The eyes are one of the most important parts of our body. In complexity, they rank second only to our brain. Eyes provide us with an 80% perception of the world. They are so unique that they consist of 256 unique traits in every individual, far greater than the 40 traits held by our fingerprints. Eye protection and the prevention of eye diseases are necessary to live a fuller life. That’s why you see the hype in eyeglasses usage.
The eyeglass industry is trying to make eyeglasses as easily accessible as possible. When I was searching where can I get lenses put in my own frames, I got to know some reliable brands like Overnight Glasses, Zenni Optical, Warby Parker, Glasses USA, etc., that are providing fast delivery with affordable and quality services.
Vision loss refers to losing one’s ability to see adequately without any vision correction tools. It occurs slowly and gradually, or even suddenly in some cases. These vision correction tools include eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgical eye correction procedures, permanent artificial lenses, etc.
There are many causes of vision loss. Some of these include our habits that could deteriorate our vision over time. Statistics show that more than 23 million people have to use vision correction tools to see better, and these numbers could multiply in 2050.
For taking good care of our eyes, we should be aware of the common eye diseases and ways to cure them. Here is a list of the most common eye problems, their symptoms, and treatment options.
Eyestrain
One of the most commonly faced eye problems today is eye strain. It implies overuse of sight for a prolonged period, like staring at gadget screens or intense reading. It causes eye fatigue and tiredness. It makes your eyes sore, watery, or dry, causes headaches or blurred vision, light sensitivity, double vision, etc.
It is important to take breaks from reading or screens to rest your eyes and decrease stress. Also, eye cleansing yoga exercises can be incorporated into your daily routine to relax your eyes.
Dry Eye Syndrome
Tears act as lubricants for our eyes. Dry eye syndrome occurs when tears cannot give proper lubrication due to low production or poor quality. They could cause burning or sting in your eyes, light sensitivity, redness, fatigue, mucous production around the eye, etc.
Treatment options include dry eye medications, eye drops, artificial tears, ointments and gels, etc. In severe cases, surgery becomes inevitable to facilitate the production of tears. To avoid dry eye syndrome, avoid extreme temperatures, take frequent breaks during screen time, sleep well and choose a healthy lifestyle.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration mostly occurs over 40 years of age. It causes a decrease in the quality of the vision, and straight lines can seem distorted. Research statistics estimate that 8.7% of blindness is caused by Macular Degeneration.
Macular degeneration can cause blurred vision, formation of blind spots, difficulty in seeing at night or in dim light, etc. However, there are no medications to cure the illness completely. It could be avoided through prescription medications or laser therapy. These methods destroy the abnormal blood vessels within the eye.
Also, a healthy diet and supplement intake of certain minerals and vitamins can help people avoid macular degeneration.
Cataracts
Another commonly existing eye disorder is cataracts. In cataracts, people cannot see clearly due to the eye lens forming cloudy areas. Due to cataracts, one experiences clouded or blurred vision, seeing halos around lights at night, view faded colours, problems in vision through light and glare, etc.
In the early stages of cataracts, anti-glare glasses can be used to restore good vision. However, as the condition intensifies, surgery becomes the only available option. In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is replaced by a clear new artificial one.
Glaucoma
In glaucoma, our optic nerve gets damaged over time. Our optic nerve is responsible for transmitting images to our brain. Due to damage in the optic nerve, the pressure within the eye fluid increases. This pressure is known as intraocular pressure and should be treated, or it may lead to complete vision loss.
There are two types of glaucoma. The first is angle-closure glaucoma, where the angle between the iris and cornea becomes too narrow, resulting in fluid pressure buildup. This could cause severe pain, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, eye redness, and complete vision loss in just a short period. The next common type is open-angle glaucoma, where the fluid flow within the eye becomes inadequate, resulting in tunnel vision or peripheral vision loss.
Treatment options include laser surgery, medications, traditional surgery, or a combination of various treatments.
Diabetic Retinopathy
As the name suggests, diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes-related disease. People suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. In this condition, blood vessels are damaged, affecting the retina tissues. Symptoms include impaired color recognition, blurred or fluctuating vision, floaters and dark spots in vision, and ultimately complete vision loss.
Treatment options include laser treatment and surgery called a vitrectomy, in which vitreous gel is surgically removed before it severely damages the retina.
Nearsightedness (Myopia)
Nearsightedness occurs due to an irregular curve of the cornea and long eyeball. This shifts the focus of light to the front of your retina, blurring your vision. It results in blurry vision of distant objects, eyestrain, headaches, difficulty in driving, etc. It could be overcome by the use of prescription glasses, corrective contact lenses, or laser surgery.
Farsightedness (Hypermetropia)
Farsightedness occurs when light rays cannot retract properly on your lens or cornea. This results in blurred closer vision. Farsightedness is the opposite of nearsightedness. It causes blurred vision of closer objects, headaches, need for squinting, etc. corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses can be used to treat farsightedness. Laser surgical treatments are also available for the treatment of farsightedness.
Conclusion
Your eyes are the jewels that bring colour to your life. They are highly sensitive and should be taken care of. It would help if you were observant of any symptoms that could lead to eye diseases so that they could be cured before developing into a severe disorder.
