Many people have eye conditions that affect the health of the eye, often resulting in vision loss. Routine eye exams help doctors monitor for any changes in vision or other signs of disease, but if a person has good vision and no discomfort, she may delay an examination. Knowing some of the eye diseases that a doctor may detect during a check-up may encourage you to have routine exams to help prevent permanent damage.
Fuchs' Dystrophy
The front, clear window of the eye, called the cornea, contains many cells. Fuchs' dystrophy results when the cells in the endothelium layer of the cornea begin to deteriorate, says the National Eye Institute. The cells keep water moving out of the cornea, and when these cells fail to work properly, the cornea may swell. Since the cornea must have a clear, perfect shape to direct the light entering the eye, corneal swelling will distort vision. Over time, the condition will result in pain and severely distorted vision. In advanced cases, a person may require a corneal transplant to return some of the lost vision. Signs of Fuchs' dystrophy often appear many years before the condition affects vision. Though the condition does not have preventative treatments, detection of early signs may help a person understand the condition and monitor early symptoms.
Glaucoma
Most types of glaucoma do not have warning signs a person can detect without an eye examination. Glaucoma results from high pressure inside the eye, which damages the optic nerve. Damage from glaucoma will gradually, over many years, reduce the side vision, says MayoClinic.com. In advanced stages of glaucoma, a person may lose significant portions of side vision, and will describe her sight as "tunnel vision." If a doctor diagnoses glaucoma early and the patient follows the treatment to lower eye pressure, the person may not have any noticeable loss of vision. Treatment usually consists of eye drops to lower the pressure inside the eye, and some people may require multiple eye drops to effectively lower the pressure.
Angle closure glaucoma occurs suddenly from a blockage of the drainage channel inside the eye. Symptoms include severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting. This requires immediate attention in order to prevent permanent vision loss.
Diabetic Retinopathy
People who have diabetes have a high risk for eye disease, such as diabetic retinopathy. The condition results from the abnormal growth of new blood vessels on the retina, the tissue that lines the back of the eye, says MedlinePlus. The new vessels may leak, causing the retina to swell, which will cause vision changes. A person will not notice early signs of this eye disease, but a doctor may detect the new blood vessel growth during an eye examination. In some cases of early detection, the doctor may perform a laser treatment to stop new growth. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to permanent vision loss.
