Common Eye Conditions

Albinism: Inherited condition resulting in decreased pigment which causes abnormal optic nerve development. Nystagmus (see below) and refractive errors are also often present with this condition. In addition to a decreased visual acuity, children with albinism may be sensitive to light. Tinted lenses can relieve light sensitivity and glasses or low vision aids can help maximize vision.

http://albinism.med.umn.edu/facts.htm

http://www.albinism.org/publications/what_is_albinism.html

http://www.albinism.org.uk/frameset.html

Alström Syndrome: Eye and heart problems are often the first symptoms to appear. During the first few weeks of life a number of babies collapse with congenital heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Early treatment is often successful and babies appear to recover. Lifelong monitoring of the child's heart is now considered essential. A number of young people develop the dilated cardiomyopathy during their teens and the outcome is not usually as good.

Also during the first few weeks of life it becomes evident that the baby has an intense dislike of bright lights (photophobia) and that the babies eyes appear to wobble (nystagmus). Most Alström Syndrome children will have severe sight loss and are registered blind.

http://www.alstrom.org.uk/medical/medical.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001665.htm 

http://www.alstrom.org/

Amblyopia (“lazy eye”): The suppression of the image of one eye usually due to that eye having a significantly poorer acuity or being turned in/out. Children with amblyopia can have some functional field loss and poor or absent depth perception. Patching of the stronger eye and/or the use of glasses may be prescribed.

http://www.strabismus.org/amblyopia_lazy_eye.html

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/amblyopia/

Aniridia: This is a rare genetic eye condition causing incomplete formation of the iris. It is present at birth. Aniridia causes loss of vision in both eyes.

http://www.aniridia.org/

http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/anomalies/aniridia.htm

Best disease, also known as vitelliform macular dystrophy, is a hereditary form of progressive macular dystrophy first identified in 1905.

http://www.best.org.il/

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_rnib003637.hcsp

 

Cataracts: Opacity or cloudiness of the lens. Because light cannot pass through the lens, vision is affected. Some types of cataracts progressively worsen, while others remain unchanged. Cataracts can be found in one eye (unilateral) or both eyes (bilateral). Children with cataracts may have reduced visual acuity, blurred vision, poor colour vision, light sensitivity, or nystagmus.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_rnib003640.hcsp

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataracts.htm

 

Coats’ disease: also known as Exudative Retinitis, is a progressive condition of the retinal capillaries which occurs in children and young adults, usually males. Commencing typically during the first decade of life, it is gradual in progress and affects central vision.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_rnib003642.hcsp

http://www.coatsdisease.org/index.html

 

Coloboma: A birth defect which causes a cleft in the pupil, iris, lens, retina, choroid, or optic nerve. It can result in reduced acuity and field loss if the damage extends to the retina.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_rnib003643.hcsp

http://www.cafamily.org.uk/Direct/c51.html

Corneal dystrophie: this is a relatively rare eye condition and most tend to occur in the first few decades of life. The exception is Fuchs’ Dystrophy, which appears much later. Most run in families and if a corneal dystrophy is discovered in one family member, then all other adult family members should be examined.

http://www.eye-care.org.uk/item_view.php?item_id=72

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/924617812.html

Cortical Visual Impairment: Unlike refractive errors and structural impairments, cortical visual impairment is not caused by any condition of the eye. Rather, it is due to damage to the visual cortex of the brain or the visual pathways which results in the brain not adequately receiving or interpreting visual information.
Children with cortical visual impairment often also have cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, and developmental delays as a result of the damage to the brain. They may exhibit inattention to visual stimuli, preference for touch over vision when exploring objects, and difficulty visually discriminating objects that are placed close together or in front of a visually complex background. Because this visual impairment is due to the neurological processing of visual information, visual performance may fluctuate slightly or significantly from day to day, or even from moment to moment depending upon the environment and the seizure activity, motor position, general health, and mood of the child.

http://www.blindbabies.org/factsheet_cvi.htm

http://www.aph.org/cvi/define.html

Glaucoma: Increased pressure in the eye due to a blockage of the normal flow of fluid in the eye. The vision of children with glaucoma can fluctuate based on changes in pressure. A child with glaucoma may also have peripheral field loss, poor night vision, and light sensitivity. If not treated, damage to the optic nerve can result.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/glaucoma_overview/article_em.htm

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_rnib003655.hcsp

Light Sensitivity - Photophobia: The eye needs light to work. Sometimes people can have problems with bright light. This can happen for a number of reasons. This information describes some of the reasons why people may have problems with light and also discusses some solutions to help people with light sensitivity.

http://www.eye-care.org.uk/item_view.php?item_id=97&content_id=4

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/lightsensitive.htm

 

Nystagmus: Involuntary movement of the eye. This can be horizontal, vertical, circular or mixed. Because the eyes are moving, a child with nystagmus has difficulty maintaining fixation on objects resulting in reduced visual acuity and fatigue. Nystagmus can be minimized by turning the head or eyes in a certain position, called the “null point.” The null point differs from person to person, but is often discovered by the child.

http://www.nystagmusnet.org/Info.htm

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40000738/

Optic Nerve Atrophy: Damage or degeneration to the optic nerve which carries visual signals to the brain. Vision loss will be dependent on the amount of damage, but may include blurred vision, poor colour and night vision, and light sensitivity.

http://www.blindbabies.org/factsheet_ona.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001622.htm

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia: Underdevelopment of the optic nerve in utero, resulting in a small optic nerve and visual impairment. The degree of visual impairment varies significantly but there is usually an acuity loss. Optic nerve hypoplasia may be associated with other conditions.

http://www.blindbabies.org/factsheet_onh.htm

http://www.onesmallvoicefoundation.org/whatisonh.html

Peters Anomaly: was first described in 1906 by a German Ophthalmologist, Dr Alfred Peters. The anomaly affects the eyes of people of both genders and from all ethnic groups. Peters anomaly is a developmental error of early pregnancy (10-16 weeks).

http://www.cafamily.org.uk/Direct/p19.html

http://www.emedicine.com/oph/topic112.htm

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP): a hereditary, degenerative condition of the retina which results in loss of peripheral vision or “tunnel vision”. Initially starts with difficulty in seeing in dimly lit settings and progresses to a significant visual impairment.

http://www.brps.org.uk/White/W_Guide.html

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_rnib003662.hcsp

Retinoblastoma: A cancerous tumour of the retina which requires vigorous treatment of all tumours through laser, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. Progression of retinoblastoma may result in enucleation (removal) of the eye. If one eye is removed, the child will not have depth perception.

http://www.chect.org.uk/page.php?id=8&s=0

http://www.retinoblastoma.net/whatisrb.html

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP): Disruption in the normal development of blood vessels of the retina in premature infants which can result in scarring and detachment of the retina. Children with ROP may have a decreased visual acuity and refractive errors.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_rnib003663.hcsp

http://www.schepens.com/retinopathy_of_prematurity.htm

Strabismus: A muscle imbalance resulting in the inability of both eyes to look directly at an object at the same time. Types of strabismus include: esotropia (an inward turn), exotropia (an outward turn), hypertropia (an upward turn), and hypotropia (a downward turn).

http://www.strabismus.org/

http://www.preventblindness.org/children/strabismusFAQ.html

Stargardt Macular Dystrophy: this is an inherited condition that affects the macula; an area of the central retina. Conditions involving the macula affect central vision. Although there may be considerable sight loss, in some cases to levels where registration would be offered, total loss of sight is rare.

 http://www.cafamily.org.uk/Direct/s52.html

 
http://www.maculardegeneration.org/juv2.html

Uveitis: Specifically refers to inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, termed the "uvea" but in common usage may refer to any inflammatory process involving the interior of the eye.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_rnib003667.hcsp

 
http://www.uveitis.net/

Refractive Errors

Myopia (Nearsightedness): The image of distant objects is not focused on the retina but rather in front of it, making it appear blurry. The child can see objects that are near but not at a distance. Myopia can result from an elongated eyeball, a lens that is too strong, or a cornea that is excessively curved.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/myopia.htm 

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_rnib003657.hcsp

 

Hyperopia (Farsightedness): The focusing point is behind the retina resulting in straining to focus correctly, particularly at close distances. Therefore the child can see well at a distance but not at near. Hyperopia can result from shortness of the eyeball, a lens that is weak, or a cornea that is relatively flat.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/hyperopia.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001020.htm

 

Astigmatism: A cylindrical curvature of the cornea which prevents light rays from focusing on one point on the retina. The result is both near and far objects may appear blurry. Astigmatism often occurs in combination with myopia and hyperopia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/astigmatism2.shtml

http://www.sortit.org.uk/eyecond_astigmatism.htm#what