Temporary Eye Condtions

Sometimes even the best prevention efforts can't stop a problem from cropping up. The following are some of the most common eye problems, how to recognize them, how to deal with them, and how to keep them from coming back.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an inflammation of the edges of the eyelids, causing redness and thickening. Scales and crusts or shallow ulcers (eroded areas) may also appear. The disease is common, especially in children, and often affects the upper and lower eyelids of both eyes. There are two types: ulcerous and nonulcerous. Infection of eyelash follicles and oil glands cause ulcerous blepharitis. The nonulcerous variety, which is more common, can be caused by an allergy or seborrheic dermatitis, which is an inflammatory scaling of the scalp, eyebrows, or ears. Lice can also sometimes cause the nonulcerous type.

An allergy to eye makeup may cause blepharitis.

An allergy to eye makeup
may cause blepharitis.

Symptoms of blepharitis include:
  • itching, burning, red-rimmed eyes

  • swelling of the lids

  • loss of eyelashes

  • irritation of the underside of the lid (as if dirt or sand were underneath)
The eyes may tear and be sensitive to light. In ulcerous blepharitis, the tough, dry crusts that form leave a bleeding surface when removed. In nonulcerous blepharitis, greasy, easily removed scales appear on the edges of the lids.

Meticulous cleanliness may help prevent this disease. Prompt treatment is also critical. If blepharitis is due to an infection, treatment may be an antibiotic. If an allergy (to eye makeup, for example) is the root cause, use of the problem substance should be stopped. If there's scaling on the eyebrows and scalp, the doctor may recommend a special shampoo or cream to rub in. Lice-caused blepharitis must also be treated by a doctor.

One step you can take in conjunction with the other treatments mentioned is to clean the area with a solution made from a no-tears baby shampoo. Dissolve a small amount of the shampoo in water and use it to wipe the lids with a cotton swab.

All types of blepharitis can be difficult to get rid of, and the condition often recurs. Fortunately, the nonulcerous variety causes no permanent damage, but the ulcerous type, if it recurs often enough, can cause scarring of the eyelids, loss of eyelashes, and even corneal ulcers.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also called pinkeye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a delicate membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the exposed surface of the eye. Children are more commonly affected than adults.

Bacteria and viruses are the usual causes of conjunctivitis. Allergies, chemicals, dust, smoke, exposure to chlorine in swimming pools, and foreign objects that irritate the conjunctiva may also lead to this condition. Occasionally, a sexually transmitted disease can cause pinkeye.

Babies and Pinkeye
Newborn babies are usually given antibiotic eye drops soon after birth to prevent development of conjunctivitis that could badly damage the eyes. Conjunctivitis is usually not a serious disease and may or may not require medical care. There is one important exception: Any time conjunctivitis appears in a newborn infant, treatment should be sought immediately. The baby's vision could be at risk.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis include:
  • edness of the eye

  • a grating sensation

  • burning

  • itching

  • light sensitivity
Sometimes the eyes get watery or have a pus discharge. Symptoms can last a few days or as long as a couple weeks. Usually conjunctivitis produces no permanent damage, but if it's left untreated, the infection could cause more serious eye problems, such as corneal ulcers, which can impair vision.

Treatment depends on the root cause of the problem. If it's environmental, for example, removing the irritant may be sufficient. For cases caused by bacterial infection, a doctor may prescribe medication. If it's viral conjunctivitis, which can be accompanied by a sore throat or runny nose, it usually clears up on its own within two weeks.

While coping with conjunctivitis, it helps to shield sensitive eyes from bright lights and smoke. Discharge might glue the eyelids shut, which can be loosened by bathing them with warm water. To soothe the inflamed eye, apply a cool compress.

Some infectious forms of conjunctivitis are highly contagious. So individuals with it shouldn't share towels and handkerchiefs with others. And if you have it in one eye, take care not to spread it to the other. If you touch the infected eye, wash your hands with soap and water. In fact, because touching the eyes is often an unconscious move, you should probably wash your hands frequently during the course of the condition whether you think you've touched your eye or not. It is particularly important for patients who work with children or with the sick to stay away from work until the condition clears up.

Detached Retina

Normally, the retina is firmly attached to the choroid, an underlying layer of tissue that is rich in blood vessels. If sufficient blood or other fluid collects between the retina and the choroid, the retina can become partially or totally detached.

Initial symptoms of a detached retina include seeing floating dark spots or streaks of light and experiencing blurring of vision. This can occur suddenly or gradually. As the condition progresses, a curtain or veil seems to fall over part or all of the field of vision. To safeguard your sight, you should seek medical attention immediately if these symptoms develop.

Cataract surgery, severe nearsightedness, and injury can cause retinal detachment. Conditions that heighten susceptibility to this condition are inflammation or tumors of the eye, high blood pressure, and hemorrhaging (bleeding) inside the eye.

Treatment procedures include, among others, laser fusion and surgery. Left untreated, detachment may worsen and eventually lead to blindness.

Dry Eyes

When your eyes don't tear properly, they can sting, burn, and itch. These are the symptoms of dry eyes, a condition most common in women after menopause. Antianxiety and sleeping medications, antihistamines, decongestants, and some arthritis and high blood pressure medications also can cause or worsen dry eyes. Sometimes an allergic reaction to eyedrops or an infection that blocks the tear ducts can result in dry eyes, or the condition may, in rare cases, be the result of Sjögren syndrome -- a chronic connective tissue disorder. Dry eyes often accompany blepharitis.

Eyedrop Basics
Eyedrops that decrease redness are not meant to be used for eyestrain. Overusing eyedrops won't do much for redness, either, as the drops remove the redness by constricting the blood vessels in the eyes. Repeated use leads to a rebound effect and makes the eyes redder in the long run.

On the other hand, if you know you're suffering from dry eyes, a drop or two of an over-the-counter eye lubricant, commonly referred to as artificial tears, may give you relief.

See your doctor for a diagnosis. Artificial tear preparations can help relieve the symptoms. Avoid over-the-counter eyedrops that contain vasoconstrictors; these may cause further drying. Other steps to take:
  • Avoid tobacco and other air irritants.

  • Don't aim hair dryers toward your eyes.

  • Wear glasses to protect your eyes from wind.

  • Wear goggles while swimming.

  • Keep the relative humidity of your home and office between 30 and 50 percent.
Eye Redness

Red eyes can signify a variety of troubles, from lack of sleep or a minor medical condition to a major vision-threatening illness. If sleep deprivation isn't the problem, your red eyes might indicate:
  • a small problem that will heal itself, such as a rupture of the tiny blood vessels of the conjunctiva possibly caused by hard coughing or sneezing

  • an allergic reaction

  • a bacterial or viral infection of the conjunctiva

  • the onset of a sty

  • iritis, an inflammation of the uvea, the layer of the eye that includes the iris (Iritis may require drug treatment.)

  • a trauma, such as a foreign object in the eye, which may require first aid and possible professional medical attention
To get rid of redness, you can use decongestant eyedrops available over the counter. But don't overdo them. Also, before using drops, check with your doctor to be sure your eye redness isn't a symptom of something serious.

Also, any time you have red eyes along with pain, significant eye discharge, blurred vision, or severe sensitivity to light, see your doctor. These symptoms could indicate an inflammation on the inside of the eye, an ulcer of the eye, or even glaucoma.

You should never rub irritated eyes. If a foreign object is in your eye, you could cause serious damage.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of central-vision loss among people over age 60.

Macular degeneration is the leading
cause of central-vision loss among
people over age 60.

In this condition, deterioration occurs in the macula, the small central part of the retina. This deterioration leads to blurring of central vision, while peripheral vision remains intact. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of central-vision loss among people over age 60. It usually doesn't lead to total blindness, but it severely restricts activities relying on central vision, such as reading and driving. Risk factors for macular degeneration include smoking, age, family history of macular degeneration, and being a white woman.

There are two types of macular degeneration: dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration is the most severe type and causes the most visual loss, but it accounts for only 10 percent of all cases of macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration is more common, accounting for 90 percent of all cases, and tends to progress more slowly. In all cases, visual loss is progressive, but the rate varies with the type and stage of the condition. There are many new treatment options that can slow its progression, although they cannot cure the disease. If you're diagnosed with an early stage of the disease, talk to your doctor about taking high doses of vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral zinc. These have been shown to help slow progression of the disease. Smokers, however, should not take formulations that contain beta-carotene, as this increases the risk of lung cancer. More advanced stages of macular degeneration can be treated with various types of laser therapy or with injections of a drug directly into the eye(s) that interferes with the mechanism that causes the condition.

Night Blindness

A person with night blindness can see fine in good light but not in dim or fading light. Causes of night blindness include either a severe vitamin A deficiency, or an inherited degenerative disorder of the retina called retinitis pigmentosa. In the case of severe vitamin A deficiency, treatment would be administration of the vitamin. A physician's care is crucial, however, to be sure that night blindness is, indeed, the problem and that the doses of the vitamin are safe.

Retinitis

Inflammation of the retina, or retinitis, can have many causes, ranging from hereditary conditions to infections. Various forms have many of the same symptoms:
  • night blindness

  • inflammation of the retina

  • tunnel vision

  • loss of sense of body movement
Treatments vary as much as the causes. Anyone with any of these symptoms should always consult an eye-care professional.

Sty

Although it's only about the size of a pimple, a sty can be extremely annoying and painful. This inflamed or infected swelling can be the result of an infected follicle (the canals from which hairs sprout), or it may be from a blocked gland in the eyelid. Sties are sometimes, but not always, related to blepharitis.

At first, a sty feels like a foreign object in the eye. Tearing, redness, swelling, and tenderness soon follow. The eye may be sensitive to light and touch, and pus may form inside the pimplelike bump, which may burst.

A sty will go away on its own, although you might have to live with it for a week or so. Applying warm, moist compresses several times a day may encourage the sty to burst and then begin to heal. DO NOT, however, squeeze a sty. You risk making it much worse. If the sty doesn't improve, see your doctor. An antibiotic ointment or, rarely, surgical removal may be in order.

Our eyes are extremely intricate yet delicate apparatuses. Since they are such a vital part of the way we interact with the world, don't they deserve the best care possible?



This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.