The following eye conditions can lead to vision loss and blindness. They may have few or no symptoms early on. Regular eye exams are your best protection. If your eye care professional finds a problem early, there are things you can do to keep your eyesight.

Cataracts are cloudy areas in the eye’s lens causing blurred or hazy vision. Some cataracts stay small and don’t change your eyesight a lot. Others become large and reduce vision. Cataract surgery can restore good vision. It is a safe and common treatment. If you have a cataract, your eye care professional will watch for changes over time to see if you would benefit from surgery. Click here to see image.

Corneal diseases and conditions can cause redness, watery eyes, pain, problems with vision, or a halo effect of the vision (things appear to have an aura of light around them). Infection and injury are some of the things that can hurt the cornea. Some problems with the cornea are more common in older people. Treatment may be simple—for example, changing your eyeglass prescription or using eye drops. In severe cases, surgery may be needed. It generally works well and is safe.

Dry eye happens when tear glands don’t work well. You may feel itching, burning, or have some vision loss. Dry eye is more common as people get older, especially for women. Your eye care professional may tell you to use a home humidifier, special eye drops (artificial tears), or ointments to treat dry eye. In serious cases, special contact lenses may help. Click here to see image.

Glaucoma commonly results from too much fluid pressure inside the eye. If not treated, it can lead to vision loss and blindness. People with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain. You can protect yourself by having regular dilated eye exams. Glaucoma can be treated with prescription eye drops, lasers, or surgery. Click here to see image.

Retinal disorders are a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Retinal disorders that affect aging eyes include:

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. AMD can harm the sharp vision needed to see objects clearly and to do common things like driving and reading. During a dilated eye exam, your eye care professional will look for signs of AMD. There are many treatments for AMD. If you have AMD, ask if special dietary supplements could lower your chances of it getting worse. Click here to see image.

Diabetic retinopathy. This problem may occur if you have diabetes. This painless condition develops slowly and with no early warning signs. If you have diabetes, be sure to have a dilated eye exam at least once a year. Keeping your blood sugar under control can prevent diabetic retinopathy or slow its progress. Laser surgery can sometimes prevent it from getting worse. Click here to see image.

Retinal detachment. THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. When the retina separates painlessly from the back of the eye, it’s called retinal detachment. If you notice new floaters, flashes of light, and/or a dark shadow, curtain, or vale, contact your eye care professional immediately. With surgery or laser treatment, doctors often can prevent loss of vision. Click here to see image.