According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Vision loss is among the top 10 causes of disability in the U.S., and one of the most common disabling conditions in children.” Learn about some of the most common eye conditions that American adults and children experience, how they are treated, and what you can do to protect your vision.*

Common eye conditions in adults

Here is a brief overview of some of the most common eye problems that adults encounter.

• Retinal detachment is a serious eye condition involving the separation or detachment of the retina from the tissues holding it in place. Symptoms may include seeing light flashes, dark spots, or floating specks. Treatment may involve laser or surgery. Blindness can result if not treated.
• Refractive eye conditions are the most common eye issues among Americans and occur when light bends improperly as it enters the eye. Conditions include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (blurry or distorted vision at all distances). Treatment includes eyeglasses, contacts, or surgery.
• Presbyopia occurs when you cannot properly focus on a range of vision. It is a natural, age-related loss of flexibility in the eye lens, and is treated with corrective lenses.
• Dry eye happens when tear glands produce inadequate or low-quality tears. Treatment involves the use of artificial tears to lubricate the eye or plugging the tear ducts to prevent tear drainage.

Common eye diseases in children

Several eye diseases that are most commonly found in children include:

• Amblyopia. Also called “lazy eye,” this is the most common reason for visual impairment in children. It occurs when there’s a poor connection between one eye and the brain, and the brain favors the better-seeing eye.
  
• Strabismus. Strabismus is when the eyes lack coordination and cannot focus on a single image, causing them to cross or turn outward. This can lead to poor three-dimensional vision and/or amblyopia (see above).
  
• Conjunctivitis. Commonly known as “pink eye,” conjunctivitis is inflammation of the clear tissue (conjunctiva) along the inside of the eyelid that covers the white part of the eye (sclera). This condition can be highly contagious.

Caring for your eyes

“Genetic factors can play a role in many kinds of eye disease, some of which are leading causes of blindness in infants, children, and adults,” said Cleveland Clinic experts. Fortunately, they add, it’s never too late to start caring for your eye health. These are some important steps you can take.

• Attend regular visits with your eye doctor. This is important even if your vision seems fine so that any developing issues can be detected and corrected early.
• Be aware of your risk factors. Age, family disease history, ethnicity, and other factors can increase your risk of eye disease.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, keeping a healthy weight, and not smoking can lower eye disease risk.
• Protect your eyes. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses, and protective eyewear during sports or industrial projects, clean and wear contacts properly, and avoid excessive screen time from TV, gaming, phones, and other electronics.

Cleveland Clinic emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of serious eye problems to preserve vision. “If you notice any changes in your vision, see your eye care professional. Even if you don’t have noticeable changes in your vision, it’s important to have regularly scheduled eye exams. Some vision problems have no early warning signs.”

*Cleveland Clinic. (2022, January 14). Common Eye Diseases and Vision Problems. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17130-eye-diseases