Aug 21st, 2021 - Diagnosis There is no single test that confirms a diagnosis of primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). In fact, because the disease can mimic signs and symptoms of other neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and ALS, your doctor is likely to order several tests to rule out other diseases. After taking a careful record of your medical history and family history and performing a neurological ...

Jun 24th, 2021 - Overview Diabetic retinopathy (die-uh-BET-ik ret-ih-NOP-uh-thee) is a diabetes complication that affects eyes. It's caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina). At first, diabetic retinopathy might cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. But it can lead to blindness. The condition can develop in anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diab...

Jun 24th, 2021 - Diagnosis Diabetic retinopathy is best diagnosed with a comprehensive dilated eye exam. For this exam, drops placed in your eyes widen (dilate) your pupils to allow your doctor a better view inside your eyes. The drops can cause your close vision to blur until they wear off, several hours later. During the exam, your eye doctor will look for abnormalities in the inside and outside parts of your...

Jun 17th, 2021 - Overview What is tennis elbow? Tennis elbow is an overuse injury that occurs when tendons (tissues that attach muscles to bones) become overloaded, leading to inflammation, degeneration and potential tearing. It commonly affects tennis players who grip their racquets too tightly. But anyone can develop this painful condition, medically known as lateral epicondylitis. How common is tennis elbow?...

May 27th, 2021 - Overview What is degenerative disc disease? Degenerative disc disease is when your spinal disks wear down. Spinal disks are rubbery cushions between your vertebrae (bones in your spinal column). They act as shock absorbers and help you move, bend and twist comfortably. Everyone’s spinal discs degenerate over time and is a normal part of aging. When the cushions wear away, the bones can start to...

May 25th, 2021 - Overview Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is the term used to describe brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas. CTE is a diagnosis made only at autopsy by studying sections of the brain. CTE is a rare disorder that is not yet well understood. CTE is not related to the immediate consequences of a late-life episode of head trauma. CTE has a complex relationship with head t...

May 25th, 2021 - Diagnosis There is currently no way to diagnose CTE. It can only be suspected in people who are at high risk due to repeated head trauma over the course of years during their sports or military experiences. A diagnosis requires evidence of degeneration of brain tissue and deposits of tau and other proteins in the brain that can be seen only upon inspection after death (autopsy). Some researcher...

May 8th, 2021 - Diagnosis Drusen Open pop-up dialog box Close Drusen Drusen The appearance of drusen — yellow deposits — on color photographs of the retina indicates the development of early-stage dry macular degeneration (left). As the condition progresses to the advanced stage (right), atrophy — loss of light-sensitive cells that make up the macula — may occur. Amsler grid Open pop-up dialog box Close Amsler...

May 8th, 2021 - Dry macular degeneration care at Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic retinal experts collaborate with other specialists to provide care for the whole person. The goal is to improve your quality of life by preserving as much eyesight as possible and preventing further deterioration of your vision. And when you need help dealing with vision loss, Mayo's low vision experts work with you to help you adapt to y...

May 8th, 2021 - Overview Vision with macular degeneration Open pop-up dialog box Close Vision with macular degeneration Vision with macular degeneration As macular degeneration develops, clear, normal vision (shown left) becomes impaired by a general haziness. With advanced macular degeneration, a blind spot typically forms at the center of your visual field (shown right). Dry macular degeneration is a common ...

Apr 29th, 2021 - Overview What is posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)? Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) occurs when the gel that fills the eyeball separates from the retina. The retina is a thin layer of nerve tissue that lines the back of the eyeball. It’s responsible for detecting light and turning it into visual images. Following PVD, there’s often an increase in specks or shadows of gray or black in your...

Apr 17th, 2021 - Overview What is the meniscus? Two pieces of cartilage sit inside your knee, between your thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia). This cartilage is the meniscus. The rubbery wedges of cartilage act like shock absorbers for your knee, providing cushioning for your bones and knee joint. What is a meniscus tear? As you get older, the cartilage in your knees wears down and gets weaker. This thinner...

Apr 15th, 2021 - Overview Learn about the differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. What is arthritis? Arthritis is a disease that affects your joints (areas where your bones meet and move). Arthritis usually involves inflammation or degeneration (breakdown) of your joints. These changes can cause pain when you use the joint. Arthritis is most common in the following areas of the body: Feet. ...

Feb 8th, 2021 - Overview What is retinal detachment? Retinal detachment, or a detached retina, is a serious eye condition that affects your vision and can lead to blindness if not treated. It happens to a layer of tissue called the retina that lines the back of the eye. It involves the retina pulling away from tissues supporting it. Symptoms include flashes of light, floaters or seeing a shadow in your vision....

Jan 8th, 2021 - Diagnosis There's no single test for frontotemporal dementia. Doctors look for signs and symptoms of the disease and try to exclude other possible causes. The disorder can be especially challenging to diagnose early because symptoms of frontotemporal dementia often overlap with those of other conditions. Blood tests To help rule out other conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, your doctor...

Dec 21st, 2020 - Overview What is age-related macular degeneration? Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that affects central vision. People with AMD can’t see people or things directly in front of them. This common age-related eye problem occurs in people over the age of 50. AMD affects the macula, the back part of the retina that controls central vision. People with AMD aren’t completely b...

Dec 11th, 2020 - Overview Vision with macular degeneration Open pop-up dialog box Close Vision with macular degeneration Vision with macular degeneration As macular degeneration develops, clear, normal vision (shown left) becomes impaired by a general haziness. With advanced macular degeneration, a blind spot typically forms at the center of your visual field (shown right). Wet macular degeneration is a chronic...

Dec 11th, 2020 - Overview Vision with macular degeneration Open pop-up dialog box Close Vision with macular degeneration Vision with macular degeneration As macular degeneration develops, clear, normal vision (shown left) becomes impaired by a general haziness. With advanced macular degeneration, a blind spot typically forms at the center of your visual field (shown right). Wet macular degeneration is a chronic...

Dec 11th, 2020 - Overview Vision with macular degeneration Open pop-up dialog box Close Vision with macular degeneration Vision with macular degeneration As macular degeneration develops, clear, normal vision (shown left) becomes impaired by a general haziness. With advanced macular degeneration, a blind spot typically forms at the center of your visual field (shown right). Wet macular degeneration is a chronic...

Dec 11th, 2020 - Diagnosis Drusen Open pop-up dialog box Close Drusen Drusen The appearance of drusen — yellow deposits — on color photographs of the retina indicates the development of early-stage dry macular degeneration (left). As the condition progresses to the advanced stage (right), atrophy — loss of light-sensitive cells that make up the macula — may occur. Amsler grid Open pop-up dialog box Close Amsler...