Eye Conditions

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• QWhat are floaters?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Curious about this common but pesky phenomenon? Here are some facts about floaters:

  • Floaters are caused by a slowly shrinking vitreous (a gel-like substance that helps maintain the eye's round shape).
  • Although they're annoying, floaters shouldn't interfere with vision.
  • Floaters may be more obvious when a person is looking at something bright, like a blue sky or a white wall or sheet of paper.
  • Floaters are more likely to occur if eyes have been injured or inflamed, or if a person is nearsighted, has diabetes or has had surgery for cataracts.
  • Some floaters will go away on their own in a few weeks or months. But once a person has them, it's pretty likely they'll return in some shape or form at some point.
  • A medical exam can examine floaters more closely and determine whether or not they're dangerous and a sign of something more serious, like a retinal tear or detachment. (Many times, the first sign of a tear or detachment is a sudden increase in the size and number of floaters, or the sudden appearance of light flashes or peripheral loss of vision.)
  • If floaters become too numerous and dense and seriously interfere with vision, they can be surgically removed (this is known as a vitrectomy, a procedure that removes floaters from the vitreous and replaces the fluid with a salt solution). There are some clinics that also treat floaters with a laser, but this treatment is more common in the United Kingdom, and its safety and effectiveness are not certain.

  If the occasional cobweb, flying insect or squiggly line becomes bothersome, keep an eye on their frequency and intensity and get it checked out if there's a sudden or drastic change. Many times, moving the eyes can shift the fluid around and make the floaters settle for a while. Other times, the brain grows accustomed to the intrusion, and learns to ignore it.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

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• QHow is a vitreous hemorrhage in the eye treated?

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  A Dr. Abdhish R. Bhavsar, MD , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart

  Vitreous hemorrhage can occur from many different causes. The treatment depends on the cause. Sometimes we can inject medicines into the eye to help decrease the vitreous hemorrhage, such as Vitrase or Avastin, but it would again depend on the cause of the hemorrhage. The last and in many cases best option for treating vitreous hemorrhage is with vitrectomy surgery in the operating room. 

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• QWhat is hyperopia (farsightedness)?

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  A Dr. Laura C. Fine, MD , Ophthalmology, answered

  People with hyperopia (farsightedness) see objects better at a distance than up close. In this case, the eyeball is usually too short, and light rays reach the retina before they are focused. Hyperopia can also be caused by weaknesses in the refractive power of the lens and cornea (the curved, transparent dome of tissue at the front of the eye). While farsightedness may go unnoticed for years, the eye's corrective ability diminishes with age, and a person will probably need glasses by midlife.

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• QWhat are refractive errors of the eye?

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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  The eye’s ability to refract or focus light sharply on the retina may be affected by a variety of conditions. When the eyeball is too long, visual images are focused in front of the retina, and myopia, or nearsightedness, results. When the eye is too short, images are focused beyond the retina. This causes hyperopia, or farsightedness. If the cornea is not perfectly round, then the image is refracted or focused irregularly, resulting in a condition called astigmatism. Similarly, an irregularly-shaped natural lens or problems with the way it functions also can cause focusing problems.

  These various focusing problems can cause light rays to bend or refract at odd angles, leading to blurry or distorted vision. This inability to achieve sharp focus is called refractive error.

  Although refractive errors are called eye disorders, they are not diseases.

  There are a number of methods used to correct refractive errors, including eyeglasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery.

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• QWhat increases my risk for presbyopia?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  Your age is the most significant determinant of whether you will have presbyopia. It occurs almost universally to people between the ages of 40 and 60. However, certain drugs and diseases can increase the risk of getting presbyopia earlier.

• QHow can I decrease the severity of presbyopia?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  You can maintain pretty good vision into old age by taking steps to protect your eyes. Perhaps the most important thing you can do is get eye checkups regularly. It is also a good idea to guard your eyes with goggles and UV-protected glasses. It is true that having enough light when you read is important for maintaining good vision.

• QWhat is the treatment for floaters?

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  A Dr. Marian S. Macsai, MD , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem

  

  In general, the complications associated with the treatment for floaters are greater than a patient is willing to take. Learn more from Dr. Marian Macsai on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem about the treatment for floaters.
• QI have an astigmatism. Will LASIK help me?

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  A Dr. Marian S. Macsai, MD , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem

  

  With modern laser technology, LASIK surgery is an excellent option to treat an astigmatism. Learn more from Dr. Marian Macsai on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem about LASIK surgery and an astigmatism.
• QHow serious are cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration?

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  A Healthy Humans answered

  A prior article discussed two eye problems to consider: conjunctivitis and dry eyes. This article focuses on three others that should be considered: cataracts, glaucoma, and maculardegeneration.
  Cataracts: Opacification of the normally clear lens of the eye. Since the lens of the eye has no blood vessels or nerves it accumulates sun damage that cannot readily be cleared. Carnosine eye drops have been effective in the lab studies with dogs in stopping early cataracts; some human cataracts have even been reversed. Consider a low saturated fat diet, UV blocking sunglasses, drinking lots of water, 1,000 mg of vitamin C and a glutathione booster (eg. MSM, SAMe, alpha?lipoic, cysteine).
  Glaucoma is a wasting of the optic nerve, which can be due to high eye pressure, injury, low blood flow to the optic nerve and perhaps certain chemicals that may contain glutamine. Eye doctors have many tests and many therapies for glaucoma such as eye drops, surgery or oral medications. An herbal formula called Ifolia may be effective in improving the optic nerve. The ultimate goal in glaucoma management is to preserve the optic nerve. People with a family history or 45+ in age are encouraged to get an eye check up every two years.
  Macular degeneration is the loss of retina receptors in the center of the retina, called the macula. The dry form is most common and is managed through nutritional counseling and vitamin supplementation. The macula is the most active part of your body and is constantly barraged by light. Some important recommendations are sunglasses, 5+ hours of sleep and good diet and supplementation.

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• QWhat are the common eye diseases?

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  A Dr. Robert Abel Jr , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of Healthy Humans

  Eye diseases common among adults range from temporary to chronic & sight‐threatening conditions. One of the most familiar eye diseases is pink eye, or conjunctivitis. Usually diagnosed in school‐age children because of its high level of contagion, pink eye is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, or the clear mucus membrane that covers the white part of the eye. Caused by virus, bacteria, or allergies, this condition should be treated by a physician even though it normally does not lead to serious complications.
  As we age, more serious conditions can develop. Cataracts are one such problem; in fact, over half of adults 65 or older have some level of cataract development. Cataracts refer to a clouding over the lens of the eye caused by the clumping of proteins in the lens. Although there might be other factors that influence cataract development, diabetes can lead to a relatively early onset of the problem.
  Other conditions are more difficult to identify and treat. Another common eye disease is glaucoma, or a set of conditions that result from damage to the optic nerve. Elevated pressure in the eye leads to damage to this nerve, and can result in unclear sight and a reduced field of vision.
  Whether the result of an injury, surgery, or another eye condition, a third common eye problem is the detached retina. Although this condition is relatively rare, it is serious and can lead to loss of vision. The retina refers to the lining at the back of the eye; if this lining becomes torn, liquid can seep below it resulting in detachment.
  Finally, the macula, or the center of the retina that provides detailed vision in one's direct line of sight, can deteriorate with age. Macular degeneration can result in a loss of central vision.
  Integrative Health Solution: Wearing UV blocking sunglasses, taking a good multivitamin daily with a meal and having regular eye exams.