DISEASES AND TREATMENT METHODS

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Age-related changes (most common cause)
● Diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders
● Eye trauma
● Long-term use of corticosteroids
● Congenital forms in newborns
● UV exposure

SYMPTOMS
● Gradual clouding or blurring of vision
● Increased sensitivity to bright light (photophobia)
● Glare and halos around light sources
● Reduced color perception
● Frequent change of glasses
● Double vision in one eye

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Surgical treatment: phacoemulsification with IOL implantation — gold standard
● Monofocal, multifocal, and toric intraocular lenses
● Correction of associated refractive errors (astigmatism)
● Medication to slow progression (eye drops — supportive method)

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Elevated IOP (intraocular pressure) as the main risk factor
● Vascular pathology of the optic nerve
● Genetic predisposition (family history)
● Diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and hypotension
● Secondary glaucoma: trauma, uveitis, medications

SYMPTOMS
● In early stages — asymptomatic course
● Narrowing of peripheral visual fields
● In advanced stages — “tunnel vision” or blindness
● In acute attack: severe pain, nausea, redness

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Hypotensive eye drops
● Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT)
● Surgery: trabeculectomy, drainage implants, MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery)
● Continuous monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP), perimetry, optical coherence tomography (OCT)

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Genetic predisposition
● Increased near visual load
● Insufficient outdoor exposure (sunlight)
● Elongated axial length of the eye (axial myopia)
● Increased refractive power of the cornea or lens

SYMPTOMS
● Blurred vision of distant objects
● Tendency to move closer to screens/board
● Frequent squinting
● Headache after distance visual strain

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Glasses and contact lenses
● Night orthokeratology lenses (myopia control)
● Low-dose atropine (0.01–0.05%) in children
● Excimer laser correction (LASIK, PRK) in adults
● Phakic IOL implantation in high myopia

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Shortened anteroposterior axial length of the eye
● Reduced refractive power of the cornea or lens
● Genetic predisposition
● Age-related (presbyopia) — decreased lens accommodation after age 40

SYMPTOMS
● Blurred vision at both near and distance
● Rapid eye fatigue during reading
● Headache and eye strain
● Tendency to strabismus in children

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Glasses or contact lenses
● Excimer laser correction (LASIK, LASEK, PRK)
● In presbyopia — progressive lenses, multifocal contact lenses
● Refractive lens exchange

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Strabismus (strabismic amblyopia)
● Refractive differences between the eyes (anisometropia)
● Opacities of optical media (cataract, ptosis)
● Visual deprivation during the critical period of visual development

SYMPTOMS
● Reduced visual acuity in one eye (rarely both)
● Poor stereoscopic (depth) perception
● Usually not recognized by the child

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Elimination of the underlying cause (refractive correction, cataract treatment)
● Occlusion therapy (patching of the better eye)
● Penalization — reducing vision in the better eye with atropine
● Pleoptic exercises, diploptic training
● Effective treatment up to 12 years, ideally up to 7 years

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Genetic predisposition
● Eye rubbing (allergy, habitual behavior)
● Down syndrome, Marfan syndrome, connective tissue dysplasia
● Onset during adolescence/young adulthood

SYMPTOMS
● Progressive decrease in visual acuity
● Irregular astigmatism poorly corrected with glasses
● Image distortion (monocular diplopia)
● Increased light sensitivity

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Rigid gas-permeable and scleral contact lenses
● Corneal cross-linking — to stop progression
● Intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS)
● Corneal transplantation (DALK or PK) in advanced cases
● Topography-guided laser treatment

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Seborrheic dermatitis
● Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)
● Bacterial colonization (Staphylococcus epidermidis)
● Demodex folliculorum mite
● Allergic reactions

SYMPTOMS
● Redness, swelling, and itching of eyelid margins
● Crusts and flakes at the base of eyelashes
● Foreign body sensation, burning
● Eyelid sticking in the morning
● Eyelash loss (in chronic cases)

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Eyelid hygiene: daily cleansing, warm compresses
● Meibomian gland massage
● Antibacterial ointments or drops (if bacterial component present)
● Anti-Demodex treatment
● Lipid-based artificial tears, Omega-3

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Toxoplasmosis (most common cause in developed countries)
● Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
● Tuberculosis
● Toxocariasis
● Sarcoidosis and autoimmune diseases
● Syphilis

SYMPTOMS
● Sudden appearance of floaters (“spots”)
● Photopsia (flashes and light illusions)
● Decreased visual acuity and visual field loss
● Distortion of objects (metamorphopsia)

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Treatment of the underlying disease (antiparasitic, antibacterial, antiviral therapy)
● Systemic corticosteroids
● Immunosuppressants in autoimmune forms
● OCT and fluorescein angiography for monitoring

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS● Age-related changes, hormonal imbalance (menopause)● Prolonged screen use● Meibomian gland dysfunction● Contact lens wear● Refractive surgery● Systemic diseases: Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis● Medications: antihistamines, antidepressants
SYMPTOMS● Foreign body or sand-like sensation● Burning and itching● Excessive (reflex) tearing● Blurred vision that improves after blinking● Photophobia, rapid visual fatigue
TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT● Artificial tears (drops, gels, ointments) without preservatives● Lipid-based drops for meibomian gland dysfunction–related dry eye● Cyclosporine A for severe dry eye syndrome● Punctal occlusion● Eyelid hygiene measures, warm compresses● Omega-3 fatty acids

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Age — the main risk factor
● Smoking (increases risk by 3–4 times)
● Genetic polymorphisms
● Cardiovascular diseases
● Long-term ultraviolet (UV) exposure

SYMPTOMS
● Gradual loss of central vision
● Distortion of straight lines (metamorphopsia — Amsler test)
● Central scotoma (dark spot)
● Reduced contrast sensitivity and color perception
● Difficulty reading and recognizing faces

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Dry form: antioxidant AREDS2 supplements (lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, vitamins C and E)
● Wet form: intravitreal anti-VEGF injections
● Photodynamic therapy (selected subtypes of wet AMD)
● OCT angiography — gold standard for diagnosis
● Smoking cessation — mandatory

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
● Poor glycemic control (HbA1c > 7%)
● Disease duration > 10 years
● Arterial hypertension
● Dyslipidemia
● Nephropathy

SYMPTOMS
● Long asymptomatic course in early stages
● Sudden or gradual vision loss
● Floaters
● Distortion and dark spots in the visual field
● Severe pain in case of neovascular glaucoma

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Glycemic and blood pressure control — the cornerstone of treatment
● Retinal laser photocoagulation
● Intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for diabetic macular edema
● Surgical treatment — vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage and tractional retinal detachment
● Regular screening in diabetic patients

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
● Idiopathic (primary — most common after age 50)
● Secondary: inflammation, retinal detachment, laser photocoagulation
● Traction from posterior vitreous changes
● Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
● Retinal vein/artery occlusion

SYMPTOMS
● Metamorphopsia (distortion of straight lines)
● Micropsia (objects appear smaller)
● Progressive decrease in central visual acuity
● Monocular diplopia (double vision in one eye)
● Sensation of a veil over the eye

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
● Observation in mild, non-progressive cases
● Surgical treatment — vitrectomy with membrane peeling is the main method
● OCT monitoring of retinal thickness and membrane status
● Partial or complete visual recovery after surgery in most patients