The Options Available in Avoiding Dry Eyes

If there are times when you feel your eyes seem itchy or stinging for some unknown reason, chances are you are experiencing dry eyes. Also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or xerophthalmia, dry-eye syndrome is mostly characterized by a lack of adequate moisture in the eyes. People suffering from this may notice that there are not enough tears going out through the tear ducts, or whatever tears shed end up being of slightly impure quality. There are numerous ways to get past this malady with help from your opthalmologist.

For starters, administering artificial teardrops and ointments work. The drops are available over-the-counter from several manufacturers, so you need to conduct a little trial to find the product that suits you. This includes choosing the right ointment to use in case of chronic dry eyes, even at night. The ophthalmologist can also recommend temporary or permanent punctal occlusions to plug up the tear ducts; some patients consider this an alternative to drops.

Since there are tears that go out the nose, surgery may be done to redirect their flow to the tear ducts near the eye for replenished moisturization. If you are afflicted with dry-eyes, don't lose hope. The eyecare profession will have methods to correct such a problem. 

Tetris: The Old-but-Exciting Solution to Lazy Eyes

You probably know that your eyesight can be affected by spending too long playing video games. At least, that used to be the case until a recent study by doctors at McGill University found that Tetris, an iconic stack-em-up puzzle game, can help correct “lazy eyes.” Perhaps, it's no longer accurate to blame gaming itself for vision impairment (though playing too long can still be detrimental). In fact, this isn't the first time games have been beneficial for the eyes.

Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a vision disorder where the eyes fail to correct themselves even with visual aids such as eyeglasses on. It affects at least three percent of Americans and may lead to blindness if not treated as soon as possible. Two groups of adults participated in the Tetris study: one group covering their stronger eye and the other group using both eyes but wearing special goggles. The goggles split the field of vision of both eyes, one focused on falling objects and the other on the ground.

Results showed that the second group displayed noticeable signs of improvement from lazy eyes, although the first group's vision also improved to some degree. The study said Tetris required both eyes to coordinate since players constantly shift between the falling blocks and blocks on the ground. This established the possibility of correcting loss of vision that went unabated during a person's early years. Experts consider this a breakthrough in eye health. 

Bionic Eyes: Giving the Blind a Chance to See Again

You've probably heard of bionic arms and bionic legs, but a bionic eye? The technology seems like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but it's not as farfetched as you think; just ask Ron, a recipient of a bionic eye system who made the news in 2009. He lost his sight more than three decades ago as a result of retinitis, inflammation of the retina. Then, he became the platform for testing a new bionic eye system at the time: the Argus II.

The system is no cure for retinitis; once the retina is inflamed, you lose your vision for good (although some feasible treatments are entering their clinical phase). However, the Argus II serves as a second retina; a camera mounted in a pair of glasses transmits images to a chip implanted in the retinal area. This bionic eye basically works like a security camera, giving the blind eye a chance to see again. For Ron, the system clearly changed his life; after more than 30 years, he could finally see once more.

The technology is set to improve at this point, not just with bionic eyes and optical implants but also in terms of treatment. Doctors and scientists are on the verge of finding a solution to blindness that affects thousands around the world. Eye doctors want to get in front of the crusade against the loss of vision, sharing the honor of letting the blind see again.

Eye Implants will Soon be Available to an Opthalmologist Near You

Technology continues to give hope to people with disabilities, so much so that eye doctors may soon treat blindness quite effortlessly. While science is still a long way from completely restoring sight to the blind, the ability to provide them with limited vision is already quite an achievement in itself. Case in point: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the “Argus” retinal implant system for widespread use in the US.

This device consists of a pair of sunglasses, a video camera, and antennas installed near the eyeballs. Exactly how the system works is a bit complex to describe, but suffice it to say that patients wearing it can make out shapes and faces and thereby be able to navigate the world without relying on a human assistant. This system is still in its infancy, and several improvements would have to be made to improve range, image quality, and color perception.

In any case, it should only be a matter time before eye implants gain widespread use. Argus was already tested in Europe before it caught the attention of the FDA, and so-called “Kamra” implants now help treat presbyopia (gradual loss of vision due to old age). With the rate at which technology evolves, the notion that blindness may one day be curable is indeed becoming more of a scientific possibility.

Is LASIK Eye Surgery Safe?: Understanding the Possible Risks

Back in the day, the only solution for people who were nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic was to get fitted for glasses or contact lenses. Due to medical advances, however, people can now undergo LASIK surgery to improve their eyesight. LASIK, which stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis, is a surgical procedure that involves reshaping the cornea so the light traveling through is more focused onto the retina.

Much like all surgical procedures, LASIK surgery does entail a couple of risks. Some patients reportedly develop dry eye syndrome or the inability to produce tears to keep the eyes moist, which can be rather uncomfortable. For those who are not ideal candidates for LASIK, the results might not be as good. Patients with severe refractive errors, for instance, might still need to wear glasses.

To qualify for LASIK, you must be at least 18 years old, be free of any eye disease, and have been wearing prescription contacts or glasses for at least two years. Women who are pregnant or are nursing, as well as anyone with significant vision changes within a single year, are not good candidates for the procedure. Despite the possible risks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that most patients are happy with the results of LASIK surgery.

Enjoy Better Eyesight with Laser Eye Surgery

It's often said that the eyes are the windows to one's soul. You can immediately tell if somebody is sad, happy, or terrified just by looking at their eyes. More importantly, though, the eyes allow you to perceive the world visually and thereby assimilate loads of information.

Those who suffer from poor eyesight are placed at a disadvantage due to increasingly severe reading difficulties as well as depth perception issues that can leave them accident prone. Some eyesight problems begin as mild astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness that can put you at risk of headache-inducing eye strain. If your job requires prolonged use of your eyes, then you're also likely to suffer the loss of 20/20 vision much faster.

Fortunately, all of these concerns can be addressed by corrective laser eye surgery that can help you see clearly even without the use of glasses or contact lenses. For instance, countless people in recent years have undergone laser eye surgery that changes the shape of the cornea to improve vision. This method allows the eyes to focus more effectively on objects at various distances without straining the eye muscles unnecessarily. Laser-assisted procedures for cataracts and glaucoma differ from those that treat astigmatism and nearsightedness/farsightedness.

Enjoy Better Eyesight with Laser Eye Surgery

It's often said that the eyes are the windows to one's soul. You can immediately tell if somebody is sad, happy, or terrified just by looking at their eyes. More importantly, though, the eyes allow you to perceive the world visually and thereby assimilate loads of information.

Those who suffer from poor eyesight are placed at a disadvantage due to increasingly severe reading difficulties as well as depth perception issues that can leave them accident prone. Some eyesight problems begin as mild astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness that can put you at risk of headache-inducing eye strain. If your job requires prolonged use of your eyes, then you're also likely to suffer the loss of 20/20 vision much faster.

Fortunately, all of these concerns can be addressed by corrective laser eye surgery that can help you see clearly even without the use of glasses or contact lenses. For instance, countless people in recent years have undergone laser eye surgery that changes the shape of the cornea to improve vision. This method allows the eyes to focus more effectively on objects at various distances without straining the eye muscles unnecessarily. Laser-assisted procedures for cataracts and glaucoma differ from those that treat astigmatism and nearsightedness/farsightedness.