Eye Safety Checklist

Eye Safety

Our eyes are one of the most sensitive organs in our body and are highly vulnerable to irritation, scratches and dreadful injuries. Therefore, our eyes need extra care to maintain a good vision.

Fortunately, there are several different ways how you can keep your eyes safe from injuries. Here, we have presented a short checklist for ensuring the safety of your eyes.

  • Identifying risk hazards

The first and foremost step to keeping your eyes safe is identifying the risk hazards. We are all surrounded by risk factors for eye injuries such as sprays, projectiles, and sharp/pointed edges.

If you are working in a room or a workshop, you need to identify and evaluate the risk factors. This way, you can prepare and assess eye safety accordingly.

Some of the most common types of risk hazards in a workplace include Chemicals, Flying Debris, Biohazards, Radiations, and other irritants. It is also important to identify other additional hazards posed by tools and machinery.

  • Take safety precautions while working (create a safe workplace)

It is important to wear safety gears such as helmet and protective eyewear while working in a workshop. You stand at an increased risk of eye injuries such as scratches, irritation, and corneal abrasion while in a workshop. So, apart from wearing protective wear, you should also minimize the risk factors by creating a safer workplace.

For instance, if the machinery in the workshop poses eye injury threat with flying debris and projectile, then assess these factors and minimize them. If this is not possible, put a warning sign so that visitors can take safety steps prior to entering the risk zone.

  • Be cautious with spectacles and contact lenses (don’t use beyond recommended use date)

Spectacles and contact lenses come as a great help in correcting visual acuity but did you know that they pose risk for eye injury as well? The eyes are most vulnerable to injuries caused by spectacles while playing sports, during falls, or engaging in any physical activity. So, make sure that you don’t wear spectacles while pursuing any physical or outdoor activity. This is in special regard with the kids as they are often reckless while playing.

Similarly, contact lenses are a great alternative to spectacles but are just as risky to the eyes. There are instances where people forget to take off their lenses and sleep while wearing them. Doing this can cause scratches and corneal abrasion.

Also, you need to be careful while cleaning the contact lenses. To avoid irritation and infection, clean the lenses as per the instruction given by the doctor or optometrist.

  • Wear eye protection during sports and in school laboratories

Sports-related eye injuries are the most common type of eye injuries in children. It is therefore crucial for children to be instructed for wearing eye protection gear in any sports.

School laboratory is another important risk factor for eye injuries in children. Laboratory professionals should instruct children to wear safety glasses and gloves while inside the room.

  • Avoid facewash and soaps getting into the eyes

Often, we are careless when washing our face with facewash, scrubs, and cleaning soaps. When these get into the eyes, it can cause irritation, severe itching, allergic reactions and pain. In some cases, it may even cause temporary blurriness in vision. So, avoid the eye area whenever you wash your face with these types of cleansers.

  • Limit the use of eye make-up

Most women who use eye make-ups aren’t aware of the fact that they pose a great threat to the eyes. Almost all eye make-ups contain harmful chemicals that can cause irritation and allergy to the eyes.

Taking certain precautions while using make-up is essential for ensuring eye safety. Health experts recommend replacing your eye make-up with new ones twice a year. Also, make sure that you don’t share your eye make-up with your friends.

Don’t wear eye make-up for too long – rinse them off as soon as you get home. Be careful while using false eyelashes as they can pose a pricking hazard.

  • Don’t use OTC eye drops

The practice of buying OTC eye drops to soothe eye itching or burning sensation is very harmful to the eyes as it can cause infection. There are instances where people go and buy the wrong eye drops. This can cause protein to build up in the eyes which can lead to vision impairment.
OTC eye drops can even cause severe irritation. So, if you face any discomfort in your eyes, consult a doctor and only buy the prescribed eye drop(s).

  • Wear waterproof glasses while swimming

Most swimming pools contain chlorine stabilizers and calcium added into the water for treatment. The added chemicals in swimming pool water can cause irritation, temporary blurry vision, and reddening of the eyes.
So, it is important that you wear swimming glasses that prevent water from reaching your eyes.

  • Wear sunglass while going out in the sun

Sunlight contains harmful UV rays which pose a great threat to the eyes. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause cataract and other dreadful eye complications. So, it is crucial that you wear sunglasses before going out in the sun. Make sure that you wear sunglasses which come with UV protection.

  • Have a plan (contact for medical assessment) for unexpected eye injuries

Eye injuries can occur anytime and anywhere. So, it is beneficial to have a plan to address eye injuries. For instance, you can learn the basic procedures for relieving eye injuries and keep the right first aid kit with you.

Or you can keep the contact number of the nearest hospital for emergency during serious eye injuries.

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Blepharitis: What’s it? Symptoms. Treatment. Hygiene Tips.

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Blepharitis is a common eye condition in which the eyelids get inflamed and become red and swollen, and can form dandruff-like scales on the eyelashes. People suffering from the condition may experience a burning sensation in their eyes.

Although some people experience only minor irritation; but if the condition is left untreated, it can lead to further complications such as misdirected or missing eyelashes, blurry vision, and inflammation of other eye tissue.

Let’s discuss different types of Blepharitis

Anterior Blepharitis – affects the outer edge of the eyelid, near the eyelashes.

Posterior Blepharitis – occurs at the inner edge of the eyelid which touches the eyeball.

Mixed Blepharitis – it is a combination of both Anterior Blepharitis and Posterior Blepharitis.

Causes

Blepharitis (in general) is caused either by bacteria or skin condition. Other causes of Blepharitis include Dry Eyes, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), Parasites (Demodex eyelash mites), and Fungal Eyelid Infection.

Anterior Blepharitis

There are two major reasons for Anterior Blepharitis – dandruff of the scalp and eyebrows (seborrheic blepharitis) or bacteria (staphylococcal blepharitis). In normal circumstances, bacteria are found on the face and eyelids. But when they become excessive, the eye lid area gets affected.

Posterior Blepharitis

This type of Blepharitis generally occurs when there’s irregular production of oil in the eyelids. As a result, excessive oil presence creates a favourable environment for bacterial growth. Skin conditions such as scalp dandruff and Rosacea also cause Posterior Blepharitis to occur.

Mixed Blepharitis

Mixed Blepharitis is a combination of Anterior Blepharitis and Posterior Blepharitis.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of all types of Blepharitis include reddening and swelling of the eyelids. Other symptoms of the condition include:

  • Burning sensation in the eyes
  • Increased sensitivity to light
  • Crusty or greasy eyelashes
  • Eyelids that stick together
  • Loss of eyelashes
  • Abnormal eyelash growth
  • Uncomfortable feeling while wearing contact lens
  • Blurry vision
  • Foreign body sensation
  • Watery eyes
  • Stinging sensation
  • Frequent blinking
  • Flaking of the skin around the eyes

Diagnosis

Blepharitis is generally diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam. During the eye examination, the doctor lays special emphasis on the eyelids and the front surface of the eyeball.

Some of the steps taken during the eye exam include:

  • The doctor may go through the patient’s history to check whether there are any symptoms or health complications that are causing the disease.
  • The doctor will examine the lid margins, meibomian gland openings, and base of the eyelashes using magnification and bright light.
  • The doctor will also examine the eye as a whole – including eyelash appearance, skin texture, and lid structure.
  • The doctor will also evaluate the quality and quantity of tears to check for any abnormalities which might be fostering the development of the condition.

During the eye exam, the doctor will also check signs and appearance of the eyelid margin to determine the type of Blepharitis. The symptoms which help doctors to evaluate the type of Blepharitis include:

Meibomian Blepharitis – the signs include redness of the eyelids, poor quality of tears, and blockage of the oil glands in the eyelids.

Ulcerative Blepharitis – sign for this type of Blepharitis include chronic tearing of the front edge of the eyelids, eyelash loss, formation of hard crusts around the eyes and removal of the crusts leading to sores that bleed.

Seborrheic Blepharitis
– this type of Blepharitis is characterised by mild redness of the eyelids and formation of greasy flakes around the base of the eyelashes.

Staphylococcal Blepharitis – this type of Blepharitis is characterised by misdirected or missing eyelashes, thickened lid margins, and mildly sticking eyelids.

Treatment

Treatment for Blepharitis depends upon the type of the condition and cannot usually be cured. The most common form of treating Blepharitis is eyelid hygiene.

Here are some of the available treatments for Blepharitis.

Oily tear eye drops

Oily tear eye drops are helpful if there’s quick drying of the tears. These eye drops replace the oily layer of the tear film which reduces evaporation of tears from the surface of the eye.

Oral antibiotics

Doctors may prescribe antibiotics as they can be used as anti-inflammatory agents for three or four months. In some cases, other treatments don’t work for Blepharitis; in such situations, patients may require taking the antibiotic orally.

If it’s Rosacea that’s causing Blepharitis, then the doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics during the starting of the treatment. Although patients may respond well during the first week of the treatment,doctors insist on completing the course of antibiotics, visit https://nygoodhealth.com/product/antibiotics/.

Antibiotic drops and ointments

When regular cleaning is not effective for Blepharitis, the doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotic ointment, eye drops or creams. These are usually to be used for 4 to 6 weeks.

Patients are required to rub ointment gently on the edge of the eyelids using either cotton buds or clean fingers. Patients are required to do this only when the condition begins to improve.

When using the antibiotic eye drops, patients should avoid wearing contact lenses. This is because the eye drop builds up behind the lenses which may irritate the eyes and cause further complications.

Diet

Omega 3 helps in treating the condition or, at the least, improves it. Some of the foods that are high in Omega 3 protein include:

  • Fresh tuna ( and not the canned ones as they do not contain beneficial oils)
  • Sardines
  • Salmon
  • Mackerel
  • Herring

It is often advised that people with Blepharitis should eat at least two portions of fish a week. Other food sources of Omega 3 include:

  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Soya and soya products
  • Vegetable Oils
  • Various nuts and seeds

Hygiene Tips

The key to relieving the symptoms and treating the condition is maintaining eyelid hygiene. Keeping the eyelid and lid margin clean is necessary as Blepharitis can reoccur.

Eyelid hygiene

If you have Blepharitis, then it is very important to clean your eyes and eyelids every day even if you aren’t experiencing any symptom or are on medication. Good eyelid hygiene can relieve the symptoms of the condition and even prevent it.

Some of the steps to keep the eyelids clean include:

Warm Compresses

This is one of the most common eyelid hygiene practices.

  • Take a bowl of lukewarm water
  • Soak a clean eye pad or a flannel in the lukewarm water and place it in the eyes for 10 minutes
  • Reheat the eye pad by soaking it in the warm water again

Lid Margin hygiene

Another great way to keep the eyelid clean is to buy commercially available (over the counter) eye drops from the market.

When you are diagnosed with Blepharitis, the doctor may prescribe you a suitable cleaning solution. It is very important that you continue to maintain lid margin hygiene for at least 2 to 3 weeks. Doing this helps to prevent the permanent scarring of the eyelid margins.

Eyelid massage

Massaging the eyelids may help relieve the discomfort caused by the condition. One of the best ways to massage the eye lids is to roll your little finger with a circular motion over the closed eyes.

Another way to massage the eyelids is to roll a cotton bud downwards gently towards the edge of the eyelids while keeping the eyes shut. Doing this helps to push out melted oil out of the glands. Repeat this process over several times.

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15 Tips for Computer Eye Strain Relief

Be it for work or studying, most of us spend a major part of our day in front of the computer. And with that, Computer Eye Strain too has become commonplace. Almost every day our eyes feel fatigued, dry, and irritated by staring for long hours at the computer screen. If you too feel the same, then you are suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

How Computers Affect your eyes and Vision?

While working in front of a computer, your eyes continuously focus and refocus. As you read the words on the screen, your eyes move back and forth. Often, you have to look at other documents while working and switch your eyes between that document and the computer screen. While you do that your eyes respond to changing images on the screen to create so that your brain can process whatever you are seeing with your eyes. These tasks put much strain on your eye muscles. The flicker, glare, and contrast of the computer screen make things worse.

You may face more problems if you are already suffering from an eye problem. With age, working in front of a computer screen gets difficult as the lenses in your eyes begin to lose flexibility. Around 40 years, your eye’s ability to focus on near and far objects will start to diminish.

Computer Vision Syndrome: Symptoms

CVS affects both adults and kids. Children nowadays spend most of their time in front of the computer. This affects their vision at a young age and may hamper the normal development of eyesight. The common symptoms
Prolonged computer usage may affect the normal development of your child’s eyesight.

Look out for these symptoms to see if your child is having CVS:

  • Blurred vision
  • Double vision
  • Dry, itchy and irritated eyes
  • Increased light sensitivity
  • Eye strain and fatigue
  • Redness in the eyes
  • Difficulty in focusing
  • Gradual deterioration of vision
  • Headaches, backaches, neck pain
  • Difficulty in shifting focus from the monitor to any other object

Here are a few tips to treat Computer Vision Syndrome:

1. Get your eyes examined

First things first- get your eyes checked if you are experiencing any of the symptoms. This is the most important thing that you must do at the first place. This is the first step for preventing any eye issue. Moreover, those who work on computers must get their eyes checked once in a year. During the test, do not forget to inform your eye doctor about how often you use a computer at work and at home. Also, measure the distance between your eyes and the computer screen and inform the doctor about that measurement and see whether it’s appropriate or not.

2. Do not put the computer monitor near a window

Additional light and glare is the biggest source of eyestrain while working on a computer. Ideally, the computer shouldn’t be anywhere near the window but if it’s still there then ensure that there are curtains and blinds in the window to control the intensity of light throughout the day. Do not face and un-shaded window when working on a computer or laptop. The difference of brightness of the screen and the outdoors may cause eye stress. Use an anti-glare screen for reducing reflections.

3. Adjust the height of your monitor

Maximise eye comfort by placing the centre of the computer screen about five to nine inches below the horizontal line of sight. Ideally, you should be looking just over the top of the computer screen in the straight line of your sight.

4. Adjust the display of your computer

This is very important for minimising eye strain and eye fatigue. Modify the display setting of the monitor. This will help reduce eye strain and fatigue. Change the brightness of the display so that the brightness of your display is same as the surrounding workstation. Also, when you are reading long documents on a computer, modify them so that while reading, you have black print on a white background.

5. Rearrange your desk

The best position for your monitor is just a bit below eye level and about 20 to 28 inches away from your face. It must be at a distance where you do not have to strain your eyes or stretch your neck to see what’s there on the screen. If you are looking simultaneously at another document, place it at the level of the monitor, just beside it. In this way, you do not have to look up and down while you work.

6. Consider the Colour temperature

The colour temperature of your display is important. The blue light of the visible spectrum of light has a short wavelength and causes more eye strain compared to colours of longer wavelength such as red and orange. Reduce the colour temperature of your display. This will reduce the amount of blue light emitted by the monitor, giving you viewing comfort.

7. Give your Eyes a much-deserved break

The eyes cannot see at a close distance for long hours. Give them a break. You may follow the 20-20-20 rule. Take a break every 20-minutes and look at any object at least 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds. While you do that, move your eyes and see at different objects at various distances.

8. Blink, Blink, and Blink

It’s sad but true that we often forget to blink while looking at the computer screen. What most of us do is a partial lid closure or blink less frequently. Blinking moistens our eyes and helps prevent dryness and irritation. The tear coating on our eyes evaporates quickly and can cause dry eyes. Moreover, due to air-conditioning system, the air in many offices is dry. This hastens the evaporation process, thus exposing you to greater risk of dry eye problems. In case you have this problem, visit your doctor. He/she might give you artificial tears. Do not confuse them with lubricating eye drops. Such drops tend to reduce the size of the blood vessels in your eyes, making it appear clear. Do not use anything without consulting the doctor. Try blinking slowly, as you do while falling asleep. Do this 10 times. This might help in wetting your eyes.

9. Use Proper Lighting

Proper lighting is extremely important for reducing eye strain. Too bright and too low light will strain your eyes. Excessive light from the outdoor is tough for the eyes. So try to reduce outside light while working. Avoid overhead lighting. Instead, use floor lamps to provide indirect lighting. This will help in comfortable viewing. If you work in too low light, the computer screen may glare at your eyes. You have to balance the lighting.

10. Get Computer Glasses

Prescription eyewear specially designed for computer work may help you focus well on the screen. Also, this helps in reducing glare and computer eye strain. If you use eye glasses, then talk to your doctors and get it customised. If you wear contact lenses, it may become dry and uncomfortable from sustained usage. In that case, getting customised eyeglasses for computer work is the best. This is also beneficial for people who wear bifocals or progressive lenses. Since these lenses are not optimal for the distance to your computer screen so using computer glasses is a good choice.

11. Take frequent breaks

A headache, pain in eye and neck and shoulders are also symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome. For reduce pain, the best way is to take frequent breaks during working. If you prefer to take one long break during the entire workday, do not do that. That’s not going to help. Taking frequent mini-breaks of four to five minutes work wonders in reducing discomfort and eye strain. And if you think that taking frequent breaks will affect your productivity then it’s right. It will affect but in a positive way. The less you feel fatigued, the more you can focus on your work. While taking breaks, stand up and move. You may take a short walk around the office or just stretch your arms, legs, shoulders, neck, and back. This helps reduce muscle fatigue and tension.

12. Do not forget your Vitamins

If you have eye health issues then your doctor may prescribe you necessary vitamins. Do not forget to take them. Eat food rich in Vitamin A. This is important for a healthy vision and reinforces the macular tissues in your eyes, thus, keeping your vision clear and sharp. Food items rich in Vitamin A include cheese, egg yolk, milk, and butter.

13. Minimize glare

Glare on the walls and finished surfaces and reflections on the computer screen may also result in eye strain. Install anti-glare screen on your monitor. Consider painting the walls in darker colour or cooler shades in a matte finish. You may use glasses with a lens having an Anti-reflective coating. This also helps in minimising glare.

14. Do not hold digital devices closer to the eyes

People who hold digital devices closer to the eyes than they would if they were reading a book or any other printed material, they are at greater risk of straining their eyes. Digital devices emit blue light that causes eye strain and when you hold them closer, it puts more stress on your eyes. So whenever you are using a smart phone or tablet, try to hold them as far as possible from your eyes. You may try enlarging the print for comfortable reading.

15. Install a Humidifier

Most of the offices are air-conditioned. This makes the air much drier and dry air make your eyes dry. You may try keeping some real plants in and around your work area. You may also keep air humidifier. This helps in increasing the air humidity. Artificially controlling the humidity of your work environment helps reduce eye strain.

Make it a point to visit your eye doctor regularly for check-ups. The eye is a delicate organ and it’s important to take proper care of it for enjoying good vision and preventing any eye condition. Also, keep your prescriptions up to date. If you have any eye problem or experience any change in symptoms, let your doctor know about that. Do not wear fancy glasses or experiment with coloured contact lenses readily available in the market. Consult the doctor before using one. It’s up to the doctor to decide whether you can wear your regular glasses or contacts for computer work or whether you need a special pair. Get your kid’s eyes checked too. Ensure that you limit their computer usage and that they are using computers under proper light.

Eye Hospital in Kolkata

If you have an eye related problem or want to consult an eye specialist regarding Computer Vision Syndrome, you may book an appointment with our specialists.Make it a point to visit your eye doctor regularly for check-ups. Eye is a delicate organ and it’s important to take proper care of it for enjoying good vision and preventing any eye condition. Also keep your prescriptions up to date. If you have any eye problem or experience any change in symptoms, let you doctor know about that. Do not wear fancy glasses or experiment with coloured contact lenses readily available in the market. Consult the doctor before using one. It’s up to the doctor to decide whether you can wear your regular glasses or contacts for computer work or whether you need a special pair. Get your kid’s eyes checked too. Ensure that you limit their computer usage and that they are using computers under proper light.

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If you have eye related problem or want to consult an eye specialist regarding Computer Vision Syndrome, you may book an appointment with our specialists.

FAQs for Diabetic Patients

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Diabetes is a condition where the blood glucose levels are too high. This is mainly because either your body isn’t producing enough insulin or your body cells aren’t responding to the insulin. Diabetes affects multiple organs of your body, including your eyes. A study by the World Health Organisation says that all patients with Type 1 diabetes develop Diabetic Retinopathy; while 77% of people with Type 2 Diabetes who are living with Diabetes for over 20 years develop this eye condition. The report by WHO further mentions that Diabetic Retinopathy is responsible for 4.8% of the total 37 million cases of blindness all over the world.

Source: http://www.who.int/blindness/Prevention%20of%20Blindness%20from%20Diabetes%20Mellitus-with-cover-small.pdf

Apart from Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetes also contributes to the development of a number of eye conditions.

Here are a few Frequently Asked Questions on Diabetes

How Diabetes affect the eyes?

Diabetes causes:

1. Blurry Vision

If you have diabetes, you may often find that your vision has become blurry. This is because the high blood glucose levels make your lens swell, thus affecting your vision. For normalising your vision, you need to get your blood sugar levels down. It might take maximum three long months before your get back your normal vision.

2. Glaucoma

If you have diabetes, then you might get a rare form of glaucoma known as Neovascular Glaucoma. This is a condition where new blood vessels grow in your iris, blocking the flow of fluid and raising your eye pressure. Moreover, people having Type 2 diabetes are most likely to have Open-Angle Glaucoma. Medications help in treating Open-Angle Glaucoma. This helps in reducing the eye pressure and facilitates the drainage of fluid. On the other hand, Neovascular Glaucoma is a bit complicated condition and might require surgery. There are many options for glaucoma treatment in Kolkata. If you have diabetes, then it’s a must to get your eyes checked thoroughly in a good eye hospital in Kolkata. It’s because it’s impossible to diagnose glaucoma without thorough eye check-up.

3. Diabetic Retinopathy

The high blood sugar levels can cause severe damage to the blood vessels in your retina causing Diabetic Retinopathy. Controlling your blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and blood pressure is essential for preventing this condition. You may develop Background Retinopathy (your blood vessels are damaged, but it doesn’t affect your vision); Maculopathy (a damaged macula), and Proliferative Retinopathy, a condition where the cells in the back of your eyes do not get enough oxygen and new blood vessels start growing. These blood vessels often bleed, thus scarring the retina.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eye-problems#1
https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticeyeproblems.html

What are Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes is when the body doesn’t produce insulin because the insulin producing pancreatic cells are damaged by the body’s immune system. Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. This is caused when either the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or the body couldn’t use the available insulin. This condition is common in people who are obese.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-faq#1

What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is the condition when the blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but it isn’t high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. People who have prediabetes are likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Early screening is essential for avoiding any further risks.

Source: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/pre-diabetes.html

What is Gestational Diabetes?

This is a type of diabetes that women usually develop during pregnancy. This is a temporary type of diabetes. If you develop this type of diabetes in one pregnancy, you are likely to develop this during your other pregnancies. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in future. So, timely screening is important.

Who can develop Type 2 Diabetes?

These factors can increase your risk of developing this condition:

  • Family history: The family history of type 2 diabetes increases your risk of getting diabetes increases.
  • Age: with age, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases. This may be due to decreased physical activity and loss of muscle mass
  • Obesity: Obesity increases your risk factor for type 2 diabetes. With more fatty tissues, your cells become more resistant to insulin.
  • Inadequate physical activity: if you are less active then you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
  • Unhealthy diet: a diet rich in saturated fats, sugar, and calories increase your body weight thus increasing your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
  • What are the complications caused by Diabetes?
  • High blood glucose levels can damage your kidneys, eyes, nerves, and cause cardiovascular disease. You become susceptible to foot infection (that may lead to gangrene), stroke, heart attack, and sexual dysfunction.

Why it’s important to take special care of the feet?

People with diabetes are prone to foot problems. The blood circulation in your feet becomes poor thus damaging the nerves and reducing sensation. Check for various foot conditions such as cracked skin, swelling, ingrown toenail, blisters, bleeding corns. Proper foot care ensures that no wounds become so severe that the leg needs amputation.

Do Diabetic people need special diet?

Not really. Just ensure that the diet you are following is healthy and contains complex carbohydrates (whole grain cereals), is low in fats, and includes plenty of vegetables. If you plan your diet accordingly, you can still eat all kind of food and stay healthy.

What is Hypoglycaemia?

Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar level is the most common complication faced by diabetic people. Due to several conditions such as not eating properly or eating too late, doing vigorous physical activity may drop your blood sugar levels below normal range. Patients usually feel weakness, sweating, and giddiness. At that time, the patient must be given fruit juice or some sugary drink. In case the patient is unconscious, he or she must be given intravenous glucose. Adjusting the dosage of antidiabetic medicine can help avoid this condition.

Source: http://www.searo.who.int/entity/world_health_day/2016/faqs-diabetes.pdf?ua=1

Glaucoma Treatment in Kolkata

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16 Common Eye Disorders

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Eye is one of the most complex organs of the human body and eyesight is among the most valuable assets that we have. It’s because of the eye that we could see and experience the world around us. However, common eye disorders can cause great inconvenience and in severe cases, cause vision loss. And that is why it’s so important to take care of our eyes.

Many of the eye disorders have early symptoms, and many don’t. People often fail to identify these symptoms and tend to ignore them initially. But an early diagnosis can help you save the most precious gift of vision that you have.

Here we have discussed 16 common eye disorders and their symptoms to help you in early detection:

1. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is caused when the pressure inside your eyes increase, thus damaging your optic nerves. People often inherit this eye condition, and it usually affects them later in their life.

The pressure inside your eye is known as intraocular pressure. An increased intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve that transmits images to your brain. If not detected early, Glaucoma causes permanent vision loss. If you go without treatment, you will lose your vision within a year or two.

You do not experience pain, and it’s very difficult to detect the early symptoms of Glaucoma. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, consult an eye specialist immediately:

  • Redness of eye
  • Seeing halos around lights
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Vision loss
  • Eye that looks hazy (especially in infants)
  • Pain in the Eye
  • Tunnel vision

Detecting glaucoma early is one of the reasons why you should have a complete eye check-up every 1-2 years. If you want to undergo Glaucoma Treatment in Kolkata, then book an appointment with our eye specialist today. Disha Eye Hospital is one of the leading eye hospitals in Kolkata. Visit http://www.dishaeye.org/contact-us today.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/glaucoma-eyes#1-2

2. Astigmatism

In simple words, Astigmatism is the condition when your eyes are not completely round. All of us have this condition up to a certain degree, but that doesn’t interfere with our vision. However, in some people, this condition is a bit severe. In such cases, the light that falls on the eye doesn’t bend properly causing blurry or wavy vision. This condition can be easily treated with a simple eye surgery or by using glasses and contact lenses.

People are mostly born with this condition; however, eye injury, disease, or any eye surgery can also cause Astigmatism. Look for these common symptoms to detect Astigmatism:

  • Blurry vision
  • Eye fatigue or eye strain

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/astigmatism-eyes

3. Cataract

It’s the condition when the natural lens of your eyes, located behind the Iris and the Pupil, becomes cloudy. People over 40 are susceptible to this condition. And this is also one of the most common causes of blindness in the world. The types of Cataract include:

  • Subcapsular cataract: it occurs at the back of the eye lens. People with diabetes are at a greater risk of developing it.
  • Nuclear cataract: it affects the nucleus of the lens. This type of cataract is associated with ageing.
  • Cortical cataract: this is characterised by white, wedge-like opacities starting in the periphery of the eye lens and move towards the centre. It mainly occurs in the lens cortex surrounding the central nucleus.

Source: http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataracts.htm

Check for these early signs of Cataract:

  • Cloudy vision
  • Double vision
  • Problem with glare at night (glare from light sources) and daytime.
  • Unclear vision with glasses and contact lenses

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/cataracts/what-are-cataracts#1-3

4. Corneal Abrasion

It happens quite often when dirt or sand gets trapped in your eye. As you rub your eyes to get rid of it, the dust particle causes a scratch on your eye. This condition is called Corneal Abrasion. You experience pain in your eye and a burning or stinging sensation.
The symptoms are:

  • you feel like you have sand or dirt stuck in your eye
  • Pain in eye, especially when you open or close it
  • Redness of eyes and teary eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Blurred vision

Rubbing your eyes too hard, poking it with nails or other objects, wearing dirty contact lenses can cause Corneal Abrasion.

5. Dry Eyes

This is a very common condition and occurs when the tears cannot lubricate your eyes properly. There are a number of reasons for inadequate production of tears. For instance, dry eyes may occur if the tear production is not enough.

This condition is very uncomfortable. You will experience stinging or burning sensation in eyes.

Signs and symptoms include:

  • A stinging or burning sensation in the eyes
  • Scratchiness in your eyes
  • A sensation that there is something in your eyes
  • Difficulty in wearing contact lenses
  • Mucus formation in or around the eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Redness on eye
  • Blurred vision
  • Eye fatigue
  • Difficulty in night-time vision especially while driving
  • Watery eyes, (body’s response to the irritation of your eyes)

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/basics/definition/con-20024129

6. Subconjunctival Haemorrhage

This condition occurs when a tiny blood vessel breaks just below the conjunctiva of your eye. The conjunctiva cannot absorb blood. This causes the blood to be trapped underneath it.

A subconjunctival haemorrhage often occurs without causing any serious harm to your eyes. A strong sneeze or a bout of a cough can even cause haemorrhage of blood vessels in your eyes. The initial symptoms might worry you, but this condition is usually harmless condition and disappears within a week or two.

  • The most obvious sign of a subconjunctival haemorrhage is a red patch on the white part of your eyes.
  • It doesn’t hamper your vision and causes no pain or discharge. However, you might experience a slight discomfort or a scratchy feeling on the surface of your eye.
  • If you experience recurrent subconjunctival haemorrhages, then talk to the doctor immediately.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/subconjunctival-hemorrhage/home/ovc-20231436

7. Retinal Detachment

This is a serious eye condition. It occurs when your retina located at the back of your eye detaches from the tissue around it. The Retina processes light and a damaged Retina may cause permanent vision loss if it isn’t treated right away.

You are at risk if you are severely nearsighted or have a family history of retinal detachment.

A detached retina doesn’t hurt and often has no warning symptoms. However, you might notice the following changes:

  • Seeing lots of floaters (small floating thread-like structures in front of your eyes)
  • Flashes of light
  • A poor peripheral or side vision
  • The doctor may suggest Laser, Cryopexy or Pneumatic Retinopexy for treating the damaged Retina.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eye-health-retinal-detachment#1-2

8. Diabetic Retinopathy

The high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels present in the retina. These blood vessels swell or leak and stop blood from passing through. This can cause vision loss.

There are two stages of Diabetic Retinopathy:

  • NPDR (non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy)
  • Here, the tiny blood vessels leak causing swelling of Retina.
  • PDR (proliferative diabetic retinopathy)

This is a more advanced stage and happens when the new blood vessels grow in the retina. This is called neovascularization. These new vessels often bleed and block your vision.

The symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy include

  • seeing too many floaters
  • a blurred vision
  • washed out colours
  • poor night vision
  • changes in vision from blurry to clear
  • seeing dark areas in the field of vision

Source: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-diabetic-retinopathy

9. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

This is the deterioration of the macula, the central area of the retina that controls visual acuity.

Symptoms of Age-related Macular Degeneration include:

  • Loss of visual acuity
  • Loss of contrast sensitivity
  • Seeing images distorted in the centre

AMD is of two types, Dry AMD and Wet AMD. Dry AMD is more common and is the initial stage of the condition while Wet AMD is typically worse and is a much-advanced stage of the condition.

Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Macular-degeneration/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

10. Uveitis

Uveitis is a broad term and covers a number of eye problems. The condition mainly affects the Uvea, a part of your eye. It encompasses eye inflammation and swelling that destroys the tissues in your eye causing poor vision or blindness.

Types of Uveitis include:

  • Anterior uveitis: this affects the front part of your eye.
  • Intermediate uveitis: this affects the ciliary body.
  • Posterior uveitis: this affects the back of your eye.

The warning signs include:

  • Redness of eye
  • Pain
  • Blurry vision
  • Light sensitivity
  • Seeing floaters in your vision

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/uveitis-inflammation-eye#1-5

11. Hyphema

Hyphema is the condition when blood gets accumulated in the front part of your eye. The blood mainly collects between the Cornea and the Iris. This condition occurs when an injury (such as a sharp blow) tears the blood vessels. The less harmful case of the broken blood vessel is called subconjunctival haemorrhage while Hyphema is very painful and can also cause serious vision and eye problems such as Glaucoma or Corneal damage.
Symptoms of Hyphema include:

  • bleeding in the front of the eye
  • sensitivity to light
  • pain in the eye
  • blurry or blocked vision

Source: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-hyphema

12. Central Retinal Vascular Occlusion (CRVO)

The retina of your eye contains one main artery and one main vein. When the vein of the retina is blocked, the condition is called Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO).

With a blocked vein, the blood and fluid spill out into the retina causing swelling of the macula, thus affecting your central vision.

Symptoms of CRVO include:

  • Vision loss or blurry vision (in one part or all of the eye)
  • Gradual worsening of vision (over several hours or days)
  • Complete loss of vision
  • Seeing floaters, dark spots or lines in your vision.
  • Pain and pressure in the affected eye

Source: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-central-retinal-vein-occlusion

13. Scleritis

This is a painful condition where the white part of the eye (called Sclera) swells. The tissues of the sclera constitute the protective outer layer of your eye. It makes up 83% of your eye’s surface.

In most of all cases, scleritis is associated with other autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis. The two types of scleritis are Anterior and Posterior Scleritis.

The symptoms include:

Severe pain and tenderness in the eye.
This pain often extends to other regions of the face such as the jaw, face, or part of head at the affected side.
Blurred vision and tearing
Extreme sensitivity to light
Partial or complete loss of vision (in some cases)

Source: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-scleritis

14. Hypertensive Retinopathy

This condition is caused by extremely high blood pressure levels. High blood pressure results in swelling of the blood vessels in the Retina, causing them to narrow down, thus blocking blood flow to the retina.
You won’t experience any major symptoms until the condition has aggravated. Possible symptoms include:

Swelling of the eye
reduced vision
bursting of a blood vessel
double vision along with headaches

Source: http://www.healthline.com/health/hypertensive-retinopathy#overview1

15. Strabismus

If your eyes are not aligned properly, and both the eyes look at different direction, this condition is called Strabismus or crossed eyes. Some are born with it (Congenital Strabismus); however, adults may also develop this due to the problem in the nervous that controls your eyes.
This condition leads to double vision, problems in peripheral vision. Surgery is an option for correcting this condition.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/strabismus

16. Corneal Ulcer

This is an open sore in the Cornea and is mainly caused by viral, fungal or bacterial infection, dryness of eye, scratches or tear in the Cornea. People who wear contact lenses are at greater risk of developing Corneal Ulcer.

Symptoms of Corneal Ulcer include:

  • Redness of eye and pain
  • Pus or thick discharge from eye
  • Blurred vision
  • Swollen eyelids
  • White round spot on the cornea

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/corneal-ulcer

How we May Help You?

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