Don’t shy away from these unusual eye conditions!

Your eyes are incredible. Many writers have waxed poetic about them, including calling them windows to the soul. But your eyes can also do some really odd things, causing you to ask, “Is my eye condition serious?” There are many unusual eye conditions out there that sound much more official than they are in actuality. EyeLASIK is here to share more!

Official Name: Myokymia

Layman’s Term: Twitchy eyelids

It starts out innocuously enough, then your eyelid just starts going crazy and you feel like your eye is going to take flight. While it’s incredibly annoying, twitchy eyelids are relatively harmless. Alternating hot and cold on your eyes while resting your eyes can help alleviate the symptoms. If you’re experiencing continuous symptoms, be sure to contact your doctor.

Official Name: Photophobia

Layman’s Term: Light sensitivity

Photophobia isn’t an aversion to having your photograph taken. It’s actually an extreme sensitivity to light. While this isn’t an eye condition in itself, it is a symptom of several possible conditions. Talk to your healthcare professional to determine the best way to proceed and during that time, be sure to wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.

Official Name: Conjunctivitis

Layman’s Term: Pinkeye

While incredibly contagious, most cases of pinkeye clears up on its own or after a round of antibiotic drops. It’s essentially an infection of the conjunctiva and causes the blood vessels of the sclera, the clear “film” overlaying the eye, to become red and itchy.

Official Term: Pinguecula

Layman’s Term: Bumps on your eyeball

These non-cancerous bumps appear to be yellowish and appear to be slightly raised. Pingueculae are caused by UV exposure. For the most part, these are mostly cosmetic, though they can become inflamed (be sure to ask your doctor to confirm your diagnosis). If they’re particularly bothersome, they can be surgically removed. Wear your shades and prevent these!

We hope this has taken some of the fear out of some crazy sounding eye conditions.