Age-related macular degeneration comes in two forms, wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration often develops first and is characterized by a breakdown of the central area of the retina, the macula. Wet...
Photodynamic therapy is a relatively conservative approach that looks to preserve the vision that you have remaining. It involves both cold laser surgery and drug therapy to halt the formation of abnormal blood vessels, and it does so in a way...
This outpatient procedure, commonly known as cryopexy, involves stanching the retinal tear and generating scar tissue to impede further erosion of the retina from the vitreous.
There are two kinds of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Wet macular degeneration accounts for approximately 10 to 15 percent of all macular degeneration diagnoses, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation. In this type of...
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...
Veins in the retina often become blocked, or occluded. Occlusions can develop in the central retinal vein, located at the optic nerve, or in the branch veins, which drain blood from the retina. Branch vein occlusions, the most common type of...
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...
Laser, which stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, has been used for over 30 years to treat retinal problems. While lasers are used effectively to treat diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears and detachments, macular...
Infrared (IR) light treatments are used, as well as laser treatment or heat, in attempts to shrink and heal hemorrhoids. Over a three-year period from 1996 to 1999, IR hemorrhoid light treatment (infrared photocoagulation or IRC) was studied in...
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 rectum is the last part of the digestive tract. Internal hemorrhoids form on the walls of the rectum due to pressure that causes the muscles to become weak. This causes veins to become swollen and inflamed. Pain, discomfort and rectal bleeding...
The back of your eyes are lined with a thin layer of nerve tissue called the retina, which allows you to sense the presence of light. If cancerous cells form within the retinal tissues, you can be diagnosed with a condition referred to as...
Metastatic rectal cancer is cancer arising from the rectum that has spread beyond the rectum, usually to the liver, lungs, ovaries and elsewhere in the abdominal cavity. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), treatment options at this...
Esophageal cancer, cancer arising in the tube that runs from the mouth to the stomach, killed about 15,000 people in the United States in 2009, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). During that time, more than 16,000 new cases were...
Hemorrhoids, sometimes called piles, are enlarged veins in the rectum or anus that are caused by increased pressure in the veins. Some hemorrhoids are painful and may bleed. The condition can occur at any age, but is more often noted in adults....
Piles, also known as hemorrhoids, are swollen and painful veins located in your anus or the lower end of your rectum. FamilyDoctor.org states that piles are caused by an increase in pressure in the veins in these areas. Among the most common...
Age-related macular degeneration affects the portion of the retina that impacts central vision. There are two common types of age-related macular degeneration: dry and wet. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that wet macular...
The back of the eye has a lining called the retina, which is made up of sensitive tissue that works with other parts of the eye to provide good vision. A branch retinal vein occlusion occurs when a blockage seals one of the veins of the retina,...
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...
Ophthalmic floaters are common and usually harmless. Most floaters are caused by small pieces of detached vitreous gel in the vitreous fluid casting shadows on the retina; while they may be annoying, they're usually harmless and require no...
Rectal pressure during exercise can cause considerable discomfort and pain, and can interfere with the type and duration of workout. Feelings of pressure in the rectum may indicate a digestive problem, or may result after childbirth or a pelvic...
Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia, or GAVE, is a rare illness characterized by red streaks in the stomach wall. These streaks give the condition its nickname "watermelon stomach," because they resemble the striped rind of a watermelon....
Facial birthmarks appear in all colors, shapes and sizes. While most marks are harmless, according to the Mayo Clinic, some require immediate removal due to potential for growth or interference with the normal functions of the nose, mouth or ears....
