Articles

Retinal vein occlusion is when a vein in your retina is blocked. This causes blurry vision or vision loss. It is treated with medication injections or laser surgery. Taking care of health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure can help prevent this eye condition. If you have any questions about

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) describes a group of eye problems that affect how your eye sees light. There is treatment for RP due to RPE65 genetic defect. Research is ongoing for other forms of RP. See your ophthalmologist to get appropriate genetics testing. People with low vision from RP can learn to

Retinoblastoma is cancer of the eye that begins in the retina. It can eventually spread to other parts of the body. Retinoblastoma usually affects young children, though it can sometimes occur in adults. Children with retinoblastoma may have inherited a gene from their parents that causes this disease.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye disease in some premature babies. It causes unwanted blood vessels to grow on the baby’s retina. These blood vessels can cause serious eye and vision problems later. An ophthalmologist can look for ROP in premature infants, though it may not be found until

Rosacea is an ongoing (chronic) skin disease that causes your face to flush red. If your eyes are affected, they can be red and watery, and feel irritated and painful. Treating the eye symptoms of rosacea may include using steroid eye drops and ointments to reduce redness and swelling. Antibiotics might

Scleritis is inflammation (redness, swelling, pain) of the white part of the eye. Scleritis is often linked to an autoimmune disease and can lead to vision loss. It needs to be treated as soon as it is diagnosed. Treatment includes pills for inflammation or pain, immunosuppressive drugs, antibiotics

Older adults are more likely to develop certain eye problems that steal vision. Regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist are important to detect, manage, or treat these problems. People age 65 and older should have eye exams every 1–2 years, or as recommended by an ophthalmologist. At any age, if

Shingles is caused by the herpes zoster virus. It can cause eye problems with symptoms such as a rash on the eyelids, “pink eye”, cornea problems, blurry vision, pain and swelling inside the eye. Treatment is focused on relieving the rash, swelling and pain. Placing cool, moist compresses over your

Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects your eyes, mouth, and your joints. Symptoms include dry eyes, blurry vision, light sensitivity, dry mouth, and pain in your joints. To diagnose Sjögren’s syndrome, your ophthalmologist may examine your tears, your eyelids, and order blood

Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a newer type of refractive surgery. With this outpatient procedure, a laser is used to create a disc of corneal tissue. The disc is removed to reshape your cornea and improve how light rays are focused in the eye. SMILE is FDA-approved to treat mild nearsightedness

Smoking tobacco (cigarettes, cigars or pipes) can make eye problems worse. Glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and dry eye are some of these problems. Also, a baby’s eyes can be affected if the mother smokes during pregnancy. Quitting smoking can help save your vision.

Stargardt disease is an inherited eye disease. It is a form of juvenile macular dystrophy that develops in children, teenagers and young adults. The disease causes blurry central vision, and makes colors appear less bright. While Stargardt disease cannot be treated and cured currently, there are several

Corticosteroid medicines are often known as steroids. They treat inflammation affecting the eye. They reduce swelling, pain, and redness. Your ophthalmologist uses corticosteroid tablets to treat conditions like uveitis, Graves’ disease, and giant cell arteritis. Drug interactions with steroids can

Stickler syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes joint, hearing, and vision problems. Children with Stickler syndrome can develop many eye problems at an early age. These problems include severe nearsightedness, cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment. See an ophthalmologist immediately if someone

Strabismus is when the eyeballs are not lined up properly and they point in different directions. Strabismus affects vision, since both eyes must aim at the same spot together to see properly. It is very important for infants and children with strabismus to be treated. This is because a child with strabismus