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Retina FAQ: A guide curated by some of the best retina specialists in Kolkata

The retina is an essential part of your vision as it’s responsible for turning light rays into images through signals to the brain. When there’s a problem with the retina, you run the risk of having vision problems. Our retina specialists in Kolkata, who specialize in diagnosing and treating retinal conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal detachment, answer some of the frequently asked questions on the retina:  

1.What is the retina? 

 

The retina is a layer of cells at the back of the eye. The job of the retina is to receive light, convert that light into a neural signal, and send the signal via the optic nerve to the brain. The brain interprets these signals and creates an image.

retina specialist in kolkata

2.What are the different parts of the retina? 

The retina is nearly 0.5 mm thick and lines the back of the eye. It contains 200 million neurons and different parts of the retina are responsible for various vision functions. The macula is the most important part of the retina as it allows you to controls your central vision. It is the macula that allows you to see fine details, color, recognize faces and read.  and more.

3.What are the different types of retinal conditions? 

Some of the common retinal conditions are 

  • Macular degeneration
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Retinal detachment
  • Retinal tear.

There are other medical conditions that can occur, but these are some of the most common ones.

4.What is retinal detachment and what are the different types? 

Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. It occurs when the retina detaches and pulls away from its normal position. A detached retina doesn’t hurt but it may cause the sudden appearance of flashes of light and floaters. If immediate treatment is not sought, retinal detachment can result in permanent loss of vision. There are three different types of retinal detachment: 

  • Rhegmatogenous: This is the most common type of retinal detachment.  A tear in the retina causes the fluid to accumulate. The fluid pulls the retina away. The detached portions lose their blood supply, which results in loss of vision. 
  • Tractional: This type of detachment happens when the scar tissue grows on the retina’s surface. This type of retinal detachment is seen more commonly in people with uncontrolled diabetes. 
  • Exudative: In this type of retinal detachment, fluid accumulates below the retina, but there are no holes in the retina. Age-related macular degeneration, an injury to the eye or tumors are some of the causes of this type of retinal detachment. 

5.Is retinal detachment different from retinal tear? Both retinal tear and retinal detachment have similar symptoms. The retina could tear before it detaches.

6.What symptoms should warrant a visit to a retina specialist?

Retinal problems vary widely. However, most of them cause visual symptoms. Some of the common symptoms that should prompt you to see a retina specialist are: 

  • The sudden appearance of floaters 
  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Poor peripheral vision
  • Sudden loss of vision

 7.How are retinal problems diagnosed?

There are many sophisticated diagnostic tests such as optical coherence tomography, automated perimetry, and digital fundus photography that are carried out to detect a retinal condition. A retina specialist will recommend appropriate tests, depending on your symptoms.

8.How are retinal conditions treated? 

Treating retinal conditions can be sometimes complex. The nature of treatment depends on the condition, severity, and treatment options. From shrinking abnormal blood vessels to removing and replacing eye fluid, from injecting medications to laser surgery, there are many treatment options available. A retina specialist is the best person to suggest an appropriate course of treatment.

9.How to prevent retinal conditions?

Though some retinal conditions are out of your control, you must follow a healthy lifestyle for your overall eye health. Having a healthy diet and exercising regularly is good for your eyes and overall health. Smoking increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, quit smoking.

10. How often retinal exam is necessary? 

You must get your eyes tested once a year. If you are diabetic or have an eye condition, your doctor may suggest more frequent eye check-ups.

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Childhood Myopia: Symptoms And Causes

Myopia (also known as nearsightedness) is one of the most common refractive errors in children. It causes objects located far away to look blurry. Although not a vision-threatening eye condition, myopia in childhood can affect your child’s performance in school and extracurricular activities.

Childhood myopia: Symptoms and causes

1) Symptoms of childhood myopia

Experiencing difficulty in clearly seeing distant objects is the primary symptom of myopia in childhood. Other symptoms that your child may experience include general eye pain and eye irritation.

In many cases, children do not complain about the symptoms because they are not aware of refractive error. Also, in some cases, they are too young to comprehend the problem they are facing.

If your child moves towards a distant object (e.g. a TV to see clearly), it is a valid indication of childhood myopia. Look out for other signs like redness of the eye, itchiness, and tearing.

If you notice these symptoms in your child, take them to an eye specialist. If you are a resident of West Bengal, visit your nearest Disha Eye Hospital. With a team of the best eye specialists in Kolkata, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive eye care for all. One of these doctors could perform the proper diagnosis for your child’s myopia, and assist in starting an early treatment. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org

2) Causes of childhood myopia

Childhood myopia occurs when the length of the eyeball (from front to back) is slightly longer than normal. The abnormality in structure causes the light rays (which are perceived as images) to focus on the front of the retina and not directly on it. As a result, distant vision becomes blurry.

Family history is one of the most common factors that increase the risk of childhood myopia. If you or your spouse have myopia, your child is highly likely to develop the refractive error.

3) Diagnosis of childhood myopia

Diagnosis of childhood myopia is done through a refraction test. The eye specialist may also perform retinoscopy to get an objective measurement of the refractive error. Additional tests are performed in order to determine the type and severity of myopia. Your child could be tested on their ability to focus on close objects, eye movements, and binocular vision.

4) Treatment of childhood myopia

Distant vision becomes a hindrance to learning as your child enters school. Eye specialists often prescribe eyeglasses to temporarily correct childhood myopia. It is necessary for children with 20/40 vision, or worse, to wear prescription eyeglasses.

Wearing bifocals or reading glasses may slow down the development of myopia in some cases. When prescribing bifocals, eye specialists generally instruct the line to be placed higher, in order to encourage the use of bifocal power. Refractive surgery is not recommended for children and is only suitable for adults.

Many adolescents prefer wearing contact lenses over prescription eyeglasses. One of the biggest benefits of using contact lenses is that they improve peripheral vision. This characteristic is highly beneficial for adolescents with high degrees of myopia.

Visit Disha Eye Hospitals with your child to receive comprehensive eye care

Disha Eye Hospitals have some of the best cornea, lens, and retina specialists in Kolkata. We offer advanced medical technology-led eye care services for both adults and children.

One of our main goals is to make our eye care services affordable for all. We believe everybody deserves access to good eye health. We are working to ensure that people from all sections of society have access to modern eye care and maintain good eye health.

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Why Are Your Eyes Watering?

Fluid is one of the most important components responsible for the proper functioning of the eyes. Fluid lubricates the eyes, retains moisturise, and washes away foreign particles from the eyes. The level of fluid is balanced in healthy eyes but at times, there could be excessive production of fluid in the eyes as a defence mechanism or as a symptom of an eye problem. Below are some of the common causes of watering in the eyes:

1) Eye irritation

Eye irritation is one of the common causes of watery eyes. Whenever the eyes experience irritation due to the invasion of foreign particles such as dust and allergens, the immune system responds by producing tears in excessive amounts; a form of defence mechanism to wash away foreign particles from the eyes.

Why are your eyes watering

When experiencing eye irritation, eye-watering is often accompanied by other symptoms such as eye pain, redness, and blurry vision. If you are experiencing these symptoms, get them diagnosed by an eye doctor at the soonest. The residents of Kolkata could visit the nearest Disha Eye Hospital. The eye care team houses some of the best eye specialists in Kolkata whose specialisation lie in various eye conditions. Book an appointment online with one of the doctors at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.

2) Corneal abrasion

Corneal abrasion (also known as corneal scratch) causes excessive watering of the eyes. It occurs when the cornea is somehow scratched. You might receive a scratch if you rub your eyes too hard, wear your contact lens for a prolonged period of time, wear poor-fitting contact lenses, contact sawdust or sand in the eyes, or poke your eyes with a makeup applicator or a fingernail.

Apart from watering of the eye, corneal abrasion also causes blurry vision, feeling of something being trapped in the eye, redness, and sensitivity to light.

3) Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is another eye condition that causes excessive watering. Conjunctivitis could also cause additional discharge, which could harden and form crusts, especially during the night. Eye redness is the primary symptom of conjunctivitis. Other symptoms include gritty feeling in the infected eye, itchiness, and persistent eye pain.

There are 3 types of conjunctivitis: viral conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, and allergic conjunctivitis. Watery discharge is more common in viral and allergic conjunctivitis. Bacterial conjunctivitis has sticky pus as one of the symptoms.

4) Stye

Stye is a red and painful bump that forms near the edge of the eyelids, resulting from an infection in the gland located in the eyelid. Stye could irritate the eyes, especially ones that grow inwards. The irritation, in turn, may cause watery eyes.

Other symptoms of stye that often occur alongside watery eyes are eye pain, tenderness, and swelling of the eyelids. In many cases, stye heals on their own. If the style refuses to leave in 4 or more days, consult an eye doctor to treat it immediately in order to lower the chance of complications.

5) Blocked tear ducts

The drainage system of the eyes plays an important role in maintaining the balance of eye fluids. However, the tear ducts can, at times, face blockage, which may result in watery eyes.

Blockage in the tear ducts could also cause swelling of the eyelids, recurring inflammation, blurry vision, and redness in the white part of the eyes.

Get proper diagnosis at Disha Eye Hospitals

At Disha Eye Hospitals, one of our eye doctors could aid you in getting a perfect diagnosis of watery eye symptoms. Consequently, this would help you in beginning an early treatment of the underlying eye conditions. The eye care team boasts of some of the best retina specialists, cornea specialists, lens specialists, and uvea specialists in Kolkata. Learn more at http://www.dishaeye.org/.

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Common Retinal Diseases

Retinal complications are one of the most serious types of eye diseases. This is because the retina contains light-sensing tissues which convert light into neural signals which are sent to the brain via the optic nerve.

If you are facing difficulty and seeing blind spots in vision, or experiencing sensitivity to bright lights, these can be early symptoms of retinal disease. Make sure to consult with an eye doctor to get the symptoms diagnosed at the earliest.

Common retinal diseases

Our eye care team at Disha Eye Hospitals has some of the best eye doctors in Kolkata. Book an appointment online with one of our eye specialists at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/ and get your eye diagnosed.

Here are some of the common and serious retinal diseases:

1) Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the most serious vision-impairing retinal diseases; without proper treatment, eye disease causes permanent blindness. As the name of the eye disease suggests, Diabetic Retinopathy is associated with Diabetes.

The high blood sugar levels linked with Diabetes causes changes in the tiny blood vessels of the retina and causes them to bleed and leak fluid. This, in turn, leads to vision blurriness. Some of the common symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy include seeing floaters and small spots, loss of central vision, and seeing black spots. Treatment options for Diabetic Retinopathy includes a diabetes management plan, vitrectomy, scatter laser treatment, and focal laser treatment.

2) Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration is another common and serious eye diseases linked to the retina. The eye complication occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow into the macula and leak blood or fluid, interfering with the function of the retina.

Some of the biggest risk factors of macular degeneration include age, obesity, smoking, cardiovascular diseases, and family history of eye disease. Visual distortions, haziness in vision, blurry spot in the field of vision, and reduced central vision are some of the common symptoms of Macular Degeneration. Medicinal supplements, laser treatment, and photodynamic therapy are some of the common treatments of Macular Degeneration.

3) Macular Hole

Macular Hole is a term to describe the formation of a small hole in the macula. The hole forms a blind spot in the central vision as it grows in size. One of the common reasons why macular hole occurs is due to detachment of the vitreous from the retina. When the vitreous detaches, it causes the macula to stretch which leads to the formation of a hole.

Eye injury, retinal detachment, extreme nearsightedness, and diabetic eye diseases are the other causes of a macular hole. Some of the common symptoms of macular hole include blurry central vision, distorted vision, seeing straight lines as wavy, and a spot in the field of vision.

4) Retinal Detachment

Retinal Detachment is a serious eye problem where the retina detaches from the back portion of the eye. The separation of the retina, in turn, leads to vision impairment. Retinal detachment can lead to complete vision loss if left untreated; as it is a medical emergency, delaying the treatment can worsen it and lead to serious complications.

Some of the common symptoms of retinal detachment include seeing floaters, seeing sudden flashes of light, partial vision loss, and blurriness in vision. Treatment options that eye doctors choose for retinal detachment include vitrectomy, scleral buckling, retinopexy, cryopexy, and photocoagulation.

High-quality eye treatment at affordable cost

We, at Disha Eye Hospitals, provide high-quality LASIK surgery, vitrectomy, laser surgery, and cataract surgery in Kolkata at an affordable cost. Learn more about our eye care services at http://www.dishaeye.org/.

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Goopy Eyes In Children: Causes And Treatment

You may observe a green or yellow discharge from your eyes on some days after waking up in the morning. The condition is defined as goopy eyes, or simply called eye discharge. The discharge could either have a liquid-like or a crusty consistency. Although eye discharge isn’t serious, it often acts as a signal of the presence of an infection. It is important to seek medical help, especially if your little ones are suffering from it. Delaying consultation could run the risk of complications such as conjunctivitis, dry eyes, blocked tear duct and corneal ulcer.

Goopy eyes in children: Causes and treatment

Causes of goopy eyes in children:

There are several eye conditions that produce eye discharge as signs of a primary symptom in children. Some of these eye conditions include:

  • Conjunctivitis

It’s common for both adults and children to experience eye discharge as a symptom of conjunctivitis. There are two types of conjunctivitis; bacterial and viral, the former generates a sticky and thick discharge, whereas the latter causes a watery discharge.

In most cases, eye discharge occurs in conjunction with other symptoms of the eye condition, including a burning sensation in the eyes, itchiness, and bloodshot appearances.

  • Blocked tear duct

The blocked tear duct is another eye condition causing eye discharge as a symptom in children. In most cases, the tear ducts do not develop fully. As such, tears do not drain as they normally should.

Tumour growth anywhere in the tear drainage system can lead to a blockage. Another reason for the tear duct to face obstruction is scarring of the drainage system. Inflammation of the tear drainage system could also lead to tear duct blockage.

  • Gonorrhoea

Infants who contract gonorrhoea from their mothers can develop eye discharges. Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). If left untreated, the infection can lead to serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Treatment of goopy eyes

In order to treat eye discharge in children, it is important to address the underlying cause with a suitable chart of treatment. Eye infection is the most common cause of eye discharge in children. One of the pediatric eye care specialists at Disha Eye Hospitals can guide you in getting a thorough diagnosis of the eye infection, and prescribe necessary medicines such as ointments, antiviral eye drops and antibiotics. In case of an eye allergy, the doctor may prescribe decongestants and antihistamine eye drops.

Here are some simple solutions to follow at home if eye discharges are found in children:

  • If your child’s eyelids are stuck together, gently wipe the discharge with a warm compress
  • In the case of conjunctivitis, instruct your child to avoid touching the infected eye
  • If your child has an eye allergy, make sure to keep the irritable elements away.
  • Avoid giving over the counter (OTC) eye medicines that are not prescribed by an eye doctor

Visit Disha Eye Hospitals for quality eye care

Disha Eye Hospitals offer advanced diagnostics and treatment for different types of eye complications. As a leading eye hospital group, the team of doctors consists of the best retina specialists in Kolkata. Additionally, the hospital offers treatment for paediatric eye conditions like squint. Consult one of the best eye specialists in Kolkata at Disha and get your child’s symptoms checked at your closest centre. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.

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Educate Yourself On Colour Blindness

A greater part of the process in which the eyes perceive colour, depends on how healthy the cones are. Cones, located in the retina, are photoreceptor cells which contain pigments that react to a different wavelength of light. In other words, they are responsible for coloured vision.

Unfortunately, not all eyes have healthy cones and, therefore, they face difficulty in colour perception. This condition is described as colour blindness.

Here’s a simple colour blindness test for you; try reading the characters that are hidden in the images:

Educate yourself on colour blindness

If you cannot read some or any of the above characters, you may have colour blindness. If you face difficulty in making out the differences between different colours, make sure to get your eyes checked.

A special team of doctors at Disha Eye Hospital could help you get a proper diagnosis of your eye condition. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.

1) Different types of colour blindness

Did you know that there’s not just one but several types of colour blindness? Yes, the impaired function of the cones’ photopigments in the eyes differ from person to person. Meaning, some people are less sensitive to particular colours.

Some of the most common types of colour blindness include:

  • Blue-Yellow Colour Blindness

A type that occurs when the blue photopigments in the cones do not function properly. Blue-Yellow Colour Blindness can also occur if the blue cone photopigments are missing. This type of colour blindness affects men as well as women.

  • Red-Green Colour Blindness

Red-Green Colour Blindness occurs when the red and green cones do not work partially or fully. The two common types of Red-Green Colour Blindness include Protanomaly and Deuteranomaly.

  • Complete Color Blindness

People with complete colour blindness see limited or no colour at all. There are two types of complete colour blindness: Rod monochromacy and Cone monochromacy.

2) Causes of colour blindness

It’s common for the inherited genes to cause functional impairment of the photopigments in the cones which, in turn, leads to the limited perception of colours. Apart from the genes, other causes that lead to colour blindness are:

  • Age
  • Cataracts
  • Optic nerve damage
  • Physical injury to the eyes

3) Risk factors for colour blindness

There are several factors that increase the risk of colour blindness; these include:

  • Macular Degeneration
  • Diabetes
  • Glaucoma
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
  • Leukaemia
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Regular alcohol consumption

4) Treatment for colour blindness

There’s no ultimate treatment for colour blindness. Often, eye doctors choose eyeglasses and contact lens with filters as the treatment option to adjust colour deficiencies. These eyeglasses and contact lenses can make up for colour blindness by adjusting the contrast between different colours.

Visit Disha Eye Hospital for high-quality and affordable eye care

Disha Eye Hospitals provide the best eye treatments such as LASIK, vitrectomy, and cataract surgery in the city. The doctors are well trained in advanced medical technologies, and provide treatment for major eye problems, including Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Uveitis, Squint, Refraction errors and corneal diseases.

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Eye Floaters: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Small spots of irregular shapes seen floating in our field of vision, especially when looking at a bright source, such as a clear blue sky or a white paper are identified as floaters.

Although eye floaters are not a grave matter, they indicate the presence of an underlying eye condition that could prove to be direful. Frequent appearances of unusual shapes call for immediate attention.

Our eye care team at Disha Eye Hospital, one of the top eye hospitals in Kolkata, would assist you in receiving a genuine diagnosis of your eye health (general or otherwise) and take the right actions to improve it. Book an appointment online with one of our best eye specialists at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.

Eye floaters: causes, symptoms and treatment

Types of eye floaters:

Eye floaters could be of various shapes, including:

  • Rings
  • Cobwebs
  • Thread-like strands
  • Squiggly lines
  • Gray or black dots

Eye floaters could be a symptom preceding a number of eye problems. These include:

  • Eye tumours
  • Inflammation of the retina
  • Inflammation of the vitreous
  • Torn retina
  • Detached retina
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Trauma to the eye
  • Crystal-like deposits in the vitreous

Causes of eye floaters:

In most cases, eye floaters occur with age. Eye floaters are small protein flecks (collagen) that are a part of the vitreous, a gel-like layer in the back of the eye. With age, the protein flecks in the vitreous start forming clumps as they begin to shrink and shred. Gradually, they form shadows in the retina which are named floaters.

Factors that increase the risk of eye floaters:

There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing eye floaters. The usual ones are:

  • Age– In most cases, people start seeing floaters in their vision as they age. If you are aged 50 and above, it’s important to take proper care of your eyes and visit an eye doctor every 6 months to lower the risk of complications.

  • Eye injury – Sustaining a serious eye injury early or later in life increases the risk of eye floaters. If you have suffered an eye injury, make sure you get it properly treated by an eye doctor to lower the possibilities of eye floaters and infections.

  • Refractive error– You stand at a higher risk of developing eye floaters if you have nearsightedness. Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is a refractive error in which distant objects appear blurry while close objects appear clear.

If you are encountering difficulty in seeing distant objects with clarity, you may have myopia. Our eye care team could carry out an accurate diagnosis of your refractive error through a simple refractive test and help you correct your vision, either through prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses or through LASIK surgery.

Equipped with advanced technology, Disha Eye Hospital offers affordable eye treatments for cataract, corneal eye diseases, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, squint, and uveitis.

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How to Get Relief From Burning Eyes

It is common for everybody to experience a burning sensation in the eyes at some point in their life. The unusual sensation can go away on its own. In cases where the sensation persists, it can become bothersome.

Schedule eye check up at Disha Eye Hospitals

How to get relief from burning eyes

If you are experiencing a burning sensation in your eyes that does not go away, do not neglect it as it can be a symptom of an underlying eye complication. Consult with one of the best eye specialists in Kolkata at Disha Eye Hospitals.

Our eye specialists use advanced diagnostic procedures to help you determine the nature of your burning sensation and treat it in a safe and effective way. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.

Here’s are a few ways to get relief from burning eyes:

1)Use lubricating drops: One of the common causes of burning sensation in the eyes is dryness in the eyes. If dryness in the eye is at a significant level, it can indicate the presence of an eye complication called dry eyes. Consult with the eye doctor and use an eye lubricating drop. If this remedy relieves your burning sensation, talk with your eye doctor and choose a preservative-free lubricating eye drop that can be used in the long run.

2) Check the expiry date of your eye makeup: Using eye makeup products past their expiry date is one of the common causes of burning sensation in the eyes. Expired eye makeup products can irritate the eyes and lead to a persisting burning sensation. Also, they can increase the risk of eye infections. Have a quick look at the expiry date of all the makeup products you use. If you find any expired product, make sure to stop using it. It is a good practice to change your eye makeup products every six months in order to lower the risk of infections they can cause.

3) Get proper sleep: Lack of proper sleep is one of the common reasons for experiencing a burning sensation in the eyes. If you experience a burning sensation particularly after waking up, the odds are great that you are not getting quality sleep or aren’t sleeping for 7 to 8 hours.

If you are facing trouble getting quality sleep, it is a no-brainer to make your bed more comfortable. Make sure that your bedroom is cooled or heated appropriately (depending on the weather condition of where you live). If you think depression or anxiety is interfering with your sleep, consult with a psychiatrist on https://holisticdental.org/ambien-treat-insomnia/. On the other hand, if you think a bodily issue is preventing you from getting quality sleep, it’s helpful to consult with a pulmonologist.

4) Reduce your screen time: With faster internet connectivity and feature-packed smartphone, it is easy to lose track of time when using your smartphone. You may enjoy using your smartphone for a long period of time. However, doing so is not healthy for the eyes. In fact, prolonged smartphone use causes a burning sensation in the eyes. In order to avoid using a smartphone for sustained hours, download an app that tracks screen time and allows you to set alarms if you overuse your phone.

If your burning eyes are accompanied by other symptoms like pain or excessive light sensitivity, then you must see contact an eye specialist at the earliest. An eye specialist can rule out the possibility of serious eye conditions. At Disha Eye Hospitals, we have some of the best retina specialists in Kolkata who can help you keep your eyes healthy and offer best eye treatment if required. To know about the hospital, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/.

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What are the Differences Between eye Screening and a Comprehensive Eye Examination?

It goes without saying that the eyes are a complex organ, and so are the complications associated with them.  Therefore, confirming the presence of different eye complications requires different types of diagnostic procedures.

Consult with the best eye doctors in Kolkata to keep your eyes healthy

Get you eyes checked at Disha Eye Hospitals. We have some of the best eye specialists in Kolkata . They can detect the presence of problems in your eyes with the advanced technology-led diagnostic procedures. They specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of various eye diseases. An early diagnosis can reduce the risk of worsening of your eye complication. Book your appointment with one of our eye specialists online at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.

When visiting an eye doctor, many are confused between eye screening and comprehensive eye examination. If you too are confused, these key differences between the two should give you a clear picture:

1) Eye screening:–

Eye screening (also known as eye test) is a basic, brief eye examination. Eye screening is primarily done in order to look for a particular eye problem. Eye doctors perform eye screening to detect the presence of common vision problems (refractive errors), including Hyperopia (farsightedness), Myopia (nearsightedness), and Astigmatism.

After detecting the presence of a particular vision problem, eye doctors refer patients to eye care specialists (ophthalmologists) for in-depth diagnosis and treatment. In children, eye screening is done to look for two common childhood eye conditions, Strabismus and Amblyopia (aka Lazy Eye). It’s a must to take children for eye screening every year.

2) Comprehensive eye examination:-

A comprehensive eye examination can be classified as a detailed eye exam. It is done to get a full evaluation of your vision and overall eye health.  A comprehensive eye examination can last up to an hour or more as there are a number of eye tests that are performed. These include:

What are the differences Between eye screening and a Comprehensive Eye Examination

  • Visual acuity test

Ophthalmologists usually perform a visual acuity test as the first test during a comprehensive eye examination. Visual acuity test involves measuring the sharpness of the vision through an eye chart. Ophthalmologists measure distant and near vision by changing the distance of the eye chart.

  • Refraction test:-

After detecting the refraction error (if there’s any), the ophthalmologist will perform a refraction test in order to accurately determine the eyeglass prescription. Ophthalmologists use an instrument called a phoropter to determine the exact lens power as per the level of refraction error. The ophthalmologist depends upon the feedback of the patient in order to fine-tune the lens power.

  • Slit lamp exam:-

Slit lamp exam is one of the important eye tests performed during a comprehensive eye exam. It is done to detect the presence of complex and serious eye complications such as Diabetic Retinopathy, Corneal Ulcers, Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Macular Degeneration. The eye test involves examining different parts of the eyes under high magnification using an upright microscope. An ophthalmologist checks the lens, conjunctiva, cornea, and iris.

  • Eye movement test:-

Eye movement test, as the name suggests, is done to determine the coordination of both eyes. An ophthalmologist instructs patients to follow a particular object, like a light source, to determine how well can both eyes follow. Improper eye movement can indicate the presence of strabismus; improper eye movement also increases the risk of developing double vision.

  • Pupil dilation test:-

In order to get a better diagnosis of some eye complications like Diabetic Retinopathy, ophthalmologists dilate the pupils in order to get a better view of the affected eye’s internal structures. Ophthalmologists commonly use a dilating eye drop. The eye doctor will shine a bright light into the dilated pupil to see the eyes’ internal structures more clearly.

We, at Disha Eye Hospitals, are committed to preserving your eyesight. From diagnosis to treatment, our best retina specialists in Kolkata look forward to serving your retinal health care needs.

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Difference Between Cataracts and Glaucoma

Difference between cataracts and glaucoma

Cataracts and Glaucoma are two of the most serious eye complications. Both the degenerative eye diseases occur as the natural part of the aging process and cause vision impairment. However, the eye diseases have stark differences in between them.

Let’s uncover the key differences between these two serious eye complications to get a clear picture: 

1) Symptoms: While symptoms including eye pain and vision blurriness are common in both eye complications, the other symptoms that are different:

Cataracts:

  • Double vision in the single eye
  • Yellowing of colours
  • Clouded vision
  • Appearance of cloudy formation on eyes’ lens area
  • Lowered vision in dimly lit areas

Glaucoma:

  • Seeing coloured rings around lights
  • Sudden disturbances in vision
  • Eye redness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Book an eye test online:

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure to seek medical advice. We, at Disha Eye Hospital, have a team of some of the best eye specialists in Kolkata. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment and get a proper diagnosis of your eye health.

2) Causes:- 

The way Cataracts and Glaucoma cause vision loss are completely different from each other, and so are the factors that cause them.

Cataracts: The eye complication occurs when the eye lenses become stiffer, start breaking down, and form clumps as you age. As the eye disease progresses, the clumps become denser and start clouding the lens. This, in turn, obstructs light to completely pass through and reach the retina which results in blurred vision. Cataracts can either develop in one eye or both eyes. In cases where cataracts form in both eyes, the clouding of the lens is not even.

Glaucoma: Glaucoma occurs when the intraocular pressure (IOP) increases above normal levels and damages the optic nerve. The IOP increases when the fluid (aqueous humour) in the front of the eye builds up when it is not drained as properly as it should.

As the IOP increases with time, more damage is done to the optic nerve, which, in turn, leads to gradual vision impairment.

3) Vision loss restoration:-
As discussed above, both the eye diseases cause vision loss. However, vision loss can be restored and reversed only in Cataracts and not in Glaucoma.

Cataract: Cataract surgery, the go-to treatment option for cataracts, involves replacing the clouded lens with an artificial lens. Before the surgery, the doctor takes into account the refractive error of the patient to choose an artificial lens accordingly to correct the vision.

Glaucoma: The goal of treatment options for Glaucoma, including eye drops and surgery, is to reduce and stop vision loss from worsening by lowering IOP. Depending on the severity of your Glaucoma, the eye doctor may start treatment by prescribing eye drops or schedule a surgery.

4) Prevention

Both Cataracts and Glaucoma cannot be entirely prevented. However, you can take certain steps to lower the risks. Some of these include:

  • A healthy and balanced diet:

    Eating healthily is key to maintaining good eye health and lowering the risk of complications. Add green vegetables, colourful fruits, fresh eggs, and lean fish and meat to your diet to make sure you get proper nutrition intake.

  • Regular exercise: 

Exercising regularly helps improve blood circulation in the eyes. Another key benefit of regular exercise is it helps you maintain healthy body weight. Being overweight and obese increases the risk of diabetes which, in turn, can cause a vision-threatening eye disease known as Diabetic Retinopathy.

Consult best retina specialists in Kolkata

If you are suffering from diabetes, you are at an increased risk of Diabetic Retinopathy. Our team of some of the best retina specialists in Kolkata can guide you on taking important steps to lower the risk.