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Here is a list of common eye problems and tips to deal with them:
1. Dry Eyes:
Your eyes can get damaged by extreme dryness, so get medical advice even for mild cases. Artificial tears are often effective at treating dry eyes, but a few people are allergic to the preservatives present in them. Avoid direct air from fan or AC, hair dryers and smoky or overheated rooms. Wear sunglasses whenever you go out. Eye glasses can often reduce the dryness caused by wind.
2. Glaucoma:
It needs early diagnosis and treatment. People over the age of 65, or suffering from diabetes or those who have a family history of glaucoma, and the near-sighted need more frequent checkups. Your doctor can prescribe pills or eye-drops to reduce the pressure. They are effective in preserving vision and must be taken for life. Other methods such as Laser and conventional surgical techniques are also useful in some cases.
3. Detached retina:
Seek treatment immediately, as this may cause blindness. See an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. There are many treatments available now, including laser or surgical repair. These can successfully correct early retinal detachments in 90% of the cases.
4. Blepharitis:
You can apply warm moist compresses for 10 minutes several times in a day. And wash your eyelids with diluted baby shampoo, without letting it enter your eyes. If the problem doesn’t clear up, consult an eye-care professional, to prescribe some drops or ointment. Don’t rub or scratch your eyelids.
5. Foreign Bodies:
Don’t rub or scratch your eye. Wash your eye with water, or hold your eye in a glass full of water. If the discomfort persists or becomes severe, see a doctor. Be careful with your nails, because you may end up scratching your eye. Never try to remove any particle that appears embedded in the eye, especially in the cornea.
6. Conjuctivitis (pink eye):
It is highly infectious. Avoid touching or rubbing your eye, to avoid spreading infection to the other eye, or to other people. Wipe away the discharge with a clean moist tissue. Use a seperate towel, that nobody uses. Wash your hands often and don’t use contact lenses or eye-makeup for some days. Get a doctor’s help if redness worsens, discharge is severe, eye becomes very painful or vision is persistently blurred. Antibiotic eye drops can clear up most bacterial infections.
7. Cataracts:
This requires surgical removal of the lens and replacement with intraocular lenses that are implanted in eye. This treatment is usually safe and 95 % effective at improving vision.
8. Macular degeneration:
It usually occurs in older people. Its symptoms include decreased acuity, loss or distortion of central vision and blind spots. Sun exposure may also aggravate the condition. There is no sure-shot cure for this but vision loss may be slowed with early treatment, that includes supplements containing zinc and antioxidants. It may be dry or wet. The ‘dry’ form is more common whereas the ‘wet’ form is more severe, and there is an increased blood vessel formation and hemorrhages. Laser surgery may also help some people.
9. Stye:
Symptoms include red painful inflammation like a small boil on the eyelid. You can apply warm moist compresses for 10 minutes several times in a day. Don’t squeeze or rub it. It can spread the infection. See a doctor if the stye appears frequently or takes longer to heal.
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