The eyes have been referred to as the “windows of the soul” from times immemorial for several good reasons. Signs of any serious medical disorder such as hypertension, diabetes, and others can be first noticed in the eyes long before the symptoms start appearing. A thorough eye examination, therefore, can reveal volumes of valuable information regarding the health of not only your eyes, but also the rest of your body. The importance of eye health cannot be stressed enough, and in order to preserve the health of one’s eyes, a person must go the extra mile. Regular eye health check ups and basic eye care go a long way in helping one preserve one’s vision, detect eye disorders and treat them early, and take care of one’s general health.
Here is almost everything you need to know regarding eye health :
Your Eyes and Vision
If you have ever wondered how the human eye can see, it is quite simple. When you look at an object, light that is reflected from that object falls on the retina of your eye, which sends a message to your brain through the optic nerve, after which your brain deciphers the message. The net result is sight. Acuity and sharpness of vision is usually measured by making the subject stand 20ft away from the object. If the test results show that your vision is 20/20, it simply means that your vision is normal. Read more on Your Eyes and Vision
Vision Problems
Not all of us are lucky enough to enjoy 20/20 vision. Many of us suffer from vision disorders such as hyperopia and myopia. Hyperopia or farsightedness is the inability to see things that are closer while myopia or nearsightedness is the inability to see things that are at a distance. Moreover, when people age, they may develop vision problems such as presbyopia and cataracts. Presbyopia generally affects people in their middle age, who suddenly realize that they have to hold books at a distance in order to see the words clearly. Optometrists usually prescribe reading glasses to correct this condition. A cataract is a much more serious vision disorder, in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, making it difficult for the patient to see. Read more on Vision Problems
Eye Diseases
Regular eye checkups are also a must for early detection and treatment of common eye diseases such as conjunctivitis, dry eye, blepharitis, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disorders, and many more. Redness in the eye, which lasts for a long time and is usually accompanied by watery discharge and irritation, must never be taken lightly as these are the symptoms of a common eye disorder called conjunctivitis or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane covering the eye surface.
As people age, they may also develop the problem of dry eye, which is the result of reduced production of tears or changes in the composition of tears. Senior citizens must also beware of macular generation because it can cause permanent loss of vision if neglected. During a comprehensive eye checkup, ophthalmologists usually examine the eyes for macular degeneration. If you are a diabetic, you must take extra care of your eyes as you are at a greater risk for diabetic retinopathy, in which the retinal blood vessels become weak or swell. If you neglect this condition, you can easily lose your vision for the rest of your life. Read more on Eye Diseases
Contact Lenses
If you have vision disorders, your optometrist or eye care specialist will prescribe glasses for you, but you can opt to wear contact lenses if you wish. Thanks to the latest development in medical technology, the market is literally flooded with different types of contact lenses that are easy to handle, easy to get adjusted to, and easy to wear. You can choose between hard contact lenses and soft contact lenses; both have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you are a sportsperson, you might want to wear soft contact lenses because, unlike hard contact lenses, they will not fall out your eyes. Before making the decision of wearing contact lenses, however, you must discuss the issue thoroughly with your eye care specialist.
At Optometrist, we not only conduct comprehensive eye checkups and explain the results to you, but also help you choose the best eyewear. Read more on Contact Lenses