Common Eye Problems

The eye, like most all other parts of the body, is subject to a variety of conditions that fall under the following categories: infection (eg, caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi), inflammation, injury (trauma), heredity, aging changes, and degeneration.

While most of us during our lifetime may only suffer from a mild infection or inflammation in the eye(s), each part of the eye is subject to each of these categories of problems and, many times, several parts of the eye(s) are involved. For example, pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an eye infection, usually caused by viruses, that is common in children but can affect people of all ages. Contact lens wearers can get inflammation of the eye called contact lens solution toxicity due to sensitivity to the contact lens solution. A corneal abrasion (scratch of the cornea) is the result of injury to the cornea and, depending on the type of injury, may result in recurrent corneal erosion. Blepharitis is an inflammatory condition that can affect the upper eyelid(s), the lower eyelid(s), and even the conjunctiva (surface of the eye). Aging changes in the eye result in cataracts, flashes and floaters, and presbyopia.

Click any of the images of eye conditions below to learn more about the most common types of eye problems, such as cataracts, conjunctivitis, and corneal abrasion.

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