There are many eye disorders that affect a person’s health and well-being that are less known due to their rarity, but also their clinical terms and specific role in harming or hindering the eyes. Here are some of these eye health disorders and how they affect the eyes:
Achromatopsia
Achromatopsia is a genetic visual disorder that involves a person having decreased vision, severe sensitivity to light, and the inability to see color. It affects 1 in 33,000 people and is sometimes called “Day Blindness.” Dark tinted lenses help for bright sunny spaces because their retinas lack photo-receptors.
Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia
Anophthalmia and microphthalmia are often mistaken as the same disorder, but microphthalmia is actually when the eyes are very small and anophthalmia is when one or both eyes is not present and did not develop while in the womb.
These are rare birth defects caused by genetic mutation and irregular chromosomes. There may also be a link with drugs and pesticide exposure, but it is hard to say as it’s very much a case-to-case disorder. Anophthamia and microphthalmia are untreatable, but there is an opportunity for children to get treated for the physical abnormalities. Prosthetic eyes can be fitted and customized for the patient, as well as structures to help with facial support and encouraging the eye socket to expand.
Best’s Disease
Best’s disease is an eye health disorder that plays a role in deteriorating the macula of your eye. Vision gets progressively worse as the patient ages. There will be no full loss of sight and no pain experienced with the disorder, but the patient’s central vision will be blurry and distorted, often leading to understandable frustration among sufferers. Side vision stays healthy and untouched by the disorder.
The symptoms of Best’s disease are not clear-cut, but patients begin to notice their central vision failing to pick up details, or sudden blurring or waves for objects they know are shaped with clear lines (for example, a yellow line on the highway.)
Choroideremia
Choroideremia is an eye health disorder involving progressive and complete vision loss. It’s a rare disease but is mostly seen in males. It starts with night blindness and moves on to more severe vision difficulties such as tunnel vision and an ongoing loss of retinal cells and blood vessels.
The progression rate is different for each case, but it is inevitable that the patient will lose their site altogether in their adult years. Choroideremia accounts for approximately 4 percent of all blindness.
De Morsier’s Syndrome
De Morsier’s syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes the underdevelopment of the optic nerves, which send messages from the eyes to the brain. With damaged optic nerves the patient will have impaired vision in one or both eyes and may cause the person to have other eye abnormalities and less muscle control over their eyes. Other accompanying parts of De Morsier’s Syndrome are midline brain problems as well as pituitary gland damage. The patient may have a combination of these issues; all three or just one.
Find Out More and Ask Questions
Everyone’s eyes are unique and it’s good to ask medical professionals such as the eye specialists at Advanced Eye Medical about how to keep your eyes strong, as well as eye infection and disease prevention.
Though many severe eye disorders are genetic, because they are progressive over time, it’s good to keep an eye out for any changes or issues with your eyes and communicate with a professional.