Eye Conditions We Treat

Comprehensive Care for Eye Conditions in Central Massachusetts 

At the UMass Memorial Eye Center, we treat a full range of conditions affecting your vision. Our ophthalmologists use advanced technology and a compassionate touch, taking the time to understand your symptoms and personalize treatment. 

Eye conditions we treat include:

General Eye Conditions

Some general eye conditions we treat include:

• Cataracts, when cloudy lenses distort and blur the vision
• Dry eye, in which the eyes don’t produce enough tears 
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis), an inflammation of the membrane that covers the eyeball
• Refractive errors, where the shape of the eye doesn’t bend (refract) light correctly, causing blurred vision. Types of refractive errors include:
  • Nearsightedness (myopia)
  • Farsightedness (hyperopia)
  • Loss of near vision with age (presbyopia)
  • Astigmatism, a defect in the curvature of the eye
• Uveitis, inflammation of the middle layer of tissue in the eye wall that causes redness, pain and blurred vision
• Watery eyes, in which the eyes overflow with tears

Corneal Conditions

The cornea is the clear, protective outer layer of your eye. Disease or injury can block or distort light as it enters your eye, interfering with vision. Corneal diseases we treat include:

• Keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea
• Shingles, a painful eye infection caused by the chicken pox virus that can cause vision loss 
• Ocular herpes, an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV)
• Corneal dystrophies, structural problems with the cornea that include:
  • Keratoconus, a disease that causes thinning and bulging of the cornea
  • Map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy, a disease of the skin cells of the outer layer of the cornea
  • Fuchs dystrophy, in which fluid builds up in the cornea
  • Lattice dystrophy, where abnormal protein fibers erode the thickest layer of the cornea

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a serious eye disease in which fluid buildup and increased pressure damage the optic nerve. Glaucoma may cause gradual loss of sight. 

Retinal Disorders

The retina is the transparent tissue at the back of your eye. When it senses light, the retina sends a message to your brain that lets you see. Retinal disorders we treat include:

• Age-related macular degeneration, a form of vision loss typically affecting people over 50
• Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina
• Retinal vascular disorders, a range of conditions affecting the blood vessels in the eye that are linked to vascular diseases like high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries
• Retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes slow loss of vision and eventual blindness

Genetic Eye Conditions

Eye conditions are a common feature of one-third of inherited diseases like Marfan syndrome and Tay-Sachs disease. Genetics also play a role in many types of eye disease, including:

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Crossed eyes (strabismus), in which the eyes don’t look in the same direction
• Glaucoma
• Lazy eye (amblyopia), in which a weaker eye wanders inward or outward
• Refractive errors
• Retinitis pigmentosa

Eye Conditions Requiring Plastic or Reconstructive Surgery

Our plastic surgeons specialize in restoring function and enhancing the appearance of your eyelids. We perform plastic and cosmetic eye procedures for conditions including:

• Chalazions and styes, eyelid bumps that can cause discomfort
• Droopy eyelids (ptosis or dermatochalasis)
• Eyelid lesions, including cancerous and noncancerous growths
• Excess skin and fat
• Trauma or facial paralysis