Common Eye Problems
We have all probably experienced conjuntivitis ( inflammation of the eye) at least once in our lives. Many of us wear corrective lenses.But these are only two of the variousof eye conditions there are. Eye conditions that can lead to blindness. Eye conditions that can often be avoided with preventive measures. Awareness is the first step.
"The eyes like sentinel occupy the highest place in the body."~Marcus Tullius Cicero
Eye Conditions
Conditions
| Meaning
| Treatment
|
|---|---|---|
Refractive errors
| near sightedness, far sightedness and astigmatism
| corrective eyewear, surgery
|
Amblyopia
| "lazy eye" can lead to permanent vision loss.
| vision therapy, surgery, eyeglasses
|
Cataract
| a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy.
| surgery
|
Floaters
| tiny spots or flecks that sometimes float in our vision, often caused by undisolved gel particles.
| as long as it is not caused by retinal tearing, nothing
|
Age-related macular degeneration
| sudden decrease in vision due to a macular hole
| injections and vitamins if caught soon enough
|
Glaucoma
| Increased pressure in the eyeball causing causing damage to the optic nerve
| eyedrops to lower the macular pressure
|
Detached retina
| a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from the back of the eye
| surgery
|
Strabismus
| when the two eyes don't work together in proper alignment.
| vision therapy, corrective eyewear, surgery
|
Diabetic retinopathy
| vision threatening damage to the retina.
| maintaining low blood sugars or in more extreme cases, surgery.
|
Conjuntivitis
| an inflammation of the conjuncta of the eye
| eyedrops or antibiotics
|
Dry Eye
| a lack of sufficient moisture on the surface of the eye.
| eyedrops or punctal plugs
|
How often do you see an eye doctor?
Dame Judi Dench is Battling Macular Degeneration
In 2012, Dame Judi Dench, 78, revealed that she is losing her sight to Macular Degeneration. She had to have her scripts read to her in her latest James Bond movie, Skyfall. She is is not defeated and has no plans to retire. She went on to film the comedy, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Statistics on Refractive Error
About half of US adults over twenty years old have refractive error or eye problems that result in less than 20/20 vision. 80% of people twelve years or older have refractive error. The prevalence of refrafractive error increases with age. Women are more likely to be nearsighted than men but more men over the age of sixty have refractive errors than women.
Dame Judi Dench on Macular Degeneration
How You can be Proactive In Your Eye Care
- See an eye doctor for a comprehensive exam yearly, unless your doctor recommends more often.
- Quit smoking! Smoking can increase your likelihood of getting cataracts, having optic nerve damage and macular degeneration.
- Wear sunglasses that protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. UV exposure can increase the possibility of cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet. Obesity can cause diabetes and diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness.
- Eat foods with omega-3 fatty acids , lurein, zinc and vitamins C and E.
Why you should have yearly Eye Exams.
Diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration have no warning. Usually, by the time you start feeling symptoms, the condition has progressed. Having regular eye exams can catch these silent diseases before too much, if any damage is done.
Eye Problems Caused by Injury.
Ninety percent of eye injuries are preventable. Wear protective goggles or safety lenses when necessary. Eye injuries during sport activities are very common. Whether you are in a playing field or in a laboratory, make sure your eyes are protected.
Computer use can cause Eye Problems.
People can cause eye strain and/dry eye by staring at their computers for a long time. Make sure your screen is on an angle so that you will need to look down a bit when you are looking at it. This will enable your eyes to blink more often and help prevent dry eye. Don't go longer than twenty minutes without turning away from your screen. Make sure you have an anti-reflective screen and if you wear eye glasses, get an anti-reflective coating.
About the author
The author of this hub, Randi Benlulu is an American Board Certified Optician and wishes she had a nickel for every time someone tells her they don't need an eye exam. She'd be retired by now!
We are only given one set of eyes.
"Of all the senses, sight must be the most delightful."~Helen Keller
