In fact, the very principle of binocular vision, in which two images are compared by the brain into a single picture, is violated.
Obscurational amblyopia
People suffer from diseases that prevent the flow of rays to the retina of the eye - cataracts, cataracts, destruction of the vitreous body.
Dysbinocular amblyopia and refractive amblyopia are classified as primary types of disorder, obscuration is considered a secondary type.
Prevention
You will get rid of the high risks of cataract formation if you follow the rules of prevention:
- Protection of eyes from injury, thermal and chemical influences.
- Timely treatment of eye inflammatory diseases.
- Compliance with personal hygiene rules. Avoid touching your eyes with dirty hands.
- Wearing sunglasses.
- Providing timely medical care after eye injuries.
- Use safety glasses when working with welding and chemicals.
If you do not get rid of the cataract in a timely manner, then this pathology can provoke undesirable consequences: the development of myopia or astigmatism, complete loss of vision, spasm of accommodation. The external defect will become more and more noticeable, causing complexes and worries. Therefore, at the first sign of leukoma, visit an ophthalmologist and follow his recommendations.
Symptoms of amblyopia in children and adults
Amblyopia develops gradually and often goes unnoticed in the early stages. Moreover, the sooner treatment of the pathology begins, the better the results will be. This is why it is important to visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year, even if the patient is not worried about anything.
Children with amblyopia may appear clumsy and have trouble spatial awareness
General symptoms do not differ from other ophthalmological diseases - blurred vision, sensation of a foreign object in the eye, frequent headaches, increased fatigue with high visual load.
Symptoms more characteristic of amblyopia may appear already at a moderate and high degree of development of the disorder:
- There are difficulties with focusing at near and far distances;
- The ability to distinguish shades deteriorates;
- The outlines of objects may become blurred;
- The eyelid of the affected eye droops;
- To view an object, a person with amblyopia must cover the affected eye with the palm of their hand;
- The eyeball may make involuntary movements;
- Volumetric objects are more difficult to perceive.
Children may not be aware of their problems, so it is important for adults to monitor the child’s behavior and pay attention to characteristic changes in time.
For example, a child may tilt their head to the right or left to look at an object. Children with amblyopia have poor orientation and their movements may appear clumsy from the outside. With amblyopia, the affected eye may deviate to the side; this occurs when the child is concentrating on something. The easiest way to notice this deviation is when a child is watching a cartoon or reading.
An ophthalmologist can diagnose the disease only after a comprehensive examination. To detect possible violations in time, visit a specialist at least once a year! Children are recommended to undergo preventive examinations at least twice a year.
Book your child for an eye test
conclusions
Lazy eye syndrome can appear for various reasons, but most often it is provoked by strabismus, myopia, farsightedness, astigmatism, cataracts and other ophthalmological diseases.
With amblyopia, the visual function of one eye (less often both) is suppressed, as a result of which binocular vision is impaired. Amblyopia can be treated in the early and middle stages of development, but the disease of a very high degree is almost impossible to cure.
To treat amblyopia, various methods are used, including vision correction, occlusion and pleoptics. The ophthalmologist chooses a method based on the causes of the disease and the degree of its development.
The sooner treatment begins, the higher the chances of complete vision restoration! Have a preventive examination with an ophthalmologist at least once a year and bring your children at least twice a year; only in this case can the disorder be detected and corrected in time.
Nutrition of red-eared turtles for eye disease
In case of eye damage, it is very important to provide the turtle with proper nutrition. A turtle's diet should include foods rich in vitamin A. As far as we know, vitamin A is good for vision, and not just for turtles. Carrots are rich in this vitamin. The basis of the turtle's food is seafood, but if there is an eye disease, you can give it livers once a week, and also focus on food of plant origin, such as cabbage, seaweed, lettuce, and seaweed. As a rule, such foods are rich in vitamins.
If your pet is seriously ill and cannot open its eyes, it will be difficult for him to find food in the aquarium. In this case, the owner himself will need to feed the animal, otherwise it may die of starvation.
If there are other animals near the sick turtle, then it is better to isolate the sick turtle so that the disease does not harm its relatives.
