Eyes
Get Rid of Puffy Eyes or Dark Circles
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admin 2 November, 2008
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If you battle with puffy eyes or dark circles that make you look worn out, do not feel alone. This is actually a very common complaint that can be treated easily. By using a mixture of Vitamin C ester and alpha-lipoic acid eye therapy, you will find that this antibiotic helps reduce this puffiness.
Categories : Eyes, Health, Men's Health, Tips and Advices, Women's Health
Color Vision Deficiency
Posted by
admin 22 August, 2008
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Color vision deficiency (color blindness) refers to abnormal color vision that causes a person to see colors differently than others see them or that causes problems distinguishing certain colors. The deficiency may range from difficulty telling the difference between shades of the same color to total inability to see any colors at all. Most people with this problem have a mild deficiency and have difficulty distinguishing shades of red and green.
Color vision deficiency is usually an inherited disorder. It is predominant in men, and about 8 percent of all males are affected, although women can carry the gene for defective color vision and pass it to their children. In people with color vision deficiency, receptor cells for color in the retina (the light-sensitive membrane that lines the back of the eye) malfunction, sending incorrect information about color to the brain. The severity of the disorder varies from person to person. Color vision deficiency is diagnosed according to the person’s symptoms and the results of color vision testing.
Some people have defective color vision that is not inherited. Aging can cause the lens of the eye to darken, affecting a person’s ability to differentiate colors. Certain drugs and eye diseases also can disturb normal color vision.
There is no cure for inherited color vision deficiency, but affected people can take steps to counteract the problem. Some people learn to compensate by developing their own methods of distinguishing different colors—for example, by brightness or location. Tinted prescription eyeglasses may help some people who have red-green color vision deficiency.
If you have a family history of color vision deficiency and work in an occupation that requires distinguishing colors, or if you are having trouble identifying colors, see an ophthalmologist to be tested for color vision deficiency. He or she can recommend steps you can take to compensate for the problem.
Categories : Eyes
Macular Degeneration
Posted by
admin 22 August, 2008
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The part of the retina (the light-sensitive membrane that lines the back of the eye) that provides sharp sight in the center of the field of vision is called the macula. You need this sharp central vision to see fine details. It is essential for driving, reading, and recognizing faces. As you age, the tissue of the macula can become damaged, leading to a loss of central vision. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the United States.
There are two general types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. The dry form accounts for about 90 percent of all cases of the disorder. In this form, the macula slowly thins until vision becomes dimmed. Although only about 10 percent of all people with macular degeneration have the wet form, they are at much higher risk of losing their sharp central vision than are those with the dry form. New blood vessels grow under the retina in the wet form of the disease. These blood vessels bleed and leak fluid, creating a large blind spot in the center of the field of vision.
The greatest risk factor for macular degeneration is age. Although symptoms can appear when a person is in his or her 40s or 50s, they usually occur in people over age 60. Women tend to be at greater risk than men, and whites have a higher risk than people of other races. Smoking also appears to increase the likelihood of developing macular degeneration.
Neither form of macular degeneration causes pain. The most common early symptom is blurred vision. As fewer cells in the macula are able to function, affected people are less able to see details—for example, in faces or on printed pages. The blurred vision may lessen in more brightly lit areas, but once the light-sensing cells degenerate, a small but growing blind spot appears in the middle of the field of vision. Another symptom is that objects in straight lines, such as telephone poles or sentences on a page, appear crooked. This phenomenon can occur because fluid from the leaking blood vessels collects and lifts the macula, distorting vision.
To diagnose macular degeneration, an ophthalmologist will use eyedrops to dilate your pupils and an ophthalmoscope (a handheld viewing instrument that projects a very bright light onto the back of the eye) to view the retina. The doctor also may ask you to look at a pattern called an Amsler grid, which looks like a checkerboard. If your central vision is affected, the lines of the grid will appear wavy or distorted.
Currently there is no proven treatment for dry macular degeneration. Some doctors believe that taking antioxidant vitamins, zinc supplements, or lutein (an antioxidant found in plants such as spinach, kale, and collard greens) may be helpful in slowing the progression of the disease. A number of low-vision aids, such as magnifying glasses or bright lights, can help affected people continue to participate in activities they enjoy and to lead independent lives.
Some cases of wet macular degeneration can be treated with laser surgery, in which a highly concentrated beam of light is used to destroy the new blood vessels under the retina. Laser surgery is less successful when the abnormal blood vessels have grown beneath the center of the macula. Laser surgery is usually performed in a doctor’s office or in an outpatient facility, and the person is allowed to go home the same day.
Categories : Eyes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Posted by
admin 22 August, 2008
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Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disorder caused by diabetes, a chronic disease that can damage blood vessels, including those in the eye. A leading cause of blindness in adults in the United States, diabetic retinopathy is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina, the light-sensitive membrane that lines the back of the eye. In some people, the blood vessels leak fluid. In others, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These abnormal blood vessels can bleed and leak into the vitreous humor (the jellylike substance that fills the center of the eye), preventing light from passing through to the retina. The abnormal blood vessels and bleeding also can produce scar tissue that pulls the retina away from the back of the eye, causing a detached retina. Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, and the longer a person has diabetes, the more likely he or she is to develop this disorder. Nearly half of all people with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy.
There may be no obvious symptoms in the early stages of the disease, but some people with diabetic retinopathy experience blurred vision when the macula (the part of the retina that provides sharp central vision) swells because of the leaking fluid. Abnormal blood vessels that have grown on the surface of the retina can cause symptoms such as blurred vision, seeing spots, vision that alternates between being normal and diminished, pain in the eyes, and sudden loss of vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist immediately. In some cases, vision may not become impaired until the disease is severe. That is why regular (at least yearly, or more often if recommended by your physician) eye examinations performed by an ophthalmologist are so important for people with diabetes.
During the eye examination, the ophthalmologist will dilate your pupils with eyedrops and then examine your retina using an ophthalmoscope (a handheld viewing instrument that projects a very bright light onto the back of the eye). He or she will look for leaking fluid, abnormal bleeding, or new blood vessel growth on the retina. Early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy go a long way toward preventing vision loss and blindness and minimizing potential vision problems.
The best way to prevent diabetic retinopathy and to slow its progression is to consistently control the level of glucose in your blood through diet, exercise, medication, and insulin, if necessary. It also is important to keep your blood pressure within the normal range. In some cases the ophthalmologist may recommend laser surgery in which a highly concentrated beam of light is directed onto the retina either to shrink abnormal blood vessels or to seal leaking blood vessels. This procedure can be performed in the doctor’s office or in an outpatient facility. Laser surgery can reduce the risk of severe vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, but it may not restore vision that has already been lost.
A type of microsurgery (delicate surgery performed under a microscope) called vitrectomy may be used for advanced cases of diabetic retinopathy, in which the vitreous humor has become filled with blood. In this procedure the vitreous humor is removed and replaced with a clear solution. Vitrectomy may take several hours to complete and is performed in an operating room using either local or general anesthesia. The procedure can cause discomfort. Recovery time varies, depending on the extent of the problem.
Surgery to reattach the retina may be needed if scar tissue causes the retina to become detached from the back of the eye. The procedure is performed using either local or general anesthesia and may be combined with laser surgery or vitrectomy. Surgery may take several hours to complete and is performed in an operating room. The procedure can cause discomfort.
People who have diabetes are also at risk for other eye diseases. They are twice as likely to develop a cataract (search cataract for more info) as people without diabetes, and the cataracts tend to develop at an earlier age. Glaucoma (search glaucoma for more info) also occurs in people with diabetes twice as often as in other adults. The longer you have diabetes, the higher your risk of developing glaucoma.
Cataracts
Posted by
admin 22 August, 2008
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A cataract is a cloudy area in the normally clear lens inside the eye. The cloudy area worsens as protein fibers in the lens clump together, preventing light rays from passing through the lens and focusing on the retina, the light-sensitive membrane that lines the back of the eye. Cataracts usually develop very gradually, and early changes in the lens of the eye may go unnoticed. As the cataract continues to develop, symptoms begin to appear. The person may have blurred vision in one eye. Bothersome glare caused by bright sunlight or vehicle headlights is common. The person also may have poor night vision. Colors appear to be less bright. The person may experience increased nearsightedness that requires frequent changes in his or her eyeglass prescription. The person also may find it more difficult to see well enough to read and perform other daily tasks.
Cataracts in adults can be classified into three general types, depending on their location in the lens. The most common type is called a nuclear cataract or an age-related cataract and occurs in the center of the lens. The term “agerelated” is somewhat misleading because people can have this type of cataract in their 40s and 50s. During middle age, most cataracts are mild and do not affect vision. After age 60, however, cataracts more commonly begin to interfere with vision. The second type of cataract is a cortical cataract, which starts as a wedgeshaped spoke at the outer layer of the lens. The spoke descends from the outer layer into the center, where it obstructs the transmission of light. This type of cataract can develop in people who have diabetes. The third type of cataract is called a subcapsular cataract. It starts as a small clouding at the back of the lens and develops slowly.
The exact cause of cataracts is unknown, although doctors have identified certain factors that may be involved in their development. Research has shown that people who live at high altitudes or who spend much time in the sun develop cataracts earlier than other people. Many ophthalmologists now advise people to wear sunglasses that protect against both ultraviolet A and B (UV-A and UV-B) rays and to wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect the eyes against sun exposure whenever they go outdoors. People who have diabetes also seem to have an increased risk of developing cataracts, as do those who take certain medications, such as corticosteroids. If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your doctor about your chances of developing cataracts.
To diagnose cataracts, an ophthalmologist will perform a thorough eye examination. He or she will dilate your pupils with eyedrops and will examine the inside of your eyes with a slit lamp microscope (a viewing instrument with a bright light and magnifying lenses) to detect any clouding of the lens. If a cataract is present, the doctor will determine the type, size, and location of the cataract.
At present there are no eyedrops or other medications that will eliminate cataracts. At first, your vision may be improved with prescription eyeglasses, bifocals, a magnifying glass for reading, or better lighting at home or at work. Once your vision becomes so poor that it affects your ability to function independently, you will probably need to undergo surgery to have the cataracts removed. However, you may not need surgery for many years; some people with cataracts never need surgery.
During cataract surgery the surgeon removes the clouded lens and usually replaces it with an artificial lens. Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the United States and also is one of the most successful. Good vision is restored in more than 90 percent of people who have cataract surgery. After surgery you will probably have to use eyedrops or wear protective eyeglasses for a time. Your vision may not become fully restored until a few weeks or months after surgery. Most people with a lens implant will need to wear bifocals.
In some cases the posterior capsule (the membrane at the back of the lens) may become cloudy months or even years after cataract surgery, causing blurred vision. This condition can be corrected with a surgical procedure that uses a laser (a highly concentrated, powerful beam of light). The procedure is brief and painless and can be performed in the doctor’s office or in an outpatient facility.
If you are over age 60, the best way to protect your vision and to check for cataracts is to have your eyes examined by an ophthalmologist at least every 2 years. The examination should include dilation of the pupil so the doctor can see the lens and the back of the eyes. If a cataract is detected, your ophthalmologist will work with you to decide on the best course of treatment and will explain the risks and the benefits of cataract surgery.
Categories : Eyes
Warning Signs of Acute Glaucoma
Posted by
admin 22 August, 2008
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Chronic open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma, develops gradually and usually produces no symptoms until blind spots begin to appear in peripheral (side) vision. Acute closed-angle glaucoma occurs suddenly and causes the following symptoms:
• blurred vision
• severe eye pain
• headaches
• halos or rainbows around lights
• nausea and vomiting
Acute closed-angle glaucoma is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical treatment. If you suddenly experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or go directly to the nearest hospital emergency department. Do not delay. If not treated promptly, acute closed-angle glaucoma can cause blindness.
Categories : Eyes
Glaucoma
Posted by
admin 22 August, 2008
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There are two major types of glaucoma—chronic open-angle glaucoma and acute closed-angle glaucoma. Chronic open-angle glaucoma is the most common. It usually develops gradually over a number of years. In chronic openangle glaucoma, the normal pressure of the fluid in the eyes slowly rises. At the front of your eyes lies a small space known as the anterior chamber. A clear fluid called the aqueous humor flows in and out of the chamber to deliver nutrients to nearby tissues and remove wastes. In people with chronic open-angle glaucoma, the drainage angle (the channel through which fluid leaves the eyeball) does not function normally and the fluid does not drain properly. As the fluid builds up, the pressure inside the eyes increases, potentially causing irreversible damage to the optic nerve. Because it transmits visual images to the brain, damage to the optic nerve produces vision loss that can result in blindness.
In acute closed-angle glaucoma, the drainage angle becomes completely blocked and there is a sudden, very high increase in pressure inside the eyes that can quickly lead to blindness. In a less common type of glaucoma, called normal tension glaucoma, the optic nerve is damaged, even though pressure inside the eyes is within the normal range. This type of glaucoma is poorly understood.
About 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma; it is the third most common cause of blindness in Americans. Anyone can develop the disorder, but some people are at higher risk than others, including people with a family history of glaucoma; people who are nearsighted, have diabetes, or are over age 60; and African Americans over age 40. In fact, glaucoma is five times more likely to occur in African Americans than in whites, and the disease causes blindness more often in African Americans.
Chronic open-angle glaucoma usually produces no symptoms until the optic nerve has been damaged. Blind spots may gradually develop, especially in the peripheral (side) vision. Objects in the front of the field of vision still may be seen clearly, but those at the side may be missed. As the disease progresses, the person’s field of vision becomes increasingly narrow until total blindness occurs. Acute closed-angle glaucoma comes on suddenly and usually without warning. Symptoms may include blurred vision, severe eye pain, headache, halos around lights, nausea, and vomiting. This type of glaucoma is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical treatment.
Because chronic open-angle glaucoma causes no symptoms, it is usually detected during a routine eye examination performed by an ophthalmologist, a physician who specializes in treating disorders of the eyes. The doctor will examine your eyes to determine if the disease has affected them. He or she also will test your peripheral vision to determine the extent and the stability or progression of any damage caused by glaucoma. This is done by performing a visual field test, in which you cover one eye and look straight ahead while an object is shown in different areas of your field of vision. You will be instructed to give a response when you see the object. Your responses will be recorded and used to evaluate your field of vision.
In a computerized visual field test, you sit facing a screen, place your chin on a chin rest, and press a button each time you see a tiny flashing light. A computer printout of your responses allows your doctor to evaluate your field of vision. A similar test that does not use a computer can also be performed.
To measure the pressure inside your eyes, the doctor will perform a test called applanation tonometry. After he or she puts a drop of a local anesthetic on each cornea, the doctor puts a drop of an orange fluid called fluorescein in each eye. Then the doctor gently places an instrument called a tonometer against the cornea to measure pressure in each eyeball. The test is safe and painless. You will not feel the tonometer against your eyeball, but you will see a bright blue circle of light moving toward your eye. The test takes only a few seconds. (In a similar, though less accurate, procedure called air tonometry, a gentle puff of air is directed onto the cornea to measure the pressure inside your eyes. Anesthetic is not needed because the tonometer does not touch the cornea.) The doctor then places eyedrops in your eyes to dilate (widen) the pupils. Once the pupils are dilated, the doctor can examine the insides of your eyes with an ophthalmoscope (a handheld viewing instrument that projects a very bright light onto the back of the eye) to assess the condition of the optic nerves. After the examination your eyes will be sensitive to light for a while, so try to arrange in advance for someone to drive you home.
Additional tests may include gonioscopy, in which the ophthalmologist anesthetizes the eyes with eyedrops and places a special contact lens called a gonioscope on the cornea to examine the drainage angle of each eye for any changes or signs of blockage. The doctor also may take special photographs (called disc photos) of the optic nerves at various intervals so that he or she can monitor any changes or damage due to progression of the disease.
Glaucoma usually cannot be cured because damage to the optic nerve is irreversible. However, the disease can be controlled with medication and surgery. Medication prescribed to treat glaucoma is usually given as eyedrops. Some glaucoma medications reduce the pressure in the eyes by slowing the flow of fluid into the eyes. Other medications help to improve fluid drainage. Although regular use of these medications will control the fluid pressure inside your eyes, the drugs may lose their effectiveness over time. Also, some medications may cause unwanted side effects. In such cases, the ophthalmologist may alter the dosage, change medication, or suggest other ways to solve the problem. You will need to take the medication for the rest of your life.
The goal of eye surgery in treating glaucoma is usually to make it easier for fluid to drain from the eye. For acute closed-angle glaucoma, the doctor performs a surgical procedure called an iridotomy. In this procedure, a laser (a highly concentrated, powerful beam of light) is used to make a small hole in the iris to relieve pressure inside the eyeball. The procedure is brief and is usually performed in the doctor’s office or in an outpatient facility. For chronic openangle glaucoma that cannot be controlled with medication, the doctor performs laser surgery to change the structure of the drainage angle to allow for better fluid drainage. This type of surgery is also performed in the doctor’s office or in an outpatient facility. Over time, the effects of this laser surgery may wear off, and additional treatment may be needed. Conventional eye surgery in an operating room may be performed for people whose glaucoma cannot be controlled with medication or laser surgery.
Early detection and treatment of glaucoma is the best way to control the disorder. If you are at high risk for developing glaucoma and are 40 or older, be sure to have your eyes thoroughly examined by an ophthalmologist at least every 2 years.
Categories : Eyes
