The ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) lists more than 100 eye and ear diseases. There are a number general vision problems such as strabismus, myopia (near-sightedness), hypermentropia (far-sightedness), amblyopia (lazy eye) and astigmatism, but these are not generally considered diseases.
Eye Infections
Infections can develop throughout the eye. Common infections include scleritis (immune-related disease affecting the connective tissue around the eye called sclera), keratitis (viral and bacterial infections of the cornea), iritis (iris), uveitis (affecting interior eye structures), blepharitis (eyelids), neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve), conjunctivitis or pink eye (inflammation due to infection, allergies or irritants that affects the lining of the back of eyelids), orbital cellulitis and keratoconjunctivitis (dry eye).
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is progressive damage to the optic nerve caused by increasing pressure from the fluid inside the eye. It is the most common cause of blindness but early treatment usually prevents vision loss.
Cataract
A cataract is an age-related clouding of the lens. According to the National Eye Institute, by age 80 more than half of all Americans will either have a cataract or had cataract surgery.
Retinal Diseases
The retina is the functional part of the eye, containing the rods and cones that turn light into nerve impulses. Retinal disease includes age-related macular degeneration, diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy, retinal detachment, cancer of the retina and central retinal artery occlusion. Stargardt's is an inherited disease similar to age-related macular degeneration. Retinitis pigmentosa refers to a group of inherited diseases in which the rods and cones gradually degenerate.
Cornea and Optic Nerve
Fuchs' dystrophy causes death of cells in the endothelium (inner lining) of the cornea. Over time this results in a build-up of fluid, swelling and a cloudy cornea. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy causes death of cells in the optic nerve, resulting in loss of central vision.
Ear Infections
Infections of the ear include otitis externa (swimmer's ear), otitis media (ear ache) and perichondritis, which is an infection of the outer ear usually caused by sports trauma or ear piercing.
Inner Ear
Diseases of the inner ear include acoustic neuroma (non-cancerous tumor on the nerve), Meniere's disease (causes tinnitus, dizziness and temporary hearing loss), vestibular neuronitis (vertigo caused by a virus) and benign positional or paroxysmal vertigo.
Middle Ear
Diseases of the middle ear are commonly caused by obstruction, infection or trauma. This category includes mastoiditis (middle ear infection that can spread to the mastoid bone), myringitis (contagious infection that causes blisters on the eardrum), otosclerosis (abnormal growth of middle ear bone causing hearing loss) and rupture of the tympanic membrane (eardrum).
Hearing Loss
According to the Merck Manual, about 10 percent of people in the United States have some hearing loss. About one in 800 to 1,000 children are born with profound hearing loss and during childhood, another two to three out of every 1,000 will acquire hearing loss. Presbycusis is a progressive loss of hearing that is related to aging and noise exposure. Hearing loss can be caused by lesions, tumors, head injury, chronic infections or genetic disorders.
