Eye Diseases
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Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a general term used to describe a number of diseases of the retina. Of these diseases, age-related macular degeneration is the most common, primarily affecting people over the age of 60. The www.macula.org website is intended to educate patients and their families about macular degeneration, its treatment and low vision rehabilitation.
With macular degeneration, a spot called a scotoma may appear in your central vision. This scotoma may look light, or dark, or blurred. Sometimes, part of an image may look wavy or distorted as the surface of the retina becomes uneven.
It occurs in:
- Primarily people over 60
- Not related to x
- Small but significant correlation to y
- No family component
Eye Diseases in Women
Dr. Vivian W. Pinn, director of the Office of Research on Women's Health discusses the most prevalent eye diseases in women, the latest advances in research in eye health, and the prevention of the most common eye diseases with Dr. Janine Smith, deputy clinical director, National Eye Institute. 
To view a transcript of this audio file:http://orwh.od.nih.gov/podcast/Podcast4_Transcript.html
Cataract
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other.
What is the lens?
The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred.
Are there other types of cataract?
Yes. Although most cataracts are related to aging, there are other types of cataract:
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Secondary cataract
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Cataracts can form after surgery for other eye problems, such as glaucoma. Cataracts also can develop in people who have other health problems, such as diabetes. Cataracts are sometimes linked to steroid use.
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Traumatic cataract |
Cataracts can develop after an eye injury, sometimes years later.
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Congenital cataract
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Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may be so small that they do not affect vision. If they do, the lenses may need to be removed
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Radiation cataract
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Cataracts can develop after exposure to some types of radiation
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