Patricia Woloch asked:


Keratoconus causes the cornea to become thin, weaken, and bulge. The word itself translates to “cone-shaped cornea.” Nearsightedness, astigmatism, glare, and light sensitivity are common early symptoms of the disorder. As time goes by, the cornea can become very thin, steep, and irregular causing severe vision loss and making it impossible to wear contact lenses.

Symptoms

Symptoms normally start to appear when a person is in their late teens or early twenties, and then symptoms progress for 10 t20 years. Each eye may be affected differently. In some people the progression eventually slows down, and the condition may stabilize. Symptoms can include the following:

· Nearsightedness

· Astigmatism

· Blurred vision

· Glare

· Light sensitivity

· Frequently changing corrective lens prescription

· Eye rubbing

Hydrops

In advanced cases, a protective layer of tissue called Descemet’s membrane can rupture allowing fluid to flow into the cornea and causing sudden vision impairment. This phenomenon is called hydrops. A white spot appears on the cornea, and the entire eye may appear opaque. The effects diminish as the Descemet’s layer heals. In some patients hydrops causes corneal scarring which flattens the cornea and actually makes it easier to fit contact lenses.

Causes

The cause of keratoconus is uncertain, but heredity is thought to play a role. Recent research shows a link between a malfunction of enzymes in the eye and a chemical imbalance causing the cornea to thin. Some believe that it is a side effect of disease. What we do know is that exposure to sunlight, eye rubbing, chronic eye irritation, and wearing contact lenses which do not fit correctly can further the damage.

Treatments

Treatments and vision correction vary depending on how advanced the condition has become. Over time, keratoconus has caused the cornea to become very steep, thin, and irregular, meaning that as the disorder progresses the measures necessary to correct vision advance as well.

· Glasses and soft contacts. Corrective lenses can improve vision during the very early stages of keratoconus, but eventually most people will need to wear rigid gas permeable contact lenses. They must be fitted correctly to prevent further damage.

· Intacs. Plastic inserts, placed inside of the eye, can help stabilize the cornea. They can correct some amount of nearsightedness, and by making the shape of the cornea more regular, can mean the ability to wear contact lenses.

· Corneal collagen cross-linking riboflavin. A new treatment using eye drops containing Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and a special light, can strengthen collagen in the eye, and may stop the progression of the disorder.

· Corneal Transplant. About 20 percent of patients will require a cornea transplant. In most patients corneal transplant provides good vision for at least five years.

Keratoconus involves corneal thinning and, therefore, LASIK and any other type of refractive surgery that involves removing corneal tissue are unsafe for people with the disorder. Because there is strong evidence that the condition may be hereditary and delayed diagnosis of keratoconus is fairly common, if you have a family history of the disorder you should inform your ophthalmologist and be tested before undergoing refractive surgery.

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Paul Courtney asked:


Like every other part of our bodies our eyes are also subject to wear and tear be it from the ultra violet rays of the sun, pollution and dust in the air, transmittable diseases or stress from looking at a computer screen all day.

Most of us go to our family doctors to undertake a physical exam to see how our overall health is. Other people take their health for granted. Why is it then that many of us disregard our eyesight. To guarantee healthy and normal vision, an annual visit to your eye doctor for your eye care exam is necessary.

Your eyes are like your windows to the world, Our brain receives sensory information daily from our eyes therefore keeping them in an optimum shape will ensure proper signals being received by the brain and consequent action and reactions. If your vision is sub par this will obviously affect your life performance.

Eye care exams should start from a very early age, babies of 2-6 months should have their eyes checked to correct any abnormalities, children entering primary school and again when entering secondary school should undergo eye care exams which will also detect any vision problems and corrective action can be taken to rectify the problem.

As we get older it is of vital importance to have an eye care exam performed yearly because every time you visit your eye doctor they will evaluate any changes in your vision system and they can help you correct any difficulties that you may have with your sight. Early diagnosis of any potential problems will decrease the chance of severe damage to our sight.

Elderly citizens are more susceptible to vision loss, they should be aware that the probability of having vision disorders increases with age. The threat is still there even though you might not be experiencing any problem, therefore you should visit your eye doctor regularly for an eye care exam.

An eye care exam is a painless and informative method for the assessment of your eyes. The eye doctors will test your visual acuity, which is the clarity of your vision. During the eye care exam, the doctor will also check the muscles of the eyes, eye pressure, fluid circulation, retina and general condition of your eyes.. The routine eye examination is not painful or uncomfortable.

Eye Care Exam Doctors

Doctor’s who specialize in the comprehensive care of the eyes and visual system in the prevention of eye disease injury is the ophthalmologist. They are medically trained specialists who can deliver total eye care exams, primary, secondary and tertiary care services and diagnose general diseases of the eyes.

Whereas the health care professional who provides only primary care services is the optometrist. Services included are the comprehensive eye health and vision examinations: treatment and diagnosis of the vision disorders and eye diseases; the detection of general health problems; they prescribe the glasses, contact lenses, vision therapy, low vision rehabilitation and medications.

How Often Should You Have An Eye Care Exam?

If you note that you are having eye difficulty, pain or visual disturbances or any other problem in the eyes, you should immediately see an eye doctor. However, if you are in good health and no known ailments, no vision problems, you can have an eye exam every two to four years provided your age is below forty. For people with diabetes, you need frequent eye examinations to maintain good eye health.

Remember prevention is better than a cure, so make sure you are aware of your vision and if you note any deterioration get on down and have an eye care exam.

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james sameul asked:


What is normal vision?Normal vision occurs when there is no abnormality in the structure or function of the eye, and you can see objects clearly from both near and far. It is also a term used by eye doctors to describe what a “normal” person can see when looking at an eye chart.  Children’s Eye Health and SafetyMore than 12 million children suffer from visual impairment.Vision problems affect one in twenty preschoolers and one in four school-aged children.Vision problems can begin at an early age; therefore it is important that children receive proper eye care. Untreated problems can worsen and lead to permanent vision loss and delayed development.Causes of blindnessWhen you think about it, the very act of actually seeing the world around us is an astonishing thing.  It relies on the interaction between the brain and the eyeball, two extraordinarily complex organs, so it’s hardly surprising that there are so many ways in which we can suffer sight loss or reduction. CataractCataract is the clouding of the eye’s lens - the part of the eye responsible for focusing light and producing clear, sharp images. River blindnessRiver blindness is caused by a worm that breeds in fast-flowing rivers. It is a major cause of blindness in west and central Africa. Sightsavers is combating it with the drug Mectizan. Eye CancerCancer of the eye is uncommon. It can affect the outer parts of the eye, such as the eyelid, which are made up of muscles, skin and nerves. If the cancer starts inside the eyeball it’s called intraocular cancer. The most common intraocular cancers in adults are melanoma and lymphoma. The most common eye cancer in children is retinoblastoma, which starts in the cells of the retina. What Are the Symptoms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration?Symptoms of macular degeneration include:Straight lines start to appear distorted, or the center of vision becomes distortedDiminished or changed color perceptionTreatmentHere is no cure, but age-related macular degeneration treatments may prevent severe vision loss or slow the progression of the disease considerably. Several treatment options are available, including:Vitamins. A large study performed by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, called AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study), showed that for certain individuals, vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper can decrease the risk of vision loss in patients with intermediate to advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. Laser therapy. High-energy laser light can sometimes be used to destroy actively growing abnormal blood vessels that occur in age-related macular degeneration.Photodynamic laser therapy. A two-step treatment in which a light-sensitive drug is used to damage the abnormal blood vessels. A doctor injects the drug into the bloodstream to be absorbed by the abnormal blood vessels in the eye. Nutrition for the EyesCarrots contain a carotenoid called beta-carotene. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A which is an anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants such as vitamin A are essential to eye health.An antioxidant is any substance that prevents or impedes cell oxidation (destruction) by free radicals. A deficiency in vitamin A can lead to many problems, but this typically is not an issue in the U.S., more so in developing countries.Natural eye healthOcu-Care+ is a Scientifically Advanced Ocular Nutraceutical Dietary Supplement formulated to specifically address the needs of the physiology and function of the eye. Specific nutritional care and support for our eyes can help preserve our eyesight from waning as we grow older as well as help protect us from specific eye problems and common but incapacitating dysfunction.

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Paul Courtney asked:


Eye Care Exams: Are The Important And How Often?

Like every other part of our bodies our eyes are also subject to wear and tear be it from the ultra violet rays of the sun, pollution and dust in the air, transmittable diseases or stress from looking at a computer screen all day.

Most of us go to our family doctors to undertake a physical exam to see how our overall health is. Other people take their health for granted. Why is it then that many of us disregard our eyesight. To guarantee healthy and normal vision, an annual visit to your eye doctor for your eye care exam is necessary.

Your eyes are like your windows to the world, Our brain receives sensory information daily from our eyes therefore keeping them in an optimum shape will ensure proper signals being received by the brain and consequent action and reactions. If your vision is sub par this will obviously affect your life performance.

Eye care exams should start from a very early age, babies of 2-6 months should have their eyes checked to correct any abnormalities, children entering primary school and again when entering secondary school should undergo eye care exams which will also detect any vision problems and corrective action can be taken to rectify the problem.

As we get older it is of vital importance to have an eye care exam performed yearly because every time you visit your eye doctor they will evaluate any changes in your vision system and they can help you correct any difficulties that you may have with your sight. Early diagnosis of any potential problems will decrease the chance of severe damage to our sight.

Elderly citizens are more susceptible to vision loss, they should be aware that the probability of having vision disorders increases with age. The threat is still there even though you might not be experiencing any problem, therefore you should visit your eye doctor regularly for an eye care exam.

An eye care exam is a painless and informative method for the assessment of your eyes. The eye doctors will test your visual acuity, which is the clarity of your vision. During the eye care exam, the doctor will also check the muscles of the eyes, eye pressure, fluid circulation, retina and general condition of your eyes.. The routine eye examination is not painful or uncomfortable.

Eye Care Exam Doctors

Doctor’s who specialize in the comprehensive care of the eyes and visual system in the prevention of eye disease injury is the ophthalmologist. They are medically trained specialists who can deliver total eye care exams, primary, secondary and tertiary care services and diagnose general diseases of the eyes.

Whereas the health care professional who provides only primary care services is the optometrist. Services included are the comprehensive eye health and vision examinations: treatment and diagnosis of the vision disorders and eye diseases; the detection of general health problems; they prescribe the glasses, contact lenses, vision therapy, low vision rehabilitation and medications.

How Often Should You Have An Eye Care Exam?

If you note that you are having eye difficulty, pain or visual disturbances or any other problem in the eyes, you should immediately see an eye doctor. However, if you are in good health and no known ailments, no vision problems, you can have an eye exam every two to four years provided your age is below forty. For people with diabetes, you need frequent eye examinations to maintain good eye health.

Remember prevention is better than a cure, so make sure you are aware of your vision and if you note any deterioration get on down and have an eye care exam.

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