The tissue that covers the front of your eye, called the cornea, has a dome shape that not only helps protect your eye but also directs light to the back of your eye. If you have damage to the cornea from an injury, infection or other condition,...
An ingrown eyelash, or trichiasis, occurs when the eyelash is misaligned and grows back toward the skin instead of away from the eye. The affected eye may become red, irritated and watery, and there is typically a sensation of having sand or grit...
LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, a common vision correction procedure. During this type of refractive surgery, a flap is created in the cornea, the laser is used to remove tissue from the cornea and the flap is rolled back...
Astigmatism causes blurry vision that an eye doctor can correct with the proper eyeglass prescription. During an examination, the doctor will have the patient look through a phoropter, a flat machine that sits against the patients face. The doctor...
Keratoconus is a degenerative eye condition that thins the cornea, pushing it into a cone-like shape. The change in cornea shape causes vision problems, including nearsightedness and astigmatism. Causes of keratoconus range from genetic conditions...
In the condition dry eye syndrome, the available tears do not provide enough moisture for the eye, according to the MayoClinic.com. In some cases, the eye does not produce enough tears and in other cases, the tears that are produced are not very...
The eye is frequently assaulted by bacteria that cause infection. The defenses of the eye are normally able to keep foreign invaders out. Still, bacterial infections can and do occur both on the surface of the eye and deep inside the eye....
Ocular herpes is a viral infection that stems from the same virus that causes cold sores. This condition typically occurs in only one eye and involves the cornea, the clear outer covering of the front of your eye. Symptoms may include redness,...
Conjunctivitis and keratitis can affect the surface of your eyes. Conjunctivitis is an eye infection that involves the tissue that covers the white part of your eye. Keratitis involves inflammation of the cornea, the clear tissue that covers the...
One effect way to treat eye herpes is through the use of antiviral eye drops. These special eye drops are available through prescription only and are very effective for eliminating and controlling eye herpes. If a patient is unable to use the...
Ocular herpes, a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, is the most common cause of infectious corneal blindness in the United States, the National Eye Institute reports. Around 400,000 people have had at least one case of ocular...
Many eye conditions do not cause serious eye problems, though some diseases may result in vision loss. Routine eye exams will help detect eye diseases and prevent damage to the eye. The doctor will perform vision tests and examine the back of the...
Herpes infections in the eye can cause serious vision complications. Herpes zoster and herpes simplex type 1 infections can both affect the eyes. Any sign of herpes infection around the eyes should be treated promptly by medical personnel....
Ptosis is a condition of the eyelids often referred to as a "droopy eyelid." The muscles of the upper lid cannot pull tight enough, and, as a result, cannot lift the lid to a fully raised position. Due to the low position of the eyelid, ptosis may...
Herpes zoster, or shingles, can occur in any person who ever had chicken pox. Shingles is the reactivation of the same herpes virus at a later date; it presents as a skin rash consisting of blisters. This rash can occur on any part of the body,...
Dry eyes can have many causes, from a decrease in the production of the aqueous fluid that provides moisture to the eye, to suppression of the blinking reflex. Eyelid inflammation, environmental factors or surface injury to cornea can also cause...
Dry eye is an eye condition that occurs if your eye does not have the proper surface lubrication to protect and nourish the eye's surface. Some people may not produce enough tears, but others may produce tears that do not have the right...
Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a life-threatening skin disease that occurs most often as an allergic reaction to certain medications. These medications include sulfa and penicillin antibiotics, anticonvulsants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,...
An estimated 12 million people in the United States have dry eyes, according to the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dry eyes occur when they are unable to produce sufficient tears for lubrication, resulting in eye redness, irritation and pain....
PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy, a type of laser repair for nearsightedness and astigmatism. According to Refractive Surgery News, PRK is the second most common type of laser eye surgery after LASIK and is used in instances where LASIK...
The shape of the eye determines how well the eye sees. Light shines through the cornea, the front part of the eye and, ideally, should land on the retina. This gives perfect vision without the need for an eye glass prescription. If the eye or...
The intricate structure of the eye, along with its sole responsibility for vision, makes routine eye exams a necessity. During an eye exam, an eye doctor can determine the health of the eyes and also watch for warning signs of problems. In...
The front surface of your eye needs a coating of your natural tears to help protect the tissues. If your eyes do not produce enough tears or if the tears do not have the appropriate consistency, you may have dry eye. A number of conditions may...
Herpes infections of the eye are most often caused by HSV-1. The virus' ability to hide from the immune system plays a role in this. This is because HSV-1, when evading the immune system's attempts to eradicate it, usually "hides" in the...
Tamoxifen is a drug used to prevent and treat breast cancer. Tamoxifen, sold under the brand name Nolvadex, interferes with estrogen production and usage and has been a staple in treating cancer in both men and women since the 1970s. The drug has...
Hansen's disease--commonly known as leprosy--is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacteriumleprae. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, symptoms of Hansen's disease don't usually begin to develop until at least a...
Herpes simplex viruses commonly cause a variety of infections of the moist tissue regions of the body and demonstrate an affinity for the cells that comprise these tissues known as epithelial cells. Common sites of herpes infection include the...
Under normal conditions, healthy skin effectively combats attack by viral, fungal and bacterial aggressors. Skin has both a physical and a chemical barrier. The physical barrier is made up of dead cells that are mostly keratin, a protein also...
During an eye exam, the doctor may use a drop that numbs the surface of the eye. These drops may help the doctor check the eye pressure, or the numbing drops may ease pain and discomfort from foreign bodies, allowing the doctor to carefully...