A popular saying goes that the eyes are the window to the soul, but what many of us miss, is that the eyes are also clues to a person’s health. Taking a mere look into someone’s eyes, doctors could tell the condition of their arteries, veins and nerves – which acts as good indications of a person’s general health. We shall discuss some common questions on eye conditions, and how you could better understand the symptoms. So, read on!
Question 1: What’s a refractive error?
Answer: Refractive error is an eye condition when the eye is unable to properly bend and focus light on the retina. When the light bends incorrectly, and is focused in front of the retina, the person has myopia (nearsightedness). When the light is focused behind the retina, the person has hyperopia (farsightedness). Astigmatism is another refractive error caused by uneven shaped cornea. At Disha Eye Hospitals, refractive surgeries are performed in order to correct refractive errors and reduce a person’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses.
Question 2: What is a cataract?
Answer: The lens is the clear structure in the eye that focuses on entering light. As people age, a normally clear lens becomes cloudy. This cloudiness is called cataract. A cataract can block incoming light and affect vision in many ways.
Question 3: What are the symptoms of cataracts?
Answer: Cataracts can cause different symptoms for different people. During the early stages, a mild cataract may not signal any symptoms. But with time, as the cloudiness progresses, less light enters the eye and people start experiencing symptoms such as
- Poor night vision
- Blurred vision
- Glare on bright days/ at night, while driving
- Frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions
- Seeing halo around lights
- Double visionHere’s a useful read on symptoms of cataract to help you remain aware of the illness.
If you want to know more about cataract treatment in kolkata and other parts of West Bengal, contact us As a precautionary measure during the Covid-19 pandemic, we encourage you to consult with our doctors online. To know more, click here
Question 4: What is glaucoma? And who gets glaucoma?
Answer: Glaucoma occurs when the pressure of the fluid in the eye increases, leading to damage of the optic nerve and loss of vision, and possibly, blindness. Patients with diabetes and advanced retinopathy stand at a higher risk of glaucoma. You can read about more risk factors here
Question 5: What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
Answer: At first, there are no symptoms – which is why glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight”. As the condition progresses, the patient may notice his/her side vision worsen over the period of time, even if the central vision functions perfectly. In many cases, the loss of peripheral vision goes unnoticed by the patient. If left untreated, the patient may gradually lose their central vision.
Question 6: What is diabetic retinopathy? What are its symptoms?
Answer: Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that affects patients suffering from uncontrolled diabetes. In this condition, the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina are damaged. Due to the damage, the blood vessels swell and leak. There are two stages of diabetic retinopathy: – Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. You can learn about these stages here . There are often no symptoms until the later stage of the disease. If you are a diabetic, then you must go for an annual eye check-up. If you experience blurred vision, floaters, dark spots, impaired colour vision, visit your nearest eye hospital immediately.