Common Eye Conditions
Our sight is our most precious sense and it is estimated that four-fifths of our sensory input comes to us through our eyes. We use them every day, to recognise the face of a friend, to read facts in a book, to enjoy the colours of flowers and lots more, all automatically and without any conscious effort.
How the eye works
Light reflected off objects around you enters the eye through its front window, the cornea which, with the lens, focuses the light through the pupil (the black central hole in the iris) onto the retina. The focussed image of the outside world so formed is captured by millions of light-sensitive receptors, the rods and cones, which convert it into nerve signals that are transmitted through the optic nerve to the sight areas of the brain for decoding into the sensation of sight. In fact the eye works very much like a modern digital video camera, the iris controlling the amount of light reaching the retina, the cornea and lens focussing the image and the retina capturing it. The signals from the retina are then processed along their path and in the (large) part of the brain to which they are sent, where the picture is perceived.
Common Eye Conditions
Sight loss is one of the commonest causes of disability in the world. In Britain, over 2 million people cannot see well enough to read normal print. Worldwide, there are estimated to be over 50 million visually impaired people. There are many misconceptions about blindness; we hope that the information factsheets found in the sections below under each eye condition will dispel some of them. Click on the name of each eye condition to find out more information.
- Macular Degeneration
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Visual Hallucinations - Charles Bonnet Syndrome
- Hemianopia
Disclaimer of Medical Liability
Whilst we have taken great care to gather correct information and to keep it current, we cannot guarantee its accuracy and completeness.
The information provided should never be considered a substitute for professional health care by a qualified doctor or other health care professional, which will be tailored to the patient's individual circumstances. Henshaws cannot take responsibility if you rely on this information alone.