Eye diseases
There are other problems which the eye has to face. They are less common and are treated as a disease of the eye. They include glaucoma that requires follow-up, and cataract that may require surgery.
Cataract
Consequences / symptoms – Cataracts can cause the following symptoms:
- gradual reduction of eye sight(in particular by far)
- blurred vision
- perception of halos obstructing the view
- increased sensitivity to the sun
- feeling dazzled
What are the solutions?
Prevention, regular follow-up with your optometrist … Here are some keys to preserve your sight, over time. The cataract is fortunately a pathology that can easily be sorted out through surgery. Your optometrist will advise if surgery is needed and on the optical device, to be adopted after the surgery.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease of the eye that can lead to blindness. It is important to consult your optometrist quickly in case of doubt!
Consequences / symptoms – Cataracts can cause the following symptoms:
- Peripheral and central vision loss
- rapid deterioration of vision and perception of colored halos
- half-dilated pupil with red eyes
What are the treatments? Medical treatment exists; Laser or surgery. If the symptoms are major, your optometrist can advise you on visual aids which will help you feel more comfortable.
Dyschromatopsia and Daltonism
Do you have problems seeing some colors? It may be a sign of dyschromatopsia. Dyschromatopsia is a disorder that causes poor perception of certain tones, such as green or blue. The disease is called daltonism (color blindness) when it concerns more particularly the red color.
Consequences / symptoms – Some people do not perceive any color and see only in gray level. The disease is then called achromatopsia. Often hereditary, dyschromatopsia affects mostly men.
What are the solutions / treatments? Dyschromatopsia is present at birth and is usually difficult to detect. Only ophthalmological tests can demonstrate this. No treatment exists, however, some solutions can improve the perception of nuances, such as wearing colored lenses or specialized lenses.
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is a common degenerative disease that usually appears after 50 years.
Consequences / symptoms – AMD attacks the central vision of the retina, and leaves intact the peripheral vision. Activities such as reading or driving become difficult for people with AMD because they have difficulty recognizing shapes or colors.
What solutions / treatments? For the time being, there is no treatment that definitively cures AMD. On the other hand, solutions exist to slow down the evolution: the wet form of AMD can be controlled with intraocular injections. Laser treatments are reserved for the rare times when the AMD reject the injections. In any case, the fight against AMD is being continuously worked on!
Blue-violet light from screens are harmful to the eyes and contribute to the degeneration of the retina. It is therefore highly recommended to start wearing glasses that can effectively filter the harmful light. Crizal Prevencia is the brand from Essilor group that filters the harmful blue-violet lights effectively.
To live better with AMD:
- Get closer to the item you want to see
- Add powerful, direct lighting when reading
- Use visual aids such as magnifying glasses
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy , as the name suggests, is caused by diabetes. It is the most common cause of blindness among adults under 50 years.
Consequences / symptoms – There are 3 stages of diabetic retinopathy:
Stage 1: There is no functional symptoms but regular visit for ophthalmologic monitoring is recommended.
Stage 2: Loss of visual acuity with difficulties in near vision with a permanent sensation of blurred vision. Activities requiring precision (e.g sewing and cooking) become difficult.
Stage 3: A consequent decrease of visual acuity with increased sensitivity to light and blind spots due to retinal hemorrhages.
To treat it, it is necessary to remove the abnormal vessels by laser.
What are the solutions / treatments? It results in itching and redness in the eyes. The individual with conjunctivitis may also experience symptoms typical of the common cold, such as watering or runny nose. It is a benign disease that can be treated very easily.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an ocular infection due to the inflammation of the tissue covering the eye and the inside of the eyelid.
Consequences / symptoms
It results in itching and redness in the eyes. The individual with conjunctivitis may also experience symptoms typical of the common cold, such as watering or runny nose. It is a benign disease that can be treated very easily.
How to treat conjunctivitis? Conjunctivitis generally disappears on its own after a few days. However, it is possible to treat conjunctivitis of allergic origin with an antihistamine, and that of bacterial origin with an antibiotic treatment. The latter is particularly contagious and the affected individuals must take certain precautions: do not touch their eyes, wash their hands regularly, etc. They need to ensure not to spread it.
