Eye Problems
Information on the Causes of Eye Infections and Common Eye Problems.
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What are Eye Problems?
As we all know, the eyes are the organs responsible for sight. The eye is a sensitive organ, with only a small layer of skin (the eyelid), some hair (the eyebrow) and eye fluid or tears to protect it!
This is why various triggers can cause serious eye irritation. Factors such as wind, environmental pollutants and toxins, allergies, and bright light can cause common eye problems such as bloodshot red eyes, inflamed eyes, dry eyes, itchy eyes or eye strain.
What Causes Eye Problems?
Common eye problems can be caused or exacerbated by certain conditions – such as Glaucoma in the case of diabetes. Other times, common eye problems are caused due to eye infections such as Conjunctivitis and Episcleritis. Certain ocular diseases can even come from sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes and genital warts. If contact between the eye and area of infection occurs, the STD can be transmitted to the eye.
Eye problems can also be age-related in cases involving Bitot's Spots, Cataracts, Floaters and in more severe cases, Macular Degeneration.
More Information on Eye Problems
Tips for Eye Health
- Have an annual check-up by an eye care professional. If you have a family history of eye disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, you may need to visit a specialist twice a year.
- Consult your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your vision. This may include double or blurred vision, halos around lights, parts of letters or words missing from a printed page, difficulty judging depth perception on stairs or curbs, faded or distorted print, washed-out or faded colors, inability to see faces clearly, difficulty seeing when going from light to dark, sparks of light appearing off to the side, sudden pain in one or both eyes, or sudden appearance of "floaters" in your line of vision.
- Protect your eyes from harmful light and irritants such as ultraviolet (UV) rays, dust, wind and bright lights and be sure to wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV rays. Take care to avoid accidental injury to the eyes by wearing protective goggles when doing yard work, using power tools or playing sports. Remember, if a foreign body enters your eye, DO NOT RUB your eye! Rather, wash it with plenty of water. If acid or any other chemical gets into your eyes, wash them straight away with plenty of water and seek emergency care (emergency room visit) or see your doctor immediately.
- Eat a healthy diet. Research suggests that antioxidants (leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits), carotenoids (carrots, kale and spinach), zinc (beef, pork and lamb), and selenium (fish, shellfish and red meat) play a beneficial role in helping to reduce the severity and likelihood of certain age-related eye diseases.
- Make sure there is sufficient light for any task, especially when reading. Use common sense when watching television or working at a computer and blink your eyes frequently while watching a program. Do not turn off the lights in the room! Give your eyes a break every half hour if you are watching a long program. People who work long hours at the computer often complain of double vision, temporary shortsightedness and visual fatigue. Periodically, break your concentration, look up from the screen and focus on an object in the distance to reduce eye fatigue.
