Eye Care!

Not All Are Repairable!

Almost all of us are blessed with a pair of eyes. While some have better vision than others - it is not really an envious factor especially with the expertise provided in the optometrist department. From stylishly designed spectacles used as fashion accessories to multicolour purposeful contact lenses, it is even considered hip to don them. But even with human and technological advancement, prevention and cure is not a guarantee especially with problems such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, conjunctivitis and acanthamoeba.

Glaucoma

While research has shown that going blind is the most feared disability most people still have the ‘why fix when it is not broken’ mentality. Glaucoma occurs when the internal pressure in your eyes increases enough to damage the optic nerve fibres. The passage that allows fluid in eyes to drain becomes blocked. People who have diabetes and myopia (short-sightedness) have higher risks in developing this disease. It usually progresses slowly without pain and without change in vision thus leaving you clueless of its existence. As time goes by, the problem gradually aggravates and there is no prevention but early diagnosis can control it. A complacent mindset would not serve you in whatever path you pursue and you should go for a thorough optical check up at least once a year. The treatment for glaucoma includes prescription eye drops and medicines to lower the pressure in your eyes. In some cases, laser treatment or surgery may effectively reduce pressure.                                                                                                             

Diabetic Retinopathy

As you may know, whatever you chow down may have benevolent or malevolent effect on your health as you age. Diabetes disallows your body to use insulin properly or stop the production at all. Insulin is a hormone for converting sugar, starch and other foods into energy. Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye disease that weakens or causes change to the small blood vessels that nourish the eye’s retina. These blood vessels may swell or leak and eventually lead to blindness if left untreated. To detect diabetic retinopathy, your optometrist can look inside your eyes using an ophthalmoscope. If you have diabetic retinopathy, laser and other surgical treatments can be used to reduce its progression and decrease the risk of vision loss.

Conjunctivitis

When your eyes are itchy and (like mom used to say, “don’t rub your eyes or it will get worst,”) you may be having conjunctivitis which affects the conjunctiva, the transparent lid in the inner eyelid covering the white part of the eye. Conjunctivitis is due to infection from allergy and chemical exposure. Pollen, animal furs, cosmetics, chlorine and air pollution contribute to the disease formation. Itchiness can also further lead to inflammation of the inner eyelid, watery discharge and even blurred vision. A good way to treat allergic or chemical conjunctivitis is to avoid the causes. If you are somehow infected, prescription or over-the-counter eye drops may relieve discomfort. Other forms of conjunctivitis caused by viruses, cannot be treated with antibiotics and they must be combated by your body's immune system.

Acanthamoeba

Acanthamoeba is an organism usually found in fresh water and other habitat. The disease caused by this genus of amoebae is amoebic keratitis and usually associated with unhygienic contact lens usage. Just like conjunctivitis, it will cause eyes to turn very red and there may be sensitivity to light. In latter stages of more severe cases, there can be strong pain, loss of vision blurriness and even pus formation. To prevent this disease, do not use tap water when wearing your contact lens. Also, do not swim in the swimming pool, sea and rivers while wearing your contact lens. 

Cleanliness is imperative especially in hospitals where they even have sterilised rooms just to isolate you from being exposed to microscopic organisms. A similar hygienic method applies pertaining to contact lens care as it requires meticulous attention. Lens care guide includes:

• Washing your hands before handling contact lenses.
• Rubbing and rinsing the surface of the contact lens with a multi-purpose solution before storing.
• Using only sterile products recommended by your optometrist to clean and disinfect your lenses. Saline solution and rewetting drops are not designed to disinfect lenses.
• Do not use tap water to wash or store contact lenses.
• Contact lens solution must be discarded upon opening the case, and fresh solution used each time the lens is placed in the case.
• Replace lenses using your doctor’s prescribed schedule.
• Do not sleep while wearing contact lenses unless prescribed by your doctor.
• Never swop lenses with someone else.