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.
Orbital complications of sinusitis are a group of eye socket diseases that develop against the background of inflammatory lesions of the paranasal sinuses. The main clinical manifestations include edema and hyperemia of the eyelids, restriction of eyeball movements, exophthalmos, pain during palpation or at rest, intoxication syndrome. Diagnostics includes the collection of anamnesis and complaints…
Ptosis is an abnormal position of the upper eyelid, leading to partial or complete closure of the eye slit. Ptosis is manifested by the low position of the upper eyelid, irritation and increased fatigue of the eye, the need to tilt the head back for better vision, the development of diplopia and strabismus. Diagnosis of…
Choroid tumor are a group of pathological formations of the vascular wall, which includes nevus, uveal melanoma and hemangioma. There are no clinical symptoms for a long period of time. Decreased visual acuity and strabismus occur only with an increase in the diameter of the neoplasm. Diagnosis of choroid tumors is based on ophthalmoscopy, visometry, biomicroscopy,…
Lacrimal gland tumor are a group of neoplasms of the lacrimal gland, mainly of epithelial origin. Localized in the outer part of the upper eyelid, painless. Benign tumors of the lacrimal gland develop for many years, during the growth process they can cause exophthalmos and thinning of the eye socket wall. Malignant neoplasms progress rapidly,…
Conjunctival tumor are benign and malignant neoplasms of the thin transparent membrane of the eye covering the anterior part of the sclera and the inner surface of the eyelids. They are manifested by a cosmetic defect. Visual disturbances are possible. Malignant tumors of the conjunctiva are capable of germination of surrounding tissues and metastasis. The diagnosis…
Eyelid tumors are a group of benign and malignant neoplasms, as well as tumors with local aggressive growth, but without the ability to distant metastasis. They are manifested by a cosmetic defect of varying severity. Plaques, nodules and ulcerative surfaces are found on the eyelid. Malignant and locally stimulating tumors of the eyelids can germinate…
Optochiasmal arachnoiditis is basal meningoencephalitis of the middle cranial fossa, in which the optic nerves and chiasm are affected. The main manifestations of pathology are pain in the eye socket, visual impairment, general weakness, increased visual fatigue. Diagnosis is based on ophthalmoscopy, perimetry, visometry, examination of the reaction of pupils to light and craniography. Conservative…
Oculocerebrocutaneous syndrome is a rare congenital disease in which the eyes, skin and brain are involved in the pathological process. Lesions from the organ of vision are represented by orbital cyst syndrome, epibulbar dermoid, micro- or anophthalmos. The most common symptoms of the disease are visual dysfunction, increased lacrimation, impaired binocular vision and spatial perception,…
Central retinal vein occlusion is a violation of retinal venous blood flow caused by thrombosis of the CRV or its branches. Central retinal vein occlusion is accompanied by a sharp deterioration in the vision of the affected eye, which is sometimes preceded by periodic blurring of vision, distortion of the visibility of objects, dull pain in…
Central retinal artery occlusion is an acute blockade of the central retinal artery or its branches, leading to circulatory disorders and retinal ischemia. Central retinal artery occlusion is manifested by sudden loss of vision or sectoral loss of visual fields in one eye. In the diagnosis of retinal vascular pathology, the data of ophthalmological tests (visometry,…
