Common Eye Diseases

Diagnosing eye diseases is the responsibility of a specialist; however, the patient’s access to reliable information is important on the path to recovery.

We have compiled the most common ophthalmological diseases with the aim of helping patients quickly navigate the most common eye conditions, enabling everyone to assess the severity and urgency of their own case.

For easier understanding of eye diseases, however, first take a look at the structure of the eye.

Posterior Vitreous Detachment

The vitreous gel filling most of the interior of the eyeball eventually no longer adheres to the back of the eye, suddenly collapses, and separates from the retina. This process is called posterior vitreous detachment. When this occurs, many small black dots or floating spots appear in the visual field. Early ophthalmological examination is recommended, as the possibility of retinal tear cannot be ruled out based on symptoms alone.

The disturbing floaters can later be eliminated by laser treatment of eye floaters (vitreolysis).

Retinal Tear

A retinal tear may be indicated if flashing lights or lightning-like flashes appear at the edge of the visual field and/or many small black spots appear in vision. It requires urgent laser treatment, which if left untreated leads to retinal detachment and vision loss. It cannot be distinguished from posterior vitreous detachment based on symptoms alone.

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is a condition involving sudden vision loss that requires emergency surgery. Vision loss typically begins at the periphery of the visual field, descending like a dark curtain or building up like a dark wall.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is typically a sudden-onset infectious or non-infectious disease affecting the ocular surface.

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is characteristic damage to the central vision area of the retina, which can result in distorted vision, scotomas, and consequently reduced reading ability. Dry-type macular degeneration is a slow process, while the wet type typically causes rapid deterioration and requires early treatment.

Macular Edema

Macular edema refers to swelling of the central vision area of the retina. It most commonly develops due to diabetes, circulatory disorders, or intraocular inflammation. It causes vision loss, which can become permanent without treatment.

Keratitis

Keratitis is predominantly infectious in origin and can quickly result in even permanent vision loss. Acanthamoeba infection associated with contact lens wear can lead to very serious conditions within even one day, and herpes virus-induced keratitis can affect the eye even without the presence of skin symptoms.

Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease refers to alterations in the tear film, which is most often the result of a prolonged process. It causes eye redness, occasionally blurred vision, foreign body sensation, and/or tearing.

Cataract

Cataract refers to the gradual opacification of the lens substance, which can be treated surgically. During surgery, the interior of the lens is removed, but typically the majority of its thin outer capsule is preserved, and the intraocular lens is implanted into it.

Posterior Capsular Opacification

The cells of the lens capsule preserved during cataract surgery occasionally begin to proliferate excessively. This slow process leads to thickening of the capsule and thus a reduction in its light transmission capacity. To correct this, we perform laser capsulotomy, during which we create a small opening in the lens capsule, thereby eliminating the obstacle in the path of light.

Uveitis

Inflammation affecting the interior of the eyeball is accompanied by eye redness, pain, and decreased vision; it is often associated with an underlying systemic disease.

Vitreous Haemorrhage

Vitreous haemorrhage refers to bleeding into the interior of the eyeball, which is an emergency condition involving sudden vision loss. Its most common causes are retinal tear or ophthalmological complications of diabetes.

Glaucoma

One of the most common eye diseases is glaucoma, which without treatment causes irreversible destruction of optic nerve fibers. We distinguish two main subtypes, which is also important from the perspective of urgency of care.

Among angle-closure glaucomas, acute glaucoma attack is the one that requires emergency treatment. Its symptoms include sudden blurred vision, rainbow-colored halos around lights, severe eye pain, and eye redness. In addition, other misleading symptoms may also occur, such as headache or abdominal pain. The goal of treatment is to reduce intraocular pressure, which can be definitively achieved through laser iridotomy. The procedure can also be used preventively in patients with predisposition.

Open-angle glaucoma is a slow-progressing disease that leads to gradual visual field loss. Treatment is possible with drops, surgery, or laser. During micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT), we stimulate the angle without tissue damage, after which aqueous humor outflow increases and intraocular pressure decreases. Among laser treatments for glaucoma, micropulse laser trabeculoplasty is the modern alternative to traditional laser treatments (ALT, SLT).