We previously discussed this month’s solar eclipse and the importance of taking the proper measures to look at it safely. Staring directly at an eclipse can cause significant eye damage and potentially lead to solar retinopathy, which we’ll take a closer look at. Solar retinopathy is caused when harmful radiation from the sun enters the ... read more
The macula is an area located in the center of the retina. Should this area fill with excess fluid, it may cause the macula to swell and become thicker. This fluid is generally caused by blood vessels that have become damaged, resulting in what’s called a macular edema. Macular edemas are often caused by diabetic ... read more
Last time we discussed the importance of paying close attention to the appearance of eye floaters. Also going by the Latin phrasemuscae volitante, which literally translates to “hovering flies”, these floaters happen when microscopic debris leaks into the eye. When the eye’s gel-like substance called the vitreous humor breaks off, these drops may cause retina ... read more
Chances are you probably visit your doctor at least once a year to check your health, but how often are you paying your eye doctor a visit? Eye diseases may be initially asymptomatic and it's critical to care for eye related problems before symptoms start, which may be initially ignored. Untreated eye problems can rapidly lead to major issues, causing visual impairments. Additionally, an eye health ... read more
To understand how integral the retina is towards sight, think of the eye as the camera and the retina its film, or the memory card if you want to use a modern example. Within the retina are special cells called photoreceptors which consist of rods and cones. The rods are the most sensitive of the ... read more
Next month, a solar eclipse will be visible across North America, barring unforeseen bad weather conditions. If you aren’t already aware, however, staring directly at an eclipse is highly unsafe, even if it’s a partial eclipse. The retina is a highly sensitive, ultra-thin layer of nerve tissue that is extremely delicate and very much susceptible ... read more
Turn to look at a blank wall and you may notice those shadowy specks near the edge of your vision, perhaps best known as eye floaters. Eye floaters can happen to anyone as they are part of the vitreous, the jelly-like substance nestled between the lens and retina. These floaters happen when the vitreous pulls ... read more
The retina is among the many important parts of the eye. It is the light sensitive, innermost tissue layer that works together with the eye’s optics such as the lens and cornea to create the various images we see in our everyday lives. Despite being a thin layer of tissue, there is a fascinatingly intricate process involved in how ... read more
Low vision occurs when a person has lost a certain amount of their eyesight; it is caused by diseases. This reduction in eyesight makes it harder or even impossible to complete normal tasks. Over ten million Americans have a type of visual impairment, and the major cause of low vision is typically diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, ... read more
The curiously named vitreous humor is a gel-like substance found in the eye, between the lens and the retina. The vitreous takes up about two-thirds of eye volume. Should blood leak into the vitreous because of retina blood vessel damage or blockage, it becomes what’s called a vitreous hemorrhage. A person may suffer blurred vision ... read more
