The retina is a thin, light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. When a retinal detachment occurs, this layer is lifted up and peeled away from the back of the eye. It can occur in the whole eye (or eyes), or just part of the eye, so it appears as if someone has pulled […]

Now that summer has officially arrived, it’s important to pay particular attention to the risks of ultraviolet (UV) light. While it is true that most people routinely use sunblock to reduce the risks of skin cancer, not too many realize that your eyes are also susceptible to similar damage from UV rays … and very […]

Did you know diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States? The disease weakens blood vessels, causing them to leak fluid into the retina. The resulting damage causes blurry, distorted vision and, in some cases, blindness.

A stye (also known as a hordeolum) is simply an infection or inflammation of one of the glands that lies along the edge of the eyelid. Eye styes appear as painful red lumps. They are not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person. Usually, they clear up on their own in about a […]

Have you ever had trouble seeing while driving at night? Do you strain to see what’s happening on the big screen in a movie theater? You may be suffering from night blindness, also known as nyctalopia. Night blindness, simply put, is the inability or reduced ability to see clearly at night and in low light […]

Some people (you may be one of them) find it difficult to keep their eyes open in brightly lit settings, including sunlight, fluorescent light, and incandescent light. The uncontrollable desire to squint or close your eyes, often accompanied by headaches, is known as photophobia — sensitivity to light.

This time, you’ve done it. You bought the perfect gift for your daughter or son. This holiday season, you’re going to win the “Parent of the Year” award, because you’ve kept up with the latest trends in the electronic gaming industry and bought your child that one video game he or she has wanted for […]

A lot of what makes a person a person (or arguably ALL of what makes a person a person) can be attributed to one’s DNA. Your genes are how you inherited your widow’s peak, your eye color, your charming smile, and to an extent, your cunning wit. But in many cases, you can also blame […]

While folks further north in the country may think we have it easy, midwest winters can be harsh. If you’ve lived here for a while, you know the weather can be unpredictable with heavy snow on days calling for light snow, and light snow falling on days that were supposed to be clear! Whether you’re […]

It’s estimated that more than 50 percent of Americans over the age of 18 consume coffee on a daily basis. Experts have performed numerous studies on the effects of coffee — and, consequently, caffeine — on the human body. As a result, one question that has been raised is, “Is the caffeine in coffee linked […]

According to the National Institutes of Health, cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in the world, affecting more than 22 million individuals in America alone. More than half of all people in the U.S. will experience some form of cataracts, or undergo cataract surgery by age 80. To put the statistics succinctly, there […]

Plainly speaking, people are generally familiar with the external structure of the human eye: a white sphere with a colored ring and a dark hole in the center. Of course, there’s more to the eye than that, but that’s basically what you see on the surface level. One telltale sign of a serious condition, which […]

Hormonal fluctuations as well as changes in metabolism, circulation, and fluid retention that are a part of pregnancy can cause numerous unexpected changes in your body. Your eyes and your vision are no exception. Many of these changes are merely temporary, and will return to normal after you deliver your child. On the other hand, […]

Diabetes mellitus, more commonly known simply as diabetes, is a classification of metabolic diseases that affect an afflicted individual’s blood sugar levels over a prolonged duration. Long-term complications can involve chronic kidney failure, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Many people with diabetes are unaware that they have an increased risk of developing a variety of vision […]

Peripheral vision is the wide set of your eyesight that allows you to see objects around you that aren’t directly in your line of focus. While these objects may not be completely clear, they are still visible enough for you to react to anything that may cause you harm or otherwise demand your attention. In […]