Children eyeglasses are essential for a child with problematic vision. However, the task of choosing the best pair of eyeglasses for your child is not a simple task. It requires more attention than simply purchasing of school supplies. To guide you with a successful pair of eyeglasses for your child, here are some of the tips, guidelines and considerations that you must heed.

Shopping Success

The secret to having your child wear eyeglasses is to make him want to wear one. You need to explain thoroughly why he needs to have eyeglasses. Enlighten him the benefits of having eyeglasses in a manner that he’ll understand or involve the things that he’s inclined to. For example, your child is into sports. You can then explain that getting eyeglasses would enable him to see the ball more clearly. For most kids though, explaining the importance of children eyeglasses for their studying and recreational activities is enough to make them agree with wearing eyeglasses. Once he agrees with it, then the next step is to involve your child with the selection of eyeglasses. If he’s the one who picked the eyeglasses, it’s more likely for him to take a good care of it, plus you’re sure that it’s the piece that he wants.

Safe Lens Material

The lens is something to be decided by the optician. Most of the eye care professionals recommend polycarbonate lenses for children eyeglasses. Unlike glass lenses, these special lenses are also used for safety lenses due to its resistance with impacts, thereby preventing eye injuries from shards of plastic or glass on active children. Aside from that, polycarbonate lenses for children eyeglasses are lighter than glass making it more comfortable to wear. It also has protection from the ultraviolet rays from sunlight, fluorescent lights and even on computer screen, which is what children always encounter nowadays. These polycarbonate lenses for children eyeglasses also contain scratch-resistant coatings that make it more durable than any other type of lenses.

Frames that Fit

Frames for children eyeglasses are very important. There are a lot of frames that you can choose from. However, you need to figure out two things before you can buy the most suitable eyeglasses for your child. First, which eyeglasses would your child be willing to wear and second which one would last longer than his ravaged toys. Children are considered to be tough to deal with. That is also true for children who need to wear eyeglasses. Most of the time children find eyeglasses as something annoying and a hindrance for play and social interaction. Therefore, manufacturers nowadays use colors that would fascinate children to wear these eyeglasses. You must steer away from ‘un-cool’ type of frame, as it would subject your child to teasing.

Aside from that, you and your child must also choose between a plastic eyeglasses or a metal one. Most children before choose to have a plastic eyeglasses due to its durability, affordability and lightweight. However, metals nowadays also have the same features. Therefore, you can choose which one your child really wants. Children also choose scaled down copies of adult styles of frames to make them look like a grown up. Sometimes they pick this style to make them look like their idol, either their mom or their dad.

Another consideration in choosing the proper frame for children eyeglasses is its proper bridge fit. Children, being in their developmental stage, still have undeveloped features. The noses’ bridge for example, for some kids is not yet developed. Therefore, the glasses would not be kept in place, especially when the child is very active. It will just keep on falling down that will make wearing eyeglasses very uncomfortable. Manufacturers recognized this dilemma and made frame for children eyeglasses that would fit small noses. As a matter of fact, metal eyeglasses have this feature that lets you adjust nose pads to fit in anyone’s nose bridge.

Choosing children eyeglasses is a very critical decision to make. This is nothing like choosing a dress that fits him. Failure to make appropriate choices for his eyeglasses would be detrimental to his vision, health and safety. So choose wisely and let your child enjoy the benefits of a good vision.

What do you think? Could you be one of these people who are unaware of it? You can visit an eye doctor to see if you have visual problems. However, eye exam costs bucks. But we can still try these simple eye exams if you have instruments like snellen test chart and other eye test charts in your home.

How many colours can your eyes see?

Our eyes have its cones. The cones are the parts of retina that are responsible for distinguishing colors. It can detect three different colors of light (red, blue and green). Other colors are just the combinations of the any of those three colours. Yellow for example is the combination of the same amount of red and green light; while the colour orange is the combination of red light and lesser amount of green light.

However, there are people who cannot distinguish colours precisely. Color blindness is mostly genetic. About 8 to 12 percent of males suffer from it. For females, this is a rare case (only about 1%). Most of those who have colour blindness are not aware of it because the colors they are able to see are the only colours their eyes can define since the day they were born.

Shinobu Ishihara is the one who designed the plates that is widely used for colour blind test. The plates are composed of small dots with different colours. The examinee will be asked to look at the plate and declare what number he sees. The type of colour blindness that he suffers from will be identified based on what number he will declare.

How distant can you see accurately?

Nearsightedness and farsightedness are the most common eye problems. Many people are suffering from it although majority is not aware of that.

Nearsightedness (Myopia) is an eye condition in which a person finds some difficulty seeing or reading at distance. This problem is most common among young people; while the farsightedness (Hyperopia) is the opposite of the myopia. People with hyperopia can see far objects clearly, but have some trouble seeing nearby objects. This is most common among elderly people.

To test visual acuity, we use snellen test chart. It is a chart where a big letter is printed at the first line, the second line has smaller letters than the letter above it, the third line is much smaller, and the rest is gradually decreasing its size. You will read these lines while covering your one eye to see how many lines you can read. After that, your other eye will be tested.

Visual acuity is measured using fractions. For example: Let say a girl has 10/20 vision. The number “20” means “twenty feet”. This is the distance up to where normal eyes can see clearly. The number “10” is the distance up to where the girl can see clearly. Anything beyond ten feet will be blurred for her.

If your eye doctor says that your visual acuity is 20/20, Congratulations! That is the perfect visual acuity. That means you can see accurately up to twenty feet. But if not, you may need some glasses.

How well can your eyes see in low contrast?

Just because you can read an entire snellen test chart doesn’t mean you do not have vision problems at all. You may be able to see clearly at distance, but when you are asked to read texts printed using nearly white gray ink against a completely white background, you might find some trouble.

When conducting a contrast sensitivity test, the eye doctor will ask the examinee to wear eye glasses or contact lenses if he is nearsighted. This is to ensure that he will be able to see accurately at the distance. It is done in a similar way like the snellen test chart. But instead of using progressively decreasing font sizes, the contrast sensitivity test uses the same font size from the top all the way to the bottom.

The chart has white background and the letters are printed in different gray scale levels. At the top line, the letters are printed in completely black colour. The letters below it are printed in lighter black colour. Gradually decreasing its blackness as you read down to the bottom where the letters are almost white.

I have an eye problem. What should I do?

Before implementing home remedies or self treatment plans, you must know exactly what the problems are; those eye exams listed above are just some of the basic tests to give you an idea whether you have eye problems or not. Visiting an eye doctor is still the best option.

Eye strain

The Easy Changes That Help Significantly

1. Website Background Colours

Although, this is dependent on the creator of the website, when more people are aware of the strains that certain background colours may induce, then people will be able to avoid establishing or producing eye straining websites. Most of these colours are usually bright, wherein it opposes the fundamental contrast of the site’s entirety; to further explain, the colour of the text on a website features a bright and light colour, wherein the background color also shares the same bright and light colour theme. This will prove to be bothersome and straining for the eyes, because the eyes will attempt to discern the text from the bright background colour in an intense manner, which causes eye strain. An easy fix for this would be to simply create a basic contrast between the background and text colours, which will create a discernible output. In some cases, simply changing the colors to a darker one will do the trick, because darker colours do not induce eye strain compared to brighter ones.

2. Contrast and Brightness Level of the Monitor

Eye strain is not solely dependent on the website’s background colours; although the background colours do contribute hugely upon the matter, it does not mean that it is the only problem that needs a fix. Depending on the brightness and contrast adjustments that are set on the monitor, the eye will have to adjust accordingly to it. Adjusting the contrast and brightness levels to a comfortable setting for your eyes will prove to be great help to prevent any strains.

3. Angle of the Monitor

One may not think of this much, but when your view upon the monitor is slightly tilted, it will cause certain strains as well. The solution for this is very apparent and easy, simply adjust the monitors position to where you are placed.

4. Other Methods to Prevent Strains   

Now that it is established that the eye strain is caused by a website’s background colours and angle of the monitor, as well as the contrast and brightness level of a monitor, the strain can also be prevented through other methods depending on what you do. To further explain, examples would suffice:

5. Taking Breaks

If you were to take breaks from time to time, then it will give your eyes time to rest as well as allow your eye to relax itself. This is absolutely crucial if you want to prevent eye strain; unlike the other suggested methods – wherein they will simply prolong the duration that you can use the computer – this will readily prevent any strains from occurring.

6. Blinking

This is a fundamental basic habit that you should develop while using the computer. It will basically moisten your eyes that will prevent any dryness from occurring.

Remember, when you want to reduce strains, the most important factor is what and how you are viewing graphical images on your monitor.

The Benefits of Lutein and Zeaxanthin

1. Slows Down the Ageing Process

First of all, these nutrients will slow down the ageing process of the eyes, which means it will prolong a healthier vision. Evidently, it has been concluded that the cause of most loss of vision is the degeneration of the macula in the eye; a simple way to prevent this from occurring is to maintain a healthy diet regimen consisting of the two nutrients, Lutein and Zeaxanthin. In other words, it will prevent AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration).

2. Prevents Cataracts

A cataract is basically a clouding that will block or obscure the passage for light to enter your eyes. Once one gets a cataract, his vision will be difficult to be used any longer. Pre-emptive measures – by consuming a healthy amount of Lutein and Zeanxanthin – will prevent this certain disease from occurring.

3. Provides and Maintains a Greater Level of Macular Pigments

The optical density of the macular pigments in one’s eyes is very important for its health. As concluded, the nutrients Lutein and Zeaxanthin aid in the health of macular pigments, which will prevent any degeneration from starting. In other words, if one can maintain a great level of macular pigments, then one will avoid certain unwanted diseases.

To maintain healthy eyes, studies have shown that proper amount of consumption of these two nutrients is best to develop; take note, that there are readily available supplements in order to maintain consumption easier. To keep one’s eyes functioning properly, a proper nutritional diet is duly required. When one has properly established a diet regimen consisting of these two nutrients, then one will be on his way to achieving a healthy vision throughout his lifetime. Although supplements are conveniently available, getting these nutrients from natural food sources might be quite beneficial compared to simply taking supplements.

Foods that Contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin:

1.    Romaine Lettuce

2.    Potatoes

3.    Eggs

5.    Kale

6.    Green Peas

7.    Carrots

8.    Spinach (Cooked or Raw)

9.    Green Beans

10.   Broccoli

11.   Turnip Greens

12.   Corn

13.   Collards

These are foods that will provide an adequate amount of the two nutrients, Lutein and Zeanxanthin. If one is able to maintain a proper diet consisting of these foods, then he will be able to receive the benefits mentioned earlier. While these nutrients are absolutely beneficial for the eyes, they also aid in health in other ways. An example of this would be the Lutein, because it will help prevent arteries from getting clogged with fat, which is the main cause of heart attacks.

To summarize everything in the simplest sense, the eye and vision benefits of Lutein and Zeanxanthin is absolutely crucial in maintaining one’s eye and vision health; developing a proper diet consisting of the two said nutrients will aid tremendously. Not to mention, that when you start taking Lutein, you will prevent other unwanted diseases as well. Remember, the importance of one’s eyes and vision, because that is where mostly everything will start; without proper vision – to appropriately understand everything – one will never have a better understanding of things.

The two types of the disease are Dry AMD and Wet AMD. In the dry form, drusen or debris build up on the eye and cause the detachment of the retina from its blood supply. On the other hand, wet AMD or the “exudative” type occurs when blood vessels swell behind the retina. Between the two, wet AMD is more severe and risky of getting blind. However, both of them are painless and the onset of the symptoms may take some time. It usually takes an eye doctor to diagnose the condition.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration Symptoms and Signs

At the early stages of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, most of the symptoms are hardly perceivable. Often, it is the patient alone who can tell that something is wrong with their eyes. The most common symptom is having a blurred vision. Exudative AMD patients suffer from noticeable onset of vision loss. On the other hand, dry AMD patients do not notice loss of vision.

The most common symptoms of macular degeneration are the loss of central vision and blind spots. It can get difficult to recognize faces and impossible to read small text. However, the patient can still perform some tasks because peripheral vision remains functional.

Drusen accumulations may become visible to an external observer. When looking closely, one can see white or yellow patches in the eyeball. In extreme cases, drusen can be noticeably large and widespread. AMD does not really change eye color, but it may appear so if the drusen the covers it are so many and concentrated. This extracellular matter in the eyeball can cause blind spots in the patient’s vision.

The patient may also find difficulty in differentiating colors. The concept of contrast and identifying hues can be difficult. Light colors from light colors and dark ones from dark ones can be troublesome to discern. The patient may also feel visually impaired or temporarily blind longer after being exposed to very bright light.

Central vision is the most affected portion by AMD. You probably have macular degeneration if you can read well through your peripheral vision but not by directly staring at your readings. Metamorphosia or distorted vision may also develop. People with metamorphosia may have impressions that straight lines seem curving and grid lines appear wavy.

What Causes Macular Degeneration?

Old age is the primary risk factor of developing Macular Degeneration. 1 out of 10 people who are 66-74 years old are positive of the disease. The number of cases increases by 3 out of 10 for patients of age 75-85.

Often tied with aging, drusen build-up is the most common cause of AMD. A druse – singular for drusen – is an accumulation of white or yellowish extracellular material in the eye. Usually, drusen accumulate in the eye’s Bruch membrane. More than 80% of people above 40 have drusen but it doesn’t affect vision. However, large lumps of drusen may build up and harden on important regions of vision on the eyeball. This may cause blind spots and degradation of central vision.

A 2008 study in Southampton also showed that AMD is both hereditary and genetic. Scientists have pinpointed a gene that likely causes the disease. Normally, all people have a 12% risk of developing AMD. However, people with relatives or predecessors that have developed AMD have 50% risks.

Certain body conditions may also increase the risks of accumulating druse and damaging macular vision. Obesity and high cholesterol are leading risk factors. People who suffer from hypertension and those who are often subjected to stress are also more susceptible to losing their macular vision. These conditions increase the body’s propensity to release lipofuscin – a symptom of AMD.

Finally, Tobacco smokers have 2-3 times the risk of non-smokers for developing macular degeneration. Experts say that there are chemicals in tobacco that can be toxic to the retina. These toxins can lead to irreparable damage to important parts of the eye. This finding makes smoking one of the most modifiable risk factor when it comes to macular degeneration prevention.

Nutrition and Macular Degeneration

Studies show that there is a correlation between nutrition and the progression of AMD. There are non-drug interventions that can prevent or retard the effects of Macular Degeneration. For example, the person can increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients can reduce the progression of AMD at its early stages. Foods rich in omega-3 include soya, sardines, tuna and walnut.

In conjunction with omega-3, the person must decrease intake of foods with high glycemic index (GI). High GI foods contain carbohydrates that greatly affect blood levels. Decrease your intake extruded breakfast cereals, white bread, glucose and maltose-rich foods. Instead, eat more of low GI foods such as legumes, whole grains and most fruits and vegetables. Taking low GI foods will also help control your weight and reduce the risk factors of suffering the condition.

There are also evidences that support the effectiveness of some carotenoids on preventing blindness from AMD. Namely, these carotenoids are lutein and zeaxanthin. A 6-year study in the National Eye Institute of Maryland showed that lutein can prevent the buildup of deposits in the macula. These nutrients can be found in eggs, spinach and other green vegetables.

People should not take much of vitamin and mineral supplements for the sole purpose of preventing macular degeneration. Clinical studies show that intake of eye vitamins does not decrease the risks of suffering the disease.

Low Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration

Until recently, there is no known permanent cure for macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration treatment involves the removal of drusen and restoring the position of the retina by laser. There are also new injectable drugs for wet macular degeneration treatments. They have to be injected into the vitreous humor of the eye to reverse the growth of the blood vessels and improve vision. However, the injection must be repeated at least once a month.

The most common solution for macular degeneration is low vision aids. These are non-invasive equipment that helps AMD patients to continue with their lives normally. The most common tools are the telescopic camera and monitor. These help reading and writing by projecting textbooks, documents and paper to a large screen. Through the large display, the patient can use his/her peripheral vision to write and read clearly.

There are also portable handheld telescopes that the patients can bring anywhere. These “monoculars” allow the clear viewing of distant objects by magnifying 2.5-10 times. There are absorptive lenses that can be used with prescription eyeglasses. These special lenses eliminate harmful rays from the sun and dramatically reduces glare. These features increase contrast and allow the patient to discern between colors more easily.

Nowadays, voice-operated and talking gadgets are important for people with advanced macular degeneration. For example, voice-operated phones can tell them the time without the need for reading or finding a magnifier. Near-blind people can also create documents simply by dictating the words to a voice-operated phone or computer.

Glaucoma

Normally, the eye produces aqueous humor that is balanced by factors like secretion rate, flow resistance and resorption resistance. But once one of these factors is impaired, the balance between the aqueous production and aqueous outflow will also be disrupted. When this happens, aqueous humor will be trapped causing an increase in the intraocular pressure that will eventually damage the optic disk that precedes visual field loss.

Two of the major types of glaucoma are the following:

1. Open-angle Glaucoma

This type of glaucoma occurs more frequently than other types of glaucoma.  It usually results from an impaired trabecular meshwork of the eye when it inefficiently drains aqueous humor. As fluid accumulates in the internal environment of the eyes, intraocular pressure rises causing damage to the optic nerve. This in turn can cause gradual visual loss. This type of glaucoma silently performs its dirty job before the person can detect its presence. Symptoms will not be seen until there is an optimum damage to the optic nerve already.

2. Angle-closure Glaucoma

Unlike the first type of glaucoma, this type is rare but its presence is clearly visible. Symptoms will be seen right away when the intraocular pressure rises. This happens when the iris suddenly blocks the drainage angle of the eye. This is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately by healthcare personnel. Asian people and those with hyperopia have greater risk in developing this type of glaucoma and therefore should avoid medications and products that would further increase their risk in developing the disorder.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is generally asymptomatic. Meaning to say, symptoms would not be seen until later on in the course of the disease when there is already optimum damage to the optic nerve. The first observable symptom for this type of glaucoma is the loss of peripheral vision, or what you call tunnel vision wherein the person can only see things in front of him and neglects the things beside him. Seeing large blank spots is the evidence that the optic nerve of that person has been damaged extensively. However, symptoms for angle-closure glaucoma occur suddenly and acutely. It includes sudden eye pain, blurring of vision, nausea, vomiting, seeing halos, eye redness and headaches. Eyes of a patient with glaucoma appear red. The cornea may appear hazy even to the naked eye of an observer. Also, when being assessed, pupils of glaucoma patients are non-reactive to light and accommodation.

Diagnostic Tests used to detect Glaucoma

An ophthalmologist or an eye expert will be assessing you to detect presence of glaucoma. It is important to have your eyes regularly checked especially for those who are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above or if there is a high risk in developing such disorder. This way, you’ll get to detect it presence earlier and treat it before it even gets worse. Total loss of vision will be prevented thereby protecting the person’s totality. Here are some painless diagnostic exams that an ophthalmologist might perform.

1. Tonometry

Tonometry is the most common diagnostic test used in detecting presence of glaucoma. It is generally done to measure the intraocular pressure with the use of an instrument called a tonometer. Normally, it must range from 10-21 mmHg. But a rare type of glaucoma, the normal-tension glaucoma, may fall in the normal range despite the disease progression.

2. Pachymetry

Pachymetry, on the other hand, is done to assess corneal thickness. A probe called a pachymeter is smoothly placed on the cornea for measurement. This is done because corneal thickness has an effect to intraocular pressure readings.

3. Goniocopy

By using a mirrored lens, the ophthalmologist will assess the eye’s drainage angle to determine the type of glaucoma that a person has. If there is inefficiency in the trabecular meshwork, then it is diagnosed as open-angle glaucoma; and if there is blockage on the drainage angle, then it would be considered as angle-closure glaucoma.

4. Opthalmoscopy

With the aid of an opthalmoscope, the physician will be able to view the interior part of the eye. The pupils will be dilated with the use of an eye drop for better visualization. A patient with glaucoma will have evidences of cupping or optic nerve changes, which is an indication of optic nerve damage. Cupping of the nerve will result to blank spot in the person’s visual field.

5. Visual Field Testing

This test intends to determine presence of the blank spots mentioned earlier. It is done with the aid of a bowl-shaped device called a perimeter. During the test, the person’s one eye is covered while flashes of light will be flashed from various locations unto the examined eye. The person being examined must press the button whenever he or she sees the light. The test must be done every 6-12 months to monitor changes and detect the development of disease early on.

Treatment for Glaucoma

Treatment for glaucoma highly depends on its type, extent and response. Here are some of its most common treatments.

1. Medical Intervention

Eye drops have been the gold standard for treatment of glaucoma for years. It works either by decreasing the production of aqueous humor or by increasing its outflow. Here are several types of eye drops prescribed by physicians:

1. Beta-adrenergic antagonists

It effectively reduces production of aqueous humor. However, it brings about side effects such as worsening of asthma and emphysema, as well as bradycardia and hypotension. Brand names of these medications are the following: Timolol, Carteolol and Metipranolol. But another brand under this classification is the Betaxolol, which concentrates its effect on the eyes only, hence decreasing systemic side effects.

1. Prostaglandin analogs

This works by increasing aqueous humor outflow. It has replaced Timolol as the most common drug prescribed for glaucoma simply because it causes fewer systemic side effects. However, as compared with other eye drops, this type causes more redness of the eyes. Also, it changes the color of the iris and thickens eyelashes. It includes medication such as Xalatan, Travatan and Lumigan.

1. Adrenergic agonists

These are adrenaline-like drugs that function both in decreasing fluid production and in increasing its outflow. It includes medications such as Alphagan, Propine, Apraclonidine and Epinephrine.

1. Miotics

These parasympathomimetic agents constrict pupils and acts by increasing fluid outflow from the eyes.  It includes drugs such as Pilocarpine and Demecarium.

2. Surgical Intervention

1. Laser trabeculoplasty

This surgery is performed to treat open-angle glaucoma. It has two types— Argon Laser Trabeculoplast (ALT) and Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT). In ALT, it stimulates the trabecular meshwork to perform its function efficiently by creating evenly spaced minute burns onto the area. While in SLT, it creates intact mesh-like drainage canals, which surrounds the iris, by using different frequencies of laser.

1. Laser iridotomy

This surgery is performed for patients with angle-closure glaucoma and for those with a very narrow drainage angles. A tiny hole is created into the upper part of the iris to improve the outflow of the aqueous humor. This hole is concealed by the upper lid.

1. Trabeculectomy

In this surgery, there are two things to be done. First is a flap on the sclera (the eye’s white part) and second is a bleb under the conjunctiva (covering of the white part of the eye). Once created, fluid will now drain through the flap going to the bleb, where it will be reabsorbed by the blood vessels surrounding the eye.

Treatment for glaucoma depends on the patient condition. It is best to consult your doctor for suggestions. Also, once treated, remember to have a regular check up with your doctor, to carefully monitor your condition and disease control.

One of the most common conditions that one needs to prepare for is the dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes Google search results currently return more than 15 million results; this is enough proof that a lot of people are interested about this condition. It is a pretty simple condition, but it may lead to more serious cases if not addressed promptly and appropriately. Proper understanding of the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and prevention will greatly help anyone overcome this condition in no time.

What is Dry Eyes?

Dry Eye Syndrome is medically described as a condition wherein the eye loses the normal or healthy amount of tears that it needs for lubrication and moisture. This condition mainly affects older people, but in some cases can affect anyone within any specific age group. In order to function properly, the eye needs a certain amount of moisture in the form of tears. Dry eye symptoms vary depending on the amount or level of tears; the lesser the amount, the worse the symptoms can get.

Main Causes of Dry Eyes

Understanding what causes dry eyes is the key to getting quick dry eye relief. The tear is made up of different components with different functions: water is for moisturizing, mucus is for evenly spreading the fluid, oils are for lubrication, and special proteins and antibodies are used for protection against infection. Any imbalance in the level of these substances in the eyes causes dry eye to occur.

Aside from this internal imbalance, there are also other things that may lead to dry eyes, including some or all of the following reasons. First is severe exposure to heat, dry air, or other environmental pollutants. When the eye is exposed to these conditions, the rear film may dry out.

Here are some of the other things that causes dry eyes: aging or menopause among women, side effects of some syndrome hormones medications or diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, or structural eye problems that further exposes the tear film to harsh elements.

Dry Eyes Symptoms and Manifestations

Different dry eyes causes are also manifested by different dry eye symptoms. The most common symptoms include burning, itching, redness, and affected patients may also experience mild irritation. Some patients also report feeling that it’s like there is something in their eye that they cannot remove.

If not addressed immediately, it can cause the patient to experience severe pain and could lead to a more chronic dry eye situation. On the other hand, there is a totally opposite manifestation of this eye syndrome; watery eyes. This happens when the eye sends the nervous system a signal that is experiencing low tear level. The eye then releases a large amount of water that is imbalanced; thus the eye is still not lubricated properly.

Different Types and Severity Levels of Dry Eyes

The overview covers symptoms and causes of dry eye syndrome. This section presents the different types and levels of this condition, which is determined by various things, including causes, symptoms, and the person’s lifestyle or work environment. Evaporative tear deficiency and aqueous tear deficiency are similar dry eyes conditions. Although the former refers to having inflamed glands and the latter refers to having some dysfunctional portions in the tear gland, both results to tear deficiency.

Someone’s habit and lifestyle may also lead to the deterioration of the eye’s health: dry eyes then follows. When someone wears contact lenses for prolonged periods of time or stays too long in front of the television or computer, this could lead to chronic dry eye condition.

Here are some of the other syndrome dry eyes types: KCS (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), lacrimal keratoconjunctivitis, and LNE (LASIK-induced neurotophic epitheliopathy. The different types are associated with different types of symptoms and manifestations, but they have one thing in common: there are different dry eye relief methods that can be implored to minimize their effects.

Steps in Treating Dry Eyes

The condition is said to have no cure; however, there are lots of available dry eyes medical treatments that one can do or take in order to minimize the adverse effects that this condition have on an affected person. There are various ways of treating dry eyes, and this is also dependent on how grave one’s condition is.

Standard treatments typically include the use of artificial tears drops or ointments. Through this method, one can get instant relief from burning, itching, or the feeling that there’s something in your eye. This type of relief, immediate relief that is, is also temporary in nature. This means that after just a few hours, you will need to use the drops again to ease the pain. Because of this, some people suffering from this syndrome relief, immediate is not the most important thing. They are looking for treatment options, including therapy and surgery for instance, that will help them achieve a more lasting alleviation from what they are suffering. Eye hydrating therapy and therapy relief masks are common choices. Through the use of masks, eye hydrating can be stimulated without the need for artificial drops or tears. Through hydration relief masks, eye tissues are stimulated to produce a certain amount or level of tears that the eye needs for proper moisturizing and lubrication. It is more long-lasting than artificial drops, but still temporary.

For those that are looking for permanent eye syndrome relief, the only solution is surgery. Through surgery, the ducts are closed, thereby permanently fixing the structural problems and allowing for the natural tears to come back to the eyes. This solution is a bit expensive, add to that the fact that more people fear eye surgery; thus the more popular choice for dry eyes: therapy relief. Regardless of which mode of treatment one prefers, it is always recommended to consult an ophthalmologist first for the best recommendation.

To summarize, here are some of the important points we have learned so far regarding this condition. With dry eyes, health of the eye is impacted as a whole. If not treated within a short amount of time, it can lead to other eye infections or diseases. We have dealt with the symptoms, causes, treatment, and types of this condition. We have figured out that inasmuch as there are physiological factors leading to this eye syndrome, such as gland dysfunction, someone’s lifestyle, habits, and environmental background all contribute to the increase or decrease in the possibility of being inflicted with this condition. We also know by now the there is no cure for dry eyes; proven ways of treating the symptoms or manifestations however can be used to prevent the aggravation and minimize the adverse effects of the condition. Worst cases may have to be treated through surgery; more commonly though, a change in lifestyle and habits can greatly help in the treatment of this condition.

Who needs cataract surgery?

People who experience blurred vision and sudden changes in the clarity of vision should immediately consult an ophthalmologist for a medical eye examination. The medical examination is conducted with a series of eye tests to verify whether the vision loss is caused by cataract. A developing cataract hinders a person to see things clearly, and will be required to use corrective eyeglasses. However, under worse conditions, cataract can lead to total vision loss if not treated. To avoid vision loss, some ophthalmologists would require eye surgery once the medical eye examination results show that the vision loss of the patient is due to eye cataract.

What are the different Types of Cataract Surgery?

Before having a cataract surgery, learn how this surgery works and how much it costs in the market. There are other types of eye diseases that contribute to vision loss, and once the ophthalmologist determines that the significant vision loss is attributed to cataract, he or she will recommend cataract surgery. A Cataract surgery procedure will depend on the severity of the case of the cataract. There are three major cataract surgery types: phacoemulsification, Extracapsular cataract surgery, and intracapsular cataract surgery.

1. Phacoemulsification is the most common method of cataract surgery nowadays. This eye cataract surgery method uses an operating microscope and a thin ultrasound probe.  The operating microscope is used to make a very small cut on the side of the cornea. The thin ultrasound probe is inserted into the eye, and emits an ultrasonic wave to gently break and suck out the clouded lens.
2. Extracapsular cataract surgery is recommended for more advanced cases of cataract with denser lenses. The doctor will make a larger cut to remove the cataract in one piece and avoid fragmentation inside the eye. Once the lens has been removed after cataract surgery, lenses called intraocular lens will be placed inside the eye to give the person better vision and act as a substitute to the removed lens. There are different types of intraocular lens that can be implanted to the eye after surgery and each type differ in terms of function and cost. Intraocular lens come in three types: monofocal lens, toric lens, and multifocal lens.
3. Intracapsular is almost a similar cataract surgery method to extracapsular surgery. Both types of surgeries require a large incision at the side of the cornea. However, intracapsular cataract surgery is including the surrounding capsule during the removal of the lens. This method is recommended for cases of significant trauma. Intracapsular cataract surgery is a rarely used nowadays.

There are also other types of eye surgeries. Eye surgeries that are meant to correct and provide clearer vision are known as corrective eye surgeries. Some patients might think that corrective and cataract surgeries are similar. Cataract surgery is specific to the removal of cataracts. Cataract surgery is almost similar to corrective eye surgery in terms of the purpose of providing the vision clearer.

An example of corrective eye surgery is LASIK. LASIK (Laser Assisted in-situ Keratomileusis) is a popular corneal refractive procedure. Laser is used to shape the cornea to allow the surgeons to estimate the correction needed when using Eye LASIK. Cataracts Surgeries on the other hand require incision to remove the clouded lens of the eyes.

Preparations before a Cataract Surgery

A cataract surgery is an outpatient surgery that can allow the patient to go home after the surgery itself. Before conducting any cataract surgery, safety measures and instructions are given to the patient. The ophthalmologist will perform a series of test to determine the size of the cornea and the eye, to determine the kind of intraocular lens to be implanted after cataract surgery. Cataract surgery requires a minimal use of sedative to keep the patient awake. Injection around the eyes and numbing eye drops prevents the patient to feel too much pain during surgery. The surgeon would also require the patient not to eat anything 12 hours before the surgery. For other patients who want to have an idea of an actual cataract surgery, videos are available and can be seen on-line.

The actual removal of cataract can take about 20 minutes. After the surgery, the ophthalmologist will prescribe certain eye drops to aid in the recovery process. After the surgery, the patient will have clearer vision and no significant pain should be felt around the eye area. Otherwise, the patient should check with the doctor about the after-effects.

Things to Consider after a Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery recovery is followed by proper maintenance and protection of the eyes. The prescribed eye drops prevent swelling and irritation to occur. After a few days, the patient will notice an improvement in vision. When the vision starts to stabilize, the ophthalmologist will reassess on the eyes to determine whether eyeglasses will be needed. Thus, prior to surgery, the patient should choose the right kind of intraocular lens among the three lens options with the help of their ophthalmologist. Recovery of vision will vary depending on the kind of intraocular lens to use. The three varieties of intraocular lens include monofocal lens, toric lens, and multifocal lens.

1. Monofocal lens is the most common intraocular lens used for implantation after surgery. This type of lens has equal power in all of its regions and can provide high-quality distance vision. However, they have sharpest focus only on one distance and it does not correct pre-existing astigmatism.
2. Toric lens have a higher power in one specific region of the lens to correct pre-existing astigmatism distance vision. However, the patient will still need to use glasses with corrective lens for reading or writing.
3. Multifocal lens have a variety of power on the different regions of the lens to enable the patient to see more clearly on specific areas. Though this type of lens is promising, it can cause more glare than monofocal lens and is not capable of corrective astigmatism.

Possible Complications after Cataract Surgery

After the procedure, the patient will undergo surgery recovery. Cataract surgery can expose oneself into a lot of risks. Complications are always possible for every surgery that needs to be done. Different methods of surgeries can carry different types of complications. Cataract surgery complications can either be short-term or long-term complication. Cataract is a common disease, and there are mostly insurance offered for this kind of disease. Before submitting into a surgery, check first with the ophthalmologist if the insurance covers risks and complications.

What is the Estimate Cost of Cataract Surgery?

The cost of cataract surgery depends on the type of surgery and the kind of intraocular lens to be implanted. A straightforward cataract surgery costs at an average of $3279 per eye. Cataract surgery can be covered by insurance since the procedure is identified to be medically necessary.  On the other hand, refractive surgery lasers cost shall be paid in full and are not covered by insurance. This type of surgery is non-medical and is for corrective purposes only.

Cataract surgeon cost might vary depending on the kind of surgery. Cataract surgeons have no set of restrictions on whether they can charge extra fees especially for premium intraocular lens implants. However, patients can check with their insurance provider whether their eye surgeon is “preferred” or its equivalent. Preferred eye surgeons are not required to charge more than the standard rates.

Cataract develops as people age, thus there are different researches conducted to determine the best cataract care. There are supplements that can promote health of cataract. Cataract can also be prevented by avoiding too much sunlight exposure that might damage the eyes. Similar searches related to cataract care also include genetic studies to understand the development of cataract.

As for all cases of medical operations, there are laser eye surgery risks involved.  Since our eyes is one of the most sensitive parts of the body and because the surgery will have to touch the tissue surrounding the cornea, possibility for having lasik complications is of great percentage.  Side effects of laser eye surgery include infection, blurry visions, regression and damaged flap area of the eye.  For better understanding, here are some brief discussions about the considerations for having eye surgeries and the complications of lasik.

KNOWING THE QUALICATIONS

1. Age – Normally, our eyes is on a perfect 20/20 vision range during the early stage of our life.  But as we grow old and due to many contributing factors, our visual capability degenerates.  Though some individuals suffer eye problems during their childhood, refraction surgery on an early age is not advisable because our vision continually change as time passes by.  Doctors still advise wearing eye glasses and one will have to wait for the right time for our vision to stabilize.  It is only when a person reaches the age of 18 and above that lasik surgery can be done depending if he really has worsen vision that needs laser treatment.  Age factor is also taken into consideration to prepare a person’s body sustain possible eye surgery complications.  Too young or too old individual may not be able to handle possible side effects.
2. Eye Conditions – A healthy and stable eye can go through laser treatment.  Full eye examination is being done before the procedure to be sure that your eye can carry on with the operation.  If a person is suffering from some eye damage such as dryness and thin layered cornea, it is not wise to undergo lasik surgery because it might further damage the eye.  People with curtain eye illness such as keratoconus can seek for alternative corrective complications.
3. Life style and Career – Because laser surgery may cause significant side effects, one must seek approval from their superiors before having one.  Some careers demand much of your time so to avoid conflict during the recovery period, it is best to evaluate the policy of your company if they will allow you to take a long leave to recover.  Likewise, if you are active in sports and involved in extreme activities, you should put laser eye surgery out in your list.  Long term effects of lasik includes flap dislocation and eye trauma therefore vigorous exercises and sports such as  boxing can increase corneal healing complications.  One may opt choose other eye problem solutions rather than laser.
4. Other health conditions – Corneal healing complications may occur following laser eye treatment for those who have autoimmune illness.  Autoimmune defect such as rheumatoid arthritis, an immune system condition where in it attacks tissues that it should protect, contradicts lasik.  If eye surgery is badly needed and you have autoimmunity disorder, you should discuss it with your surgeon for proper evaluation.  Also, pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding should not undergo laser surgery.  Harmful damage can be brought upon by laser exposure on the baby.  Mother’s milk will be contaminated by the radiation and if the child sucks on it, undesirable effect can result.

COMPLICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS

Because of the progressive technologies being used today, laser operated individuals claimed positive remarks since new technology minimize serious vision threatening complications.  But some are also dissatisfied over the result and happen to experience some of laser eye surgery side effects.

1. Infection – During the operation, the opening of the outer layer of the eyes is required and allowing bacterial attack inside it.  If not properly protected, the eyes will be infected because other substances can have free entrance inside.  If get infected, healing process will be delayed and the tissues around the eyes will have difficulty in repairing itself.  Painful and reddish eye are the symptoms of infection.
2. Dry Eye – Because of the changes imposed on the cornea, tissues responsible for the fluid formation inside the eyes is being distracted.  The operation causes the nerve not to function temporarily.  This may last for a couple of days only until the corneal nerve able to adjust to the change caused by the flap.  One can use tear drop to provide artificial tears on your eyes.
3. Irregular astigmatism – There are times when the procedure is not done properly that can result to misaligned cornea.   Or maybe the eyes do not responds well to the operation that additional or secondary operation is needed to achieve the desired result.
4. Worsen vision – Some patients claimed that instead of having clear vision, they gained blurry vision after undergoing laser eye surgery.  This is because at some extent, excessive amount of cornea or tissues has been removed during the operation.  Hence, instead of creating sharp vision, the operation resulted to a greater need of wearing contact lens or glasses.
5. Development of some eye conditions – when the procedure is overly done, this may lead into some major eye problems.  This includes keratectasia wherein excessive removal of tissues in the cornea was made.  This can no longer be reconstructed by other surgery and the need for contacts to hold the cornea is a must.  Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DKL) is another eye problem resulting from the development of dead cells under the flap that causes scarring and swelling of the eye.  If not immediately acted on, this can take away your vision permanently.
6. Too much corneal haze – Corneal haze is part of the normal healing process after laser treatment.  But excessive presence of corneal haze on our eyes can add visual disturbances.  Additional treatment is needed to correct this condition.
7. Light sensitivity – This may occur immediately after the procedure.  Your eyes may develop sensitivity on lights and for days, your eyes will be reddish.  This should only last for few days but if accompanied by pain and last over longer period, call your doctor’s attention to prevent further complications.

Therefore, before you decide to have a laser eye surgery ask yourself – “Is laser eye surgery safe for me?”  Check the list of the considerations and weigh the risk over the benefit of having lasik.

As more and more people suffer from the condition, the search for its relief, treatment, and symptoms has also been given priority. Aside from the continuous search for the most effective remedies and treatment for the illness, also high on the list not only of medical practitioners but also of ordinary people is the aim to understand what may be considered the modern human being’s disease.

Getting To Know Computer Vision Syndrome

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a condition that develops in almost 100 percent of people who spend many hours of the day sitting in front of computers, or to be more precise, absorbing the glare emitted by the monitor. CVS is a relatively new health condition that has come with the advancement in technology. The condition is generally temporary and is caused by sitting in front of a computer for long, successive hours. Its prevalence has caused the development of many supposed remedies for the various known symptoms of the condition. The condition is known to go away on its own as soon as the eyes are rested. However, in some cases, the manifestation of CVS becomes a precursor for more serious eye conditions that need medical intervention.

Understanding CVS is very important especially among office workers because of the reality that a vast majority of what people do in their jobs and daily lives involves computers in one way or another. CVS symptoms start to manifest the moment the eyes are stretched to their limits and visual stress sets in. Sadly, many people wait until eye strain occurs before they realize that their eyes are already overworked.

Putting the Reins on Computer Eye Strain

Preventing eye strain through self-control or self-discipline has been an ongoing advocacy of many doctors and even governments in the hope of bringing down the number of people who regularly suffer from computer vision problems. Indeed, if statistics can be relied on in measuring the prevalence of, and ironically, the lack of understanding about, the condition, then it can be honestly said that CVS or eye strain is an epidemic affecting the workforce and the computer-using public like other known Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and bursitis, among others.

Hence, it is very important that the people who are most affected by the condition must also be the in the forefront in seeking remedies and better yet, ways to prevent the occurrence of this sometimes debilitating condition. In Sun Tzu’s military strategy treatise The Art of War, the great Chinese general said that knowing yourself and your enemy is important in winning battles. Thus, the need to know the causes, symptoms, remedies, and other important aspects of eye strain is important in defeating the condition or illness.

Keeping an Eye on Eye Strain Symptoms

The good news is that eye strain is not known to cause permanent damage or eye problems. The bad news is that there are many known symptoms of the condition that it is not unusual to feel any one of them during the course of a normal day. The question now that begs to be answered is how does one identify Eye strain symptoms? The key is sensitivity to one’s body. Among the most common symptoms of the condition is eye fatigue, whose manifestation may either be soreness, tiredness, burning, itching, or dryness of the eyes. Watery eyes could also be interpreted as a sign that CVS is setting in. Also, when the eye has had enough of glare from the video terminal display for a particular stretch of time, blurriness and double vision may also manifest.

The thing with eye strain is that its symptoms are not limited to the eyes. Other parts of the body can also show effects of CSV. Among these symptoms are soreness of the back and the neck, shoulder pain, and eye strain headache, which is a result of the pressure absorbed by the eye muscles. Eyes blurred vision may also set in as well as double vision. If a combination of these symptoms is present, then it is very likely that a person is already suffering from eye strain.

To understand the symptoms, the most common eye strain causes are also worth knowing. Prolonged use of computer and other similar devices, as well as exposure to too much glare can cause eye strain. There are other activities that do not involve computers which may cause eye strain, such as reading for extended periods without rest and even driving can cause Eye strain symptoms to appear.

Eye Strain Treatment for Your Betterment

Unlike other illnesses, Eye strain treatment does not involve drugs. Generally, taking one’s eyes away from the glare of the computer monitor for several minutes and focusing on other things, preferably those that are several feet away can help alleviate symptoms. Some doctors also recommend doing eye exercises to prevent the eyes from getting used to focusing only on things that are near. For headaches, sore neck, back, and pain, a few minutes of massage can help a person feel better.