The eyes are no different from the rest of the body in that they too can become affected by illness and disease. There are a number of specific eye diseases that can leave a person partially blind or even in very serious cases, completely blind. This article provides information about some of the diseases that can not only affect the eyes but can also be successfully treated and removed with laser eye treatment.

Diabetic retinopathy is a very serious condition of the eye that is a risk for anyone suffering from diabetes. As with diabetes itself, the number of cases reported each year is increasing. Over time, the blood vessels in the eye are affected by diabetes and this causes weakness in the vessel walls. If there is severe leakage from the blood vessels then the central area of the eye known as the macular becomes damaged. This can permanently affect eyesight if left untreated. There is also a danger of proliferative diabetic retinopathy through lack of oxygen to the tissues of the retina. The retina starts to grow new abnormal vessels when there isn't enough oxygen. They can cause sudden bleeding or haemorrhaging which can be damaging to sight. The most serious of cases result in scarring between the retina and the vitreous gel in the eye which can result in permanent and non-reversible blindness.

Glaucoma is another problem that will result in partial of complete blindness is left untreated. Fortunately there is laser eye treatment available for this disease so anyone suffering from it can prevent it from getting too far. Glaucoma develops due to an increase of pressure in the eye. The pressure can build up when the drainage canals in the eye become blocked, or it can build up because there is not enough space between the iris and the cornea. If the pressure has been caused through a blockage then eye drops may be able to help the problem and prevent it from worsening. If there is simply not enough space in the eye for fluid to pass then surgery may well be the only option. Laser eye treatment is quick and safe however and can ensure that a person's sight is retained. If nothing is done about the excess pressure then partial blindness is likely to occur. It is very important that regular eye tests are carried out especially for anyone over the age of 50 so that if a problem such as glaucoma is developing, treatment is administered as soon as possible.

Age related macular degeneration is another relatively common disease that can be treated with laser eye surgery. There are 2 types of age related macular degeneration (AMD). Dry AMD is the most common, and this occurs when the light sensitive cells in the eye start to weaken and break down with age. This can cause vision to become blurred and difficulty seeing starts to occur. This is the less severe case of AMD. The other type is known as Wet AMD, and this is caused by abnormal blood vessels growing in the eye. The abnormal cells leak and this causes the retina to become detached. If no treatment is received and the retina pulls completely away from the eye wall then impaired vision and even blindness will occur. A symptom of wet AMD is seeing straight lines as wavy and anyone who notices this should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

As well as these common eye diseases, laser eye treatment can also be effective for correcting refractive errors in the eye. Shortsightedness and longsightedness are 2 of the most common refractive problems that people are born with. Because of the shape of the cornea, anyone with shortsightedness cannot see things far away, and anyone with longsightedness cannot read newspapers or see objects up close very clearly. There is also a condition called astigmatism that can be treated with laser eye surgery. When a cornea is more oval in shape rather than spherical, this is known as astigmatism.

As a treatment for both eye diseases and refractive errors, laser eye treatment is becoming increasingly popular around the world. There is no need to suffer from poor eyesight or bad vision caused by illnesses such as diabetic retinopathy as laser eye treatment can help. Laser eye surgery costs can vary depending on where the treatment is being carried out and what is being done. Consult your nearest eye hospital to find out more.