Is something wrong with your eyes? Find symptoms in the list below, then look to the right for associated eye problems and diseases. To learn more, click on the eye problem or disease for a pop-up window with a definition and links.
Please note: The information on this page is not intended as a diagnosis of your problem, but rather as a helpful guide. Please see your eye doctor for diagnosis and treatment if you suspect you have an eye or vision problem.
A,B
Symptom | Possible eye problem or disease |
Absence of eye or eyes | Anophthalmos |
Blinking, frequent | blepharospasm, contact lens problem, dry eye syndrome, foreign body, hemifacial spasm, stroke |
Blinking, infrequent | Parkinson's disease |
Bloodshot eye | See red, or pink eye |
Blurred vision, distance | myopia. See also blurred vision |
Blurred vision, general | accommodative disorder, albinism, amblyopia, aniridia, asteroid hyalosis, astigmatism, cataracts, central serous retinopathy, computer vision syndrome, contact lens problem, corneal abrasion, corneal dystrophy, corneal erosion, cranial nerve palsy, drugs, epiretinal membrane, eye tumor, foreign body, fungal keratitis eye infection, glaucoma, hypotony, keratoconus, lens dislocation, macular degeneration, meibomianitis, migraine, neuroretinitis, nystagmus, ophthalmoplegia, optic nerve problem, orbital cellulitis, photokeratitis, pterygium, retinal detachment, retinitis, retinoschisis, scleritis, surgery, trauma, uveitis, vascular problem, vitreous hemorrhage, white dot syndrome |
Blurred vision, near | diabetic retinopathy, hyperopia, presbyopia. See also: blurred vision, general. |
| Bulging eye | cavernous sinus problem, eye tumor, glaucoma, Graves' ophthalmology, histiocytosis, mucormycosis, optic nerve problem, orbital cellulitis, orbital pseudotumor, trauma, vascular problem. See also: small eye. |
Bump on eye (any color) | papilloma, pinguecula, pterygium. |
| Bump on eyelid (any color) | chalazion, milia, eyelid papilloma, skin cancer, xanthelasma. |
| Burning eye(s) | blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, computer vision syndrome, conjunctivitis, contact lens problem, cranial nerve palsy, dry eye syndrome, environmental condition, meibomianitis, rheumatoid arthritis , Sjogren's syndrome, trauma. See also: eye pain or discomfort. |
C,D
Symptom | Possible eye problem or disease |
Close appearance of object that is actually farther away | Metamorphopsia |
Cloud shape in vision | See floater in vision |
Clouding of the eye's surface | fungal keratitis eye infection |
Clump shape in vision | See floater in vision |
Color vision problem | cataract, color blindness, drugs, neuroretinitis, optic nerve problem, white dot syndrome. |
Crossed eyes | cranial nerve palsy, strabismus, crusty eyelid, blepharitis |
Depth perception problem | anophthalmos, blurred vision (in one eye), cranial nerve palsy, strabismus. |
Differing prescriptions in eyes | anisometropia |
Discharge | canaliculitis, conjunctivitis, contact lens problem, dacryocystitis, dacryostenosis, foreign body, fungal keratitis eye infection, overflow tearing, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome. |
Distorted vision | astigmatism, keratoconus, macular degeneration, metamorphopsia, migraine, ocular migraine. |
| Double vision (diplopia) | accommodative disorder, asitigmatism, cranial nerve palsy, diabetic retinopathy, eye tumor, Graves' ophthalmology, keratoconus, lens dislocation, myasthenia gravis, ophthalmoplegia, pseudotumor, stroke, trauma, vascular problem, vergence disorder. See also: shadow on letters |
Droopy eyelid | blepharochalasis, dermatochalasis, ptosis. |
blepharitis, dry skin. | |
Dry eye | blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, computer vision syndrome, conjunctivitis, cranial nerve palsy, dacryoadenitis, drugs, dry eye syndrome, environmental condition, meibomianitis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, Sjogren's syndrome, trauma. |
E,F,G
Symptom | Possible eye problem or disease |
Eyelash loss | madarosis, trichotillomania |
Eyelash particles | atypical blepharitis, pediculosis (eyelash lice) |
Eyelid cleft | coloboma, trauma |
Eyelid turns in | entropian |
Eyelid turns out | ectropion |
Eyes are different colors | heterochromia |
Eyes don't point in same direction | cranial nerve palsy, strabismus |
Eye strain | accommodative disorder, astigmatism, computer vision syndrome, convergence insufficiency, divergence insufficiency, hyperopia, myopia, presbyopia |
Far appearance of object that is actually closer | metamorphopsia |
Floater in vision | floaters |
| Foreign body sensation (feels like something is in the eye) | band keratopathy, blepharitis, contact lens problem, corneal abrasion, corneal dystrophy, corneal edema, corneal erosion, dry eye syndrome, entropion, eye tumor, foreign body (corneal or conjunctival), keratitis, pterygium (inflamed), Sjogren's syndrome, surgery, stye, trauma. See also: eye pain or discomfort |
Glare | See: light sensitivity |
Grittiness | blepharitis, corneal abrasion, dry eye syndrome, keratitis (including radiation (UV) keratitis) |
H-L
Symptom | Possible eye problem or disease |
Halos around lights | cataract, corneal edema, corneal opacity, drugs, glaucoma, migraine, ocular migraine |
Iris defect | aniridia, coloboma, eye tumor (iris), surgery, trauma |
| Itchy eyes | allergy, conjunctivitis, contact lens problem, dry eye syndrome, entropion, pterygium (inflamed), Sjogren's syndrome |
Large appearance of objects that are actually smaller | metamorphopsia |
Lazy eye | amblyopia |
Lesions on the surface of the eye | fungal keratitis eye infection |
Light flashes | photopsia, migraine, ocular migraine, retinal detachment, retinal tear, vitreous detachment |
Light sensitivity | fungal keratitis eye infection, photophobia |
Lights, halos around | See: halos |
M-Q
Symptom | Possible eye problem or disease |
Movement of eyelid, limited ability | cranial nerve palsy, eye tumor (orbital), trauma (orbital fracture) |
Movement of eyes, involuntary | nystagmus, opsoclonus |
Movement of eyes, limited ability | cranial nerve palsy, eye tumor (orbital), Graves' ophthalmology, ophthalmoplegia, Parinaud dorsal midbrain syndrome, stroke, trauma |
Night vision problem | night myopia, retinitis pigmentosa |
Pain or discomfort around eyes | blepharoconjunctivitis, eye tumor (orbital), orbital pseudotumor (inflammatory), sinusitis, trauma |
Pain or discomfort in eye | blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, chalazion, conjunctivitis, contact lens problem, corneal abrasion, corneal dystrophy, corneal edema, corneal erosion, corneal ulcer, dacryocystitis, dry eye syndrome, ectropion, endophthalmitis, entropion, episcleritis, eye tumor, foreign body, fungal keratitis eye infection, glaucoma, Graves' ophthalmology, hypotony, keratitis, migraine, mucormycosis, neuroretinitis, ophthalmoplegia, optic nerve problem, orbital cellulitis, photokeratitis, scleritis, sinusitis, stye, surgery, trauma, uveitis, vascular problem. See also: burning, foreign body sensation |
Pain or discomfort, eyelid | blepharitis, chalazion, ectropion, entropion, eye tumor (lid), orbital cellulitis, stye |
Peripheral vision problem | anophthalmos. See also: vision loss, peripheral vision loss |
Pupil, large (dilated) | cranial nerve palsy, drugs, trauma |
Pupil, small | Argyll Robertson pupil, drugs, Horner's syndrome |
Pupils, different sized | anisocoria. See also: pupil, large and pupil, small (above) |
Pupil unresponsiveness to light | Argyll Robertson pupil, cranial nerve palsy, drugs, glaucoma, optic nerve problem, Parinaud dorsal midbrain syndrome, tonic pupil, trauma, uveitis |
Pupil, white | See: spot on eye, white or cloudy (below) |
R,S
Symptom | Possible eye problem or disease |
Red or pink eye | allergy, blepharoconjunctivitis, canaliculitis, cavernous sinus problem, computer vision syndrome, conjunctivitis, contact lens problem, corneal abrasion, corneal ulcer, dacryocystitis, dry eye syndrome, ectropion, endophthalmitis, entropion, episcleritis, eye tumor, foreign body, fungal keratitis eye infection, glaucoma, Graves' ophthalmology, meibomianitis, pterygium, scleritis, subconjunctival hemorrhage, surgery, uveitis, vascular problem |
Red or pink eyelid | blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, contact lens problem, dacryoadenitis, ectropion, lupus erythematosus, meibomianitis, orbital cellulitis, stye, vascular birthmark. See also: spot on eyelid, colored (below) |
Shadow in vision | macular degeneration, retinal detachment. See also: floater in vision (above) |
Shadow on letters | astigmatism, macular degeneration. See also: double vision (above) |
Small appearance of objects that are actually larger | metamorphopsia |
Small eye | enophthalmos, microphthalmia, ptosis. See also: bulging eye (above) |
Spasm | See: eye twitching (above) |
Speck in vision | See: floater in vision (above) |
Spot in vision | cataract. See also: floater in vision, vision loss |
Spot on eye, brown | melanosis, nevus, skin cancer |
Spot on eye, red or pink | See: red or pink eye (above) |
Spot on eye, white or cloudy | cataract, corneal edema, corneal opacity, corneal ulcer, eye tumor (intraocular), leukocoria, pinguecula, pterygium. See also: white ring/bow around iris (below) |
Spot on eye, yellow | pinguecula. See also: yellow eyes |
Spot on eyelid, colored | eye tumor, liver spot, lupus erythematosus, melanosis, nevus, papilloma, pediculosis, skin cancer, xanthelasma. See also: red or pink eyelid (above) |
Squiggle in vision | metamorphopsia. See also: floater in vision (above) |
Squinting | accommodation disorder, amblyopia, hyperopia, myopia, photophobia, presbyopia, uveitis, vergence disorder. See also: light sensitivity (above) |
| Sticky eyes | allergy, blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, conjunctivitis, dacryocystitis, dacryostenosis |
Straight lines appear wavy, curved or bent | metamorphopsia |
Swelling, around eyes | dacryoadenitis, dacryocystitis, eye tumor, orbital cellulitis, sinusitis, trauma |
Swelling, eye | chemosis, fungal keratitis eye infection, trauma |
Swelling, eyelid | allergy, blepharitis, canaliculitis, chalazion, contact lens problem, dacryoadenitis, eye tumor, meibomianitis, orbital cellulitis, sinusitis, stye, trauma, vascular problem |
T,U,V
Symptom | Possible eye problem or disease |
Tearing | allergy, blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, chalazion, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion, corneal dystrophy, corneal ulcer, cranial nerve palsy, dacryocystitis, dacryostenosis, dry eye syndrome, entropion, environmental condition, episcleritis, foreign body, fungal keratitis eye infection, keratitis, overflow tearing, scleritis, stye, trauma, uveitis |
| Tired eyes | See: eye strain (above) |
Tunnel vision | See: vision loss, peripheral |
Twitching (tic) | blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, myokymia |
Vision improvement, temporary | cataract |
Vision loss, central | central serous retinopathy, choroidal neovascularization, epiretinal membrane, macular degeneration, macular hole, migraine, neuroretinitis, optic nerve problem, vascular problem, white dot syndrome |
Vision loss, general | albinism, amblyopia, band keratopathy, cavernous sinus problem, corneal dystrophy, corneal edema, corneal opacity, cranial nerve palsy, diabetic retinopathy, drugs, endophthalmitis, entropion, eye tumor, foreign body, fungal keratitis eye infection, Graves' ophthalmology, lead poisoning, Leber's congenital amaurosis, lens dislocation, migraine, mucormycosis, neuroretinitis, optic nerve problem, orbital cellulitis, Patau syndrome, photokeratitis, pseudotumor cerebri, retinal detachment, retinitis, stroke, surgery, Tay-Sachs disease, toxocariasis, trauma, vascular problem, vitreous hemorrhage, white dot syndrome |
Vision loss, peripheral | drugs, glaucoma, migraine, ocular migraine, optic nerve problem, retinitis, retinitis pigmentosa |
W, X, T AND Z
Symptom | Possible eye problem or disease |
Wall-eyed (eye turned towards ear) | cranial nerve palsy, strabismus |
| Watering eyes | See: tearing (above) |
Wavy lines in vision | metamorphopsia, migraine, ocular migraine. See also: floater in vision (above) |
White ring around iris | arcus |
White spot on eye | See: spot on eye, white or cloudy (above) |
| Yellow eyes | jaundice |
Yellow spot on eye | See: spot on eye, yellow (above) |
Zigzag in vision | See: floater in vision, wavy lines in vision (above) |
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