All Eye Conditions & Diseases

An eye condition is a general term for any medical condition of the eye that requires treatment or immediate assistance from an eye care professional. Here’s the comprehensive eye conditions list that also includes common eye diseases, infections, injuries and more.

Eye Conditions

An eye condition is an abnormality affecting the structure of the eye or the visual system that can be acute or chronic and may not always indicate an underlying disease. They are often associated with an individual’s lifestyle and are temporary functional issues. One of the most common eye conditions is refractive errors.

Astigmatism – Astigmatism is a refractive error wherein the lens or the cornea of the eye is more curved than it should be, resulting in light focusing on multiple points through the retina. It is an ocular focusing disorder that distorts vision.
Myopia – Also referred to as nearsightedness or short-sightedness, myopia is a refractive error that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects remain visibly clear. For instance, difficulty in recognising road signs from a distance.
Hyperopia – Also referred to as farsightedness or long-sightedness, hyperopia is a refractive error that causes close objects to appear blurry while distant objects are visibly clearer. For instance, difficulty in working at a laptop or reading a book.
Presbyopia – Presbyopia is an age-related condition that typically develops after the age of 40, wherein the eyes lose the ability to focus on nearby objects because the natural lens in the eye loses its flexibility and becomes more rigid with age.
Dry eye syndrome – Abbreviated as DES, dry eyes is a condition in which the eyes lack adequate lubrication because either they are not producing enough tears or the tears dry out too quickly. Dry eyes are often the cause of redness, irritation, itchiness and blurry vision.

Eye floaters & flashes – An eye condition in which little lines, specks, webs or dots seem to float in the vision, especially against a plain background or an object. Flashes are bright sparks of light seen in your visual field. Although they are often harmless and go away over time, a sudden increase in them can be a possible sign of retinal detachment. It is advised to seek urgent clinical care from an eye care professional.

Heterochromia – Occurring in less than 1% of the global population, heterochromia is a harmless eye condition in which the colour of both eyes is different, as opposed to the common phenomenon of both eyes being of the same colour.
Nystagmus – Nystagmus is an involuntary condition in which there are rapid eye movements horizontally, vertically and in circular direction, resulting in shaky or blurry vision and the lack of depth perception.
Ptosis – Also known as blepharoptosis, ptosis is a condition in which the upper eyelid droops or sags over the eye, obstructing vision and causing fatigue. Droopy eyelids are mostly caused by ageing as the muscle (levator muscle) responsible for lifting the eyelid weakens.
Amblyopia – Also referred to as lazy eye, it is a vision development disorder that largely affects infants and children. This condition happens when vision in one eye significantly reduces in comparison to the other because the brain cannot interpret signals from the other eye.
Strabismus – Commonly referred to as squint, strabismus is the misalignment of the eyes where they fail to work together, as one eye is not focused in the same direction as the other eye, leading it to turn upward, downward, inward or outward.
Ocular migraine – Also called retinal migraine, this eye condition causes temporary, partial or complete vision loss in one eye. Although this migraine typically lasts 10 to 20 minutes, it may occasionally persist for up to an hour.
Computer vision syndrome – Also known as digital eye strain, CVS is a common eye condition that affects individuals who spend an excessive amount of time on digital screens. It can cause headache, eye irritation and blurred or double vision.

Eye Diseases

Eye diseases are medical or progressive disorders which are often chronic and involve functional or structural deterioration of the eye. They usually require ongoing treatment to prevent vision loss.

Glaucoma – Referred to as the ‘silent thief of sight’, glaucoma is an eye disease that stealthily causes harm to the eyes before resulting in permanent vision loss. It is caused by the high pressure of fluid that accumulates over time inside the eye, causing damage to the optic nerve.
Cataracts – Cataracts is primarily an age-related eye disease in which the natural lens of the eye, which is normally clear, becomes opaque due to the buildup of protein, obstructing light focusing through the lens to the retina and leading to distorted or blurry vision.
Macular degeneration – An age-related eye disease wherein the central part of the retina is affected in individuals over 50 years. AMD is a common progressive disorder that causes blurred or distorted central vision due to damage to the macula.
Diabetic retinopathy – Caused by high blood sugar (diabetes), diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye disease that damages light-sensitive tissues in the retina, leading to distorted vision, eye floaters, poor night vision, empty or dark areas in vision and even vision loss.
Retinal detachment – Requiring immediate medical assistance, retinal detachment is an eye disease in which the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina) becomes loose and detaches from its usual position, adversely affecting the vision. It is considered an ocular emergency.
Corneal diseases – A variety of eye conditions that affect the transparent window at the front of the eye (cornea). Keratitis, corneal dystrophies such as keratoconus, corneal ulcer, pterygium, ocular herpes and corneal ectasia are some of the common corneal diseases.
Low vision – Low vision is referred to as permanent visual impairment that cannot be corrected with contact lenses, prescription glasses, medication or surgery, interfering with an individual’s daily chores.
Colour blindness – Also known as colour vision deficiency, colour blindness is a primarily genetic condition in which the eyes are unable to distinguish between certain colours, as the light-sensitive cells in the retina fail to function properly.

Eye Infections & Inflammatory Conditions

Caused by bacteria, viruses or other pathogens, an eye infection is a biological eye condition that is usually acute and sudden. It occurs when microorganisms invade the eye’s tissues.

Eye allergies – Also referred to as allergic conjunctivitis, eye allergies are mainly triggered by pollen, dust mites, pet dander and other potential irritants. Common symptoms include red, irritated, itchy, watery and swollen eyes, with a burning sensation at times.
Conjunctivitis – Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is when there is inflammation in the conjunctiva, a transparent membrane of the eye. There are many forms of conjunctivitis that can cause redness, burning, itching and discharge, which often last for a week or two.
Blepharitis – It is an inflammation of the eyelids affecting the area of eyelashes, presenting dandruff-like flakes. It can occur when the glands located on the eyelids become blocked. Common symptoms include red, swollen, itchy eyes and sticky eyelids upon waking.
Stye – A stye is a painful, pus-filled lump on either the edge or inside of the eyelid. This bacterial infection occurs when a blocked oil gland anywhere near the eyelashes gets infected. It is a common infection that usually lasts for a few days to a week.
Orbital cellulitis – Orbital cellulitis is a serious bacterial eye infection wherein the tissues around the eye or behind the eye get inflamed, causing redness, swelling and pain in the eyes and the surrounding area. If not addressed timely, it can also lead to vision loss. This condition requires immediate clinical attention.

Eye Injuries

Eye injuries are mechanical or chemical in nature, caused by physical trauma, foreign bodies or chemicals. They are mostly sudden and acute, requiring immediate medical attention.

Foreign object – A foreign body is the presence of any particle in the eye that doesn’t belong there. Dust and sand particles, wood shavings, metal fragments, lawn clippings or shattered glass pieces can enter and lodge in the eye, causing injury.

Blunt trauma – A blunt force to the eye can fracture the bones around the eye, causing damage to the muscles that support the eye. When the blunt force is directly on the eye, it can dislocate, tear, detach or cause injury to the structures of the eye.
Chemical burns – Exposure to cleaning products, household or industrial chemicals, acids, UV radiation or extreme heat can burn the surface of the eye, causing corneal flash burn or chemical burn.
Corneal abrasions – The scratches on the cornea, often caused by fingernails, makeup brushes, tree branches or flying debris, are known as corneal abrasions. They usually result in pain, watery eyes and sensitivity to light.

Eye Conditions Linked to Other Health Conditions

Certain ocular conditions serve as early indicators of systemic diseases, which affect multiple organs or the entire body. Common systemic diseases include hypertension and autoimmune diseases.

Diabetes – The high blood sugar levels in the body can damage the delicate blood vessels in the retina, causing blurred vision, floaters, diabetic retinopathy and even vision loss.
Cholesterol – High cholesterol in the body has a direct impact on eye health as it causes physical deposits around the cornea, blurry vision and yellow bumps around the eyes, increasing the risk of sight-threatening conditions, such as retinal vein occlusion, AMD and corneal arcus.