Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the transparent tissue that covers the white part of the eye and lines the eyelid. It is often referred to as "pink eye" and can be bacterial, allergic, or viral in origin. If you have conjunctivitis, you may experience any of the following: ocular itching, tearing, discharge, burning, redness, sensitivity to light, or a feeling of something inside your eye.
It is important to have an examination if you experience these symptoms so that your condition can be properly diagnosed and treated.
Dry Eyes
Signs that you may have dry eyes include the following: ocular burning sensation (usually gets worse at the end of the day), gritty or sandy feeling, excessive watering, overall irritation, and mild itching. Dry eyes may be a result of insufficient tear production or a poor tear quality. Certain medical conditions, age, poor nutrition, and medications can contribute to dry eyes. Various treatments are available including eye drops, ointments, nutritional supplements, and eyelid cleaners.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the 2nd leading cause of blindness in the United States. It is characterized by a slow, progressive loss of peripheral vision. The most common form of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma, where the patient does not experience any symptoms in the early phases. Acute angle glaucoma, much less common, occurs when there is a sudden increase in ocular pressure and the patient can experience severe eye pain, redness, nausea, halos around lights and blurred vision. This condition is considered an ocular emergency and medical attention should be sought immediately.
Risk factors for glaucoma include family history, age, race (more common in African Americans), thin corneas, and certain medical conditions. Because there are no symptoms associated with early stage open-angle glaucoma, it is important to have regular eye examinations, especially if you have an associated risk factor.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of Diabetes where there is damage to the blood vessels that nourish the retina. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness. The better control you have of your diabetic condition through proper diet, exercise, medication, the less likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy. Because you can have early signs of diabetic retinopathy without any symptoms, it is imperative to have annual dilated eye exams if you are diabetic. Early detection and treatment can help to prevent vision loss from diabetes.
Macular Degeneration
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a condition where there are changes in the macula (the small, central area of the retina) resulting in a loss of central acuity. Risk factors include age, race (more common in Caucasians), and smokers. Nutrition plays a key role in slowing the progression of AMD. A landmark study, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) performed by NEI concluded that Vitamins A,C,E, zinc, and copper reduced the risk of disease progression in AMD patients. Recent studies have provided additional evidence specific to the beneficial role of carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin) to visual function in patients with AMD. Current research is underway in the AREDS II to determine if additional supplements, including essential fats and carotenoids (lutein/zeaxanthin), can help prevent progression in AMD. View the following link to the optometric nutrition society for more information. (www.optometricnutritionsociety.org)