Common Eye Diseases

Eyes is one of the body parts that need to be taken care of appropriately. Often, we neglect this proper treatment unless we feel and detect discomfort and visible changes. We overuse our eyes without giving them good nurturing. As a result diseases and disorders can often develop.

Some common eye problems are:

• Age-related Macular Degeneration is one of the main cause of eye vision loss in people over the age of 60. This disease slowly develops and thus the patient does not notice that their vision changes. If affects the macula in the central vision that enables reading and driving. Smoking and obesity are the known contributing factors for this eye ailment.
• Amblyopia is also called ‘lazy eye’. The part of the brain connected to the affected eye is not properly stimulated and develops abnormally. In Estimation, 1- 1.5% of the population, mostly children, is affected by this disease. Suffering from poor spatial acuity, low sensitivity to contrast and some “higher-level” deficits to vision such as reduced sensitivity to motion. Vision therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation are possible treatments for Amblyopia.
• Cataract happens when the normally transparent lens inside the eye becomes clouded or opaque. The normal aging process hardens the lens and contribute to the development of cataract. Younger individuals acquire cataract due to injury, illnesses(such a diabetes) and drugs. Babies may also be born with this condition. Symptoms include blurred vision, frequent change of glasses, glare, double images and change in colour vision. The only treatment for cataract is surgery.
• Dry Eye (Computer Vision Syndrome) is an eye condition where there is inadequate lubrication in the eye and is now becoming widespread with the prolong use of computers. Several factors are responsible for this disorder such as natural aging process, environmental conditions, occupational, systemic diseases, hormonal changes hormonal changes, etc. If left untreated, will lead to vision impairment.
• Glaucoma is a condition where the optic nerve is damaged, causing progressive and irreversible loss of vision. Symptoms rarely show that it is important to undergo regular checkups by licensed eye care specialists. Open Angle glaucoma is a chronic condition that progresses slowly and may not be noticed until the loss of vision has occurred. Close Angle glaucoma, on the other hand appears suddenly, is often painful and progress quickly. Surgery and eye drops are among the several treatments administered to glaucoma patients.
• Squint is an eye condition when the two eyes are misaligned and are not looking in the same direction. It may be constant or appear sometime during the day. There is no known cause for squint but treatment is ministered if a refractive error is diagnosed.
• Flashes and floaters are common among people. Flashes are lighting streaks originated in the eye and often noticed at night or in dark spaces. Although harmless, flashes and floaters may point or lead to more serious conditions of retina such as retinal breaks, retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage and others.

It is important to keep in mind to take care of the eyes as vision is important for us. Keep eyes and hands to avoid transfer of germs. Avoid engaging the eyes in straining activities. Eat foods which are known to enhance good vision, take supplements and make appointments with eye care specialists for required eye examination whenever possible.