By Saqib Majeed
We are continuing our eye diseases series with part IV. If you missed the first three parts about refractive errors and some other eye disorders, we highly recommend you give them a read as well. As we mentioned in our previous articles according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” More than 4.2 million Americans aged 40 years and older are either legally blind (having best-corrected visual acuity of 6/60 or worse (=20/200) in the better-seeing eye) or are with low vision (having best-corrected visual acuity less than 6/12 (<20/40) in the better-seeing eye, excluding those who were categorized as being blind).” That’s why we find it important to talk about all these disorders.
Today we are going to talk about quite a few eye disorders. The first one we are going to discuss in detail is “Glaucoma”.
Glaucoma:
Eyes are like tires. They can withstand small pressure. It is safe and normal. But sometimes when the levels of pressure are too high, they can damage the optic nerve. A group of diseases can cause the pressure to increase and this is known as Glaucoma.
One of the most common forms of glaucoma is open angle glaucoma. This eye disorder doesn’t show any symptoms in the beginning. There is no pressure on the optic nerves and no pain is felt at the start of the disease. That’s why it is important to keep up with your regular eyes exams.
It’s not a very common disease but glaucoma can be caused by the following:
1. An injury to the eye
2. Blocked blood vessels
3. Inflammatory disorders of the eye
Treatment includes prescription eye drops or surgery.
The next eye disorder we are going to discuss today is “Retinal Disorders”.
The retina in our eyes is a thin lining on the back of the eye. It is made up of cells that collect images and pass them on to your brain. Brain then processes those images and that’s how we perceive things. Retinal disorders as the name suggests can cause damage to the retinal cells and block this transfer to the brain. There are a few different types of retinal disorders.
1. Age-related macular degeneration refers to a breakdown of a small portion of the retina called the macula.
2. Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels in your retina caused by diabetes.
3. Retinal detachment happens when the retina separates from the layer underneath.
It’s important to get an early diagnosis and have these conditions treated.
Another eye disorder is “Conjunctivitis aka Pinkeye”.
This is disorder is characterized by the inflammation of the tissue that lines the back of the eyelids and covers the sclera. The sclera, also known as the white of the eye is the opaque, fibrous, protective, outer layer of the human eye containing mainly collagen and some elastic fiber.
Conjunctivitis causes redness, itching, burning, tearing, discharge or a feeling that something is in your eye.
People of all ages can get it. Causes include infection, exposure to chemicals and irritants, or allergies.
Wash your hands often to lower your chance of getting it.
Corneal Diseases:
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. The cornea, with the anterior chamber and lens, refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye’s total optical power.
It helps to focus the light that comes in. Disease, infection, injury, and exposure to toxins can damage it. Signs include:
1. Red eyes
2. Watery eyes
3. Pain
4. Reduced vision, or a halo effect
The main treatment methods include:
1. A new eyeglasses or contacts prescription
2. Medicated eye drops
3. Surgery
Eyelid Problems:
Eyelids are a very helpful part of your body. They protect against dirt, dryness of eyes, bacteria etc. Eyelids do a lot for us. They protect your eye, spread tears over its surface, and limit the amount of light that can get in.
Pain, itching, tearing, and sensitivity to light are common symptoms of eyelid problems. You might also have blinking spasms or inflamed outer edges near your eyelashes.
Treatment could include proper cleaning, medication, or surgery.
If you are facing any health-related issues or need any assistance you can always contact Kandakacare. Our professional healthcare workers are fully qualified to assist you at home without risking your health.
We publish new and useful articles every week containing highly useful information about elderly and how to make their lives easier and healthier. If you have an elderly person at home, we advise you to follow our weekly articles on our Kandakacare page and share with your friends.
