Patients with diabetes are more likely to develop eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma, but the disease's effect on the retina is the main threat to vision. Over time, diabetes affects the circulatory system of the retina, and this effect is called diabetic retinopathy. In its earliest phase,

Farsightedness occurs when light entering the eye focuses behind the retina instead of directly on it. This is caused by a cornea that is flatter, or an eye that is shorter, than a normal eye. Farsightedness causes difficulty seeing up close. Symptoms of farsightedness include blurred distance vision,

Strabismus is caused by one or more eye muscles functioning improperly, resulting in a misalignment of the eyes. Each eye has six muscles that work in unison to control movements. The brain controls the eye muscles to keep the eyes properly aligned. These muscles must function together for the brain

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens, the part of the eye responsible for focusing light and producing clear, sharp images. The lens is contained in a sealed bag or capsule. As old lens cells die, they become trapped within the capsule. Over time, the cells accumulate, causing the lens to cloud

When cataracts reach the stage where they are seriously decreasing an individual's vision, cataract surgery is called for. In this common procedure, the doctor removes the natural lens in the patient's eye, which is replaced by a permanent lens implant. The implant is made specifically to fit the patient's

Corneal transplants are commonly used for treating two types of corneal problems. The first is kerotoconus, a disease that causes progressive thinning of the cornea. The second is excessive scarring caused by chemical burns, blunt trauma or other severe lacerations to the cornea. During the surgery,

Color vision deficiency is a term that is used to describe one of a number of hereditary or acquired color vision problems. The inherited form is the most common deficiency. It affects both eyes and does not worsen over time. This type of color vision deficiency occurs more in males than in females.

Astigmatism often refers to a cornea that is oval in shape, rather than round shaped. The oval shape of the cornea causes light to focus on more than one point in the eye, resulting in blurred vision. Astigmatism typically occurs along with nearsightedness and farsightedness. Astigmatism can easily be

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in individuals age 65 and older in the western world. It results from a hardening of the arteries that nourish the retina affecting the macula, part of the retina that is responsible for clear vision. Deprived of oxygen and