Eye Cell Diseases

A number of different diseases affect the cells of the eyes and occur during different life stages--from retinoblastoma, a cancer that affects mostly young children to wet and dry macular degeneration that usually affects those 50 and older.

Fuchs' Dystrophy

• The endothelium of the cornea is a layer of cells that line its back surface and work to maintain its transparency. Fuchs; dystrophy causes these endothelial cells to deteriorate slowing and eventually die. The endothelial cells of the cornea also prevent excess fluid from accumulating, according to the Mayo Clinic. Because Fuch’s dystrophy causes the destruction of these endothelial cells, fluid builds up in the cornea, and this may cause pain, loss of corneal transparency, cloudy vision and swelling and can eventually lead to blindness.

Macular Degeneration

• Macular degeneration occurs in two forms; wet and dry, according to Medline Plus. Macular degeneration is an age-related chronic eye disease that affects the cells of the eye where your central vision occurs. Dry macular degeneration, the most common form, involves cell deterioration in which there is no bleeding. On the other hand, wet macular degeneration occurs when new blood vessels leak fluid under the macula, densely packed light-sensitive cells in the retina, as they grow. Most persons first experience dry macular degeneration, which then develops into wet macular degeneration.

Sarcoidosis

• Sarcoidosis is a disease that may be a result of an abnormal immune system, according to the Mayo Clinic. Appearing as tiny clumps of inflammatory cells that develop and grow, sarcoidosis disease affects different areas of the body. Although any organ can be afflicted with sarcoidosis, eyes, lungs, skin and lymph nodes are the most common. Each person reacts differently to sarcoidosis, and symptoms will often go away on their own, but actually can remain for the rest of a person’s life.

Retinoblastoma

• Retinoblastoma is a form of cancer that affects the eye’s retina, the lining on the inside of the eye. Retinoblastoma rarely affects adults and mostly occurs in young children. The retina, composed of light-sensitive nerve tissue, sends through the optic nerve signals to the brain, where they become the basis of vision. Genetic mutations develop on the nerve cells of the retina and continue to multiply and grow forming a tumor. Retinoblastoma cells can metastasize further into the eye and spread to other areas of the body.

Optic Neuritis

• Visual information is transmitted to the brain through the optic nerve, which is a nerve cell layer of the eye. Optic neuritis may be triggered by a viral infection due to an autoimmune disorder. Multiple sclerosis is sometimes diagnosed through the manifestation of optic neuritis. Symptoms of optic neuritis are temporary vision loss and some discomfort.