Type of dry eyes:

There is two type of dry eye which occur to regular people resulting in problems and irritation in the eyes.

Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye-

When a proper amount of tear is failed to be produced by the lacrimal gland, there becomes a failure of safety coat on the top layer of the eye causing a problem in the eye. Due to the lack of proper volume of the tear, hyperosmotic occurs which results in the production of more salt and less tear. It again results in hyperosmotic of corneal epithelium. Due to this inflammatory mediator are collected on the surface of the eye causing damage to the goblet cell of the corneal epithelium. Goblet cells are critical because they produce mucins which give protection to the eye.

Evaporative dry eye-

When an active outer lipid layer of tear by the Meibomian gland of optical part is not present. The tears evaporate very quickly which results in the lack of protective layer over the eye causing a defect in the eye. It results in the dryness, irritation, inflammatory of the eye.

Other names of the diseases commonly known within the population:

• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
• Dysfunctional tear syndrome
• Lacrimal keratoconjunctivitis
• Dry eye syndrome
• Evaporative tear deficiency or aqueous tear deficiency
• LASIK-induced neurotrophic epitheliopathy

Symptoms which gives an alert to the person of dry eye

• The eyes will suffer from severe pricking, irritation of itching, and severe burning sensation.
• A person will suffer from huge pain and redness due to itchiness.
• The person will feel as if something like sand is moving inside the eye.
• There will be a continuous discharge of mucus which will create a problem for the individual.
• The person will be unable to cry because of lack of volume of tear which increases the lack of comfortability of person.
• There will be temporary blurriness in vision, or there will have cloudy vision. A person will be unable to see clearly.
• It’s very delicate towards the light. The person will be unable to bear substantial light ray on eyes it will hurt the person.
• There will open dense eyelids which will obstruct the vision and result in irritation of the eye.
• The person will face difficulty in wearing or using contact lens. He will be unable to have a clear and natural vision with this lens
• There will be heavy pressure on the eye while watching television, computer or reading a book with full focus.

Causes of this disease

• The air in our surroundings flows with lots of dust particles and irritants which can cause severe irritation to the eye causing allergy and inflammation. Many another natural occurrence like low humidity, smokes, chemical gases, sun exposures and heat also affect the condition of the eye.
• It occurs due to the change in the hormones like during menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause. It can cause due to therapy of hormone replacement or during the intake of hormone related medicine or pills. It changes the running system of the body which also affects the operating system of eyes causing this disease.
• It can also be occurred due to the skin diseases if any took place near the eye surface. The infection from the skin affects the top layer of the eye causing inflammation in the eye.
• Many eye surgeries and treatments can also cause a problem to the eye. Some of the treatments like LASIK and cataract surgery can cause this diseases because during the internal exposure of the eyes this goblet cells get damaged and result to the dry eye.
• When it is infrequent or lacks proper blinking, there will be a lack of protective layer over the eye cause burning and lack of appropriate volume of tears, and it causes evaporation of tears from the eye causing the problem which creates irritation to the eye.
• An autoimmune system can also cause this diseases. It can be due to a lifelong continual inflammation of eyes. It is a very severe problem for the person suffering from this.

Various intake of medicines can also result in the side effect of dryness of eye which can be because of medications such as nasal decongestants, tranquilizers, blood pressure medication, antihistamines or antidepressants. It can also be caused due to long term intake of the vitamin medicine or lake of the proper vitamin. The disease can also be caused due to long term use of contact lens.

Treatment of Dry Eyes:

Treatment of every disease depends on the condition due to which it causes. So regular check-up is very much needed as doctors can understand the proper reason of the conditions. For some condition, the expert can change our medication which can give a result in the treatment. Or it can be treated by wearing off the contact lens and visit the nearest optical treatment center which can provide the proper solution. The drugs for anti-inflammation is the only medicine for the dry eyes which should also be taken and prescribed by the doctor. Eye drops, or it can be called as artificial tears can also be used for its treatment. Some foods need to be taken like salmon and sardines or walnuts etc. it reduces itchiness and burning sensation of the eye. As the eye is a very delicate and sophisticated part of the body so, homemade treatments must be followed as well proper expert treatment is also equally required. He will able to understand all the problems and give a required solution without any side effects.

If proper treatment is not done, then there are chances of inflammation, conjunctivitis and much more. So appropriate treatment is much required.

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But over the years, natural colors have been replaced by synthetic ones. Regrettably, most of the Holi colors sold these days contain many harmful chemicals. The black paste has lead oxide, green contains copper sulphate, red is mercury sulphite etc. On the contrary, synthetic chemical colors are being widely used which have an adverse effect on eyesight. By not taking care of your eyes while playing Holi, you could suffer from infection, temporary blindness and even irritation and/or aller
gies. Just make sure you play safe and do not cause harm to your eyesight. Due to unprotected and hazardous play on Holi, several cases of eye damage and sight loss are reported every year.

The best way to avoid them is to take the following eye safety measures:

• Avoid synthetic colours
• Use natural colours instead
• Avoid wearing contact lenses
• Do not throw water balloons
• Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses
• Keep water guns away from the face
• Advisable to apply thick layers of coconut oil around your eyes which allow you to remove the color with easily without any harm to the eyes.

View this infographic to have a quick idea how to keep your eyes safe during Holi

The post Infographics: Useful Eye Care Tips for Holi appeared first on LensPick Blog.

If we want to keep our eyes healthy we need to give proper exercise to our eyes which work just like the muscles in our body. The fact is that we take things for granted that our eyes will not remain in good condition and we will eventually opt for contact lens or glasses. However, the good news for you is that it should not be the case if you do a routine exercise of your eyes.

Here we will look at some of the best exercises for eyes which will improve eyesight

1. BlinkingBlinking is often ignored which is yoga for eyes. It also helps your eyes for longer focus. The fact is that users of computer and people who watch television do not blink enough especially when they have their full concentration on something interesting. You should try blinking for the next 2-3 minutes in every 3 seconds. Once you have done this exercise just try to notice the feeling in your eyes. Whether you eyes are relaxed, strained and tired. On the other hand, try not to blink for two minutes. You will get the difference.

   As a matter of fact whenever you blink your eyes are going into darkness although for a very little time due to which your eyes remain fresh and there is a reduction in eye strain. This is the best eye yoga for your eyes.

2. PalmingPalming is another good exercise for your eyes. It is done to get rid of stress around the eye and is also a good way to relax your eyes while taking a short break from the computer screen.

   While doing Palming, first of all, take few deep breaths. Now make yourself comfortable while leaning forward on a desk and then close your eyes. Eventually, place both of your hands over your eyes and take care that the cup of your palm should cover your eyes. In addition, while doing this great exercise your fingers should be placed on your forehead and the heel of your hand should rest on your cheek bone. You should also take care that you can blink easily and there is not too much pressure on your eyes.

1. Figure of EightThis exercise is done to increase the flexibility of your eyes besides exercising their muscles. This is a very simple exercise and will help to tell you how to improve vision and also how to improve eye vision?

   You just need to imagine a huge figure of eight in front of your eyes. The distance should be about 10 feet. Now you need to move the figure of eight on its side and eventually try to trace the figure of eight gradually. You can do this exercise for both ways.

2. Near and Far FocusingThis is a very simple and great exercise. The best part of this exercise is that it can be done anywhere.

   In order to do this exercise, you need to be in a comfortable position which should not take more than 2-3 minutes. Now, put your in front of your eyes and try to focus on it. Your thumb should be about 10 inches from your eyes. After this, you need to focus on an object which is about 10 -20 feet in front of you. After every few seconds try to focus on the two different objects one after the other.

   This exercise will give strength to the muscles and is the perfect eye exercise to improve vision. This exercise is one of the best eye exercises for myopia or shortsightedness.

3. ZoomingThis is a very easy exercise and you can do it within no time.

   You should start doing this exercise by sitting in a comfortable position. After this stretch out your arm with your thumb at a different position. Now you need to focus on your thumb while your arm is still outstretched. Now get your thumb closer while focusing all the time until your thumb is pretty close and is about 3 inches from your nose. Move your thumb again while your arm is outstretched. You should do this exercise for a couple of minutes in a single day as this also answers your question – how to increase eye power. This is a great way to improve eyesight naturally.

1. Rolling the EyeballsTry to look in the front and relax. See in the front and start moving your eyeballs in the anti-clockwise and clockwise direction. This exercise would help to strengthen the muscles as well as relax your eyes.
2. Continuous Watching the Burnt CandleNow sit in a comfortable position and light a candle in front of your eyes. Start looking at the lighted candle with both eyes. Keep on looking at the candle until it gets difficult for you to see it anymore in the same position. This exercise will help to increase the vision of your eyes and is ideal for eyesight improvement.
3. Up and Down ViewingSit in a comfortable position. Now stretch your arm with your thumb pointing in the upward direction. Gradually move your thumb in the upward direction. While moving your thumb upwards keep watching it and similarly when you bring your thumb in the downward direction do not move your eyes from the thumb. Repeat this step for a number of times. This will help to answer your question about – how to increase eye power.

Apart from the above, Vision can be improved by the below tips also

• Too much exposure to sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays boosts your chances of cataracts. By wearing right pair of eyeglasses will help to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
• Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side
• Polarized sunglasses reduce glare while you drive.
• If you use hazardous or airborne materials on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles.

Source – Tips for better Eye care

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Eyeglass Frames matching Face Shapes
Judge 3 most important tips while deciding on the frame of eyeglass matching shape of the face as per the guidelines of Council of Vision

• Eyewear ought to replicate individual special most excellent facet
• The shape of the frame must have disparity with shape of the face
• Size of the frame ought to be in balance with size of the face

Besides majority of the faces are a mixture of angles and shapes include 7 essential shapes of the face: oval, round, base-down triangle, oblong, base-up triangle, square and diamond.
Appended is supplementary narrative of face shapes and the finest matching frames for each one. An experienced optician knows how to lend a hand to exercise these guiding principles in selecting the preferred & novel eyeglasses.

Oval
Oval shaped face is measured to be the perfect form for the simple reason that it has impartial importance. Select the frame of eyeglass that are wider than the most extensive portion of the face to maintain normal balance of the oval face or frames that are walnut in shape and are not thin or too profound.

Triangle(Base-Up)
Triangle shaped faces have a incredibly broad peak and little base. Try out the frames that are broad at the base with extreme light material & colors and fashion frames such as rimless that display well-ventilated outcome due to the lenses are being purely fixed with some screws without any adjoining material of frame.

Oblong
Oblong face is lengthier than its width and possesses a lengthy cheek line that is straight and few times with a nose that is long. Make an effort to try frames that are with higher depth compared to its width, attractive or divergent temples that append girth or condense the nose with a short viaduct to have oblong face become visible short and added sense of balance.

Square
Square face encompasses with a physically powerful line of jaw and a large forehead. Additionally the length & width are in similar sizes. Attempt slender styles of frames that comprise extra breadth than deepness, and thin ovals to create a face in square shape appear stretched and to alleviate the angles.

Diamond
Diamond formed faces are thin at the line of eye and line of jaw along with large cheekbones that may be elevated and spectacular. It makes the rarest shape of the face. Aim at frames that include features or unique lines of brow or frames that are rimless or elliptical and shape of eyes of the cats to emphasize on the eyes and make softer the cheekbones.

Round
Round shaped face comprises of curled lines along with the length & width in identical dimensions and without angles. Endeavor bony thin frames of eyeglass to elongate the face, an apparent connection that expands the eyes, and frames that have less depth than the width like rectangular ones to construct a round face come out long & thin.

Triangle (Base-Down)
A triangular face with base-down comprises a slender forehead and broadens at the cheek and chin region. Seek frames that are profoundly inflectional with color and pointing on the summit partially or aim shape of eye of the cat.

Color Analysis
There are 3 types to analysis of color as per The Vision Council are

• Entire population contain either warm (yellow-based) or cool (blue-based) color
• ach one appears most excellent in her or his individual base of color
• Color of eyewear ought to harmonize private complexion

The major reasons that decide the finest palette color are of hair, eyes and skin

Skin

• Skin tenor is the key constituent in shaping complexion. Each and every skin texture drops into 1 of 2 bases of color — yellow (warm) or Blue (cool)
• A cold skin tone includes pink or blue connotations, and temperate features have yellow shine or peaches and cream. Olive skin is measured unruffled for the reason that it is a combination of yellow and blue

Eyes
Colors of eye typically are derivative components in formatting skin tone for the reason that of numerous dissimilarities of color of eye. For instance, eyes that are blue be able to array from a cold nearly violet to a light blue-gray that is tepid. Brown eyes know how to be different from a beam cider shadow (warm) throughout a medium-brown to a fresh nearly black

Hair
Colors of hair too are measured cool or warm. Platinum, Strawberry blond, white, blue-black, salt-and-pepper, auburn and ash brown are cool. Warm colored hair comprises brownish black, golden blond, dirty gray, brown-gold and carrot

Frame Colors for Eyeglasses
Frame colors for Eyeglasses that matches the most to an individual can be found upon decision of being cool or warm.

Warm color frames comprise of khaki, camel, copper, gold, peach, coral, orange, off-white, warm blue, blond tortoise and fire-engine red.

Cool color best eyeglass frames are silver, black, rose-brown, plum, blue-gray, jade, magenta, demi-amber (darker) tortoise and pink blue

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Eat food that is healthy
There are definite food items that enhance health of the eyes and defend against changes arising due to age like macular deterioration. Minerals and vitamins must be included in the food that assists in keeping best form of eyes. They include Vitamin C, Zeaxanthin, Vitamin E, Lutein, Omega-3 fatty acids and Zinc found in various leafy green vegetables, fruits, pulses & grains. Consumption of strong food will facilitate to maintain from growing ailments such as diabetes leading to difficulties of eyes.

Carrots
Carrots and many other vegetables support health of eyes and guard vision. Beta-carotene a kind of vitamin A that provides food with orange tinge that assists retina and supplementary elements of the eye to perform effortlessly.

Green Leafy vegetables
Leafy green vegetables are with zeaxanthin & lutein antioxidants that lessen the risk of increasing cataracts & macular disintegration

Egg Yolk
Egg yolk is a chief resource of zeaxanthin & lutein in addition to zinc that assists in decreasing the risk of macular disintegration

Berries & Citrus
Fruits are enriched with vitamin C that reduces the danger of increasing cataracts & macular erosion

Almonds
Almonds are full of vitamin E that reduces speed of macular collapse. An ounce of almonds supply about half of the everyday dosage of Vitamin E

Condense time in the sun
Cataracts are the main frequent reason of loss of vision with increasing age in adults. Sun rays are capable of augmenting the danger of rising cataracts. It is significant to obtain safety measures to defend eyes from the sun. It is suggested to wear eyewear with UV shielding along with a hat that is brimmed wide.

Sun shades
Sunglasses create fresh look and shield the eyes too. Eyes need sunglasses for protection on similar grounds as skin slathered with sunscreen. Ensure to have UVB & UVA blockage in it.

Protective glasses on the job
Wear protective glasses should the job demand. They must be prepared of polycarbonate a material that doesn’t splinter similar to glass.

Contact lenses
Ensure to rinse hands and lenses thoroughly should you be using contact lenses and wear accurately. It is alluring to use lenses but excessive usage may harm the health of eyes that may not be of significance to take the risk

Relinquish smoking
Smoking is dreadful for lungs and heart and cause harm to eyesight as well. It also damages almost each and every organ of the body including eyes. Smokers are highly prone to hazards of rising cataracts and macular disintegration. It is suggested smoking is of no value risking health.

Frequent work out
Frequent work outs assist in not only trims the waistline but also sharpens eyes. People who have experienced energetic life are less prone to grow macular breakdown. Individuals who walk 3-4 km per day or half an hour a day can set off for a great health & contour of complete body.

Get an annual eye exam
It is extremely important to have eye checking done annually in spite of possessing immaculate eye vision as they present enough indications of complete health as a whole. The medical practitioner / doctor can judge extensive display of circumstances of health by mere examining the eyes including diabetes to hypertension that normally is undetected
It is extremely essential to obtain utmost care and appropriate measures. Frequent testing of eyes along with nurturing the body with correct foods and standard work outs will ensure spiky vision at any given age.
Though there are no assured pledges made but the eyes can be reserved for being healthy with above five best deeds that ensure great health of the eyes in the years to follow.

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Sunglasses

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Eye Pressure Symptoms and Causes

Eye pressure causes are numerous. Factors that cause or are associated with Intraocular Pressure are virtually the same as the causes of glaucoma. These include:

Excessive Aqueous Production

The aqueous is the clear fluid that is produced in eyes by the ciliary body, a structure located behind the iris. Aqueous flows directly through the pupil and fills the anterior chamber of eyes, which is the space between the cornea and the iris.

The aqueous drains from the eyes through a structure called the trabecular meshwork, in the periphery of the anterior chamber, where iris and the cornea meet. If the ciliary body produces too much aqueous, the pressure in the eye increases, causing Intraocular Pressure.

Inadequate Aqueous Drainage

If the aqueous drains extremely slowly from the eyes, disrupting the normal balance of the production and drainage of eye’s clear fluid, this too will cause high eye pressure.

Certain medications can have the side effect of causing Intraocular Pressure in certain individuals. Steroid medicines utilized to treat asthma and other conditions have been shown to enhance the risk for Intraocular Pressure. Even steroid eye drops utilized after LASIK and other refractive surgery can cause high eye pressure in susceptible individuals.

Eye Trauma

An injury to the eyes can affect the balance of aqueous production and drainage from the eye, possibly leading to Intraocular Pressure. Many times this can occur months or years after the injury. During your routine eye exam, be sure to mention to your eye doctor if you have experienced any eye trauma in the past.

Several Other Eye Conditions

Intraocular Pressure has been associated with a number of other eye conditions, including pigment dispersion syndrome, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, and corneal arcus. If you have any of these conditions, the eye doctor may recommend that you have more frequent eye exams and eye pressure measurements.

Eye Pressure Symptoms

Most individuals with Intraocular Pressure do not experience any symptoms. For this reason, regular eye examination with an ophthalmologist is important to rule out any damage to the optic nerve from high pressure.

Eye Pressure Treatment

If your ophthalmologist prescribes medicines to aid in lowering the pressure inside the eyes, properly applying the medication and complying with the doctor’s instructions are very important. Not doing so could result in a further increase in intraocular pressure that can lead to permanent vision loss and optic nerve damage. Intraocular pressure treatment depends on your ophthalmologist. How the ophthalmologist chooses to treat you is highly individualized.

• Many ophthalmologists treat elevated intraocular pressure of higher than 21 mm Hg with topical medicines. Some do not medically treat unless there is an evidence of optic nerve damage. Most ophthalmologists treat if pressure is consistently higher than 28-30 mm Hg because of the high risk of optic nerve damage.

• If one is experiencing symptoms like blurred vision, halos or pain, or if one’s intraocular pressure has recently enhanced and then continues to increase on subsequent visits, the ophthalmologist will most likely commence medical treatment.

Intraocular pressure is evaluated periodically. One guideline to how often intraocular pressure is checked is given below.

• If one’s intraocular pressure is 28 mm Hg or higher, one is treated with medicines. After 1 month of taking the drug, one has a follow-up visit with the ophthalmologist to see if the medicines are lowering the pressure and there is no side effect. If the drug is working, then follow-up visits are scheduled every 4-5 months.

• If intraocular pressure is 26-27 mm Hg, the pressure is rechecked in 3-4 weeks after your initial visit. On the second visit, if the pressure is within 3 mm Hg of the reading at the initial visit, thereafter follow-up visits are scheduled every 4-5 months. If the pressure is lower on the second visit, then the length of time between follow-up visits is longer and is determined by the ophthalmologist.

• If your intraocular pressure is 22-25 mm Hg, the pressure is rechecked in 3-4 months. At the second visit, if the pressure is within 3 mm Hg of reading at the initial visit, then your next visit is in 8 months and includes visual field testing and an optic nerve examination. Testing is repeated at least yearly.

Laser and surgical therapy are not used to treat intraocular pressure because risks associated with these therapies are higher than the risk of developing glaucomatous damage from intraocular pressure.

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Causes of Colour Blindness

Color Blindness causes are various. Many colour vision problems are inherited and are present at birth. People usually have three types of cone cells in the eyes. Each type senses either green, blue or red light. You see colour when your cone cells sense different amounts of these three basic colours. The highest concentration of cone cells is mainly found in the macula that is the central part of the retina. Inherited colour blindness happens when you do not have one of these types of cone cells or they do not work right. You may not see one of these three colours, or you may see a different shade of that color or a different colour. This type of colour vision problem doesn’t change over time. A colour vision problem is not always inherited. In many cases, a person can have an acquired colour vision problem. This can be caused by:

• Aging.
• Eye problems, like cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy.
• Injury to the eyes.
• Side effects of some medicines.

What are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of color vision problems vary:

• You may be able to see some particular colours but not others. For example, you may not be able to tell the difference between some greens and reds but can see yellow and blue easily.
• You may see various colours, so you may not know that you see colour differently from others.
• You may be able to see a few shades of colour while most individuals can see thousands of colours.
• In rare cases, some individuals see only white, black, and gray.

Tests to Determine Colour Blindness

A color blindness test is a device your eye doctor uses to determine if you have a colour vision deficiency. There are two types of color blindness tests: screening tests that can detect the presence of a colour vision problem, and more detailed quantitative tests that can detect a colour vision deficiency and determine the type and severity of colour blindness.

Screening Color Blind Tests

The most widely used color blindness test is the Ishihara Color Vision Test. This test is named after Japanese ophthalmologist Shinobu Ishihara , who devised the procedure and published an outstanding description of it in 1917.

The Ishihara Color Vision Test consists of a booklet, each page retaining a circular pattern (or “plate”) comprising many dots of various colours, brightness and sizes. The seemingly random coloured dots are arranged in such a fashion that an individual with normal colour vision will see a single-digit or two-digit number within the array of dots while a colorblind individual will either be unable to see a number or will see a different number than the one seen by an individual with the normal colour vision.

Eye doctors use Ishihara plates to screen patients for colour vision problems. Someone with a red-green colour deficiency may not see the red number in this instance.

Quantitative Color Blind Tests

For a more detailed analysis of colour blindness and/or an individual’s ability to accurately perceive colours, a quantitative color blindness test is needed. The most popular such test is the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test. This test consists of four trays retaining many small disks of varying hues. Each tray has a coloured reference disk at one end. The person being tested must arrange other disks within the tray to create a continuum of gradually changing hue.

Treatments for Colour Blindness

Historically, the main solution to impaired vision has been to don a pair of corrective lenses. The options are either to wear eyeglasses or to wear contact lenses. Glasses are a convenient way to correct your vision. There are a huge range of spectacle frames available today making it possible to choose glasses that complement and accentuate your features. You can buy eyeglasses online from online stores like Lenspick at a reasonable price.

Contact lenses also offer further vision improvements, being closer to the eyes they offer more natural vision, and one’s complete field of view is in the focus – unlike eye glasses where one has to contend with being able to see edges of frames, and of course having the blurred vision outside the frames.

If you think you have problems with colour vision, you should schedule an appointment with an eye doctor right away. The eye doctor will be able to tell you whether you are seeing colours properly and what to do if you are not.

Image Credits:  myhealthylivingcoach.com, improveeyesighthq.com, tigardeyecare.com, a1.phobos.apple.com

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Now-a-days, more and more people are opting for LASIK to correct their vision as it reduces the need for eyewear completely and also treats vision problems. Before you have a surgery, as part of your surgical consultation, your medication, refraction errors and health histories are screened thoroughly and reviewed to find out the appropriateness for LASIK treatment.  Any one type of LASIK surgery may suit you that will be decided upon by your eye care specialist. Know your suitable surgery type and go for the treatment. This helps you to reduce the risks and complications of LASIK eye surgery. Here is a lot of information for you about LASIK surgery.  Read out each and every point to protect your precious eyes.

Different Types of LASIK Surgeries

LASIK eye surgery alters the shape of an eye and improves your vision as an alternative to wearing contact lenses or glasses. Almost all LASIK procedures are performed with a specific type of excimer laser that comes in different brands such as Bausch and Lomb, Alcon, Visx, and Wavelight. There are four types of LASIK eye surgeries.

• Conventional LASIK: It is the ablation pattern that is available on most lasers to treat the problem directly based upon the patient’s eyeglass prescription with fixed therapeutic parameters. This LASIK treatment is effective for most of the patients but at times it can result in more visual aberrations like halos, glare and night vision issues.
• Wave front-Optimized LASIK: It is a type of LASIK treatment that is performed using a wave-light It is also based on the patient’s glass prescription and accounts corneal curvature and thickness. This treatment has been found to reduce the complications such as nighttime visual aberrations that occur with conventional treatment.
• Wavefront Guided LASIK: It is also referred to as custom LASIK or wavefront A patient’s underlying refractive error and specific alterations in a patient’s eye can be treated well with this surgery. Before starting the procedure, individual mapping is performed to identify any irregularities in the patient’s optical system.
• PRK: It stands for photorefractive keratectomy and is used to correct mild to moderate short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and During PRK surgery, an eye surgeon uses a special laser to reshape the cornea that delivers a cool pulsing beam of UV light.
• LASEK: It stands for Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis. This is a new form of laser eye surgery that combines many benefits of LASIK and PRK. There is no cutting or scraping of the eye. This surgery is used to treat short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and astigmatism.

LASIK Eye Surgery Risk Factors

LASIK surgery has very specific potential risks that patients should consider before undergoing this procedure. Certain anatomical factors and eye conditions can increase your risk of limiting maximum LASIK results. Generally, your risks will vary with the degree of correction and surgical procedures, your general health, and your age. The risk factors for LASIK eye surgery include:

• Large Pupils
• Unstable Vision
• Dry eyes
• High refractive error
• If you are pregnant women
• If you have active autoimmune disorders or degenerative diseases
• Too thin or irregular corneas
• Corneal scarring
• Fuzziness

LASIK Treatment Complications and Side Effects

Most of the Americans have had LASIK eye surgery to correct their vision since it was introduced in the United States more than 20 years ago. LASIK surgeons reported that severe complication rates could be below 1 percent. The side effects and complications of LASIK can be resolved with the assistance of advanced medical treatment or additional enhancement surgical procedures. Check out the list of  common LASIK complications and side effects.

Temporary vision disturbances and discomfort

Discomfort such as mild irritation and light sensitivity, during the first few days after LASIK surgery, is quite common and can be expected too. During the first few weeks or months, you may experience glare, halos, dry eye symptoms, hazy vision and starbursts in low light regions especially at night time. In most of the cases, this complication is temporary and disappears entirely within 3 to 6 months.

Flap Complications

The LASIK treatment involves the development of a thin hinged flap on the front surface of the cornea. This is lifted up during surgery for laser reshaping of the eye. Later the flap is replaced to form a natural bandage. If the LASIK flap is not corrected properly, then this complication can lead to an irregular shaped eye surface and distorted vision. Some problems like irregular astigmatism, DLK, keratoconus, epithelial ingrowth are associated with LASIK flap complications.

Irregular astigmatism

It is caused by an unequally curved corneal surface and can occur from laser correction that is not centered appropriately on the eye or from irregular healing ability. Resulting symptoms include double vision or ghost images.

Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK)

This is an inflammation under the LASIK flap that possesses many causes. In case of DLK, it can interfere with healing and cause loss of vision. During this condition, it responds to medical therapies such as topical steroids and antibiotics. The flap must be lifted and cleaned for removal of inflammatory cells. This in turn prevents the tissue damage.

Epithelial Ingrowth

When the cells from the outer layer of the cornea grow under the flap after LASIK surgery, it causes epithelial ingrowth. In most of the cases, this condition is self-limiting and causes very few problems. But in rare cases, symptoms of discomfort and blurred vision can occur. Additional surgery is required to remove the epithelial cells.

Keratoconus or Keratectasia

It is a very uncommon bulging of the eye’s surface that occurs due to the removal of the corneal tissue during LASIK. In rare cases, keratoconus develops after LASIK treatment with unknown risk factors.

Experience of dry eyes after LASIK

Some people who have undergone the LASIK surgery experience a decline in tear production that causes eye discomfort and blurred vision. Almost all LASIK patients experience a certain degree of temporary dry eye syndrome. It is a temporary condition and can be treated effectively with lubricating eye drops or other measures.

Overcorrection, Undercorrection or Regression

Not everyone will attain 20/20 vision after LASIK eye surgery. In most of the cases, the cause of a less than perfect outcome is that your eyes fail to respond to laser eye surgery in an anticipated manner. Another cause is that your vision may be maximum at first but regress over time due to the overhealing property. In most cases, undercorrection or regression can be treated with refractive surgery such as conductive keratoplasty.

Eye infection: LASIK surgeons report that eye infections occur more commonly with surface ablations such as PRK. Eye infections after LASIK eye surgery are temporary and can be treated with antibiotic eye drops or anti-inflammatory medication such as steroids.

7 Key Facts to Know About LASIK surgery

LASIK is one of the most advanced technological eye operation in almost all parts of the world. In order to reduce the risks and complication factors of LASIK, check out these seven important points before you undergo surgery.

• Determine your refractive error
• Know your suitable treatment options
• Know about the laser type that is recommended for your treatment and also know why it is specially chosen for you
• Know whether you are a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery
• Select an experienced and certified surgeon for your treatment
• Deal with your post-surgical care
• Know the statistical analysis of risks and complications of LASIK

Like any other surgery, there will be potential risks, side effects and limitations that you should be fully aware of before opting to undergo any type of procedure. A skilled and experienced LASIK eye surgeon can reduce these risks and enable you to achieve the best results with LASIK eye surgery.

Image Credits: i.ytimg.com, Amin Ashrafzadeh

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Different Types of Cataracts

Cataracts can be classified based on the anatomical location within the lens, causes of the cataract and the degree of clouding of the lens. The following are the types of cataracts that affects your vision.

1. Nuclear Cataract: A nuclear cataract forms deep in the nucleus, which is the central zone of the lens and is usually associated with aging. The lens of the cataract gradually turns more dense yellow and clouds your vision. This condition leads to difficulty in distinguishing between color shades. It also causes more nearsightedness.
2. Congenital Cataract: If a child is born with a cataract or develops one during his/her childhood, it is known as a ‘congenital cataract.’ This condition occurs if the mother has an infection during pregnancy and other disorders such as Galactosemia, Lowe’s syndrome, Myotonic dystrophy or rubella. Congenital cataract develops in one child out of 10,000 infants. It does not interfere with the child’s vision. If it happens, it is removed after detection and replaced with an artificial lens.
3. Traumatic cataract: In most of the individuals, the development of cataract occurs after several years of an injury causing damage to the eye. This type of cataract is known as a traumatic cataract. It is caused due to the exposure of the eye to alkaline chemical substances or blunt trauma to the eyes.
4. Cortical cataract: A cortical cataractis fully characterized by wedgelike opacities or streaks in a whitish color on the periphery of the cortex lens that surrounds the central nucleus. Gradual changes in the water content of the lens fibers make fissures or clefts that look like a spokes pointing from the outside edge towards the center of the lens. This type of cataract is usually associated with glare related vision problems.
5. Radiation Cataract: This type of cataract develops after exposure to certain types of radiations like ultraviolet radiations. Prolonged exposure to sunlight increases the risk of developing radiation cataracts. If a patient undergoes radiation therapy for cancer, he or she is at risk of it too.
6. Secondary cataracts: Secondary cataracts are caused commonly by diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma or certain steroid medications like Prednisone. This type of cataract also occurs after surgery for other eye related diseases such as glaucoma.
7. Subcapsular cataract: It occurs as a small, opaque area at the back of the lens.  It often interferes with reading and reduces your vision, creating glare and halo effects around bright lights. People those who suffer from diabetes or those who consume high doses of steroids have a higher risk of developing a subcapsular.

Common Symptoms of Cataracts

At an acute stage, the cloudiness in your vision which is caused by a cataract may affect only a little part of your eye’s lens, and you may be unaware of any loss of vision. As the cataract grows to the next stage, it clouds more of your lens and deforms the light passing through your lens. You’re more likely to observe the signs and symptoms at this level. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek your eye care professional immediately for help. The Common Symptoms of Cataracts include:

• Cloudy, blurry or dimmed vision
• Poor vision during night-time
• Increased sensitivity to glare, headlights, lamps or bright sunlight.
• A halo may be visible from lights
• Double vision or multiple images in the affected eye
• Frequent changes in contact lenses or eyeglass prescription
• Colors appear faded

Risk Factors for Cataracts

The following are the risk factors that are associated with cataracts

• Family History
• Obesity
• Too Much Exposure to Sun
• Smoking
• Heavy Alcohol Drinking
• Aging
• High Blood Pressure
• Eye Injuries
• Prolonged use of medications

Treatment for Cataracts

• Cataracts are removed effectively by surgery when vision impairment begins to interfere with daily activities like reading or driving.
• Surgery mainly involves the removal of the cloudy lens and replacement with a clear, synthetic intraocular lens (IOL).
• Phacoemulsification and Extracapsular surgery are the two surgical methods for preventing cataracts completely.

Cataract surgery is very successful in restoring vision without any complications. Apart from this, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and reducing your risk factors will also help you to get rid of cataract problems quickly. Regular checkups and proper lifestyle changes will keep your eyes in healthy condition!

Image Credits: eyeproblems.uk.com, 4.bp.blogspot.com, healthy-ojas.com, eyesitemd.com

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