Human Eye Disorders

Two of the most common eye disorders in humans are cataracts and glaucoma. Both disorders can result in near to complete blindness. To prevent your vision from being interrupted, learn to recognize the symptoms of eye disorders. Consult with a physician if you experience any of the symptoms below or any other eye discomfort.

Disorders

• Glaucoma describes a group of diseases that can cause damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. This damage most commonly is a result of an increase of pressure in the eye and can cause vision loss and even blindness. Cataracts describe clouding of the eye's lens, the part of the eye that helps focus images onto the retina. Cataracts are most common in elderly people due to the normal wear and tear of the lens over the years.

Risk Factors

• African-Americans over age 40 and all Americans over the age of 60 are at risk for glaucoma. Those who have relatives with glaucoma are also at higher risk for having the disease. According to the National Eye Institute, African-Americans are five times more likely than Caucasians to have glaucoma. Researchers hypothesize that smoking and diabetes can contribute to the development of cataracts.

Symptoms

• In the beginning stages of glaucoma, there may be no symptoms. As time progresses, quality of the peripheral vision may decline. This means that objects directly in front of you may appear clearly while objects to the side appear blurry. Over time, glaucoma could eventually result in near complete peripheral blindness, which can result in tunnel vision. Cataracts may cause blurry vision, poor night vision, faded color vision and double vision in one or more eyes.

Treatments

• Doctors first attempt to treat cataracts with prescription glasses, brighter lighting and magnifying glasses. If these methods fail, surgery is the next recommended treatment. Surgical procedures are used to remove the affected lens and replace it with a synthetic one. Glaucoma treatments employ the use of eye drops that reduce the amount of fluid the eye produces. Laser trabeculoplasty is also a procedure that is used to drain some of the fluid from the eye to relieve pressure.

Prevention

• Research has found that the best way to prevent glaucoma is to diagnose and treat it as early as possible, preventing further damage. If you have a high risk of getting glaucoma, get your eyes tested by an eye doctor at least every two years. If you already have glaucoma, make sure to take medication as prescribed. Quitting smoking, wearing sunglasses and keeping the sun out of the eyes are some of the best ways to prevent cataracts. A diet rich in leafy green vegetables and antioxidants help reduce that risk of cataracts due to age.