According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although approximately 61 million adults are considered to be at risk of losing their vision, only half of them have seen an eye doctor within the past year. Most people know that cataracts and glaucoma are eye diseases. There are several other diseases, however, that commonly affect the human eye.
Amaurosis Fugax
This eye disease is usually a result of atherosclerotic plaques within the carotid artery. Atherosclerotic plaques are areas within an artery of cholesterol and fat deposits. A “cap” forms over the deposits, but when a blood clot breaks off the plaque, it will block the flow of blood within that artery. In amaurosis fugax, a clot has traveled to the retinal artery and temporarily blocked the flow of blood. According to “Vaughan & Asbury’s General Ophthalmology,” it may seem as though a curtain is coming down over your eye. You will usually lose your vision in the affected eye for 5 to 10 minutes.
Optic Neuritis
According to “The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals,” optic neuritis is the inflammation of the optic nerve. It is an eye disease that is usually seen in adults 20- to 40-years-old. The most common cause for optic neuritis is multiple sclerosis, but it can also be due to meningitis, or the inflammation of the meninges, the membrane of the brain, viral encephalitis, the inflammation of the brain due to a virus, tuberculosis, tumors, methanol alcohol poisoning and some chemicals. Symptoms include eye pain and partial or total vision loss.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary disease in which the retina of both eyes slowly degenerates. The disease may begin in childhood and cause difficulty seeing at night. The disease will progress and may cause total night blindness. There is also peripheral vision loss, which can sometimes lead to the loss of central vision as well.
Central Retinal Vein Occlusion
The central retinal vein contains the blood that is draining from the eye. A blood clot occludes, or blocks, this flow of blood. The book, “Vaughan & Asbury’s General Ophthalmology,” indicates that this disease is usually seen in people who are older than 50. Fifty percent of those with this disease also have a cardiovascular disease. Many people also have diabetes and glaucoma. The symptoms include a painless loss of vision in the affected eye. The loss is usually quite sudden.
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
The central retinal artery carries blood to the eye. As in central retinal vein occlusion, a blood clot occludes the flow of blood; in this condition, it stops blood from going to the eye. The most common cause for this occlusion is a clot breaking off from an atherosclerotic plaque. The symptoms are the same as the symptoms for the occlusion of the central retinal vein. There is a sudden, painless loss of vision in the affected eye.
About this Author
Based in North Carolina, Ruth Coleman has written articles and manuals for 25 years. Her writing has appeared in community newspapers, places of employment and comprises work done in medical college, of which she is a recent graduate. Ruth Coleman holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Salem College, and is the recipient of numerous academic awards.
