Common eye disease and conditions

At ACUVUE®, our care for your eyes doesn't stop with perfecting your vision. As part of Johnson & Johnson Vision, we're dedicated to promoting comprehensive eye health, and that includes educating you about the conditions that could affect your eyes.

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Styes

What’s a stye?

A stye is a painful lump on your eyelid.
Causes
Woman outside holding her eye.

What causes styes?

A stye is caused by a bacterial infection of the glands near the base of your eyelashes.
Conjunctivitis

What’s conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis, also known as "pink eye," is a common irritation of the eye caused by infection or allergies.
Causes
Man with conjunctivitis rubbing his eyes

What causes conjunctivitis?

There are two main types of conjunctivitis: infective conjunctivitis which is caused by a bacterial or viral infection, and allergic conjunctivitis, which is caused by an allergic reaction to an allergen like dust or pollen. Both cause the clear membrane over the white of your eye (conjunctiva) to become inflamed.
Allergies

What are eye allergies?

Eye allergy is inflammation caused by contact with irritants like pollen, mold, dust mites or pet dander. Eye allergies are a type of conjunctivitis.

Causes
Woman outside blowing on a dandelion.

What causes eye allergies?

Also known as a hypersensitivity reaction, eye allergies are the body’s immune system fighting against things it does not recognize. Allergens like dust or pollen get into your eyes, causing inflammation.
Dry Eye

What’s dry eye?

The name says it all. Dry eyes occur when your eyes don’t make enough tears or tears evaporate too quickly.

Causes
Woman making an unimpressed facial expression.

What causes dry eye?

Dry eye symptoms can have any number of causes. It can be a side effect of certain medications or a symptom of a chronic disease. It's particularly common in elderly people.
Cataracts

What’s a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of your eye.

Causes
Mature man reading the newspaper.

What causes cataracts?

Most cataracts are age-related, so they are much more common in older people. Other causes may include exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays, poor diet, smoking, diabetes and a family history of the condition. Eventually, almost everyone develops cataracts.
Glaucoma

What’s glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the term given to a group of eye disorders that damages the eye’s optic nerve.

Causes
Mature woman outside with an oar.

What causes glaucoma?

Glaucoma occurs when the fluid pressure inside your eye is high enough to damage the optic nerve. It usually affects both eyes, but is likely to affect one eye more quickly than the other. There are several risk factors, but glaucoma is more common in older people and those with a family history of the condition.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration

What’s age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition that can cause blurring, distortion, and vision loss or blind spots in your central vision.

Causes
Mature man looking at his reflection in a window.

What causes age-related macular degeneration?

AMD occurs when the macula, the part of your eye responsible for straight-ahead vision, becomes damaged and stops working properly. As the name suggests, it's more common in older people.

Your vision, our mission

Your eye health journey is unique, and we’re here to support every step of the way. From providing world-class contact lenses to advanced cataract solutions, our family of products is designed to cater to your specific needs and help you live your life to the fullest.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Why do my eyes hurt?

There are many, many reasons why your eyes may hurt. Some examples of sources of eye pain could be:

  • Excessive eye strain and tiredness
  • Sinus infection or migraine headaches
  • Foreign body in the eye
  • Exposure to screens
  • Wearing contacts with the wrong prescription
  • Wearing damaged contact lenses
  • Injury

This is far from a comprehensive list, so talk to a qualified doctor if the sensation is moderate, severe, frequent or persistent.

How to get rid of red eyes?

If your red eyes are caused by allergies, dry eye, or eye strain, then rest, a cold compress, and over-the-counter eye drops are just some of the tools available to help alleviate the symptoms. Unexplained red eyes along with other symptoms like pain, blurred vision, swelling, or sensitivity to light may indicate a more serious eye condition or injury. In these circumstances, contact your eye doctor for diagnoses and advice on the best treatment.

Why do I have a red spot on my eye?

There are a number of reasons you could have a red spot in your eye, and the best way to determine the cause is to get it checked out by an eye doctor. One common cause is broken blood vessels. The eye contains many tiny vessels that can burst due to injury, vomiting, or strong coughing or sneezing. This cause generally heals on its own and doesn't usually cause pain or vision issues.

Why do my eyes feel heavy?

Many reasons can contribute to why your eyes might feel heavy or tired. Continuous staring and using your eyes for a long time, as is common with digital devices, is the most common reason for tired and heavy eyes. Extensive reading without breaks, lack of sleep, and eye strain due to uncorrected vision can also contribute. If you're concerned about the feeling of heavy eyes, contact your eye doctor for guidance.

What does eye strain feel like?

Eye strain is a symptom of overuse of the eyes that can be experienced different ways by different people, depending on the source. You may experience a headache, blurred vision, heavy eyelids, red, watery eyes, or a number of other symptoms. If your symptoms persist or worsen, we would recommend reaching out to an eye care professional to diagnose what can be done to help.

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Footnotes

Consult your eye care professional for more information.  Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.

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Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.

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