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Prevention Guide
Choose from the following list of conditions or scroll down the page:
Astigmatism
Astigmatism (a-STEEG-ma-tiz-em) is caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea. The cornea is the transparent front surface of the eye and it is normally round. If you have astigmatism, your cornea is shaped more like a football, causing your vision to be distorted. The blur from astigmatism is frequently combined with nearsightedness or farsightedness, and can usually be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. If you choose to wear contacts and have a high degree of astigmatism, a hard or semi-soft lens may be needed to correct your vision. In some cases, a special soft lens, called a toric lens, may be required. The symptoms of astigmatism are blurry vision, headaches and eyestrain. If you experience any visual problems, see an eye care professional for a thorough eye examination.
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Blepharitis
Blepharitis (blef-a-rye-tis) is a common and persistent inflammation of the eyelids. Symptoms include irritation, itching, and occasionally a red eye. This condition frequently occurs in people who have oily skin, dandruff, or dry eyes. The resulting irritation causes dandruff-like scales and particles to form along the lashes and eyelid margins. Both upper and lower eyelids become coated with oily debris and bacteria near the base of the eyelashes, causing the eye to feel irritated and become inflamed. Regular, thorough cleansing of the lid margin helps control blepharitis (blef-a-rye-tis). A warm cloth placed over closed eyelids for five minutes will help to soften crusts and loosen oily debris. Another alternative is to use a mild baby shampoo or a prepared eyelid cleansing solution with a cotton ball, cotton swab, or clean cloth to gently scrub the lids for about two minutes. Thoroughly rinse the eyelids and pat dry. Many medications are available for treatment but are not sufficient without the daily cleansing routine. When required, your physician may prescribe antibiotics to control any other associated bacterial infections. For more information regarding blepharitis, contact your health care provider.
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Blood on the White of your Eye
If a bright red patch appears on the white of your eye, without any other symptoms like pain or impaired vision, it's probably just a broken blood vessel, known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage. The eye turns red due to a hemorrhage of tiny blood vessels underneath the conjunctiva. A jarring blow to the head can cause the hemorrhage. It can also result from anything that puts too much pressure on these fragile blood vessels, such as childbirth, weight lifting, intense coughing, vomiting, or even sneezing. Luckily, this is one condition that looks much worse than it really is. The blood will slowly be absorbed, and the eye will heal itself within one to three weeks. You can speed up the process by applying cool compresses for the first two days, and warm compresses in the following days. However, if the blood on the white of your eye does not subside, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it's best to see an ophthalmologist. He or she can determine what's causing the problem, and suggest appropriate treatment.
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Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens inside the eye. Cataracts cannot spread and are not contagious. They cannot be prevented, nor can their progress be stopped or reversed. Cataracts usually develop with age, but can also be caused by high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, or trauma to the eye. If you have a cataract, you may notice a gradual decrease in your ability to see things clearly at a distance. This is followed by problems with reading and other activities requiring close vision. You may feel as though there is a skin or fog over your eye, and your vision may seem dim. If you have a cataract, and a stronger lens prescription doesn't help, the way to improve vision is to have the clouded lens surgically removed and replaced with an artificial lens. It is important to note that cataracts can only be removed surgically. They cannot be removed with a laser, although lasers can be used in their treatment after surgery. For more information about cataracts, contact an eye care professional. Learn more about Cataracts...
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Chronic Glaucoma
Glaucoma occurs when there is an increase in pressure inside of the eye. This increased pressure can damage the optic nerve and result in loss of vision. The most common type of glaucoma is chronic glaucoma. With chronic glaucoma, the fluid in the eye drains from the eye less efficiently, resulting in a gradual increase of pressure within the eye. Over a period of time, this increased pressure results in optic nerve damage and distorted vision. Chronic glaucoma is more common with aging and is seen primarily in patients over fifty years old. The damage to the vision can be gradual and painless, so the person may be unaware of the condition. For this reason, it is important that everyone have their eye pressure checked during yearly eye exams. Once the condition is diagnosed, it can be managed with eye drops that lower pressure or a surgical procedure if necessary. For more information, contact your eye care professional.
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Cysts
When the oil glands in your eyelid become blocked, a round, swollen area called a cyst may develop. Cysts are usually harmless; about 50% of them can be cured at home, without using antibiotics. Start by applying warm compresses for fifteen minutes, four times a day. If the cyst does not respond, or becomes infected, have it checked by your doctor. Signs of infection include pain, redness, swelling, and large amounts of pus. Cysts are more likely to develop in people with dandruff, dry eyes, or inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. However, there are steps you can take to discourage cysts from forming. If you have dandruff, keep it under control with medicated shampoos. Always take any prescription medicines according to your doctor's instructions.
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Detached/Torn Retina
The retina is a thin membrane lining the back of the eyeball. It contains the cells which perceive light and color. These cells convert the light into electric impulses which are then transmitted to the brain, which in turn interprets these impulses to form a picture. The retina is kept healthy through oxygen and nutrients from the blood vessels located at the back of the eyeball. Occasionally, as a result of a combination of age and nearsightedness, or because of an eye injury, fluid will leak beneath the retina and cause it to peel away from the back of the eyeball. Symptoms include dark spots or light flashes, or part of the field of vision will be blotted out, blurred, or distorted. A detached or torn retina is an emergency situation. If tears in the retina are not repaired or the retina is not reattached to its source of nutrients, the cells which perceive light will die, and vision will be permanently lost. Surgery is necessary to repair the damage and is successful in about ninety percent of cases.
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Drooping Upper Eyelid
Just like other areas, the thin skin of the eyelids begins to sag as we get older. After age 70, the lower eyelids may droop, and even start to turn outwards. This outward-turning condition is known as ectropion (eck-TROE-pee-on). Generally, this is just part of the aging process, and no correction is needed. But if the appearance bothers you, the drooping can often be corrected with outpatient surgery. The procedure takes about 30 minutes, using local anesthesia. A tiny scar may remain, and the lid will be swollen for a few days. In about ten to fifteen percent of cases, the two eyelids may not match, and additional surgery is required. In younger people, hanging lower eyelids could be due to allergies, scar tissue, or muscle spasms. However, drooping of the eyelid that appears suddenly could be the result of an insect bite, nerve disorder, or other disease. If you've developed a hanging lower eyelid, especially one that came on rapidly, it's best to have it checked by an ophthalmologist.
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Dry Eyes/Watery Eyes
Tear production normally decreases with age. While dry eye can occur in both men and women at any age, women are most often afflicted, especially after menopause. Stinging, burning, scratchiness, stringy mucus, and excess irritation from smoke are some of the usual symptoms of dry eye. Excessive tearing is another common symptom. In this case, there is a deficiency of lubricating tears, causing an eye irritation that results in an outpouring or reflex tearing. Blepharitis (blef-ah-RYE-tis), a common inflammation of the eyelids, is often associated with dry eyes. If you have dry eye, you should make sure that you have a good level of humidity in your environment, especially in winter. Treatment for dry eye includes the use of lubricants, such as artificial tears and lubricating ointment, and surgical blockage of the tear outflow channel by the insertion of plugs or by a minor surgical procedure. A complete medical eye examination by your ophthalmologist will determine if you have dry eye and what treatment options are available. Please consult your health care provider for more information.
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Eye Exam
It is important to have your eyes examined regularly. During an exam, eyes should be checked for health problems as well as visual acuity (ak-YOU-ih-tee). How often you should have your eyes checked varies, depending on your individual circumstances. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (op-thal-MALL-o-gee) recommends that people with healthy eyes have their eyes examined periodically from puberty to the age of forty. Children should be screened by age three or four, and people ages forty and over should be examined by an ophthalmologist every two to five years. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, it's a good idea to have your eyes checked every year. A comprehensive examination may include: a visual acuity test to determine if you need corrective lenses; a test to measure your eye pressure; a retinal exam to view the back of your eye; and a microscopic examination of the front of the eye. A comprehensive examination is important because there are several eye diseases, such as glaucoma, that have no symptoms in their early stages. An eye examination may also reveal disease elsewhere in the body. Remember, the sooner a disease is detected, the better the chance for successful treatment. Also, it is important to catch vision problems, because if left uncorrected, these problems may become worse and can cause frequent headaches. For more information about eye exam, contact an eye care professional.
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Farsightedness
Farsightedness is a condition in which you may have no problem seeing objects in the distance, but may have difficulty focusing clearly on near objects. The blurriness is caused by an eyeball that is too short, causing light rays to focus behind the retina, instead of directly on the retina, which is necessary for normal vision. This form of farsightedness is called hyperopia (hi-per-OH-pee-ah). Its symptoms include eyestrain or headache. In children, a lack of interest in reading may be a sign. The condition will usually worsen over time. Another form of farsightedness, called presbyopia (prez-bee-OH-pee-ah), occurs as a normal result of aging. Common in people over the age of forty, presbyopia occurs when the lens of the eye loses flexibility, interfering with the ability to focus on close work. People with this condition may complain of eye fatigue and may hold reading material at arm's length. An eye-care specialist should be consulted at the first sign of difficulty. Regular eye examinations are recommended because your prescription may need to be changed every few years or sooner. For more information on farsightedness, please contact a health care professional.
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Flaking Eyelids
Flaking eyelids can be a result of various factors, including allergies, irritating chemicals, or other substances that cause inflammation. However, if the condition is also accompanied by a greasy, waxy dandruff on the scalp and eyebrows, it's likely to be a form of blepharitis called seborrheic blepharitis. Lids will be red and itchy, usually with soreness or a burning sensation. Scales are attached to the eyelashes, along the eyelid margin. These can be removed by soaking with hot compresses. Anti-dandruff shampoo is usually recommended to combat flaking on the scalp. You will also need to scrub the eyelids daily, with a gentle baby shampoo or special cleanser. It's important to follow the routine every day as directed by your doctor, or the condition can flare up again. If you have flaking eyelids that don't seem to heal, consult an ophthalmologist or other health care provider. He or she can prescribe a treatment regimen, to get the problem under control.
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Foreign Body on the Cornea
The cornea is the transparent membrane that coats the outer part of your eye. It helps support the eyeball, and provides its shape. When a foreign body becomes lodged on the cornea, it can cause damage in two ways: it may scratch the eye, leading to corneal ulcer, or it may contain bacteria that causes an infection. We've all experienced the occasional speck of grass or dust getting in our eye; it usually works itself out, or is easily flushed with standard eye drops. Anything more than this, and it's best to see an ophthalmologist right away. If the material is stuck, don't attempt to remove it. Trying to dig it out yourself could cause further damage. Of course, the best way to avoid any foreign bodies in the eye, is by wearing eye protection. Grab a pair of safety glasses or goggles, for activities like mowing the lawn or woodworking. And don't forget your sunglasses, when cruising in a convertible, or on a motorcycle.
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Glaucoma Treatment
Treatment for glaucoma may differ depending on the type of glaucoma you have. Chronic glaucoma, in which pressure inside the eye gradually increases, is often treated with pills or medicated eye drops. These methods help maintain normal eye pressure by keeping drainage passages clear. Acute glaucoma is an emergency situation in which the pressure must be quickly relieved before permanent visual damage occurs. In this case, lasers are often used to quickly unblock drainage ducts allowing fluid in the eye to escape and pressure to return to normal. The best treatment for glaucoma is preventative treatment. Make sure to have your eyes checked regularly so that signs of glaucoma can be detected.
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Laser Surgery for Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition in which there is elevated pressure inside the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve and can result in distorted or lost vision. A majority of patients with glaucoma can be adequately treated with eye drops. However, for those patients for whom the eye drops do not sufficiently relieve pressure, laser surgery is now available. Laser surgery for chronic glaucoma consists of treating the drainage area of the eye with a laser to ease the outflow of fluid. This results in decreased pressure. This procedure is typically performed when it is felt the eye drops are not sufficiently lowering the amount of fluid within the eye. Laser surgery is also used in acute angle-closure glaucoma. In this condition, the laser is used to make a hole in the iris to restore the flow of fluid to the drainage area of the eye. This helps restore normal pressure and helps prevent the recurrence of acute glaucoma. Depending on the severity of the glaucoma, laser surgery can sometimes be an out-patient procedure. For more information on laser surgery for glaucoma, contact your eye care professional.
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Lumps on your Eyelids
Most of the lumps or bumps that may form along your eyelids are harmless. One common bump is the sty, caused by an infection in the hair follicles or glands along the eyelid. An outer sty usually goes away in a week or so; warm compresses can speed the process. A sty on the inside of the lid may take longer to heal. A similar type of bump called a chalazion (ka lay zee on) can also appear inside the eyelid. It looks like a sty at first, but may grow into a round nodule. Antibiotic ointment can help it disappear. Next, there's the small, yellowish growth known as a xanthelasma (zan thel az mah). This benign tumor is not harmful, though it can be removed for cosmetic reasons. But here's one type of lump to look out for: if you develop a small, shiny lump that gradually gets bigger, forming a whitish border, with a red, depressed center, it could be a form of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma. While this sort of cancer rarely spreads, it does need to be removed. If you have any bump of which you're unsure, it's best to see a doctor for a complete exam.
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Nearsightedness
The inability to see objects clearly at a distance is called nearsightedness or myopia (my-OH-pee-ah). The condition is caused by an eyeball that is too long and focuses light rays in front of the retina, instead of clearly on the retina, which is needed for normal vision. Myopia usually begins in childhood, making uncorrected nearsightedness the most common eye problem among school-age children. As the body grows, the myopia usually progresses and then stabilizes in adulthood. The symptoms of myopia include blurry vision, headaches, and eyestrain, and can usually be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. A thorough eye examination by an eye-care professional is recommended at the first sign of a visual problem. If corrective lenses are prescribed, it's a good idea to have yearly eye examinations so that changes in vision can be monitored and treated. For additional information on nearsightedness, please consult a health care professional.
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Pinkeye
Conjunctivitis (kon-junk-ti-VIE-tis) or pink eye, as it is commonly called, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (kon-junk-TI-vah), or the thin, transparent membrane lining of the eyelids and front of the eyeball. Conjunctivitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, an allergy, or an irritant in the eye and is highly contagious. It can be spread by contact with contaminated fingers, towels, handkerchiefs, or wash cloths. Symptoms may include eye swelling, redness, irritation, and a yellow, sticky discharge that causes the eyelids to stick together. The infection is usually treated with antibiotic drops or ointment which must be prescribed by a doctor. Certain precautions can help prevent the spread of pink eye. Hands should be washed frequently and fingers should be kept away from the eyes. Towels and face cloths should not be shared, and it is recommended that children should be kept home from school until the infection clears. If symptoms of pink eye are experienced, a physician should be consulted. For more information on pinkeye, please contact your health care provider.
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Sties
A sty is an inflammation of an eyelash follicle that forms at the edge of the eyelid. Each eyelash follicle has a sebaceous (seh-BAY-shus) gland that secretes oil to keep the skin of the eyelids soft and pliable. Occasionally a bacterial infection affects a sebaceous gland and spreads to the eyelash follicle. The sty abscess begins with pain, redness, and swelling and gradually forms a yellow spot or head in the center. In some cases, multiple sties may form, causing intense pain. Sties can be treated by applying a warm, clean, moist cloth to the affected eye for about ten minutes, four times a day. The abscess should not be squeezed, as this will spread the infection. If the sty fails to go away after a couple of days, you should contact your physician. He or she can prescribe an antibiotic ointment or, if necessary, use a lancet to open the sty and allow it to drain. Once the pus is discharged, the pain should subside. For more information, contact your eye care professional.
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