What is a Cataract ?
A cataract is the clouding of the lens that normally focuses light on the retina. When a cataract develops, the retina receives insufficient light, causing the patient's vision to be blurred or foggy, as if looking through a translucent glass. Vision gradually deteriorates though no pain or inflammation are present.

What are the Causes ?
• Age-related: the lens naturally clouds with age; this is the most common cause of cataracts.
• Trauma: eye injury from sharp objects, chemicals and strong radiation can all lead to formation of cataracts.
• Systemic causes and other eye diseases: systemic diseases like diabetes, systemic infections, ingesting certain medications and eye diseases like glaucoma can increase the risk of developing cataracts.
• Congenital cataracts: present at birth, congenital cataracts can result from infections such as German measles during the baby's gestation period in the womb.

What are the Symptoms ?
• Vision is blurry or clouded, as if looking through a fog
• Double vision and light sensitivity

What is the Treatment ?
• In some cases, eye drops may be used to delay the progression of the cataract
• Phaco-emulsification or ultrasound removal of the cataract and replacement with an artificial intra-ocular lens yields excellent results, as patients regain full clarity of sight.
• Extra-capsular extraction of the cataract is used in rare cases where the cataract is very advanced

What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease characterized by an abnormally high fluid pressure within the eye, resulting in nerve damage and permanent loss of vision. The fluid, aqueous humor, produced within the eye escapes from the eye via a drainage system in the angle of the eye, as shown in the picture, which returns the aqueous humor to the blood stream. When production of aqueous humor is too high or the drainage system is insufficient, pressure within the eye rises.

Who might have glaucoma?
1. Family history of glaucoma
2. Over 50 years of age
3. Diabetic
4. Severe myopia
5. Previous trauma to the eye

How will I know if I have glaucoma?
Glaucoma is called the "the thief of sight" because in most cases there are no symptoms. Glaucoma must be detected by an eye examination. There are four types of glaucoma. Open angle glaucoma is the most common type and hereditary in nature. The eye pressure builds gradually over a long period and the vision is impaired from the periphery toward the center. Acute glaucoma or closed angle glaucoma is associated with severe pain and sudden blurred vision. There may be nausea as well. These symptoms need medical attention right away.

Eye trauma, infection, tumors, inflammation or even eye medication such as steroid eye drops can cause secondary glaucoma. Congenital glaucoma is very rare. It is present since birth.

The key to prevent visual loss from glaucoma is early detection and proper treatment. Treatment consists of eye drops and pills. Regular use and proper technique of placing eye drops are very important in successfully managing glaucoma. Laser treatment may be another option in treating glaucoma. Laser treatment is painless and can be performed on an outpatient basis. Surgery to create a new drainage may be required if all other methods fail to control the glaucoma.

What are Dry Eyes ?
Dry eyes is a condition in which the eyes do not produce enough tears to keep the eyes wet and comfortable.

What are the Causes ?
• Age-related: normally tears decrease with age.
• Sex: more common in women especially after menopause.
• Drugs and medications: can reduce tear secretion.
• Sjrogen's syndrome with accompanying symptoms of arthritis and dry mouth.

What are the Symptoms ?
• The usual symptoms of dry eye are stinging, burning, scratchiness, stringy mucus, and excessive irritation from smoke.

What is the Treatment ?
• Replacing tears with artificial tears
• Conserving the naturally produced tears to keep eyes moist
• Preventing the evaporation of tears

What is a Pingueculum ?
A Pingueculum is a yellowish patch or bump of normal tissue, resulting from a deposit of protein and fat. It can grow on the white of the eye and often on the side closest to the nose. A Pingueculum can develop further, intro a pterygium

What is a Pterygium ?
The conjunctiva is a membrane that covers the white of the eye. A Pterygium is a fleshy growth on the conjunctiva which grows into the cornea. It may be small or large enough to interfere with vision and commonly occurs on the inner corner of the eye.

What are the causes ?
Pterygium and Pingueculum can be caused by sunlight, especially Ultraviolet (UV) rays and chronic eye irritation from dry, dusty and windy conditions.

What are the symptoms ?
Sometimes Pterygium and Pigueculum are without symptoms. Blurred vision can result when the Pterygium is large enough to threaten sight.

What is the treatment ?
When Pterygium becomes red and irritated, topical eyedrops or ointments may be applied to reduce the inflammation. If the Pterygium is large enough or growing, it should be removed by surgery. Treatment involves a conjunctival autograft on the area where the pterygium was removed. This lowers recurrence rate from 40-50% to 5-10%. For Pingueculum, no treatment is necessary unless it becomes inflamed.

What is Diabetic Retinopathy ?
Diabetes mellitus is a condition which impairs the body's ability to use and store sugar. Elevated blood-sugar levels, excessive thirst and urination, and changes in the body's blood vessels may affect vision by causing cataracts, glaucoma and most importantly, damage to blood vessels inside the eyes.

Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina, the light-sensing nerve layer in the back of the eye. These damaged blood vessels may leak fluid or blood, and develop fragile brush-like branches and scar tissue. The images which the retina sends to the brain become blurred, distorted or partially blocked.

What is the cause ?
The cause of diabetic retinopathy is not completely understood; however, it is known that diabetes damages small blood vessels in various area of the body. Pregnancy and high blood pressure may aggravate diabetic retinopathy.

What are the symptoms ?
Gradually blurring of vision may occur if macular edema is present. Sight is usually unaffected by non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and changes in the eye can go unnoticed unless detected by a medical eye examination. When bleeding occurs in proliferative retinopathy, sight may become hazy, spotty or even disappear altogether. While there is no pain, this severe form of diabetic retinopathy requires immediate medical attention.

What is the treatment ?
When diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed, the ophthalmologist considers the patient's age history, lifestyle, and the degree of damage to the retina before deciding whether treatment or further observation of the disease is most appropriate. In many cases treatment is not necessary; in others it is recommended to halt the damage of diabetic retinopathy and improve sight wherever possible. Ophthalmic laser surgery is the most significant treatment to seal or photocoagulate the leaking blood vessels.

What is Corneal Disease ?
The cornea is the clear front window of the eye which transmits light to the interior of the eye allowing us to see clearly. Corneal disease is the severe scarring, clouding, and distortion of the cornea. Moreover, it may be caused by hereditary conditions.

What are the causes ?
• cornea injury caused by knives, pencils, and other sharp objects.
• scarring of the cornea can result from contact with fireworks, exploding batteries, and toxic chemicals, especially alkalis.
• Infection by bacterial, fungal, or viral organisms.
• some inherited disorders of the cornea can lead to corneal clouding and loss of sight.

What are the Symptoms ?
Corneal injury or disease result in corneal clouding and distortion, blocking the clear passage of light to the back of the eye. Pain, reduced sight and sometimes even blindness can follow.

What is the Treatment ?
If the cornea is severely damaged, corneal transplantation is the only way of treatment of corneal disease. A donor cornea is transplanted in place of the damaged cornea. Because the cornea has no blood ressels, corneal transplantation is one of the most successful of all tissue transplants.

What is Conjunctivitis ?
The conjunctiva is a filmy membrane, covering the white part of the eye, which produces mucus to coat and lubricate the surface of the eye. Conjunctivitis describes the inflammation of the conjunctiva. In ordinary terms, conjunctivitis is simply the red or "pink" eye. When the conjunctiva becomes irritated or inflamed, the blood vessels which supply it enlarge, and the eye gradually becomes red.

What Causes Conjunctivitis ?
Any sources of eye irritation can cause conjunctivitis.
• Infections: Virus and Bacteria

Virus are the most common causes of conjunctivitis. In general, pink eye means viral conjunctivitis which usually produces a watery discharge and lasts from one to two weeks.

Bacterial such as staphylococcus cause a red eye with a considerable amount of pus.

Infectious conjunctivitis can be quite contagious, so contact with the patient's tear through used handkerchiefs and towels should be avoided. Frequent handwashing helps to prevent spread of the infection.

• Allergies and Environmental Irritation may cause red eye, usually associated with tears and itching.

Some causes of red eye may cause blindness. Pain, blurred vision and light sensitivity are common symptoms in these cases. It is a good idea to be seen by an Ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

What is the treatment ?
After a thorough examination by an ophthalmologist, the appropriate medication will be prescribed.

What is a Chalazion ?
A Chalazion is a small lump in the eyelid.

What are the causes ?
A chalazion is caused by inflammation and blockage of one of the small oil producing glands (meibomian glands) located in the upper and lower eyelids.

What are the symptoms ?
There will be a small lump on the eye lid with minimum swelling and some tenderness.

What is the treatment ?
A chalazion may be treated by using antibiotic and/or steroid drops, warm compress three to four time a day and massage or expression of the glandular secretions. If the lump persists, surgical removal is the only means to get rid of the chalazion quickly. Steroid injection may help in some cases.

What is Uveitis ?
The uvea is the middle layer tissue between the innermost retina and the outermost sclera surrounding the central cavity of the eye. "Uveitis" is the condition in which the uvea becomes inflamed.

What are the causes ?
Uveitis can be caused by infection from a virus, a fungus or a parasite. In most cases, the cause remains unknown. Uveitis can also be related to other eye diseases and diseases in other parts of the body such as arthritis. Injury to the eye can also cause uveitis. Inflammation from a severe injury in one eye can result in uveitis in the opposite eye.

What are the Symptoms ?
The symptoms of uveitis are light sensitivity, gradual blurring of vision, and pain and redness of the eye. Pain and redness can occur suddenly or gradually.

What is the treatment ?
Eye drops, especially steriods and pupil dilators, are medications which are applied to reduce inflammation and pain. Oral medication or injections may be necessary in cases of deeper inflammation. If uveitis is complicated by other eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts or new blood vessel formation, then surgery or laser treatment may be necessary.