Select a letter from the alphabet below to find the Eye Disease or select "All" to view the entire list of diseases.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N
O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z - All

O

Ocular Hypertension

Description:Ocular hypertension is an increase in the pressure in your eyes that is above the range considered normal with no detectable changes in vision or damage to the structure of your eyes. The term ocular hypertension is used to distinguish people with elevated pressure from those with glaucoma, a serious eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.

Cause:Ocular hypertension can occur in people of all ages, but it occurs more frequently in African Americans, those over age 40 and those with family histories of ocular hypertension and/or glaucoma. It is also more common in those who are very nearsighted or who have diabetes.Not all people with ocular hypertension will develop glaucoma. However, there is an increased risk of glaucoma among those with ocular hypertension, so regular optometric examinations are essential to your overall eye health.

Treatment:There is no cure for ocular hypertension, however, careful monitoring and treatment, when indicated, can decrease the risk of damage to your eyes.

Ophthalmoplegia

Description:Ophthalmoplegia is a paralysis or weakness of one or more of the muscles that control eye movement.

Cause:The condition can be caused by any of several neurologic disorders. It may be myopathic, meaning that the muscles controlling eye movement are directly involved, or neurogenic, meaning that the nerve pathways controlling eye muscles are affected. Diseases associated with ophthalmoplegia are ocular myopathy, which affects muscles, and internuclear ophthalmoplegia, a disorder caused by multiple sclerosis, a disease which affects nerves. Because the eyes do not move together in ophthalmoplegia, patients may complain of double vision. Double vision is especially troublesome if the ophthalmoplegia comes on suddenly or affects each eye differently. Because ophthalmoplegia is caused by another, underlying disease, it is often associated with other neurologic symptoms, including limb weakness, lack of coordination, and numbness.

Treatment:There are no specific cures for ocular myopathy or progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Symptoms of ophthalmoplegia can be relieved by mechanical treatment. Surgical procedures can lift drooping eyelids or a patch over one eye can be used to relieve double vision. Because there is no blink response, a surgically lifted eyelid exposes the cornea of the eye so that it may become dry or be scratched. These complications must be avoided by using artificial tears and wearing eyepatches at night.

Optic Neuritis

Description:Optic neuritis refers to swelling or inflammation of the optic nerve. The optic nerve allows you to see by carrying images from your retina to your brain. The optic nerve is like a cable of electrical wires or nerve fibers. Each wire carries a part of the visual information to the brain. If some or all of the nerve fibers become inflamed and do not function properly, vision becomes blurred. With optic neuritis, the optic nerve becomes swollen and the nerve fibers do not work properly. Vision can range from near normal to very poor depending on the number of inflamed nerve fibers.

Cause:It is often associated with diseases causing demyelination (a loss of the protective myelin layer of the the nerve) of the optic nerve, but sometimes the cause is unknown. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the disease most often associated with optic neuritis. It is not uncommon to have an episode of optic neuritis prior to being diagnosed with MS. In fact, optic neuritis is often the initial sign of MS. Some people, especially children, develop optic neuritis following a viral illness such as mumps, measles or a cold. In others, optic neuritis may occur as a sign of a neurologic disease affecting nerves in various parts of the body.

Treatment:Treating patients with intravenous steroid medication (but not oral steroids) reduces the risk of developing MS later on. This finding is very significant since approximately 50% of those who experience an initial occurrence of optic neuritis will develop MS. While this treatment has little if any impact on vision, it is important for overall health. Optic neuritis characteristically improves over a period of days to weeks. For some, a complete recovery may take months.

Optic Neuropathy

Description:A potentially visually devastating disease that occurs in the middle aged and the elderly. This condition is often referred to as a stroke of the optic nerve, and it usually begins suddenly with little warning in one eye, but frequently progresses to the other eye over time.

Cause:Caused by an acute impairment to the circulation of the arteries supplying the optic nerve. This transient poor circulation occurs due to a temporary fall in blood pressure to the point that there is not enough blood pressure to fully perfuse the vessels supplying the optic nerve. There are many mechanisms for this fall in blood pressure.

Treatment:Currently, there are limited treatments that can be offered to directly treat the optic nerve. Many doctors place the patient on drugs that lower the intraocular pressure, and that may provide some neuro-protection to the nerve. Lowering intraocular pressure may improve the blood flow to and through the optic nerve.

Orbital Cellulitis

Description:Orbital Cellulitis most often presents with symptoms similar to preseptal cellulits such as red and swollen eyelids, but also includes pain, blurred or double vision, fever, headache, and a red eye.

Cause:Orbital cellulitis is a dangerous infection with potentially serious complications. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection from the sinuses (ethmoid or para-nasal). Other causes are a stye on the eyelid, recent trauma to the eyelid including bug bites, or a foreign object.

Treatment:Optimal management involves immediate consultation with a primary care physician, pediatrician, or infectious disease specialist. Hospitalization is usually required. Treatment consists of IV fluids with antibiotics. Surgical drainage of an abscess may be necessary. These infections can progress rapidly, and they must be carefully followed every few hours.