The macula is the part of the retina with photoreceptor cells called cones, enabling visual acuity. According to Mitchell Scheiman, Maxine Scheiman and Stephen G. Whittaker authors of “Low Vision Rehabilitation,” the condition called...
The retina is a tissue located at the back of the eye. Its main job is to convert images so that the brain can properly process them, according to MedlinePlus. The retina is red and contains its own blood supply. Sometimes, the retina may become...
Eye disease is a serious complication of diabetes. In the United States, the leading cause of blindness among adults is diabetic retinopathy, according to Medline Plus. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common type of eye disease resulting from...
While you may have heard the old adage about carrots preventing weak eyesight, you may not realize that a whole host of other nutrients can also help preserve vision. Eating well and including certain vitamins and minerals in your diet can help...
Doctors treat a number of eye conditions with lasers, and many patients do not experience complications or side effects from the treatments. In some cases, however, a patient may notice floaters after a laser eye treatment. Floaters will appear as...
Chances of contracting various diseases increase with age. One commonly encountered age-related condition is the age-related eye disease, or ARED. Dr. Robert Nussenblatt, scientific director of the National Eye Institute, states that people aged...
Diabetes complications occur primarily due to deleterious changes in the blood vessels caused by long-standing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Complications due to abnormalities in the smallest blood vessels--the capillaries--are microvascular...
Doctors use laser surgery to treat and correct many eye conditions. As with any type of surgery, laser procedures on the eye may have side effects. Many of these problems gradually disappear as the eye heals. However, knowing the possible...
Through your eyes you see out into your environment and gather information about your surroundings. The same is true of the reverse; that is to say, your doctor can use a vision test to examine and assess your internal physical health. Visual...
Diabetes, a leading cause of vision loss, damages blood vessels throughout the body, including the eye. Types of damage done can vary, depending on how long a person has had diabetes and how good their blood glucose control is. The longer a person...
The fruit of the grape plant has provided humankind with a source of sweet juicy sustenance for at least 6,000 years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This versatile plant also has a long history as a health food. Folk...
Diabetics face the possibility of many health complications. One condition is diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that can result in permanent vision loss. Eye surgeons can treat the condition, but this may not restore vision. As a result,...
Bilberries, also known as whortleberries or Vaccinum myrtillus, are native to the central and northern parts of Europe, although today they are cultivated throughout the world. Generally recognized as safe, bilberry has a long history as both a...
Adding cayenne pepper to a recipe will spice things up, but this hot pepper might also offer some health benefits. Cayenne contains capsaicin, which users believe holds the medicinal power of the spice. Capsaicin comes in creams and capsules, but...
Laser surgery techniques have dramatically improved in recent years for both medical treatments and to correct refractive error. According to AllAboutVision.com, the United States military has adopted widespread LASIK surgery to reduce reliance...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a survey in 2002 determined that Diabetes Mellitus (DM) affects roughly 18 million people in the United States. Diabetes was also the sixth leading cause of death listed on U.S. death...
Having good balance is necessary to get around and perform daily activities. Maintaining balance requires communication between the eyes and ears as well as the sensory receptors throughout the body and the brain. Medical problems that affect any...
Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, occurs when a high level of blood sugar damages the blood vessels at the back of the eye. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, there are often no symptoms; however, as the condition...
Age brings with it wisdom, experience and the unfortunate decline of your eyesight. Around age 40, you'll probably notice that print is harder to read. It's an inconvenience easily remedied by a good pair of reading glasses. After age 60 though, a...
Different teams of scientists have been investigating whether there is a connection between eye disease and protein. Research has determined that proteins are associated with a diabetic eye disease, associated with macular degeneration, with...
Located in the foveal region of the retina, the macula is an important part of the visual system, responsible for clear central vision. A damaged macula means distorted vision when looking at objects straight ahead. Macular edema, one type of...
Sight enables much of the interaction humans have with the environment and one another. As such, the development of blindness proves a devastating loss. The leading causes of blindness in the United States include cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic...
Neuropathy is the medical term for nerve damage. Peripheral neuropathy, which causes pain, numbness and tingling, can be notoriously difficult to treat. As many as 70 percent of diabetics develop peripheral neuropathy, which can contribute to limb...
Diabetes commonly affects the eyes and, if left untreated, may cause temporary vision changes or complete blindness. Since many eye problems related to diabetes often go undetected until an eye exam, diabetics should know about diabetic eye...
Eye diseases may cause minor damage to the eye, but some conditions result in serious vision loss. Doctors determine treatments for eye disease based on the disease itself, since some respond best to certain methods. Knowing about the options may...
Almost 8 percent of persons in the United States have diabetes, a disease that results in increased blood sugars, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes has related complications and diseases that can affect different parts of...
Dry, red, itchy, watery eyes can be caused by allergies, the common cold, dust and dry air. Herbal treatments have been used for centuries to treat these symptoms and there is considerable empirical evidence for their usefulness and safety. Many...
Abnormal blood vessels in the eyes of children can cause serious, irreversible vision loss. Most abnormal vessels aren't visible from outside the eye, and small children can't explain that they can't see, so abnormal blood vessel growth can cause...
Your eyes allow you to navigate the surrounding world. From perceiving an image through your eyes and translating it in the brain, these vital organs have powerful functions that dictate every moment of the waking day. They guide where you go,...
