Biomaterial Database

Gradual loss of vision. 1998

J Reich

General Clinic, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

BACKGROUND With the increasing age of our population many of the causes of vision loss are becoming more frequent. Not all gradual loss of vision can be considered non urgent and those patients requiring early attention are highlighted. OBJECTIVE This article discusses the tools available to the general practitioner for the assessment of visual loss as well as the common causes. CONCLUSIONS Advances in cataract surgery with improved visual outcome, minimally invasive surgery and a reduction in surgical risk have made this operation the commonest performed in Australia. Blindness from chronic open angle glaucoma and diabetes can be mostly prevented by early diagnosis and compliance with treatment. Age related macular degeneration apart from a small subgroup, is still largely untreatable.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008268	Macular Degeneration	Degenerative changes in the RETINA usually of older adults which results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the MACULA LUTEA) because of damage to the retina. It occurs in dry and wet forms.	Maculopathy,Maculopathy, Age-Related,Age-Related Macular Degeneration,Age-Related Maculopathies,Age-Related Maculopathy,Macular Degeneration, Age-Related,Macular Dystrophy,Maculopathies, Age-Related,Age Related Macular Degeneration,Age Related Maculopathies,Age Related Maculopathy,Age-Related Macular Degenerations,Degeneration, Macular,Dystrophy, Macular,Macular Degeneration, Age Related,Macular Degenerations,Macular Dystrophies,Maculopathies,Maculopathy, Age Related
D012030	Refractive Errors	Deviations from the average or standard indices of refraction of the eye through its dioptric or refractive apparatus.	Ametropia,Refractive Disorders,Ametropias,Disorder, Refractive,Disorders, Refractive,Error, Refractive,Errors, Refractive,Refractive Disorder,Refractive Error
D002386	Cataract	Partial or complete opacity on or in the lens or capsule of one or both eyes, impairing vision or causing blindness. The many kinds of cataract are classified by their morphology (size, shape, location) or etiology (cause and time of occurrence). (Dorland, 27th ed)	Cataract, Membranous,Lens Opacities,Pseudoaphakia,Cataracts,Cataracts, Membranous,Lens Opacity,Membranous Cataract,Membranous Cataracts,Opacities, Lens,Opacity, Lens,Pseudoaphakias
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D003930	Diabetic Retinopathy	Disease of the RETINA as a complication of DIABETES MELLITUS. It is characterized by the progressive microvascular complications, such as ANEURYSM, interretinal EDEMA, and intraocular PATHOLOGIC NEOVASCULARIZATION.	Diabetic Retinopathies,Retinopathies, Diabetic,Retinopathy, Diabetic
D005128	Eye Diseases	Diseases affecting the eye.	Eye Disorders,Eye Disease,Eye Disorder
D005902	Glaucoma, Open-Angle	Glaucoma in which the angle of the anterior chamber is open and the trabecular meshwork does not encroach on the base of the iris.	Glaucoma Simplex,Glaucoma, Pigmentary,Glaucoma, Simple,Open-Angle Glaucoma,Chronic Primary Open Angle Glaucoma,Glaucoma, Compensated,Glaucoma, Compensative,Glaucoma, Open Angle,Glaucoma, Primary Open Angle,Glaucoma, Secondary Open Angle,Primary Open Angle Glaucoma,Secondary Open Angle Glaucoma,Compensated Glaucoma,Compensative Glaucoma,Open Angle Glaucoma,Open Angle Glaucomas,Open-Angle Glaucomas,Pigmentary Glaucoma,Simple Glaucoma,Simplex, Glaucoma,Simplices, Glaucoma
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000550	Amblyopia	A nonspecific term referring to impaired vision. Major subcategories include stimulus deprivation-induced amblyopia and toxic amblyopia. Stimulus deprivation-induced amblyopia is a developmental disorder of the visual cortex. A discrepancy between visual information received by the visual cortex from each eye results in abnormal cortical development. STRABISMUS and REFRACTIVE ERRORS may cause this condition. Toxic amblyopia is a disorder of the OPTIC NERVE which is associated with ALCOHOLISM, tobacco SMOKING, and other toxins and as an adverse effect of the use of some medications.	Anisometropic Amblyopia,Lazy Eye,Amblyopia, Developmental,Amblyopia, Stimulus Deprivation-Induced,Amblyopia, Suppression,Stimulus Deprivation-Induced Amblyopia,Amblyopia, Anisometropic,Amblyopia, Stimulus Deprivation Induced,Amblyopias,Amblyopias, Anisometropic,Amblyopias, Developmental,Amblyopias, Stimulus Deprivation-Induced,Amblyopias, Suppression,Anisometropic Amblyopias,Deprivation-Induced Amblyopia, Stimulus,Deprivation-Induced Amblyopias, Stimulus,Developmental Amblyopia,Developmental Amblyopias,Eye, Lazy,Eyes, Lazy,Lazy Eyes,Stimulus Deprivation Induced Amblyopia,Stimulus Deprivation-Induced Amblyopias,Suppression Amblyopia,Suppression Amblyopias
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor