Pseudostrabismus is when your child’s eyes look misaligned (crossed), but really they are not. It is common in babies, and is often due to a wide bridge of a baby’s nose. This can make the eyes appear crossed. You can tell if the eyes are really crossed by looking at a flash photo of the child. With

A pterygium (pronounced “ter IDJ ee um”) is a wedge-shaped bump of fleshy tissue that grows on the white of the eye. It may begin to grow toward the center of the eye, over the cornea. This common eye condition is also known as “surfer’s eye” or “farmer’s eye.” This is because pterygia

Ptosis, or a droopy eyelid, can affect both children and adults. This condition can limit vision and affect how you look. It is very important that children with ptosis have regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist early in life. They are at risk for developing poor vision in the eye with the droopy

Punctal plugs are tiny devices placed in the eye’s tear duct. By blocking your tear ducts, the plugs help your eyes retain more of their natural tears. This keeps the eye’s surface moist and helps treat dry eye. There are different types of punctal plugs. Some are temporary and are absorbed by the

Refractive errors are vision problems that happen when your eye does not refract (bend) light properly. When your cornea or lens does not focus light properly on the retina, your vision is blurry. There are four basic refractive errors: myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism

Retinal angiography is when pictures are taken of the back of your eye. With these pictures, your ophthalmologist can closely see your retina and other parts of the eye. A colored dye is injected into your arm, where it travels to blood vessels in your retina. A special camera takes pictures of these

A retinal artery occlusion (RAO) happens when there is a blockage of blood flow to the retina in the back of the eye. Symptoms include sudden vision loss, distorted vision or blind spots in your vision. Certain health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure increase your risk for having an RAO. If

Retinal vein occlusion is when a vein in your retina is blocked. This causes blurry vision or vision loss. It is treated with medication injections or laser surgery. Taking care of health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure can help prevent this eye condition. If you have any questions about

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) describes a group of eye problems that affect how your eye sees light. There is treatment for RP due to RPE65 genetic defect. Research is ongoing for other forms of RP. See your ophthalmologist to get appropriate genetics testing. People with low vision from RP can learn to

Retinoblastoma is cancer of the eye that begins in the retina. It can eventually spread to other parts of the body. Retinoblastoma usually affects young children, though it can sometimes occur in adults. Children with retinoblastoma may have inherited a gene from their parents that causes this disease.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye disease in some premature babies. It causes unwanted blood vessels to grow on the baby’s retina. These blood vessels can cause serious eye and vision problems later. An ophthalmologist can look for ROP in premature infants, though it may not be found until

Rosacea is an ongoing (chronic) skin disease that causes your face to flush red. If your eyes are affected, they can be red and watery, and feel irritated and painful. Treating the eye symptoms of rosacea may include using steroid eye drops and ointments to reduce redness and swelling. Antibiotics might

Scleritis is inflammation (redness, swelling, pain) of the white part of the eye. Scleritis is often linked to an autoimmune disease and can lead to vision loss. It needs to be treated as soon as it is diagnosed. Treatment includes pills for inflammation or pain, immunosuppressive drugs, antibiotics

Older adults are more likely to develop certain eye problems that steal vision. Regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist are important to detect, manage, or treat these problems. People age 65 and older should have eye exams every 1–2 years, or as recommended by an ophthalmologist. At any age, if

Shingles is caused by the herpes zoster virus. It can cause eye problems with symptoms such as a rash on the eyelids, “pink eye”, cornea problems, blurry vision, pain and swelling inside the eye. Treatment is focused on relieving the rash, swelling and pain. Placing cool, moist compresses over your

Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects your eyes, mouth, and your joints. Symptoms include dry eyes, blurry vision, light sensitivity, dry mouth, and pain in your joints. To diagnose Sjögren’s syndrome, your ophthalmologist may examine your tears, your eyelids, and order blood