About the most common eye disorders and diseases

 KEY POINTS

  • Refractive errors are the most common eye problem in the United States.
  • Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in American adults.
  • Amblyopia is the most common cause of vision loss in children.
  • Close-up of an elderly woman's eyes
  • Placement

Age-related eye diseases are the leading cause of blindness and low vision in the United States. These diseases include age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Other common eye conditions include amblyopia and strabismus.


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Refractive errors

  • Refractive errors are the most common eye problem in the United States. These include:

  • Myopia (nearsightedness)
  • Hyperopia (farsightedness)
  • Astigmatism (poor vision at all distances)

Presbyopia occurring between the ages of 40 and 50 (loss of ability to focus up close, inability to read words in a book, need to hold a newspaper to see clearly)

Refractive errors can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or, in some cases, surgery. According to the National Eye Institute, proper refractive correction can improve the vision of 150 million Americans.


Age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes damage to clear and central vision. The vision center is needed to see objects clearly and to read and drive. AMD affects the macula, the center of the retina that allows the eye to see fine details.


There are two types of AMD: wet and dry.

In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels begin to grow behind the retina under the macula, causing blood and fluid to leak. Bleeding, drainage, and adhesions cause damage and cause rapid loss of the visual center. An early symptom of wet AMD is that the straight lines look wavy.


In dry AMD, the macula thins over time as part of the aging process, gradually narrowing the vision center. The dry form is more common and accounts for 70–90% of AMD cases. It develops slower than the wet form. Over time, as the function of the macula deteriorates, the center of vision in the affected eye gradually disappears. Dry AMD usually affects both eyes. One of the most common early signs of dry AMD is drusen.


Drusen are small yellow or white deposits under the retina that are often seen in people 60 years of age and older. Small drusen are normal and do not cause loss of vision. The presence of multiple large drusen increases the risk of developing advanced dry AMD or wet AMD.


About 1.8 million Americans age 40 and older are affected by AMD. There are 7.3 million with large drusen who are at high risk of developing AMD. AMD is the leading cause of permanent loss of reading and good or near vision in people aged 65 years and older.

Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. It is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the leading cause of vision loss in the United States.


Cataracts can occur at any age and may be present from birth. Cataract removal is an extensive treatment. However, barriers to insurance coverage, cost of treatment, patient choice, or lack of awareness prevent many people from receiving appropriate treatment. An estimated 20.5 million (17.2%) Americans age 40 or older have cataracts in one or both eyes, and 6.1 million (5.1%) have had their lenses surgically removed.