blindness

Try these habits in 2020, to keep your eye-sight 20/20

January 27th, 2020 by Content Editor

You’ve noticed a decline in your vision lately. You’ve even been struggling to read road signs and restaurant menus. What’s going on with your peepers? Well, for most people, a gradual decline in vision is a normal sign of aging. Fortunately, there are various ways you can slow down any loss in eyesight.

For optimal eyesight avoid the following:

Staring at screens

This isn’t just limited to working on your computer or laptop, but if you binge-watch TV shows or read books on an electronic device, you’re decreasing the blink rate of your eyes which, over time, causes them dry out and become fatigued.

This is because when you blink, your eyelids spread tears over the eye which helps keep them moisturised.

Tip: Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen at something 20m away for 20 seconds to give your eyes a healthy break.

Wearing the wrong sunglasses

Most sunglasses may not have UVA/UVB block-out necessary to reduce eye damage caused by the sun. If you’re thinking of buying a new pair of sunnies, look for ones that protect your eyes from both UVA and UVB rays.

Overusing your contacts (and not cleaning the contacts case!)

Contact lenses are developed to be worn for a certain period of time. Stretching out that time can be both harmful and increase the chance of an infection.

Replace your lens case every three months or when your bottle of solution runs out. If you store your case in your bathroom, there is likely to be bacteria floating around. That’s why it is important to rinse your case properly and don’t just change the solution.

Not eating enough nutrients and vitamins for eye health

Vitamins and nutrients that can improve and maintain vision health include vitamins A, C, D, E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. They can be found in a variety of foods such as fish, nuts, colourful vegetables and oranges. These types of “real food” have health benefits for the whole body too.

Sleeping with makeup on or using expired make-up

Eye makeup like mascara is in close proximity to your cornea, the front part of the eye. Sleeping with mascara on can scratch the cornea, while using old and expired make up increases your risk of eye infection. .

Skipping your eye exams

Many eye ageing conditions like cataracts or dry eyes start off slowly without any obvious symptoms. The only way these conditions can be detected is with a regular eye exam. Picking them up and treating them early can help prevent permanent vision loss.

Keep your vision optimal

Look for warning signs of changes in your vision.

If you start noticing changes in your vision, see your eye doctor immediately. Signs include double vision, tunnel vision, hazy vision and difficulty seeing in low light conditions.
Other signs of potentially serious eye problems that need immediate attention include:

Red eyes
Frequent flashes of light
Floaters
Eye pain and swelling

Healthy habits for your eyes

Wear sunglasses

The right pair of shades will help protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much UV exposure boosts your chances of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Choose a pair that blocks 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Polarised lenses reduce glare while you drive. While some contact lenses offer UV protection, it’s still a good idea to wear sunglasses for an extra layer of protection.

Use safety eyewear

If you use hazardous or airborne materials on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles. Helmets with protective face masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses will shield your eyes during and risky activities.

Quit smoking

Smoking increases the chances of cataracts developing, damages your optic nerve and contributes to macular degeneration.

Visit your eye doctor regularly

Getting a regular eye exam can help protect your sight. Eye exams can also find diseases like glaucoma that have no symptoms. It’s important to spot them early on, when they’re easier to treat.

References:

How this blind woman overcame her struggle

August 8th, 2019 by Content Editor

Some vision problems can develop even before you’re born. In these cases, parts of the eyes don’t develop the way they should, and because of this, the brain can’t process the information that the eyes send. The optic nerve is what is responsible for sending pictures from your eyes to your brain. If this nerve doesn’t develop correctly, the brain won’t receive the messages needed for your vision.

Blindness can also be inherited, meaning that the problem gets passed down to a child from the parents. Age, eye diseases, chronic diseases, like diabetes, and accidents to the eye can also cause you to lose your vision.

A different way of seeing

As much as vision is what most are born with, many don’t get to see the world the way we all do. Blind South African motivational speaker and author Lois Strachan found extraordinary ways of seeing without the use of her eyes.

As a result of Type 1 diabetes, Strachan lost her sight at the age of 21. That situation however, didn’t stop her from living her life.

After her sixth laser surgery operation, she lost her eyesight. She could’ve easily been a victim of the disability but one of the first things she did when she got her strength back was to join a rock band.

Faced with many emotions before taking control of her life; she later moved into her own home, found a job, had her first guide dog and self-published her own children’s book series. Using technology helped her do more and live a normal life just like anyone else. Being blind didn’t deter her from finding something to do. She soldiered on.

She takes pride in her accomplishments and hopes to conquer more in the future.

Good to know

Should you or a loved one turn blind, or if you were born without eyesight, it doesn’t mean you’re living a meaningless life. You are no different from anyone else, and you can still achieve the desires of your heart. There are many tools and programs available to assist the blind. With the right support structure and hard work, one can overcome anything.

References:

Is your eyesight failing? Here’s what to do about it

May 2nd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Ageing is a common cause of deteriorating eyesight, but there may be other reasons why you’re struggling to read.

Retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited condition. The retina, a layer of nerves at the back of the eye, do not respond to light properly. This can cause vision loss over time.

Prevention: Retinitis pigmentosa cannot be prevented.

Treatment: Research into treatment for the disease is ongoing. A recent breakthrough has suggested gene therapy may work for this condition.

Eye infections

Infectious keratitis

This infection can occur after an eye injury, such as a scratch, and can also occur in those with diabetes who are more prone to eye infections.

Bacterial keratitis can sometimes happen in those who swim while wearing their contact lenses. Left untreated, the condition can progress rapidly with the loss of vision or even losing the eye!

Prevention: Eye infections can be prevented through good hygiene, keeping contact lenses clean and avoiding contact with infected people. In those with diabetes, managing blood sugar levels helps prevent infections.

Treatment: Most eye infections are treated with antibiotics..

Cataracts

Cataracts are very common amongst the elderly. You may be developing a cataract if you have cloudy or blurry vision, struggle to see without bright light, have double vision or colours look faded.

Prevention: Stop smoking, eat well (include foods high in vitamins C and E), reduce exposure to sunlight, and if necessary, manage your diabetes.

Treatment: New spectacles or anti-glare sunglasses may help with early-stage cataracts, but advanced cataracts need to be surgically removed. The lens that is affected will be replaced.

Diabetic retinopathy

Those with diabetes often suffer eyesight problems as a result of high blood sugar levels which cause damage to the blood vessels in the eyes.

Prevention: Maintain a healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Exercise regularly, regulate your weight and avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.

Treatment: Laser surgery to cauterise the damaged blood vessels in the eye. Keep blood sugar, cholesterol and pressure at healthy levels.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma can run in the family and is most often found in adults over 60 years old. It’s caused by high pressure in the eye which puts pressure on the optic nerve.

Prevention: There is no way to prevent glaucoma.

Treatment: Early detection may lead to treatment. There are also medications that decrease the pressure in the eye which delays the onset of blindness.

Age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration causes blurred or opaque vision and problems with focus. This occurs mostly in the elderly, and the risk is higher in those exposed to excess sunlight and those who are heavy smokers.
Prevention: Regular visits to your optometrist can help detect early symptoms of the disease. Eating eye-boosting healthy foods also improves overall eye health.

Treatment: In early-stage AMD, a specific cocktail of vitamins may help slow the disease.

Cancer of the eyes

Cancer of the eye becomes more likely as you age, especially if you have light-coloured eyes or are Caucasian. Sometimes the condition is an inherited one.

Prevention: There is no way to completely prevent eye cancer.

Treatment: These include chemotherapy, surgery, laser therapy, specific medications or radiation therapy.

If you fear you may have an eye condition that’s affecting your sight, visit your GP or optometrist, who may refer you to an ophthalmologist if necessary. If your eyes are healthy, keep them so by limiting exposure to harsh light, keeping any other conditions in check, and eating as healthily as possible.

References:

Warning signs of serious eye problems

October 22nd, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

As you get older, you may experience age-related eye problems. This is why it’s important to have regular eye checks to help avoid vision problems and minimise permanent loss.

While many eye problems can develop at any age, they’re more common as you get older and in those who have a family history of eye conditions. The most common of these include a detached retina or rapid onset of glaucoma.

Unfortunately, ageing also increases your risk for certain types of sight-threatening eye conditions that can lead to blindness.

Globally, over 250 million people live with vision impairment, says the World Health Organization. Around 80% of those could have been either avoided or cured.

See your eye doctor as soon as possible if you experience:

A gradual loss of central vision. This includes distortions like straight lines appearing wavy.
An irritated sensation and pain in the eye surface. This could be caused by dry eye syndrome.
Sudden loss of vision in one eye. This could signal a number of eye diseases and conditions.
Onset eye pain, redness, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms could mean an acute attack of narrow-angle glaucoma, which can permanently damage the eye’s optic nerve. You’ll need immediate treatment to help avoid permanent vision loss.
Seeing floaters and flashes is a natural part of the ageing process and is usually harmless. Spots or floaters are shadowy images of particles floating in the fluid that fills the inside of the eye. If you suddenly see more floaters than normal, and they’re accompanied by bright and flashing lights, see your doctor.
Double vision, double images or “ghost” images. In some cases, these can signal an underlying health emergency like a stroke.
Cloudy and blurred eyesight, “halos” around lights at night, loss of bright colour vision. These vision changes are linked to cataracts. Cataracts progress slowly and are usually not a medical emergency. As your eye’s natural lens continues to cloud with ageing, your vision will deteriorate unless you have cataract surgery. Surgery will replace your cloudy lens with a custom intraocular lens that’s implanted in the eye as part of a treatment. If you wait too long for the surgery, you increase your chance of complications that may lead to glaucoma. This can also cause the cloudy lens to harden and become more difficult to remove.
A shadow or dark curtain in vision. This could be caused by a retinal detachment, which happens when the retina separates from the underlying layer of nourishing blood vessels (choroid). If the retina is not reattached within hours, you can permanently lose your vision.

Minimise age-related eye problems

Reduce your risk of developing serious eye problems later in life by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and going for routine eye checks. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of nutritious food heavy in vitamins A, E and omega 3’s may also reduce your risk of certain eye problems.

References:

Glaucoma: The #1 Cause of Preventable Blindness

October 14th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Fact: Glaucoma is the number one cause of preventable blindness in developed countries, but what is it, and what causes it?

Glaucoma actually refers to a group of diseases which affect the optic nerves in the eye. As the nerve fibres die, it impacts a person’s peripheral (side) vision first. This is why visual loss can be extensive before the problem is detected, at which any damage done is often permanent.

What Causes Glaucoma?

At the back of the eyeball is the optic nerve, and this carries signals from the eye to the brain and back again. Glaucoma damages this vital nerve – much like cutting the cable that connects your digital camera to your computer. Except the optic nerve can’t be repaired, so the damage is permanent.

Eye pressure is also an important risk factor for developing glaucoma. Basically, healthy eyes have some pressure within them, but if the pressure is too great it can cause glaucoma.

What are some of the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

If you have any of the following warning signs of glaucoma, you should make an appointment with your doctor or optometrist as soon as possible for a thorough examination.

Difficulty focusing on near or distant objects
Change in colour of your iris
Trouble adjusting to the dark
Unusual sensitivity to light (squinting more than normal for example)
Red-rimmed, encrusted or swollen lids
Persistent pain in or around eyes
Double vision
A dark spot “in the middle” of your eye
Lines and edges appear wavy or distorted
Watery eyes, or excessive tearing
Dry eyes, burning or itchy eyes
Seeing ghost-like images or spots

Am I at Risk of Glaucoma?

High eye pressure is the main risk factor for glaucoma, but you could also be at risk if you have a family history of the disease, if you are diabetic or if you have cardiovascular disease. Your risk also increases with age.

Additional risk factors include:

Near-sightedness
Previous eye injuries
Use of steroids
A thin cornea
A history of severe anaemia or shock

Can Glaucoma Be Treated?

Regular eye tests are the most important factor in treating glaucoma, as it’s easy to detect and the disease can be managed. Treatment largely includes lower pressure in the eye to prevent any further loss of vision.

It’s important to remember that with early detection and treatment, people with glaucoma can maintain good vision for the rest of their life. If you’re worried about any eye-symptoms, why not ask our doctors? Simply sign up on our website. download the free Hello Doctor app from the Google Play or iTunes store. They can give you the best possible advice, so you know exactly what to do next.

Sources: Kellogg Eye Center, Glaucoma.org

How to beat the odds and not go blind

August 22nd, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Glaucoma is one of the most sneaky causes for blindness. It is an eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve from an abnormal increase of pressure in the eye, and most of us don’t even know if we have it!

The optic nerve is vital for vision as it carries information from the eye to the brain. Damage to this nerve can be harmful to your eyesight. In the case of glaucoma, this damage leads to irreversible vision loss and eventually, blindness.

What are the symptoms?

Glaucoma progresses slowly and silently over the years, so by the time you recognise any symptoms, the damage to the optic nerve may be very advanced. Symptoms include:

Severe eye pain (usually with nausea and vomitting).
Headaches
Eye redness.
Blurred or cloudy vision.
Seeing halo-like glows around bright lights.

Risk factors

Glaucoma can affect anyone, but you may be at higher risk if you:

Are over the age of 40.
Have high internal eye pressure. Eye pressure increases with age.
Have a family history of the condition.
Have a condition that affects blood flow like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Are African. Glaucoma is more common and severe in people of African origin.
Have myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).
Have had an eye injury.
Have had eye surgery.
Have corneas that are thin in the centre (less than 0.5 mm).
Take steroids for a long time.

How is it diagnosed?

To diagnose glaucoma, your doctor will review your medical history and do a complete eye exam. He’ll run a few quick, painless tests to:

Measure your eye pressure (tonometry).
Examine your optic nerve for damage (optic nerve assessment).
Check for areas of vision loss (visual field test).
Inspect your eye’s drainage angle (gonioscopy).
Measure the thickness of your cornea (pachymetry).

He may also take a picture of your optic nerve to see how far the glaucoma has developed. The only way to detect glaucoma before it damages your sight is with regular eye tests. The earlier it’s found, the earlier it can be treated. This is especially important if you have a high risk for glaucoma. “If you’re over 40, you should have your eyes tested every two years, and every year once you’re over the age of 60,” recommends SAGS.

Treatment

Once, you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma, you have to go on lifelong medication, says Dr Ellen Ancker, an ophthalmologist from Cape Town. Your doctor may recommend eye drops and glaucoma medications to help lower eye pressure. These need to be taken regularly and as prescribed to retain your eye sight and prevent further damage to your optic nerve.

“It’s also important to go for regular check-ups and have a good relationship with your doctor,” advises Ancker. “You must be able to trust him and notify him as soon as you experience any changes or problems with your vision.”

If medication doesn’t help, your doctor may suggest surgery to improve the flow of fluid out of the eye. “However, this isn’t a first option as there’s a danger of infection, and cataracts in older patients,” says Ancker.

References

What it’s like to see through an eye condition

March 4th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Blindness affects many people across the world. While some eye diseases occur from birth, others can be hereditary, or can come about through lifestyle.

What you might not know is that certain eye conditions have different effects on your vision. For example, glaucoma starts off with the loss of peripheral vision, whereas cataracts causes ones vision to blur. Here are four of the most common eye diseases, and what the world might look like for those with any of these conditions. Continue reading “What it’s like to see through an eye condition”

For optimal eyesight avoid the following:

Staring at screens

Wearing the wrong sunglasses

Overusing your contacts (and not cleaning the contacts case!)

Not eating enough nutrients and vitamins for eye health

Sleeping with makeup on or using expired make-up

Skipping your eye exams

Keep your vision optimal

Healthy habits for your eyes

Wear sunglasses

Use safety eyewear

Quit smoking

Visit your eye doctor regularly

References:

Blindness

A different way of seeing

Good to know

References:

Retinitis pigmentosa

Eye infections

Infectious keratitis

Cataracts

Diabetic retinopathy

Glaucoma

Age-related macular degeneration

Cancer of the eyes

References:

See your eye doctor as soon as possible if you experience:

Other possible vision problems to look out for

Minimise age-related eye problems

References:

What Causes Glaucoma?

What are some of the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

Am I at Risk of Glaucoma?

Can Glaucoma Be Treated?

What are the symptoms?

Risk factors

How is it diagnosed?

Treatment

References