Insights

Certain eye diseases and conditions may occur with higher incidence in some population groups. Race, gender, family history, or age may place a person at higher risk for vision-impairing or vision-threatening disorders. These individuals at higher risk for eye disease should get a dilated eye examination by an optometrist to detect signs of these conditions and to prevent permanent damage.

VIDEO: Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Description: Video illustration of changes in the eye associated with AMD combined with a vision simulation. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in older Americans. It affects the retina, the light sensitive layer of the eye. As yellowish deposits form under the retina, they can result in distortion and gradual blurring of vision. This is called "dry AMD." The second type, called "wet AMD" can lead to bleeding and more rapid vision loss. The most common form is the dry type, but as more and larger deposits develop under the retina, the risk of developing the wet type increases.

VIDEO: A child with amblyopia
Description: A child with amblyopia is sending unequal signals from each eye to the brain. As shown in this animation, neuro-electrical signals travel along pathways from the eye to the brain. The unaffected right eye is sending strong signals. The eye with amblyopia, the left eye, is sending fewer neuro-electrical signals. If untreated, the pathways through which these signals travel may weaken and not develop properly, damaging the child’s vision.

Placing a patch over the unaffected eye for several weeks will stimulate and strengthen the signals from the eye with amblyopia leading to more normal nerve function in the brain, which improves vision in that eye.

VIDEO: Diabetic Eye Disease
Stresses the importance of annual dilated eye examinations for people with diabetes and that diabetes-related vision loss can be prevented.

VIDEO: Glaucoma
Targeted to people at increased risk for glaucoma, which includes Blacks over age 40 and everyone over age 60. Encourages dilated eye examinations as a way of preventing vision loss from glaucoma.

VIDEO: Video illustration of retinopathy of prematurity ROP
Description: Video illustration of retinopathy of prematurity ROP: ROP develops when normal blood vessel growth stops in the retina, nerve tissue that lines the back of the eye. In the worst situation, the normal blood vessels are replaced by abnormal vessels, which then may spread throughout the retina and into the center of the eye (vitreous). The scarring and bleeding may lead to retinal detachment, resulting in severe vision loss.