Now You Can Spot the Symptoms of Common Eye Problems
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Posted On :
Aug-12-2010
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Article Word Count :
827
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Nearly everyone suffers from common eye problems at least once in their lives. Some of the top culprits that cause eye issues include pink eye, floaters, nearsightedness, farsightedness and dry eye. The list goes on.
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Nearly everyone suffers from common eye problems at least once in their lives. Some of the top culprits that cause eye issues include pink eye, floaters, nearsightedness, farsightedness and dry eye. The list goes on. Fortunately, most of these problems are temporary, and–aside from discomfort and inconvenience–don’t cause any long-term problems. Would you know a common eye problem right away? With a little know-how, now you can spot the symptoms of common eye problems.
Lazy Eye
Most people don’t know this problem by its technical name: ambolyopia. Its commonly known name is lazy eye. This problem is due to the lack of central vision in one eye. Symptoms of lazy eye can be vague, but might include a noticeable tendency to favor one eye, difficulty seeing out of one eye, or bumping into things on one side. The problem results when both eyes aren’t used together.
If children under age five lack visual stimulation, lazy eye can develop. It does not go away on its own and requires professional treatment. It’s crucial to diagnose and treat lazy eye when the child is still very young. After the eye is fully developed (around age six), vision correction is unlikely to occur. Unfortunately, there are no lenses to correct lazy eye.
Dry Eye
Dry eye is a very common problem. Severely dry eyes are incredibly uncomfortable, and can cause vision problems and mobility hazards. For mild to moderate dry eyes, lubrication is key. Drops known as artificial tears usually do the job. For severe cases, however, further treatment is necessary.
It’s especially important not to self-diagnose or treat severe dry eye with over-the-counter drops, as these are actually known to become addictive, and the body can build up a tolerance to these artificial tears. Eventually, they’re completely ineffective. If you suffer from dry eye on more than an occasional basis, see a doctor.
Sometimes, dry eye can be symptomatic of a serious problem, such as lupus. Don’t take matters into your own hands. Get a professional opinion. Sometimes, severely dry eyes will require a safe, outpatient surgical procedure. Only your doctor knows what’s right for your dry eyes. If you’re suffering, make an appointment today.
Stye
Ah, styes…ouch. Styes are bacterial infections, and they can hurt like crazy. A stye looks like a small bump on the eyelid. They frequently go away on their own, and are generally considered harmless. Sometimes, however, they can become infected. An infected stye is accompanied by redness, swelling and sensitivity to light. When this happens, it’s time to see the doctor. Often, topical antibiotics are prescribed. Worst-case scenarios may involve surgery.
If a stye becomes severely infected, your doctor may have to surgically drain it. While this isn’t very common, it usually occurs when those with early styes fail to address the problem and treat the stye by keeping it clean and free of debris and makeup. Give your stye some T.L.C., and it will likely go away on its own.
Floaters
Many of us have experienced floaters—those strange, small bits of light or color that seem to “float” across the eye. They’re pesky, but usually not serious. Did you know that those floaters are tiny cell clusters that help with eye lubrication? As we age, our eye lubrication lessens, and floaters increase. More often than not, they vanish on their own. If they linger or increase, then it’s time to get checked. Sometimes, severe floaters can indicate a detached retina, which is a very serious problem.
Color Blindness
Are you able to distinguish the difference between green and red? How about yellow and blue? If not, there’s a chance that you’re color blind. An inherited disorder, color blindness affects far more men than women. Most people who are color blind can determine most colors, but struggle with only a few, especially those previously listed. Color blindness is annoying, but usually not serious. There are cases, however, when color blindness is the symptom of a greater problem such as Parkinson’s Disease. It’s always a good idea to get checked by a medical professional if you think you’re color blind. Better to be safe than sorry.
Nearsightedness and Farsightedness
Nearsightedness and farsightedness are vision problems that can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or laser eye surgery. Nearsightedness, or myopia, makes it difficult to see far away objects. Farsightedness is the opposite. Either can occur at birth, or can develop over time. See your eye care professional for proper treatment of these common problems.
Eye problems like these are no reason for alarm, but some do require medical attention. If you’re experiencing any of these problems, and they’re causing discomfort, pain or concern, see your doctor. Chances are, there’s a simple solution to help.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Now You Can Spot the Symptoms of Common Eye Problems _28921.aspx
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Author Resource :
Paula Masi is a freelance writer who writes about health, eye care and specific products such as Acuvue Oasys.
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Keywords :
Acuvue Oasys,
Category :
Health and Fitness
:
Beauty
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