Formerly known as
the Bermuda Society
for the Blind
the Bermuda Society
for the Blind
Even with glasses or contacts, do you have trouble…..
If you do, you may have “low vision”. People who are not blind, but whose vision is not normal or clear even when wearing glasses or contact lenses have “low vision”.
Call Vision Bermuda or see your eye care professional if you have trouble with any of the above activities. A number of eye diseases can be stopped in their tracks, or cured, with early treatment, but if left untreated may lead to blindness. Take action today!
COMMON EYE DISEASES
Below are the eye diseases most commonly found in Bermuda. There are many more eye diseases than are listed here and some are very rare. Whilst you may have been given a generic name for your eye condition, the symptoms and treatment will be unique to the individual and we strongly recommend that any questions or concerns you have about your vision are discussed with a qualified Ophthalmologist (eye doctor).
While some people suffer from vision problems their entire lives, aging presents a few more challenges to the eye as well. Other common eye issues include clouding of the lens, hardening of the lens or retinal damage.
CATARACTS
Though they can occur at any age, cataracts that are severe enough to interfere with vision are generally associated with adults aged 50 and over. These may be the result of injury — sometimes years after the accident or condition that caused the damage — or from protein deterioration over time that causes the fluid inside the eye’s lens to cloud. While cataracts progress over time and can ultimately cause blindness, they are one of the only common eye problems that can be completely cured through surgically replacing the natural lens.
SEEING DOUBLE
GLARE
Blurred Vision
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
The prolonged high blood pressure and high blood sugar associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause damage to various structures in the eye. There are several types of diabetic retinopathy, but the most common is rupture or blockage of the tiny vessels in the eye causing intraocular bleeding.
Normal Vision
Diabetic Retinopathy
GLAUCOMA
Associated primarily with both diabetes and age, glaucoma is a condition that leads to optic nerve damage. The condition is generally characterized by increased intraocular pressure, which is usually due to blockage in the angles that allow old fluids to drain from the eye.
Normal Vision
Early Glaucoma
Advanced Glaucoma
AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
One of the leading causes of blindness, macular degeneration is damage to the part of the retina that perceives light — the macula. This may be due to excessive pressure or deterioration over time, in one or both eyes. Current treatments can slow the progression of the disease, but there is no known cure.
Normal Vision
View with Macular Degeneration
View with Macular Degeneration
RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA
Retinitis pigmentosa is the most common of a group of hereditary progressive retinal degenerations or dystrophies. There is considerable variation and overlap among the various forms of retinitis pigmentosa. Common to all of them is progressive degeneration of the retina, specifically of the light receptors, known as the rods and cones. The rods of the retina are involved earlier in the course of the disease, and cone deterioration occurs later. In this progressive degeneration of the retina, the peripheral vision slowly constricts and central vision is usually retained until late in the disease.
