The most common vision problems are refractive errors, which are problems related to the way the eye focuses. Light acquires different propagation speeds in different material media. In the process of vision in people, light is bent or refracted as it passes through the cornea and the lens until it is focused on the retina, at the back of the eye.
On occasions, the shape of the eye
can be altered for different reasons –alterations in the shape of the cornea or
aging of the lens-, which prevents a direct focus of light on the retina. This
usually causes blurred vision, although there are also other symptoms such as
double or cloudy vision, glare or halos around bright lights, headaches, or
eyestrain. Thus different types of refractive errors are discussed below by God Service Eye Clinic!
Types of Common Refractive
Errors
Most people suffer from one or more
of the following refractive errors:
Astigmatism
It is a problem in the curvature of
the cornea, which causes the eye to receive partially blurred images.
Myopia
Instead of directly on the retina,
the eye concentrates the image of an object in front of it. As a consequence,
near objects are seen clearly, while distant ones are blurred. It usually
worsens in childhood and adolescence but stabilizes in adulthood.
Farsightedness
In this case, the image that arrives
is not focused on the retina, but behind it, which makes it impossible to see
nearby objects clearly, but allows one to see far ones clearly.
The Presbyopia
Also known colloquially as eyestrain.
This is a type of hyperopia related to age -it appears after the age of 35-,
which reduces the ability to focus up close: the eye does not focus light evenly
on the retina, which implies that images are blurred. look blurry or elongated.
Refractive errors are diagnosed by a
complete eye exam, including dilation of the pupils, by an ophthalmologist.
They can be corrected with the use of glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery.
What other problems or
diseases can affect the eyes?
Some eye problems are temporary, but
others can cause permanent vision loss. Among the various ailments are:
Waterfalls
It is an opaqueness of the lens of the eye, which prevents images from being seen clearly or, even, from being seen at all. They are more common in the elderly, who require surgery to remove them. When they occur in babies and young children, they must be treated to avoid permanent problems with vision development.
Colour Blindness
It is an alteration in the cells that are inside the retina (specifically, in the cones), which cannot be corrected. In most cases, color-blind people confuse some colors with others, usually red and green.
Conjunctivitis
The conjunctiva is infected or
inflamed with this condition. The most common, called acute, can cause redness
of the eye, tearing, itching, and, sometimes, pus.
Style
It arises because one of the
follicles where the eyelashes grow becomes infected. It is usually treated with
warm compresses and/or antibiotics.
Glaucoma
It is an injury to the optic nerve
due to increased eye pressure. It is one of the main causes of blindness in
Western countries, especially among the elderly population, and it is usually
not diagnosed until part of the vision has been lost.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
It is another eye disease that mainly
affects people over 60 years of age. When macula degeneration occurs, the
central area of the retina presents scars that deteriorate vision over the
years. In addition to age, cholesterol, and smoking increase the risk of AMD.
Squint
The eyes look crossed, usually due to
some imbalance in the force exerted by the muscles that help the eyes stay
straight and move at the same time. It is usually corrected with surgery and,
if left untreated in childhood, can cause permanent loss of vision in the least
used eye (known as amblyopia).
Eye Injuries
They can be caused by the action of
irritating agents such as sand, dirt, or foreign bodies on the ocular surface,
as well as by chemical products or residues that become embedded in the eye or
impact against it. They can cause temporary or permanent vision loss, so if
they occur, see a doctor immediately.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Permanently high blood glucose
levels, coupled with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, increase the risk
of blockage of the network of blood vessels that supply the retina. This can
damage your eyesight or cause permanent vision loss. After forty years of
evolution of the disease, more than 60% of diabetic patients present
retinopathy, according to the Diabetes Foundation.
Blindness
It is the loss of useful vision,
either temporarily or permanently. The causes are numerous: from defects or
congenital lesions of the eye, in the optic nerve, or in the brain, to eye
lesions or diseases such as diabetes, which can cause macular degeneration.
Also, the problems that occur in the eye due to age can cause blindness.
What is Eyestrain?
Visual fatigue or asthenopia is a
very common disorder suffered by millions of people around the world. It mainly
affects those who carry out their work at close range for a long time; for
example, those who have to work in front of a computer for at least four hours
straight.
Asthenopia encompasses all disorders
and discomforts that appear in relation to near vision, such as ocular
discomfort, blurred vision, a sporadic sensation of diplopia (double vision), a
sensation of premature fatigue, inability to maintain constantly a clear image
at the programmed distance or headaches.
It can be caused by a poor condition
of the ocular apparatus or be due to different factors:
●
Related to the job: such as poor lighting, having to work
with vertical objects such as a computer screen, the location of the job, its
width, postural impositions, etc.
●
Environmental: temperature, relative humidity, ventilation...
●
Personal: for example, stress.
Its symptoms and signs are:
●
Sensation of heaviness in the eyes.
●
Feeling of eye strain.
●
Awareness of the existence of one's own eyes.
●
Eye redness.
●
Eye stinging.
●
Increased secretion of tears.
●
headaches
●
Decreased visual acuity.
●
Blurred perception of objects.
●
Double vision, usually sporadic.
●
Retroocular pain (at the back of the eye).
To avoid visual fatigue,
ophthalmologists recommend taking care of the light conditions in the room and
taking short breaks at work on a regular basis, among other measures.
When should I go to the
ophthalmologist?
Eye diseases, such as glaucoma, do
not always present symptoms, and, often, a specialist is only seen when partial
vision loss has already occurred. On the other hand, not correcting refractory
problems with the right lenses can also cause, in addition to blurred vision,
headaches, and an increase in visual fatigue, in addition to having a negative
impact on work or academic performance.
For this reason, it is necessary to
go regularly to the ophthalmologist, always according to the schedule that he
indicates. Early detection and early treatment of eye diseases can prevent
blindness.
In any case, A specialist should be
consulted whenever blurred, double, or cloudy vision, eye pain, pus secretion, or
inflammation occurs. In the case of eye injury, you should also go to the
doctor as soon as possible. If there is a foreign body in the eye, you can only
try to remove it by pouring plenty of water, never by touching, squeezing, or
rubbing the eye.
Finally, attention should be paid to the behavior of children and take them to their pediatrician in case they scratch their eyes excessively, squint them often, sit too close to the TV, or complain of headaches while listening. end of the day.
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