5 Rare Eye Conditions That Ophthalmologists Treat

Image of irritated eye In addition to routinely caring for eye conditions such as macular degeneration, cataracts, nearsightedness, and farsightedness, ophthalmologists are also uniquely qualified to research and treat uncommon diseases. A disease is generally considered “rare” in the U.S. if it affects less than 200,000 individuals. Although there are currently no cures or treatments for many rare eye conditions, through innovative studies, ophthalmologists are finding treatments for some of the most challenging eye diseases.

At Kirk Eye Center, we strive to provide professional, compassionate and customized ophthalmology services & eye care to every patient, every time. We proudly offer  a wide range of services to help you achieve and maintain clear vision and optimal ocular health.

A Brief Look at Some Rare Eye Conditions

The following is a brief list of some of the rare eye conditions that ophthalmologists treat:

  • Optic neuritis: This condition involves swelling of the optic nerve, causing blurred vision and painful eye movement. It affects approximately 115 in 100,000 people.
  • Microphthalmia or anophthalmia: These conditions involve infants born with very small eyes (microphthalmia) or without an eye (anophthalmia). About 10 in 100,000 infants experience these conditions.
  • Leber hereditary optic neuropathy: More common among young adult men, this eye disease causes loss of central vision in one eye, followed by vision loss in the other eye months or years later. It affects roughly 7 in 100,000 people.
  • Retinis pigmentosa: This genetic eye disease causes a gradual loss of vision with age. It begins with difficulty seeing at night, or problems noticing details along the periphery – or side – vision. Approximately 25 in 100,000 people experience this condition.
  • Charles Bonnet syndrome: This condition involves hallucinations. Nearly 30% of sufferers of severe vision loss in both eyes experience hallucinations, often in the form of people, animals, or geometric patterns that aren’t there. The condition affects about 500 in 100,000 patients with vision problems.

The Importance of Regular Eye Exams

The best way to prevent eye diseases and other conditions from threatening your vision is to  maintain your eye health. Regular eye care visits are crucial not only in the treatment of specific eye conditions, they are also essential components of overall eye health. While the eye disease listed above are very rare, many eye conditions are quite common, such as:

No matter what is affecting your vision, the first step in achieving and maintaining optimal eye health is a visit with your ophthalmologist.

Schedule Your Eye Exam Today

To schedule your eye exam, please contact Kirk Eye Center today online or at 970-669-1107. We serve patients in Loveland, Fort Collins and throughout Northern Colorado.

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