Eye problems can be extremely frustrating and debilitating, but they are not always as frightening as they appear. There are hundreds of different eye conditions, so it’s critical to understand what one is dealing with.
If a person strains their eyes daily (for example, by using computers or staring at smartphone screens for long periods), it can lead to vision problems. Therefore, maintaining eye health requires regularly leading a healthy lifestyle and seeing an eye care professional.
Here are some of the most common eye conditions and their surgical treatments.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease that affects central vision. It harms the macula, the part of the retina that allows you to see finer details. There are two main types of macular degeneration: wet and dry.
– Surgical Treatments for AMD
– Anti-VEGF injections and medications aid in slowing abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina and reducing leakage.
– Photodynamic Laser Therapy (PDT) uses a special laser to break down abnormal blood vessels on the back of the eye.
Cataract
A cataract is an area of the eye’s lens that is cloudy. A cloudy lens can appear in either eye. Cataracts can occur at any age, including birth, but they are more common in older adults.
– Surgical Treatments for Cataracts
– Laser Cataract Surgery removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a new, clear intraocular lens using computer-guided technology.
– Small incision cataract surgery involves making a tiny cut into the cornea, inserting a probe into the cornea, and using ultrasound waves to break up and remove the lens in small pieces.
– Extracapsular Eye Surgery is a procedure where a large incision is made in the cornea to remove the lens altogether.
Refractive Errors
Refractive errors are the most commonly occurring vision problem. These eye conditions develop when light cannot properly focus on the retina due to the shape of the eyes.
There are four types of refractive errors:
– Nearsightedness (myopia)
– Farsightedness (hyperopia)
– Astigmatism
– Presbyopia
– Surgical Treatments for Refractive Errors
– LASIK and other refractive surgeries reshape the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
– Premium cataract surgery involves removing the eye’s natural lens and replacing it with a synthetic lens.
– Photo Refractive Keratectomy eye surgery is similar to LASIK. The cornea is reshaped using a minimally invasive procedure.
Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)
Strabismus is a condition that occurs when the two eyes do not line up correctly. When this happens, a person may have trouble focusing on a single point and notice their iris looking in opposite directions.
– Surgical Treatments for Strabismus
Changing the length of the eye muscles through a procedure known as eye muscle surgery can realign the eyes.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that commonly affects people over 40. It happens when the optic nerve is damaged by increased eye pressure. This damage compromises the eye’s ability to transmit visual information to the brain properly.
Glaucoma is classified into three types: open-angle, normal-tension, and angle-closure.
– Surgical Treatments for Strabismus
– Trabeculoplasty is an eye surgery that uses lasers to stimulate fluid drainage from the eye’s drainage tissue.
– Trabeculectomy is a type of eye surgery used to treat open-angle glaucoma. Through a tiny hole under the eyelid, extra fluid is removed from the eye.
– Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery is a treatment method for mild glaucoma that employs tiny incisions and microscopic machinery.
– Glaucoma Implant Surgery is a procedure that involves implanting tiny tubes into the eye to drain fluid and relieve pressure.
