Contact lenses are generally less permanent than surgery, and so do not have the problems associated with permanent damage. Contacts are also less expensive. Some people also may want to use contact lenses rather than use glasses, which can be more easily lost and will change their appearance. Contact lenses also make it easier than glasses to do certain things, such as wear a mask or use 3-D glasses at the movie theater.
Eye Conditions
Eye diseases, which are common among adults and range from temporary to chronic and sight‐threatening, can be a result of genetics, injury, surgery or aging. You can lower your risk with a proper diet, wearing sun-protective lenses when outdoors and by seeing your doctor for regular exams.
Recently Answered
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1 AnswerA
Causes of tear duct blockage include the following:
- aging (most common cause)
- infection (pink eye)
- radiation
- previous surgery near the tear duct and scarring
- cancer on the tear duct
- Taxotere and other chemotherapy agents
- radioactive iodine treatment
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1 AnswerA
The symptoms of a blocked tear duct include:
- tearing over the cheek
- wet eyes
- tearing on a windy day
Sometimes the tear duct can house an infection and as a result there can be symptoms of a long-term tear duct infection. These include:
- waking up with discharge in the eyelid
- painful corner of the eye near the tear duct
- sticky discharge of the eye
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1 AnswerA
Tear duct infections are diagnosed with the following tests:
- Dye disappearance test: An orange dye is put in the eye surface to see if it drains away from the surface of the eye. After a few minutes the eye surface should be white. If the tears and dye don’t flow through the tear duct normally, the orange dye remains
- Irrigation of the tear duct: A small syringe and tube is used to put water into the tear duct system to see if the water flows into the nose. If the water flows into the nose, the system is most likely open. If not, there is a blockage. Sometimes pus comes out the tear duct when this is done, showing that there is an infection.
- Dacryoscintillogram: This is an x-ray taken to see if an imaging agent placed in the eye goes into the tear duct. In some people, the tear duct has a blockage where irrigation allows water to go through but the natural flow of tears can’t go down the tear duct system.
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2 AnswersA
Dr. Aaron P. Weingeist, MD , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmartSee All 2 AnswersFloaters are small pieces of vitreous gel or cells shaped like dots, circles, lines, clouds, or cobwebs that tend to be more common in adults once they reach middle age. Although it may look like these particles are in front of your eye, they are actually floating in the vitreous fluid—a clear fluid that fills the inside of your eye. Many floaters are harmless, and surgery to treat them is almost never required. They may diminish over time without treatment.
However, in some cases, the sudden appearance of floaters or flashes of light may be a sign that there is a tear in the retina. This can be a serious problem because, if left untreated, the retina may detach from the back of the eye. If you experience either of these symptoms, you should see your eye doctor as soon as possible.
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1 AnswerA
Eyelid margin disease is a common and persistent inflammation of the eyelids. This condition frequently occurs in people who have a tendency toward oily skin, dandruff or dry eyes.
With blepharitis, both the upper and lower eyelids become coated with oily particles and bacteria near the base of the eyelashes.
Symptoms include:
- Eye and eyelid irritation
- Itchiness of the eye
- Redness of the eye
- Burning sensation
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3 AnswersA
See All 3 AnswersIt’s a fact of life: Over time we begin to sag. One place this is most apparent is in the upper eyelids, which tend to thin with age and lose elasticity.
As a result, the eyelids look droopy, even sleepy, which can accentuate the appearance of aging. Some people ask about Botox, but that does not help drooping eyelids.
Various kinds of eyelid lifts are available, however. Surgery removes excess skin, and sometimes excess muscle and fat, from the upper eyelids. While this is often a cosmetic procedure, if the eyelids are sagging too much and blocking vision, insurance may cover the costs of surgery.
It’s important to carefully consider which approach to choose. Remember, all medical procedures come with some risk. Your plastic surgeon can help you sort through the options.
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6 AnswersA
HealthyWomen answeredSee All 6 AnswersCurious 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.