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Ahealthy eye contains a clear, smooth dome called a cornea. The cornea is a clear window that allows light rays to pass through unobstructed and focus sharply on the retina.
If the cornea is not as smooth, clear or round as it should be, or if the eyeball is too long or too short, light rays will bend (or refract) at odd angles. This leads to blurry or distorted vision. The inability to achieve sharp focus is called refractive error — this is the most common eye problem.
Refractive errors include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) or astigmatism. Similarly, the eye will have focusing problems if the naturally clear lens is cloudy due to cataract, if it isn’t as flexible as it should be (causing presbyopia) or if there are other problems with the way the eye functions.
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MAY 28, 2021 By Daniel Porter
The zonules are the very tiny thread-like fibers that hold the eye’s lens firmly in place.
Your Eyes Could Be the Windows to Your Health
DEC 03, 2014 By Reena Mukamal
A number of illnesses might be detected during an eye exam - including stroke risks, diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, sexually transmitted diseases and cancers. That’s because the eye is the only place in the body where a doctor can have an unobstructed vi…
Your Blue Eyes Aren’t Really Blue
JUN 16, 2023 By Dan T. Gudgel
Brown and hazel eyes get their color from melanin, the same pigment that colors your skin. But blue eyes don’t have any blue pigment in them.
Workplace Eye Wellness: Printable Infographics
JAN 23, 2024
Workplace eye injuries are surprisingly common. Find out how to protect your eyes in the office, factory, or outdoors.
Workplace Eye Injuries Cost Time, Money, and Vision
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Workplace eye injuries cost an estimated $300 million per year in worker’s comp and lost productivity. A simple precaution could prevent 90% of these injuries and protect thousands of workers every year.
Workplace Eye Injuries by the Numbers - Infographic
FEB 28, 2014 By Shirley Dang
About 300,000 Americans visit the emergency room each year due to workplace eye injury. Out of all eye injuries sustained on the job, 40 percent happen in the fields of manufacturing, construction and mining, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Winter UV Eye Safety: Prevent Snow Blindness and Other Conditions
JUN 08, 2021 By David Turbert
Sun exposure increases your risk for snow blindness, cataracts, and growths on the eye, including cancer. But the damage to the front of the eye that causes snow blindness is unique because it can happen quickly.
Why You Should Never Sleep in Your Contact Lenses
SEP 28, 2018 By Jennifer Churchill
Sleeping in contact lenses increases your risk for nasty eye infections six- to eightfold. It’s one of the most common and risky things teen and adult contact lens wearers do.
Why Is Dry Eye So Difficult to Treat?
JAN 19, 2024 By Reena Mukamal
Many people with dry eye feel misunderstood and unsatisfied with their treatment, a new survey shows. Here's why treating the disease is so difficult and what ophthalmologists say could help.
Why Get an Eye Exam? To Spot the Signs You Can't See
OCT 11, 2016 By Beatrice Shelton
As adults age, many will develop eye diseases that could become debilitating if not treated in time. But people can protect themselves by having eye exams that can spot early and often-hidden signs of eye disease.
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