Recently, a little over a year the National Health Institute of the American government (NHI) declared that the Latinos who live in that country have a high rate of eye diseases and a high number of these people are not even aware of their situation. This study, called ' Los Angeles Latin Eye Study' , is the most thorough investigation among Latinos carried out in the USA until now.

The study found that Latinos have a high incidence in diabetic retinopathies, which is the main cause of vision loss in diabetic people. In this disease the small blood vessels known as capillaries become fragile and begin to allow blood contained in its interior to leave. These small blood spills cause damage to the inner well-known eye constituent called retina. Another disorder that Hispanics undergo is glaucoma, caused by a liquid inside our eyes called aqueous humor. This liquid exerts pressure on the globe of the eye helping it maintain its form. However, when this liquid does not drain suitably it is accumulated, increasing the pressure to harmful levels. This condition can cause pain, loss of vision and even total blindness.

Other common eye disorders are macular degeneration and cataracts. The macula is the part of the retina in which cones are more abundant, which in turns is the part of the eye in which the vision is more acute and precise. Damages to this part of the retina greatly affect the vision and are the main cause of sight loss in advanced age people. Cataracts are a condition in which the lens of the eye through which the luminance rays traverse, becomes cloudy. This is, generally, the result of damages to the proteins that compose the lens.

It is necessary to take care of the eyes from an early age. It is extremely important to go to the ophthalmologist for routine controls annually to prevent these or others diseases.