Silmahaigusi

Silmahaigusi is the Estonian term for eye diseases—medical conditions that affect any part of the visual system, from the eyelids and cornea to the lens, retina, optic nerve, and associated pathways. They vary widely in cause, severity, and impact on vision, and can affect people of all ages.

Common categories include refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism), cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, conjunctivitis, keratitis, and retinal detachment. Some conditions are chronic, others are acute, and symptoms range from blurred vision to pain, redness, or sudden vision loss.

Diagnosis typically involves a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, including visual acuity testing, slit-lamp examination, intraocular pressure measurement, dilated fundus examination, and imaging such as optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Treatment depends on the specific condition and may include corrective lenses, eye drops, laser therapy, or surgical procedures such as cataract extraction, glaucoma surgery, or retinal repair. Ongoing monitoring is common for many chronic diseases.

Prevention emphasizes regular eye examinations, protection from injury, control of systemic diseases (diabetes and hypertension), smoking avoidance, a healthy diet, and UV protection. Early detection improves outcomes for many silmahaigusi.