Visual impairment can happen to children or adults. In the United States, millions of persons have partial or complete loss of vision. It is important to have regular eye examinations to detect early stages of vision loss. The October 15, 2003, issue of JAMA includes an article about the causes of visual impairment.
Diabetes
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Cerebrovascular (brain blood vessel) disease or stroke
Atherosclerotic disease (cholesterol deposits in blood vessels, including those of the eye)
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)Ñusually due to infection with cytomegalovirus, a virus that affects the eye
Vitamin A deficiency
Infections involving the eyes
Some eye infections, including those caused by parasites, are more common in developing countries. Infections in a pregnant woman can affect the fetus. This type of vision loss, present from birth, is called congenital blindness.
Macular degeneration—deterioration of the central part of the retina
Cataracts—clouding of the lens of the eye
Glaucoma—damage to the nerve connecting the eye to the brain caused by increased pressure inside the eye
Eye injuries
Tumors involving the eye or surrounding structures in the head and neck
Schedule regular eye examinations to detect inadequate vision correction, find cataracts, test for glaucoma, and evaluate general eye health.
Stop smoking. Smoking has been linked to development of cataracts and macular degeneration in addition to all the other health problems smoking causes.
Treat chronic diseases, especially diabetes. Good control of blood sugar levels will help reduce your chances of developing diabetic retinopathy, the eye problem caused by diabetes. Regular screening eye examinations for persons with diabetes may help to detect diabetic retinopathy sooner. This may limit eye damage by making earlier treatment possible.
Protect your eyes from sunlight and other ultraviolet (UV) light exposure (such as tanning beds). Wearing UV-protective sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat helps to limit UV exposure to the eyes.
Wear protective eyewear when working with tools or during recreational activities. Eye injuries are a common cause of vision loss for individuals in the United States.
National Eye Institute 301/496-5248 http://www.nei.nih.gov
American Academy of Ophthalmology 415/561-8500 http://www.aao.org
Lighthouse International 800/829-0500 http://www.lighthouse.org
To find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. Many are available in English and Spanish. A Patient Page on cataracts was published in the July 9, 2003, issue; one on age-related macular degeneration was published in the November 13, 2002, issue; and one on eye health was published in the February 16, 2000, issue.
Sources: National Eye Institute, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Lighthouse International
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. Any other print or online reproduction is subject to AMA approval. To purchase bulk reprints, call 718/946-7424.
TOPIC: EYE HEALTH
Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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