The eyes are the complex organs in which many parts has to work together in order to produce a clear vision. The rods and cons cells help in color differentiation and perception of light. This unique organ is prone to a number of diseases as age goes. This article will help you understand a lot more about the human eye, various eye diseases, its symptoms & treatment.

Many eye diseases have no early symptoms. They may be painless and will not hinder your vision until the diseases have reached the advanced stage. The best way to protect your vision is by having eye examinations by professionals at regular intervals.

Most people will have an eye disease more than once during the lifetime. Some of it will be minor and will fade away on its own whereas some turn out to be a serious eye disorder.

Anytime you feel your vision isn’t the same as it used to be, then immediately have a consultation with your eye specialist.  The following are some of the common eye problems and see if the symptoms get worse with time.

• Eyestrain: Anyone who reads a lot, works on a computer for hours together or drives long distances are more vulnerable to eyestrains. Just like other parts of the body, the eyes also need proper rest. When you fail in this, it causes eye strains. The best way to overcome this is to take a break from your routine work and gives your eyes the rest they need. Still, if they seem to be weary, then have an eye check-up.
• Does your eye look bloodshot? The surface of the eyes has a lot of blood vessels which gets expanded when they are infected or irritated. This gives the eyes the red look. A late night study, lack of sleep or allergies can also cause red eyes. Sometimes red eyes may be a symptom of other diseases like conjunctivitis or sun damage. If eye drops and rest don’t clear it up, consult your doctor.
• Night Blindness: do you find it hard to see at night? Especially while driving or at theaters? If yes, then it sounds like night blindness. It is not a disease on its own but a symptom of any other underlying problems usually nearsightedness, cataracts, or a lack of vitamin A. This is often treatable but some people are born with this disorder or it might develop a degenerative disease involving retina. In these cases, it is usually not treatable. So you will have to be extra-conscious at areas of low lights.
• Lazy eyes: lazy eyes or amblyopia is a condition in which one eye doesn’t develop properly. Vision is weaker in that eye and tends to move slowly which the other eye stands still in place. It is usually encountered in infants, children, and adults. It rarely affects both the eyes. If it is detected at an early stage then it can treat using corrective glasses or contact lenses.
• Strabismus or nystagmus: if your eyes aren’t lined up with each other when you look at something then you are probably suffering from a condition called cross eyes or strabismus. It won’t go on its own until you treat it with your ophthalmologist. In the case of nystagmus, you have no control over your eyes. It moves on its own all the time. Treatments like vision therapy or even surgeries can make your eyes stronger.
• Color blindness: when the cone cells in your eyes are absent or don’t work properly then you may be colorblind. It is a condition where your eyes will not be able to distinguish between colors especially red and green. If it gets more severe then you can see only in shades of gray. Men are more likely to get affected with this than women. There is no treatment if you are born with this, but some glasses or contact lenses can help you differentiate between the colors.
• Uveitis: uvea is the middle layer of the eye that contains most of the blood vessels. Uveitis is the name for the group of diseases which cause inflammation of the uvea. It can destroy the eye tissues and cause loss of vision. People of all age groups can be a victim of this condition. Some of the symptoms include:
• Blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Eye redness
• Light sensitivity

The treatment for this depends on the type of uveitis you are suffering.

• Presbyopia: it is a condition where you lose the ability to view objects that are at a shorter distance and small prints. This condition arises above the age of 40 or so. Reading glasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgery can help restore good reading vision.
• Floaters: these are tiny spots or specks that float across your field of vision. They are normal, but sometimes they may be an underlying reason for some other serious eye problems like retinal detachments. If you see a sudden change in the number of spots or flashes or a new dark curtain in the field of peripheral vision, it is better to consult your doctor as soon as possible.
• Dry eyes: this happens when your eyes can’t make enough good quality tears. You might have a burning sensation in your eyes or feel like something is there in your eyes. Extreme dryness can lead to loss of vision.
• Excess tearing: this has nothing to do with your feeling. You might be more sensitive to light, wind or temperature changes. Protect your eyes with windshields or wearing sunglasses. Tearing may also be a symptom of other serious problems such as eye infection or blocked tear duct.
• Retinal disorders: The retina is the thin lining at the back of the eyes which collects the images and sends it to the brain. Any block in the retina will affect this transfer. There are different types:
• Macular degeneration: breakdown of small portions of the retina
• Diabetic retinopathy: damage to blood vessels in the retina due to diabetes
• Retinal detachment: retina detaches from the layer underneath
• Conjunctivitis ( pinkeye): the tissue that covers the back of your eyelids and sclera gets inflamed. It causes redness, itching, burning, tearing or discharge. People of all ages are prone to this condition. Other causes may be infection or exposure to any chemicals.
• Corneal disease: the cornea helps the eye to focus the light that comes into the eye. The cornea may be damaged due to any diseases, infection, injury or exposure to any toxins. Some of the symptoms include:
• Redness in the eye
• Watery eyes
• Pain
• Reduced vision

This condition can be treated using new eyeglasses, contact lens, prescribed eye drops or even a surgery.

• Eyelid problems: your eyelids perform a lot of functions. They protect your eyes from dust, spread the tears evenly over the surface, and limit the amount of light that can get in. some common symptoms of eyelid problems include pain, itching, sensitivity to light and tearing. Proper cleaning, medication, and surgery are few treatment procedures.
• Problems with contact lenses: for many people, it works really well, provided you take care of it. Follow certain guidelines to use it effectively:
• Wash your hands before you touch it
• Never wet them by putting them in your mouth.
• Make sure your lenses fit properly and don’t scratch your eyes.
• Do remove it before you go to sleep as it can cause infection.

If you still have allergy or itching contact your doctor immediately

These are some common eye infections which may lead to more serious eye disorders.

The following are some of the serious eye problems which if not treated may cause loss of vision.

CATARACT:

A cataract refers to the clouding of the eye’s natural lens which lies behind the iris and the pupil. It is the principle cause of blindness in the world and is most common in people of age 40 years and above.

There are 3 types of cataract:

• SUBCAPSULAR CATARACT: This type of cataract occurs at the back of the eye. It is most common in people with diabetes or those taking high doses of steroid medication.
• NUCLEAR CATARACT: This type of cataract occurs in the deep central zone of the lens. It occurs due to aging.
• CORTICAL CATARACT: This type of cataract begins in the periphery of the lens and slowly spreads towards the center of the lens. It affects the cortex of the lens, which is the part of the lens that surrounds the central zone.

Glaucoma:

Glaucoma is a condition that affects your eye’s optic nerve and gets worse over time. It is due to the buildup of pressure inside the eye. The optic nerve transmits images to the brain. Any increase in pressure, called the intraocular pressure, will adversely affect the eye’s optic nerve. If this damage continues it can permanently cause loss of vision.

What causes glaucoma?

Glaucoma is caused as a result of high fluid pressure inside the eye. This happens when the fluid in the eye’s front surface doesn’t circulate the way it should. This fluid called aqueous humor usually flows through the eye through a mesh-like channel. When this channel is blocked the fluid gets builds up increasing the pressure within the eye, causing glaucoma.

Types of glaucoma:

• Open-angular glaucoma
• Angle-closure glaucoma

Who gets glaucoma?

You’re more likely to get it if you:

• Are of African-American, Irish, Russian, Japanese, Hispanic, Inuit, or Scandinavian descent
• Above 40 years of age
• Have a family history of glaucoma
• Have poor vision
• Have diabetes
• Take certain steroid medication
• Have had trauma to the eye or eyes

It may also be caused by

• An Injury to the eye
• Blocked blood vessels
• Inflammatory disorder of the eye

Top 10 eye hospitals in India:

• P. center for ophthalmic sciences- AIIMS, New Delhi
• Shroff eye hospital, new Delhi
• V. Prasad eye hospital, Hyderabad
• Sankar Netralaya, Chennai
• Aravind eye hospital, Madurai
• Vasan eye care, Chennai
• National institute of ophthalmology(NIO), Pune
• Disha eye hospital, Kolkata
• Lotus eye hospital, Coimbatore
• Agarwal eye hospital, Chennai

To know more about these eye care hospitals and to have appointments with the best surgeons log onto www.freedoctorhelpline.com or call us at+ 918010555444. We will help you find the right option.