EYE OVERVIEW: ANATOMY, HEALTH AND DISEASE STATES

Anatomy1

Optical Nerve: The optic nerve is a bundle of more than one million nerve fibers that carries visual messages from the retina to the brain. Retina The retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining at the back of the eye. The retina converts light into electrical impulses that are sent to the brain through the optic nerve. Cornea The clear outer part of the eyes focusing system located at the front of the eye. Iris The colored part of the eye that regulates the amount of light entering the eye. Pupil The opening at the center of the iris. The iris adjusts the size of the pupil and controls the amount of light that can enter the eye. Lens The clear part of the eye behind the iris that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. Macula - The yellowish central area of the retina, which is rich in cones that mediate clear, detailed vision. *Not illustrated in chart above How the Eyes Work Our eyes work much like a camera. In a camera, light passes through the lens and focuses on the film. Each of your eyes also has a crystalline lens Crystalline lens:, which is located just behind the iris. Iris:As an image passes through the cornea, Cornea:your lens focuses those lights, colors and shapes on the retina. Retina: The transmitter located at the back of your eye that sends the images to The retina then registers these images and sends them to your brain. Sometimes the shape of your eye doesn't bend the light properly, and this can lead to common vision problems like nearsightedness and farsightedness. By contracting and relaxing the muscles that make up the ciliary body, the thin vascular tissue which secretes transparent liquid within the eye, you are able to focus your vision on things close up, far away and everywhere in between. This function allows us to see objects throughout our range of vision.2

General Eye Health Regular Check-Ups: Depending on age and eye health history, it is recommended that people ages 20 - 39 receive a complete eye exam every two to five years, ages 40 - 64 every two to four years, and 65 or older every one to two years. Individuals who may be at increased risk for eye disease, such as those with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, may need an eye exam more frequently. Also, those experiencing unusual symptoms like loss of vision, blurred vision, light flashes, eye pain, eye pressure, redness or irritation should see a doctor immediately.3 Eye Protection: Skin is not the only organ at risk for sunburn. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause irreversible damage to the eyes. While surface damage usually disappears within a few days, the harmful effects of UV radiation can lead to further eye complications.4 Proper Lens Care: Handle contact lenses with clean hands to prevent residue from gathering on the lens. Lenses should only be worn for the length of time prescribed by a physician or eye care professional. Prolonged contact lens wear can increase the risk for eye infection and disease. After removing lenses, always rinse them with a sterile saline solution before storing.5 Nutrition: Just like the rest of the body, eyes need proper nutrition to function at their best. Research shows that vitamins A, C and E, play an important role in maintaining healthy vision and preventing age-related macular degeneration. Zinc, copper and other antioxidants are also essential in proper nourishment for eyes. These vitamins and minerals are found in many fruits and vegetables and also in specially formulated eye vitamins.6 Eye Diseases and Conditions Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): A leading cause of vision loss in people over 60, AMD is a disease that blurs the central vision needed for activities like reading and driving. There are two types of AMD dry and wet. The dry form occurs when lightsensitive cells in the macula break down slowly. Central vision is gradually blurred and can be eventually lost. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula, leaking blood and fluid that cause the macula to move from its normal anatomical position. While it is less common, wet AMD is more severe than the dry form and central vision loss can occur very quickly.7 Over 1.6 million Americans age 50 and older have late AMD.19 Allergies: Millions of people suffer from eye allergies, although the condition is often unidentified and occasionally left untreated. The most common symptoms of eye allergies are itching, redness, watery eyes and lid swelling. Eye allergies can also lead to redness of the eyelids, blurred, hazy or unclear vision, swelling of the eyeball, and the sensation that something is in the eye. Eye allergies can be treated with prescription antihistamines, overthe-counter antihistamines or artificial tear drops.8 Astigmatism: This condition occurs when the cornea is slightly irregular in shape, causing images to focus on more than one point in front of, or behind the retina. Images at all distances may be blurry, resulting in the overall inability to see clearly. Corrective options for

astigmatism include corrective lenses (glasses), contact lenses, LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy.9 Corneal Ulcer: This condition is caused by the infection of the cornea by bacteria, virus, fungi or amoebae. It also can be caused by corneal abrasions and poor contact lens hygiene. Symptoms of corneal ulcer include eye pain, redness, itching and burning, white patch on the cornea, impaired vision, increased tearing and sensitivity to light.10 Cataracts: A cataract occurs when the eyes lens, which works like the lens of a camera, becomes so clouded that it keeps light and images from reaching the retina. This can lead to image blurring, glare, double vision and decreased night vision. In most cases, this clouding is caused by the aging process, but it can also stem from eye injury and certain diseases. Cataract affects nearly 20.5 million Americans age 40 and older, or about one in every six people in this age range. By age 80, more than half of all Americans have cataracts.19 The best way to treat a cataract is through a surgical procedure where the old, clouded lens is removed and replaced by an artificial lens?.11 Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis is an infection of the inner eyelid membrane. It can be caused by a virus or bacteria and is characterized by red, itching, watery eyes with a burning and scratchy feeling. The infection may also cause blurred vision and sensitivity to light. Conjunctivitis can usually be treated with an antibiotic. Avoid spreading conjunctivitis by washing any clothes, towels or pillow cases touched by the infected eye.12 Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy is a complication that occurs in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes as a result of the condition damaging the blood vessels inside the retina. This condition affects 5.3 million Americans age 18 and older. If the damaged vessels leak blood, severe vision loss and even blindness can occur. Diabetic retinopathy often occurs without symptoms, and at-risk patients should have a dilated eye exam at least once a year. This condition has four stages; the first three are treated by controlling blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol. The final stage is treated with laser surgery which causes abnormal blood vessels to shrink.13 Dry Eye: This condition, characterized by burning, scratching and stinging, is caused by a lack of tears. Tears provide natural lubricant to cleanse the eye and wash particles away. Tea Dry eye is often caused by aging, dry environment, sun exposure, allergies and smoking and can be treated with artificial tear drops or ointment.14 Glaucoma: Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eyes optic nerve, resulting in vision loss or blindness. Glaucoma often develops [onsets sounds too clinical] with no symptoms and no pain, but left untreated, can lead to gradual loss of peripheral vision. The condition affects 2.2 million Americans age 40 and [Link] When diagnosed early, glaucoma can be treated with medicines, laser trabeculoplasty, conventional surgery, or a combination of these treatments. While remaining vision can be saved through treatment, there is currently no cure for glaucoma and lost vision can not be restored.15 Hyperopia: Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a condition of the eye in which the cornea has too little curvature or the eyeball is too short, causing light entering the eye to focus incorrectly. This leads to blurred near vision that can be treated with corrective lenses, contact lenses, LASIK surgery and photorefractive keratectomy.16 Myopia: Better known as nearsightedness, myopia is a condition that results in blurred distance vision. This occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much

curvature, causing light entering the eye to focus incorrectly. Myopia can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, LASIK surgery and photorefractive keratectomy.17 Presbyopia: Presbyopia most often occurs in people over 45 when the eye loses its ability to focus on nearby objects. The lens of the eye loses its elasticity and the individual is no longer able to read, drive or perform other tasks requiring nearsightedness without the aid of glasses.18

National Eye Institute, Diagram of the Eye, ([Link] 2005) Prevent Blindness America, The Eye and How We See, ([Link] 2005) 3 Prevent Blindness America, How Often Should I have my Eyes checked? ([Link] 2005) 4 American Academy of Ophthalmology, Information From Your Eye M.D.: Sunglasses, ([Link] ntentItem/[Link]&soc=AAO&srch_typ=NAV_SERCH, 2003) 5 U.S. FDA, Contact Lens Care, ([Link] 2005) 6 Academy of Ophthalmology, Information From Your Eye M.D.: Vitamin and Mineral Supplements and Your Eyes, ([Link] ntentItem/[Link]&soc=AAO&srch_typ=NAV_SERCH, 2002) 7 National Eye Institute, Age-Related Macular Degeneration: What You Should Know, ([Link] 2005) 8 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Eye Allergy, ([Link] 2004) 9 American Optometric Association, Astigmatism, ([Link] 2006) 10 National Institutes of Health, Medical Encyclopedia: Corneal Ulcers and Infections, ([Link] 2006) 11 National Eye Institute, Cataract: What You Should Know, ([Link] 2005) 12 National Institutes of Health, Medical Encyclopedia: Conjunctivitis, ([Link] 2005) 13 National Eye Institute, Diabetic Retinopathy: What You Should Know, ([Link] 2005) 14 National Institutes of Health, Medical Encyclopedia: Dry Eyes, ([Link] 2005) 15 National Eye Institute, Glaucoma: What You Should Know, ([Link] 2006) 16 American Optometric Association, Hyperopia, ([Link] 2006) 17 American Optometric Association, Myopia, ([Link] 2006) 18 National Institutes of Health, Medical Encyclopedia: Presbyopia, ([Link] 2004)
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