Are Your Eyes Healthy? Find Out About Common Eye Disorders

It’s so easy to forget about our eye health, yet nothing is as important to our everyday. In fact we often abuse our eyes but not wearing protective goggles, sunglasses to block the UV rays, or a host of other reasons. Are your eyes healthy? Read on to find out about common eye disorders you should be aware of.

Dry eye syndrome is probably the most common eye problem seen by doctors or optometrists. It’s usually the result of a problem with the tear film the lubes the eyes. One of the most common reasons for dryness is the aging process. As we age our bodies produce less oil which affects the tear film.

Other factors can include dry, windy, hot climates, higher altitudes, and air conditioning. Computer work and reading can also irritate the eyes causing dryness. Be sure to blink often. Some medications and some medical conditions can also cause dryness.

Symptoms include itching, irritation, redness, burning, blurring, and increasing discomfort. Many treatments are available. The simplest being the use of eye drops, while others may require eye surgery. Drinking more water and blinking often are also very helpful.

Farsightedness or hyperopia is very common and occurs when light enters the eye and focuses behind the retina rather than directly on it. The result is you can’t see close up but you may also not be able to see at a distance. When you are younger your eyes can often compensate for this on their own but around 40 the eyes loose this ability and you may experience blurred vision, difficulty seeing up close, or eye strain when reading.

An eye test can diagnose the condition and corrective lenses or laser surgery such as LASIK may correct the problem.

Nearsightedness or Myopia is basically the opposite of farsightedness. In this case you able to see near but distance is blurry and can sometime be brought into focus by squinting. An eye test can diagnose the condition and corrective lenses or laser surgery such as LASIK may correct the problem.

Most people at some time in their life will experience a foreign body in their life. It may feel like a grain of salt, blur your vision, feel irritated, or become red. Most superficial foreign bodies can be flushed out with an eye wash but if an object becomes deeply embedded you will require medical attention to have it removed and avoid serious eye damage.

Wood, metal, and glass are extremely dangerous as they easily become imbedded. Never rub or touch the affected eye. Try not to blink and keep your eye closed. Do not try to remove the object yourself. Seek medical attention immediately.

Age related macular degeneration is a degenerative condition associated with age. It is the most common cause of lost vision in individuals over 50. It’s caused because the arteries that nourish the retina harden and are unable to supply oxygen and nutrients to the eye. This causes the loss of the vision in the center. It causes difficulty in performing tasks and reading.

Currently there is no medical therapy that has proven successful with dry macular degeneration. In a few cases of wet macular degeneration there has been success with laser photocoagulation. There are ongoing clinical studies for macular degeneration. If you believe you have macular degeneration it is important that you see your eye care specialist.

Glaucoma is caused by an increase in intraocular pressure which makes the eyes drainage structure malfunction. If it is left untreated it will cause irreversible eye damage to the optic nerve. If detected early the process can be slowed down.

Symptoms may include a sudden loss in vision clarity, extreme eye pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Treatment usually consists of medication; however surgery is an alternative should the medication fail to work.

Iritis is an inflammation of the colored part of the eye caused by a variety of reason, as well as linked to some diseases. Symptoms include light sensitivity, red eye, pain, tearing, and a small pupil. Steroids and anti inflammatory drops work well to reduce the inflammation.

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