08:49:01 pm, by Geraldine , 398 words, 52 views  
Categories: Common Eye Conditions, Blepharitis

What is blepharitis?

Blepharitis is a common condition that causes inflammation of the eyelids. The condition can be difficult to manage because it tends to recur.

Complications

Stye: A red tender bump on the eyelid that is caused by an acute infection of the oil glands of the eyelid.

Chalazion: This condition can follow the development of a stye. It is a usually painless firm lump caused by inflammation of the oil glands of the eyelid. Chalazion can be painful and red if there is also an infection.

Problems with the tear film: Abnormal or decreased oil secretions that are part of the tear film can result in excess tearing or dry eye. Because tears are necessary to keep the cornea healthy, tear film problems can make people more at risk for corneal infections.

Causes

Blepharitis occurs in two forms:

Anterior blepharitis affects the outside front of the eyelid, where the eyelashes are attached. The two most common causes of anterior blepharitis are bacteria (Staphylococcus) and scalp dandruff.

Posterior blepharitis affects the inner eyelid (the moist part that makes contact with the eye) and is caused by problems with the oil (meibomian) glands in this part of the eyelid. Two skin disorders can cause this form of blepharitis: acne rosacea, which leads to red and inflamed skin, and scalp dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis).

Symptoms

Symptoms of either form of blepharitis include a foreign body or burning sensation, excessive tearing, itching, sensitivity to light (photophobia), red and swollen eyelids, redness of the eye, blurred vision, frothy tears, dry eye, or crusting of the eyelashes on awakening.

Treatment

Treatment for both forms of blepharitis involves keeping the lids clean and free of crusts. Warm compresses should be applied to the lid to loosen the crusts, followed by a light scrubbing of the eyelid with a cotton swab and a mixture of water and baby shampoo. Because blepharitis rarely goes away completely, most patients must maintain an eyelid hygiene routine for life. If the blepharitis is severe, an eye care professional may also prescribe antibiotics or steroid eyedrops.

When scalp dandruff is present, a dandruff shampoo for the hair is recommended as well. In addition to the warm compresses, patients with posterior blepharitis will need to massage their eyelids to clean the oil accumulated in the glands. Patients who also have acne rosacea should have that condition treated at the same time.

03:24:44 pm, by Geraldine , 585 words, 848 views  
Categories: Common Eye Conditions, Macular Degeneration

What is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration (MD) is a disease of the central retina (called the macula) that affects central vision. It is the leading cause of vision loss among people over age 65. Because it affects only central vision, macular degeneration does not cause total blindness. But it can make most daily activities like driving and reading difficult or impossible.

What causes it?

The exact cause of macular degeneration is still not understood, but it is thought to be associated with artherosclerotic changes in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the macula, compromising the blood flow to this part of the retina.

Age clearly plays a role in the disease. For this reason, it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Macular degeneration has two forms:

Dry MD is the more common form, affecting approximately 90 percent of those who have macular degeneration. It typically develops slowly and causes mild visual distortion to moderate central vision loss.

Wet MD affects only 10 percent of people with macular degeneration, but causes more severe vision loss. In wet MD, new blood vessels that form under the macula leak fluid and can cause a rapid and severe loss of central vision.

How common is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is the most common cause of severe vision loss among individuals over age 65. Age is the greatest risk factor. People over 40 have a 4% risk, over 50 have a 9% risk, over 65 have a 23% risk and over 80 have a 31% risk. It accounts for 45% of the legally blind and 70% of the seriously visually impaired people over 70.

Other risk factors include:

• Smoking
• A family history of MD
• High cholesterol
• A poor ability to tan when young
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• High dietary intake of saturated fat and cholesterol
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• A high body mass index in men
• Race - MD affects Caucasians more frequently than people of other races
• Gender - Women are twice as likely to develop MD

What are the symptoms of Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is painless. Visual symptoms are constant and limited to the central area of a person's visual field.

They include:

• Distorted vision
• Blurred vision
• A central darkened spot or empty area

An amsler grid can be used to monitor for any change in relation to MD. Follow this link for a sample amsler grid.

http://www.mdfoundation.com.au/resources/1/Amsler_Grid.pdf

Can Macular Degeneration be treated?

Though there is currently no widely accepted treatment for macular degeneration, promising new medications are currently being developed, in particular for Wet MD. If you or a family member has MD, ask your optometrist about new treatment options that may be available.

Can Macular Degeneration be prevented?

Recent research suggests certain antioxidant vitamins and other nutritional supplements may slow or prevent the development of macular degeneration in some individuals. Vitamins A, C and E; zinc; Carotenoids and lutein may be beneficial in maintaining a healthy retina. These substances, however, have not been shown to reverse existing damage to the retina from MD.

Actions you can take to lower your risk of MD include:

• Get plenty of exercise
• Maintain a proper weight
• Eat a healthy diet including fish and green leafy vegetables
• Avoid smoking
• Take a multiple antioxidant vitamin supplement daily
• Wear sunglasses when outdoors

Low vision aids

People who have lost vision due to MD can often benefit from low vision aids. These specialised optical devices provide high magnification and help a person with MD use their remaining central vision as effectively as possible. See your optometrist for further information.

07:11:35 am, by Geraldine , 1031 words, 945 views  
Categories: Common Eye Conditions, Diabetic Retinopathy

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina (the light-sensitive inner lining of the back of the eye) associated with the systemic disease diabetes mellitus. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among adults in Australia.

What causes diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetes mellitus (also simply called diabetes) is characterised by an altered metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, resulting in a chronic elevation in blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Hyperglycemia can lead to long-term changes in the circulatory and nervous systems in the body. The hyperglycemia experienced by diabetics is related to an inability to produce sufficient insulin, a resistance to the effects of insulin, or both.

The diagnosis of diabetes is made based on a person's fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, (commonly referred to as the fasting blood sugar). An FPG level of 7.0mmol/l or higher indicates the presence of diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes in which the tiny blood vessels in the retina are damaged by the disease. Damage to the retinal blood vessels can cause a number of problems. In some cases, the damaged blood vessels leak fluid and lipids under the macula, the most sensitive part of the retina that allows us to see details. The fluid causes the macula to swell, blurring vision. In other cases, the retinal blood vessels can become blocked, causing portions of the retina to cease functioning because of lack of oxygen and nutrients.
In its advanced stage, diabetic retinopathy is characterised by the growth of fragile blood vessels along the retina and into the clear, gel-like vitreous that fills the inside of the eye. These tiny blood vessels can break open and bleed, causing vision to be obscured and permanent damage to the retina.

How common is diabetic retinopathy?

Approximately 1.5 million Australians have diabetes, 50% are unaware of their condition. All people with diabetes - those with Type 1 diabetes (previously called juvenile onset diabetes) and those with Type 2 diabetes (previously called adult onset diabetes) are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

According to the National Eye Institute, nearly half of all people with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy in their lifetime. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to have diabetic retinopathy. After having diabetes for 15 years, about 80% of Type 1 diabetics will have some degree of retinopathy.

Risk factors for diabetes (and therefore diabetic retinopathy) include:

• Obesity (more than 20% heavier than your ideal body weight)
• A family history of diabetes
• Hypertension (blood pressure of 130/90 or higher)
• Having a high density lipoprotein (HDL or "good cholesterol") reading of 1.0 mmol/l or lower
• Elevated triglyceride levels (2.5 mmol/l or higher)
• Having been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during a pregnancy or having given birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
• Being a member of a high risk ethnic group

What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy often has no early warning signs. There is no pain, and vision may remain unaffected until the disease becomes severe.
If leaking blood vessels cause swelling of the macula (called macular oedema) central vision will become blurred, making it hard to see clearly when driving or reading. Vision may get better or worse during the day, depending on the degree of oedema.

If leaking blood vessels cause bleeding in the eye, symptoms will vary based on how much blood is involved. With relatively limited bleeding, the visual disturbance may appear as spots floating in your visual field. These spots may go away after a few hours.

If bleeding is more severe, vision may suddenly become severely clouded. This can occur overnight during sleep. It may take months for the blood to clear from the eye, or it may not clear at all.

What is the treatment for diabetic retinopathy?

There are two treatments for diabetic retinopathy - laser surgery and vitrectomy. These surgical treatments are typically used only when diabetic retinopathy is in an advanced stage.

Laser surgery can be used to seal leaking blood vessels in the retina or to shrink fragile new blood vessels. Laser surgery is typically performed on an outpatient visit or in the doctor's office. You will be able to go home the same day.

Laser surgery usually cannot restore vision that has already been lost. Therefore, early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best way to prevent serious vision loss from the disease.

If a significant amount of blood has leaked into the vitreous, a vitrectomy may be required to restore vision. In this procedure, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the sclera and gently suctions out the bloody vitreous, replacing it with a sterile clear fluid. After the surgery, you may be able to go home the same day or you may be asked to stay in the hospital overnight.

Can diabetic retinopathy be prevented?

It's estimated that 50% of people with Type 2 diabetes are unaware of their condition. In some cases, detection of their diabetes takes place during a routine eye exam.

During a routine eye exam, your optometrist will examine your retina and look for early signs of diabetes. These signs include:

• Small haemorrhages from leaking blood vessels
• Macular oedema
• Areas of pale retina (called cotton wool spots) where blood supply has been obstructed
• Yellowish, waxy-appearing deposits in the retina caused by localised retinal oedema

If your optometrist detects signs of early diabetic retinopathy, they may refer you to an ophthalmologist who is a retinal specialist for additional testing and/or treatment.

Most cases of Type 2 diabetes can be managed through proper diet and exercise. Daily exercise and a high fibre diet with restricted amounts of carbohydrates, cholesterol, and saturated fat can improve overall health and help lower blood glucose levels. In cases where diet and exercise cannot sufficiently reduce blood glucose levels, oral medicines or injections of insulin may be added to the treatment plan.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you should have an annual dilated eye exam to monitor the health of your retina. (Depending on your individual needs, your optometrist may recommend more frequent exams.) Annual eye exams are also recommended if you are not a diabetic but have one or more of the risk factors for diabetes listed above.

03:24:38 am, by admin , 674 words, 479 views  
Categories: Common Eye Conditions, Cataract

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens inside the eye. The crystalline lens (often called simply the lens) is located directly behind the pupil and iris. The lens helps the cornea focus light on the retina to begin the process of sight. A cataract decreases the clarity of the lens and causes blurred vision.

The word cataract comes from an ancient Greek term meaning "waterfall." People with cataracts often feel as though they are trying to see the world through an opaque watery film or waterfall.

What causes cataracts?

The specific cause of cataracts is unknown, but the most common type of cataract develops in response to aging.The crystalline lens consists mainly of water and protein. The protein is arranged in a specific way to keep the lens clear and to allow light to pass through it. As we age, the arrangement of the lens protein may become disrupted, causing the lens to become cloudy. As cataracts worsen, vision becomes blurred and distorted.

Risk factors for cataracts (in addition to advancing age) include:

• Gender - Cataracts appear to be more common in women than men
• A family history of cataracts
• Long-term exposure to UV rays from sunlight
• Smoking
• Long-term use of steroid medications
• Diabetes

Types of cataracts

Though age-related cataracts are by far the most common, there are other types of cataracts as well, based on time of onset and cause:
Congenital cataracts - These cataracts are present at birth or shortly thereafter. May be related to premature birth or low birth weight.
Secondary cataracts - These cataracts develop because of diabetes or other health problems. Secondary cataracts are also sometimes linked to steroid use or radiation therapy.
Traumatic cataracts - These cataracts develop after a serious eye injury - soon afterward or years later.

How common are cataracts?

Because most cataracts are age-related, everyone is potentially at risk.
About 50 percent of the population ages 65 to 74 have some clouding of the crystalline lens. This increases to 70 percent for person’s aged 75 or older.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

Symptoms of cataracts include:

• Blurred or hazy vision of gradual onset
• Increased glare, especially at night
• Sensitivity to light
• Colours appearing faded
• Frequent spectacle prescription changes
• Double vision (or "ghost images") in one eye

What is the treatment for cataracts?

The only treatment for cataracts is surgery. In cataract surgery, the cloudy crystalline lens is removed and replaced with a clear plastic lens. Cataract surgery is very successful at restoring vision. Most people who have the procedure regain 6/6 vision. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. Over 1.5 million cataract surgeries are done each year.

Can cataracts return after surgery?

Cataracts cannot return. However, when the cloudy lens is removed in cataract surgery, the clear posterior capsule of the lens is usually left intact to keep the vitreous (the clear gel that fills the posterior cavity of the eye behind the lens) from leaking from the eye during surgery.

Months or years later, this thin capsule may become cloudy and cause blurred vision. This is sometimes called an after-cataract.
An after-cataract can be treated with a short and painless laser procedure called a posterior capsulotomy. In this procedure, a YAG laser removes the central cloudy portion of the lens capsule to restore clear vision. Because the artificial lens remains firmly intact and is unaffected by the laser, there is little risk of vitreous leakage after a posterior capsulotomy.

Can cataracts be prevented?

There is some evidence that antioxidants and other nutritional supplements may slow or prevent the development of cataracts in some people. However, additional study is needed to confirm this. In the meantime, taking daily supplements that include riboflavin, vitamins C and E, Carotenoids, zinc, and copper may be beneficial.
Because certain cataracts appear to be associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, it's wise to wear sunglasses outdoors that provide 100 percent UV protection. A wide-brimmed hat also helps limit the amount of UV radiation reaching your eyes.

03:17:11 am, by admin , 670 words, 1302 views  
Categories: Common Eye Conditions, Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?

An eye disease characterised by damage to the optic nerve and loss of visual field. Often cases of glaucoma are related to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) however it doesn’t have to be elevated for a person to develop glaucoma. The first line of treatment for most types of glaucoma is eye drop medication that lowers the fluid pressure inside the eye. In some cases, eye surgery may be required. Left untreated, glaucoma can lead to permanent loss of sight. Glaucoma is an eye disease in which fluid pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve. This nerve damage first affects peripheral vision, but eventually can cause blindness.

What causes glaucoma?

The space inside the front of the eye between the cornea and the iris is called the anterior chamber. Clear fluid called aqueous flows in and out of the anterior chamber to bathe and nourish the anterior part of the eye. In glaucoma, the aqueous fails to drain from the eye quickly enough, causing the pressure inside the eye to build up. Over time, the increased pressure inside the eye damages the sensitive optic nerve at the back of the eye and causes vision loss.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

In the most common form of glaucoma (called chronic open angle glaucoma), there are no early symptoms. The eyes appear normal, vision is normal, and there is no pain or discomfort. As glaucoma progresses, peripheral vision is lost. As this form of glaucoma progresses, the visual field continues to narrow, causing tunnel vision and blindness.
There is a less common form of glaucoma called acute angle closure glaucoma. This form strikes suddenly and usually involves severe eye pain and a much quicker loss of vision.

How common is glaucoma?
Approximately 1 in 10 have glaucoma, but half are unaware of it.

Risk factors include:
Anyone over the age of 40
A family history of glaucoma
Diabetes

What is the treatment for glaucoma?
There is no cure for glaucoma, but it can be controlled with prompt treatment. Depending on the type and severity of the condition, glaucoma is treated in one or several of the following ways:
Medicine - Glaucoma medicines may be in the form of eye drops, pills, or both. Some medicines reduce pressure by improving aqueous drainage from the eye; others work by slowing aqueous production.
Laser surgery - Laser surgery may be used to create wider openings in the aqueous drainage structures within the eye so the aqueous can exit the eye more easily.
Other microsurgery - Other microsurgical techniques may be used to increase aqueous outflow if drugs and/or laser surgery are contraindicated or cannot sufficiently reduce eye pressure.
None of the treatment options for glaucoma can restore vision that has already been lost because of the disease. Treatment is performed to prevent further vision loss.

Can glaucoma be prevented?
Routine eye exams are the only way to ensure glaucoma is diagnosed before extensive damage occurs. During your exam, your optometrist will perform a test called tonometry to measure the pressure inside your eyes. They will also examine the appearance of the optic nerve at the back of the eye. If glaucoma is suspected, a visual field test may be performed to evaluate your peripheral and central vision. Early structural changes of the retina will also be investigated using a Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope.

Zeiss GDx Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope is the latest technology available to allow earlier detection of glaucoma. It scans the retinal nerve fibre layer, using a laser, looking for defects indicative of glaucoma. Often, before there is functional vision loss from glaucoma, there are structural changes to the nerve fibre layer. The Zeiss GDx Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope can pick up these changes.

http://www.meditec.zeiss.com/

Remember that the most common form of glaucoma has no symptoms. By the time you notice a change in your vision from glaucoma, it's too late. See your Optometrist as directed for routine glaucoma testing to protect your eyes from this serious sight-threatening disease.