Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.
Sight is one of the top senses of any living being and eyes have to be treated with care. Eye problems might occur anytime. It is important to know some of the most common eye problems and how to treat them. Here’s a list of the top five.
1. Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an eye condition that involves the inflammation of the eyelids. The eyes of the patients are usually itchy. The sclera (white part of the eye) become red and vision is distorted. The skin around the eyes starts to flake. Causes of blepharitis include bacteria, dust mites, eczema or dry eye syndrome (DES)
Treatment involves prescribed eye drops and maintaining clean eyes and eyelids. One can get in touch with a specialist for further diagnosis.
2. Cataracts
Cataracts result from the formation of a mass that forms in front of the eye, making the eyes cloudy. The mass forms slowly and the eye problem can take years before it’s detected. In some cases, the mass stays small and doesn’t result in any eye problems.
Very few symptoms can be detected and they include not being able to see well since light cannot get through to the retina. Cataracts may appear in one or both eyes, though in most cases, they normally appear in both at different times.
They are common in elderly people and can cause blindness if they are not properly treated. Treatment involves a surgery to remove cataracts.
3. Xerophthalmia
Xerophthalmia is a medical eye condition also referred to as dry eye syndrome or conjunctivitis where the eye cannot produce tears. The eye film’s size is reduced. Tears go a long way in the cleaning of the eyes and keeping it lubricated for proper functioning and vision. Some of the most causes of Xerophthalmia include chemical burns, aging, radiotherapy, lack of vitamin A and poor closure of the eyelids.
Common symptoms include night blindness, redness of the eye, corneal xerosis, blurred vision among other symptoms. The treatment of the condition involves the inclusion of foods rich in vitamin A in the diet such as green leafy vegetables, carrots, dried apricots, peas, tomatoes, and spinach. The use of vitamin A supplements, eye drops with artificial tears, air humidifiers which prevents eye dryness, retinol injections, also provide additional treatment.
4. Glaucoma
Glaucoma causes the elevation of pressure levels, which can get too high and damage the optic nerve. The open angle glaucoma is the most common, though it does not show any relevant symptoms or cause any pain. Due to this, only regular eye examinations will show if the patient has glaucoma.
Causes include injuries to the eye, eye inflammation and blocked blood vessels. Eye drops or surgery fall under the list of recommended treatments.
5. Floaters
Floaters are small tiny black spots or specks that occur from the breaking of the vitreous. The vitreous gel-like consistency impairs one’s vision. They float across the eyes mostly when in bright rooms, areas with light or during a bright day. Although the condition is normal and not harmful, they can turn into a serious condition like retinal detachment. A specialist should be contacted for examination.
Regular eye check-ups are necessary for keeping track of your eyes. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience anything unusual.
I do have dry eye syndrome and floaters. I have medication for the dry eyes. I do see a retinol specialist each year. This is all good important information.