This is seen in people who have uncontrolled diabetes, previous retinal surgery, or have chronic inflammation. A family history of retinal detachment also increases your risk.Īnother type of retinal detachment is called tractional detachment. However, it may also be caused by trauma and very bad nearsightedness. This is most often caused by a condition called posterior vitreous detachment. This causes the retina to separate from the underlying tissues, much like a bubble under wallpaper. Eye fluids may leak through this opening. The most common type of retinal detachments are often due to a tear or hole in the retina. Retinal detachment is a separation of the light-sensitive membrane in the back of the eye (the retina) from its supporting layers. It helps you see the images that are focused on it by the cornea and the lens. The retina is the clear tissue in the back of the eye. In addition to heredity, other risk factors are: Caucasian race, cigarette smoking, high-fat diet, female gender, obesity.Īmerican Macular Degeneration Foundation: It is most often seen in adults 75 years or older. This form causes most of the vision loss associated with the condition. This is called choroidal neovascularization. New abnormal and very fragile blood vessels grow under the macula. Wet AMD occurs in only about 10% of people with macular degeneration. Almost all people with macular degeneration start with the dry form. Small yellow deposits, called drusen, form. There are two types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration:ĭry AMD occurs when the blood vessels under the macula become thin and brittle. The disease is most common in people over age 60, which is why it is often called age-related macular degeneration (ARMD, or AMD). This makes it difficult to see fine details and read. Macular degeneration slowly destroys sharp, central vision. AMD is caused by damage to the blood vessels that supply the macula. A part of the retina called the macula makes vision sharper and more detailed. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. In most cases of glaucoma, this pressure is high and causes damage to the optic nerve. This pressure is called intraocular pressure (IOP). Anything that slows or blocks the flow of this fluid out of the eye will cause pressure to build up in the eye. It leaves the eye through channels in the front of the eye in an area called the anterior chamber angle, or simply the angle. This fluid is always being made behind the colored part of the eye (the iris). The front part of the eye is filled with a clear fluid called aqueous humor. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the United States. In most cases, damage to the optic nerve is due to increased pressure in the eye, also known as intraocular pressure (IOP). This nerve carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma refers to a group of eye conditions that lead to damage to the optic nerve. University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center: Too much exposure to ultraviolet light (sunlight) Long-term use of corticosteroids (taken by mouth) or certain other medications In many cases, the cause of cataract is unknown.įactors that may speed up cataract formation are:
As we age, proteins in the lens begin to break down and the lens becomes cloudy. This allows the lens to focus on an object, whether it is close or far away. Until a person is around age 45, the shape of the lens is able to change. It acts like the lens on a camera, focusing light as it passes to the back of the eye. Please consult your eye specialist or health provider regarding your specific condition.Ī cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. PLEASE NOTE: The information on this page is not to be construed as medical advice. The types of vision loss we see most often at the Agency are macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment. Other health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, HIV and sickle cell - even being born prematurely, can also lead to specific types of retinopathies that cause visual impairment. Vision loss is often the result of disease, age-related conditions and injury. Many of these conditions can be prevented with proper eye screening and by paying attention to factors that lead to underlying health conditions such as proper nutritional support, access to medical care, physical activity, and stress reduction. There are many conditions that cause people to become blind, legally blind, or visually impaired. That equates to approximately 1 in 4 individuals - more than 1.1 million people in GDABVI's Southeast Michigan service area.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that approximately 80 million Americans have a health condition that can lead to vision loss or blindness.
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