1. About.com
  2. Health
  3. Vision

Common Eye Problems

The eyes are vulnerable to viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. Learn about these and other treatable problems, including dry eye syndrome and computer vision.
  1. FAQs (24)

Pseudotumor Cerebri

Learn about the symptoms, causes and diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri.

Sleeping With Your Eyes Open

Learn about eyelid condition nocturnal lagophthalmos (sleeping with your eyes open).

What is nystagmus?

Learn about the eye condition nystagmus.

Eyelid Scrub

Learn how to perform an eyelid scrub.

Common Eye Problems

Learn about common eye problems including itchy eyes, blurry vision, tired eyes, floaters and age-related conditions.

Stye

A stye is a common eye problem. Learn about the causes and treatment of eye styes.

Red Eyes

If you have red eye, look out for the following warning symptoms that may be serious.

Eye Twitching

Eye twitching, or myokymia, is an involuntary eyelid muscle contraction. The exact cause of an eyelid twitch is not known. A twitch sometimes develops during times of increased stress.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Do your eyes often feel dry? Do your eyes frequently have a stinging sensation, or feel scratchy? You may have dry eye syndrome, a condition that can occur when the tear glands don't produce the correct quantity or quality of tears.

Spots and Floaters

Do you ever see spots in your vision? Do you ever see threadlike strands that resemble cobwebs? If so, you are probably noticing small particles in the fluid inside your eye. Eye doctors refer to these particles as spots and floaters.

Double Vision

Seeing double? The medical term for double vision is diplopia. Double vision occurs if the two eyes are misaligned and are aimed at two different targets.

Eye Allergies

Red, itchy, watery eyes plague many people suffering from irritating eye allergies.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is a common condition affecting the eyelids. It is a common problem in both children and adults.

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is when the retina separates from the choroid. Retinal detachment is a true eye emergency and requires immediate treatment to avoid severe vision loss and potential blindness.

Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

Learn all about vernal keratoconjunctivitis including symptoms, causes and treatment of the eyelid problem.

Scleritis

Learn about scleritis, a serious condition that affects the white portion of the eye.

Optic Neuritis

An overview of optic neuritis.

Sarcoidosis

Learn how sarcoidosis may affect your eyes.

Proptosis

Proptosis is a forward displacement of the eye in the orbit, caused by swelling of the soft tissues or bones of the orbit.

Computer Vision Syndrome

If you spend a lot of time each day in front of a computer, you are likely to experience symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS). Computer vision syndrome is a term used to describe a collection of symptoms caused by prolonged computer use.

Ocular Herpes

Learn the definition of ocular herpes.

Hypotrichosis

Learn the definition of hypotrichosis.

Eye Freckle

A choroidal nevus is simply a freckle inside the eye.

Strabismus

Strabismus is the term used to describe eyes that are not straight or properly aligned. It is a deviation of the eyes.

Face Blindness

Face blindness, or prosopagnosia, is the inability to differentiate between faces.

Share Your Eye Stye Symptoms

If you've ever had a stye, what did it feel like? Share your stye symptoms with others.

How to Avoid a Stye

If you are prone to styes, the following tips may help you avoid them.

Top 10 Causes of Red Eye

Red, bloodshot eyes -- although usually painless -- are not exactly attractive. Redness occurs when blood vessels near the surface of the eye become enlarged and dilated. If you have red eye, it is important to find out why. Red eyes have several causes. Sometimes the cause of a red eye is of little concern, but it can also be a sign of a...

Red Eye Treatment

As the name suggests, red eyes are actually red-colored eyes. The blood vessels in the white portion of the eyes are enlarged and irritated, causing the redness. Treatment of red eyes depends on the cause. Don’t hesitate to seek the advice of your eye doctor before reaching for over-the-counter eye drops. Although these eye drops are safe and effective, a red eye can sometimes be a sign of a mo…

Stop an Eye Twitch

Learn ways to control eye twitching.

Living With Astigmatism

Learn a few ways to help minimize unwanted symptoms associated with astigmatism.

Share Your Experience With Dry Eyes During Pregnancy

Share your experiences with dry eyes during pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Dry Eyes

What can you do to relieve dry eyes during pregnancy?

Corneal Ulcer Causes

Learn about the causes of corneal ulcers.

Blepharitis Diagnosis

Learn about how eye doctors diagnose blepharitis.

Pink Eye Symptoms

Learn about the symptoms of pink eye, or conjunctivitis.

Computer Vision Symptoms

If you spend a significant amount of time on a computer each day, it's wise to watch out for these symptoms of computer vision syndrome.

Eye Allergy Treatments

If your eyes are sensitive to common allergens, the following eye allergy treatments should offer some relief. Even though oral antihistamines may be used for itchy eyes, these products can dry the eyes out, producing even more annoying symptoms. Following are eight ways to treat eye allergies without resorting to medicatio…

Latisse: An FDA-approved Treatment for Longer Eyelashes

Many people are asking their eye doctors for Latisse, an FDA approved drug to increase the quality and quantity of eyelashes.

Share Your Scleritis Experiences

Tell about your experience with scleritis.

Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis (EKC)

Learn about epidemic keraconjunctivitis, a highly contagious viral eye infection.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea may increase your risk of developing serious eye conditions.

Punctal Occlusion for Dry Eyes

Punctal occlusion is a technique used frequently for treating dry eye.

Corneal Ulcers: An Overview

A corneal ulcer is an opening, sore or erosion in the cornea. If the cornea becomes inflamed due to infection or injury, an ulcer may develop. A corneal ulcer is a serious condition that must be treated promptly to avoid lasting vision problems.

Tips for the Keratoconus Patient

Precautions for the keratoconus patient.

Top 4 Reasons to Seek Emergency Care

Many eye conditions are minor and temporary. However, changes in vision should always be examined by a medical professional. These symptoms could signal an eye disease, an eye injury or a condition that may be affecting the entire body. The following four conditions require immediate attention from a doctor.

Posterior Vitreous Detachment

Posterior vitreous detachment, caused by changes in the eye's vitreous fluid, is a common is a common condition in people over age 65.

Top 7 Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye, or dry eye syndrome, is a common eye condition that causes discomfort due to lack of moisture in the eyes. Below are the top seven signs and symptoms of dry eye.

Conjunctivitis

An overview of conjunctivitis, commonly known as "pink eye."

Red Eye - Avoiding Red Eye

Readers share experiences in avoiding triggers that cause red eye.

Eye Mucus Types

Goop, eye boogers, eye gunk...whatever you call it, eye mucus is a concern for many people. Eye mucus is usually found in the corners of your eyes and tends to accumulate during sleep. You may find it difficult to describe the gunk in your eyes to your eye doctor, but characterizing the consistency of your eye mucus is important. Below are several different types of eye mucus discharge and the c…

Eye Mucus - Describe Your Eye Mucus

Describe your experiences with eye mucus.

Vision and Headache

Learn about the different types of headache associated with your vision.

Cat Scratch Disease and Your Eyes

Learn about vision and eye complications of cat scratch disease.

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus: Shingles of the Eye

Learn about how Herpes Zoster, or shingles, affects the eye.

Eye Herpes

Learn about eye herpes, or herpes simplex keratitis.

Eye Herpes

Learn about eye herpes, or herpes simplex keratitis.

Eye Herpes

Learn about eye herpes, or herpes simplex keratitis.

Trichiasis: Misdirected Eyelashes

Learn about trichiasis, or misdirected eyelashes.

Eye Irritation

Eye irritation is a common complaint. If your eyes are red and irritated, you may be wondering whether you should see your eye doctor. The truth is, eye irritation can occur for several reasons. If your eyes are red and irritated, one of the following conditions may be to blame. As always, it is best to seek the opinion of an eye care...

Eyelash Lice

Did you know that your eyelashes are vulnerable to lice infestation? Learn all about eyelash lice.

Eye Problems - Your Latest Eye Problem

Share your latest eye problem. Did your latest eye problem require medical attention?

Adies Pupil - What Is Adies Pupil

Adies Pupil - What Is Adies Pupil

Evaporative Dry Eye

Learn about one cause of dry eyes, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Fuchs Dystrophy

Learn all about Fuchs' Dystrophy.

Artificial Tears

Learn about the many different kinds of artificial tears.

Eyelid Swelling - Top Causes of Eyelid Swelling

Eyelid Swelling - Top Causes of Eyelid Swelling

Tips for Eye Allergies

Learn a few tips for dealing with eye allergies.

Eye stroke

Learn all about eye stroke.

Macular Hole

Learn all about macular hole.

Episcleritis

Learn all about episcleritis.

Eyelid Cancer

Learn about cancer of the eyelid.

Pigmentary Dispersion Syndrome

Learn all about pigmentary dispersion syndrome.

Neovascular Glaucoma

Learn about neovascular glaucoma.

Angioid Streaks

Learn all about angioid streaks, what they are and how to treat them.

Sickle Cell and Your Eyes

Learn how sickle cell disease may affect your eyes.

Asthenopia

Learn all about tired, achy eyes, a condition also known as asthenopia.

Bleeding Eye

Learn all about subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Stickler Syndrome

Learn all about Stickler Syndrome.

Discuss in my forum

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. 

A part of The New York Times Company.

We comply with the HONcode standard
for trustworthy health
information: verify here.