Ophthalmology is a field of clinical medicine that studies eye diseases: pathological conditions of the eyeball and the accessory apparatus of the eye – lacrimal glands, eyelids, conjunctiva, as well as bone and soft tissue structures surrounding the eyes.
The most important task of ophthalmology is the development and improvement of methods for the prevention, detection and treatment of eye diseases aimed at preserving and correcting visual function. Specialists in the field of eye diseases are ophthalmologists. More narrow ophthalmological specialties include surgical and laser ophthalmology, ophthalmooncology, ophthalmic traumatology, pediatric ophthalmology, etc.
The visual analyzer is a unique sense organ in its meaning. With the help of vision, a person receives up to 80% of information about the world around him. Unfortunately, the percentage of people suffering from eye diseases worldwide is steadily increasing. Therefore, it is so important to have an idea of the first signs of eye diseases, measures for the prevention of ophthalmopathology and ways of its treatment, as well as to understand the importance of timely seeking qualified ophthalmological care.
A disease of this category can occur at any age: they can be genetically determined, congenital, acquired. In children, a significant decrease and loss of vision leads to a delay in mental development, negatively affects the speech function, the motor sphere in the future, forms distorted, fuzzy, fragmentary ideas about the surrounding reality, makes it difficult to establish social ties and behavioral skills in society.
In this regard, the system of early care in ophthalmology provides screening of newborns, children of early, preschool and school age in order to identify subclinical signs (retinopathy of prematurity, strabismus, amblyopia, glaucoma, cataracts, myopia, hyperopia, etc.) and provide early correctional medical and pedagogical assistance.
Acquired diseases can be associated with common and infectious human diseases: beriberi A, measles rubella, diabetes mellitus, injuries, chronic foci of bacterial infection, hypertension, atherosclerosis, renal pathology, neurological diseases, pregnancy pathology, etc. Most often in ophthalmology eye diseases are diagnosed, characterized by abnormalities in the optical apparatus of the eye – hyperopia, presbyopia, myopia, astigmatism, etc.
A large group of eye diseases consists of inflammatory pathology of various structures of the organ of vision – conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis, iridocyclitis, retinitis, uveitis, endophthalmitis, barley, etc. Traumatic damage to the structures of the eye is extremely dangerous in its consequences – burns, mechanical damage to the eyes, ingestion of foreign bodies.
Diseases can develop acutely or gradually, suddenly manifesting itself with a sharp decrease in vision. This kind of pathology primarily includes diseases of the neurovascular apparatus of the eye: atrophy of the optic nerve, ischemic neuropathy of the optic nerve, occlusion of the arteries and veins of the retina, chorioretinal dystrophy, etc. Factors that negatively affect the function of vision and increase the risk of eye diseases are considered age, chronic heart and vascular diseases, metabolic diseases, adverse environmental conditions, stress, smoking, deficiency of vitamins and rare trace elements (zinc, selenium), etc.
The last decades have been marked by the rapid development of ophthalmology. At the disposal of specialists today are modern equipment, innovative technologies, minimally invasive techniques. To detect eye diseases, a large range of diagnostic techniques is used – test, biometric, ultrasound, electrophysiological, X-ray, optical, laboratory, etc. Laser installations used for vision correction, treatment of corneal and retinal pathology, glaucoma and cataracts have found wide application in the surgery of eye diseases.
Traditional therapeutic manipulations, hardware methods of vision correction, microsurgical techniques for the treatment have not lost their relevance in ophthalmology. To date, most surgical interventions in ophthalmology can be performed on an outpatient basis.
Uveitis in children is a common name for inflammatory diseases of the vascular membrane of the eye. The main causes are systemic autoimmune diseases, infections (viral, bacterial, fungal), allergic and toxic effects on the choroid. Anterior uveitis is manifested by corneal syndrome and pain in the eye, posterior — by a sharp deterioration in vision…
Uveitis is a general concept denoting inflammation of various parts of the vascular membrane of the eye (iris, ciliary body, choroid). Uveitis is characterized by redness, irritation and soreness of the eyes, increased photosensitivity, blurred vision, lacrimation, the appearance of floating spots in front of the eyes. Ophthalmological diagnostics of uveitis includes visometry and perimetry,…
Ocular tuberculosis is an extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis, in which the own vascular membrane, conjunctiva or the accessory apparatus of the organ of vision is affected. Clinically, pathology is manifested by “flies” or “black spots” in front of the eyes, decreased visual acuity, pain syndrome. Diagnosis includes biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy, visometry, microscopic examination of the biopsy.…
Trichiasis is a disease of the organ of vision, accompanied by an abnormal direction of eyelash growth. Clinically, the pathology is manifested by hyperemia of the eyes, photophobia, pain in the projection area of the eye socket, increased lacrimation. Diagnosis of trichiasis includes the collection of anamnesis, external examination, biomicroscopy, visometry. Minimally invasive (diathermocoagulation, electrolysis,…
Trachoma is a chronic chlamydial infection affecting the conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes. Trachoma is manifested by signs of conjunctivitis, keratitis, the formation of trachomatous grains (follicles) on the conjunctiva. In the outcome, trachoma can lead to scarring of the mucous membrane, destruction of the cartilage of the eyelids and complete blindness. In the…
Toxoplasmosis uveitis is a specific parasitic lesion of the posterior parts of the uveal tract with a tendency to generalize the process. Common symptoms for all forms are a decrease in visual acuity, the appearance of “fog” in front of the eyes. In the generalized variant, photophobia and pain develop in the projection area of…
Toxic amblyopia is a visual dysfunction caused by acute or chronic intoxication. Common manifestations for all forms are a progressive decrease in visual acuity, the appearance of “fog” or “flies” in front of the eyes, visual discomfort, impaired color perception. Diagnostics is based on visometry, biomicroscopy, perimetry, ultrasound of the eye, ophthalmoscopy, fluorescence angiography. Patients…
Esotropia is an oculomotor disorder in which one or both eyeballs are deflected inward. Clinical manifestations of pathology: periodic or permanent displacement of the eye, double vision, violation of stereoscopic and binocular vision. To make a diagnosis, visometry, refractometry, ophthalmoscopy are performed, the nature of vision and the angle of strabismus are determined. Conservative therapy…
Subperiosteal orbital abscess is a purulent lesion of the orbital wall with inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The disease is characterized by an acute onset, an increase in temperature to 39 ° C, swelling of the skin around the orbit, the development of conjunctival chemosis, the appearance of double vision, impaired eyeball movements, a sharp…
Subconjunctival hemorrhage is a limited accumulation of blood in the space between the sclera and the conjunctiva. Pathology is characterized by an asymptomatic course, visual discomfort rarely occurs, a feeling of an extraneous body in the eye. To make a diagnosis, an external examination of the affected area, biomicroscopy of the eye, gonioscopy, ophthalmoscopy, a…
