A Guide to Healthy Eye Care
Your eyes are your windows to the world and
key bodily components for interacting with it. As you age, you might
experience some problems with them, just as many people do. Many eye
conditions sound scary, however advancements in eye treatment have come a
long way. Here is a list of the most common eye concerns, explained
simply. I’ve also gathered some tips on how to improve your eye health
in your day-to-day life, which you can see by scrolling down to the end.
Presbyopia - The loss of the ability to see
close objects or small print. This is a natural process that happens to
everyone. It’s only noticeable after the age of 40, and is fairly easy
to correct with reading glasses. Prescriptions for them are not needed
in most instances, and they can be bought over the counter at a
pharmacy.
Floaters - These are the tiny spots that often float in your line of
vision. They don’t usually cause any harm and are fairly normal. If they
are accompanied by flashes, this indicates a more serious problem and
you should go to an ophthalmologist.
Dry eyes - This is when your tear glands
are not producing quality tears, causing uncomfortable itching and
burning. This condition can be caused by medication, contacts, weather
conditions or hormonal changes. A doctor might recommend using a
humidifier or artificial tears, having plugs placed in the tear ducts to
lessen tear drainage, or Lipiflow, a new procedure using heat and
pressure.
Tearing -The opposite of dry eyes, you might experience an excess of
tears. Often light sensitivity, wind, and temperature changes affect the
eyes. Sometimes tearing can be prevented by wearing sunglasses. It
might also indicate a more serious condition like a blocked tear duct or
an infection. In both cases, a doctor can help treat this problem.
Eyelid problems - The eyelid's job is to protect the eye, distribute
tears and control the amount of light entering it. Sometimes they droop,
have blinking spasms, develop sties, or the outer edges near the
eyelashes become inflamed. Eyelids might experience pain, itching,
tearing and sensitivity to light. These problems can be treated with
medication, proper cleaning or surgery.
Cataracts - One of the most common eye problems associated with aging.
Proteins in the eye can cluster and form a cloud over the lens. These
formations cause no pain and usually do not alter vision. If they grow
large or thick, they can block light from entering the eye. They can be
removed with surgery.
Glaucoma - A disease associated with increased eye pressure, which can
damage the optic nerve and cause loss of vision. Glaucoma can be treated
with prescription eye drops or surgery. Because there are no symptoms
or initial pain, it's important to have your eyes regularly checked by
an eye doctor, despite it being a less common eye condition.