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How do you know if eye pain is serious?

Eye pain falls into two categories: Ocular pain and orbital pain. Ocular pain occurs on the surface of the eye while orbital pain occurs within the eye.

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Over here we will discuss what causes eye pain and when should you visit an eye hospital:

 

Causes of ocular pain

You may experience eye pain on the surface of the eye because of the following reasons

  • Foreign objects: When irritants such as a speck of dirt, makeup, grit or a twig get into the eye – they cause eye pain along with symptoms such as eye irritation, redness and watery eyes. Wash your eyes with cold water. Even after a day if you feel that something is stuck inside your eyes, you should seek medical treatment.
  • Conjunctivitis: Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is an infection that causes pain in the eyes along with redness in the white portion, itchiness and watery eyes. Though conjunctivitis is not serious or vision-threatening, it can be highly contagious. If you have conjunctivitis, see an eye doctor for medications.
  • Injury: If you were involved in an accident and because of it you are experiencing pain in the eye, you must see an eye doctor to rule out serious damage. If your eyes have come into contact with chemicals and you are experiencing a burning sensation, visit an eye doctor immediately. The severity of the burn depends on the chemical and the amount that has gone inside your eyes. Chemical eye burns are a medical emergency and should not be ignored.
  • Infections: There are several eye infections such as blepharitis and sty that can cause pain in the eyes. An eye doctor can diagnose an infection by performing a physical examination of the eye. Depending on the severity of inflammation and pain, the doctor may prescribe eye drops or ointment.

 

Causes of orbital pain

There are several conditions that can cause eye pain within the eye and some of them are as follows:

 

  • Glaucoma: This eye condition occurs when intraocular pressure or pressure inside the eye increases, damaging the optic nerve. The condition gets worse over time. If you are experiencing eye pain along with vision loss and feeling of nausea, visit an eye doctor without any delay. Seeking immediate medical treatment can help prevent long-term vision loss.
  • Optic neuritis: This eye condition occurs when swelling damages the optic nerve. Optic neuritis causes pain with eye movement and temporary vision loss in one eye. Sometimes the eye pain may feel like a dull ache. With the help of medications and steroids, the vision can be restored, https://nygoodhealth.com/product/prednisone/.

 

When is eye pain serious?

In the following cases, visit an eye hospital without delay:

  • The pain is unusually severe or accompanied by headache or fever.
  • Sudden changes in vision.
  • It is caused by a foreign object or chemical.
  • You have trouble moving your eyes.
  • There is blood or pus coming out of the eyes.

 

If you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, get medical help right away. The emergency OPD at Disha Eye Hospitals has a dedicated doctor 24X7. Patients with eye emergencies are seen without any prior appointment.

 

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How to Take Care of your Eyes When you Have Diabetes

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Poor eye health and vision impairment is one of the biggest risks associated with diabetes. High blood sugar causes damage to the blood vessels in the eyes and can lead to an eye condition known as Diabetic retinopathy.

Although Diabetic Retinopathy cannot be cured, it can be prevented by managing blood sugar. Here’s a quick glance at how you can take care of your eyes when you have diabetes:

1) Understanding the risk factors

Understanding the risk factors associated with diabetic eye complication is a preliminary step in taking care of your eyes if you have diabetes. The risk factors for the onset and worsening of Diabetic Retinopathy include:

  • High cholesterol
  • Poor blood sugar control
  • High blood pressure
  • Smoking
  • Pregnancy
  • Eating unhealthy foods
  • Sedentary lifestyle

2) Control blood pressure and sugar

High blood pressure, which is common for people with diabetes, combined with high blood sugar, can cause damage to the eye blood vessels which eventually impairs vision. To lower the risks of the onset of Diabetic Retinopathy and vision impairment, keep your blood pressure at around 140/80 or below.

Normal blood pressure is as important as controlled blood sugar in order to prevent diabetes-related eye complications.

Make sure that you keep your A1C level under 7% to minimize the damage to the blood vessels in the eye caused by high blood sugar. A1C is a test for determining a person’s average blood glucose level.

3) Keep the cholesterol levels in check

LDL or bad cholesterol causes damage to the blood vessels, and therefore, you should keep your LDL in check. You can keep track of the cholesterol levels in your body through a blood test.

There are many ways how you can lower the cholesterol levels in your body. The most effective ways are to exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, and eat healthy foods – all of which have been discussed in the points following below.

4) Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is the best way to control blood sugar and pressure. When you exercise regularly, the oxygen content in the blood increases. This way, the blood vessels (including in the eyes) become healthy.
Exercising regularly doesn’t mean you have to hit the gym and lift weights. Simple cardio such as running, jogging, brisk walking, swimming, dancing, and cycling for at least half an hour every day is sufficient for staying healthy.

5) Drink plenty of water

Drinking plenty of water every day is another great way to manage diabetes and lower the risk of eye complications associated with the disease. Just like regular exercise, drinking water every day keeps the nerves and blood vessels healthy.

According to Diabetes.co.uk, people with diabetes stand at a greater risk of dehydration due to high blood glucose levels in the body. The kidneys attempt to remove the excess glucose and excrete as urine. During this process, the water content in the blood decreases. Failure to replenishing for a prolonged period of time can cause dehydration which eventually impairs the blood vessels.

6) Eat only healthy foods

Eating healthy foods is the single best way to maintain a good eye health. People with diabetes, in specific, should stick to a healthy and balanced diet to control cholesterol, blood sugar and pressure.

Healthy and organic foods such as fresh vegetables, colourful fruits, and lean fish and meat contain all the essential nutrients which keep the body organs healthy, including the eyes. If you have diabetes, then you shouldn’t eat unhealthy foods such as packaged foods, processed meats, carbonated drinks, and deep fried snacks.

The best way to maintain a healthy and balanced diet is to consult with your doctor or nutritionist.

7) Quit smoking and alcohol consumption

Smoking and alcohol consumption is dreadful for anyone, but especially for people with diabetes as they have high blood glucose levels than that of a non-smoking person with diabetes.

This makes it more difficult for them to control their disease which puts them at a greater risk of diabetic eye complications and other diseases. If you have diabetes and you smoke/ drink alcohol, you should quit them as soon as possible.

8) Have an eye exam once a year

Diabetic eye complications such as Diabetic Retinopathy goes undetected, and the worst part is it cannot be treated. However, the eye complication can be prevented and regular eye check-up is the best and the only way to diagnose the symptoms.

Have a complete eye exam every year. This way, you will be able to track the changes in the eyes/vision, and the symptoms associated with Diabetic Retinopathy. If you have diabetes and don’t get your eye checked regularly, the odds are great that you’ll be diagnosed with the eye complication after it has already worsened.

The most common type of eye exam is dilated eye exam. During the exam, the doctor dilates the pupil(s) using special eye drops to check the early signs of damage to the blood vessels.

9) Monitor changes in the vision and similar symptoms

If you are new to diabetes, then you may experience slight changes in vision. Although this is common for most people who are diagnosed with diabetes, you shouldn’t take it for granted.

Instead, monitor the changes in your vision – whether it worsens or stays the same. Stay alert of symptoms associated with diabetic eye complications such as deteriorating blurry vision, partial or complete loss of vision in one or both eyes, flashes of light appearing in normal vision, and seeing black spots.

If you experience any of these symptoms, then you should see a doctor immediately as worsening of Diabetic Retinopathy can cause permanent blindness.

Get your eyes checked today

If you have diabetes and want to take care of your eye health, then get you eye assessed at Disha Eye Hospital – a leading eye hospital in Kolkata. At Disha Eye Hospital, you can get the best Diabetic Retinopathy, Cataract, and Glaucoma treatment in Kolkata.