Author Archives: tsusnick

What Is Trachoma? Trachoma is, according to Trachoma.org, the world’s leading infectious cause of preventable blindness. It is a contagious infection of the eye’s conjunctiva (transparent, delicate lining of the eyeball and eye lids), caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, and spread by contact with an infected person or infected flies. Its presence scars the surface […]

What Is Stargardt’s? Stargardt Disease (Stargardt’s) is an inherited, juvenile form of macular degeneration. A genetic mutation causes protein to block the passing of nutrients and waste to and from the macula. The macula, or central portion of the retina, and its “cone” photoreceptor cells are adversely affected. The retina is light-sensitive nerve tissue lining the […]

What Is Retinoblastoma? Retinoblastoma is the presence of rapidly growing, immature cells accumulating into a malignant tumor (cancer) in the retina, which is the thin, light-sensitive nerve tissue lining the back of the eye. The lone cause of retinoblastoma is a mutated genetic code in the nerve cells of the retina. The code is lacking […]

What Is Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH)? Optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) is a condition present at birth, characterized by an underdeveloped or absent optic nerve (bundle of nerves that transmit messages between the eyes and the brain). The effects of optic nerve hypoplasia have a broad range dependent on the adequacy of visual messages sent from […]

What Is Optic Nerve Atrophy? Optic nerve atrophy (ONA) is degeneration of, or damage to, the optic nerve, a cluster of nerves that carry vision information from the eye to the brain. Causes of ONA include heredity, trauma (including stroke), a tumor, a decrease in oxygen or blood supply, infections, or disorders. The effects of […]