Consumer Voice :: Eye Care

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Eye Care

Why do you need
An Optometrist?

Dr. Karan Raj Agrawala

Eye conditions affecting young adults

Computer eye-strain: With computers becoming as indispensable as telephones in a workplace, there are increasing incidences of eye strain due to computers. Symptoms include headaches, irritated eyes, blurred vision due to accommodation difficulty, double vision and altered color perception. One must get glasses with accurate prescription suited for one’s workstation and an anti-radiation coating. Breaks of one minute every twenty minutes are recommended. The way in which you arrange your workstation makes a great difference in how your eyes feel while working.

Stye:	is a common problem caused by an infection in one of the small glands on the edges of the eyelids or just under the eyelids. Children frequently get styes from rubbing their eyes with dirty hands. Warm compresses often help in relieving the pain and in more severe cases, antibiotics are recommended.
Chalazion:	results from the plugging of meibomian glands in the eyelids. It is often larger than a stye and is located at some distance away from the lid margin. Unlike styes, chalazia are not painful. Chalazia may occasionally grow large enough to obscure vision, at which point they can be opened and drained by an eye surgeon under local anesthesia.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye):	refers to an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a membrane that lines the lids and covers the exposed surface of sclera. This can be caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, or by an allergy. It is highly contagious when caused by an infection. Consult your local eye doctor right away.

Eye conditions affecting older adults

Dry Eye:	is a condition in which the quantity or quality of tears is not sufficient. The patient may have transient blurring of vision, irritation, burning sensation, and sometimes reflex watering from eyes. A test for dry eye helps to decide whether the patient needs lubricant eye drops or a change in dietary variables in order to balance the tear production. Patients most susceptible to dry eye include people with arthritis, computer users, contact lens wearers, women approaching menopause, and people taking antidepressants and beta blockers.
Cataract:	is clouding of the lens of the eye with age. A good nutritional diet rich in anti-oxidants is often helpful in delaying the progression of cataract.
Macular Degeneration:	The macula is the most sensitive area in the retina responsible for direct central vision. Any condition which restricts blood flow to the macula over a long period of time can cause it to deteriorate. High blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, and high cholesterol contribute to atherosclerosis and therefore to macular degeneration. Vitamin A (beta carotene), Vitamin B6, zinc and copper supplements and a diet rich in lutein and zeaxanthin are often helpful. In extreme cases, lasers are recommended.