Bloodshot eyes aren't exactly the best feature of a person! When a person's eyes are bloodshot, it is quite easy to 'see' that something is wrong! Eyes are possibly the most delicate organs of the body, and are all the more vulnerable to infections such as 'subconjunctival haemorrhage'. However, as dour as such terms may sound, there is a lot which really should be known about them!

The eye has a thin layer which goes by the name of the conjunctiva, which covers a part called the sclera. Many a times, especially in the case of children, if an injury unfortunately occurs in the eye, there are chances that it may form subconjunctival haemorrhage.

The reason why this occurs is that there are some of the very small blood vessels in a person's eye break. The reason for this, apart from an injury could also be on account of a sudden increase in the blood pressure of the person. This usually takes place due to some very strenuous lifting exercise but also can occur due to laughing or sneezing!

The occurrence of a subconjunctival haemorrhage can also be closely linked to the consumption of pills which thin the blood such as aspirin.

Treating Subconjunctival Haemorrhage

Now, considering the fact that such a haemorrhage has the potential to look quite scary, it may be natural for a person to react proactively. However, in many cases this is not required at all. As a matter of fact, the issue clears up within a couple of weeks at the maximum and a week and a half, on average. If this does not happen to be the case, it is a signal that a medical professional should take a look at the patient's eye.

In many instances, a person may not even get to know that he or she is suffering from a subconjunctival haemorrhage as there is no effect on the vision of the person and he or she would probably get to know that this is the case by taking a look in the mirror or being informed of his or her eye looking red.

In order to treat a subconjunctival haemorrhage in an effective manner, the first thing to be done by a person is to avoid any medication which could be causing it. Also, it is quite important not to rub one's eye as this really does slow down the healing process.

Artificial tears help soothe the eye but they do not hasten the rate of repair. A subconjunctival haemorrhage may occur, but if a person follows the right steps, his or her vision can consistently remain 20/20!

All About Subconjunctival Haemorrhage

As you reach the age of 40, you will likely notice changes in your vision. Perhaps you have difficulty reading a book without glasses, or distinguishing between colours. These changes occur as an effect of ageing. However, nowadays people in their teens are also exposed to a host of eye disorders and vision problems, mostly resulting from eye injuries and visual stress.

The most common disorders of the eye, which affect the age group 19-40, are Refractive errors. The following signs and symptoms characterize such disorders-

  Haziness
  Double vision
  Halos or glares when you are surrounded by bright lights
  Headaches
  Squinting
  Eye strain

What are the Refractive errors?

Refractive errors develop when light cannot focus on the retina (the light-sensitive tissue situated at the rear side of the eye) directly due to the shape of the eye. The change in the cornea s shape, the ageing of the lens, or the length of your eyeball can lead to refractive errors. Most people suffer from one or more of the above conditions.

Type of Refractive Errors:

Following are the most common types of refractive errors-

  Myopia or Nearsightedness - If you have this condition, you will see nearby objects clearly but distant objects will appear blurry. This happens because the light comes to focus right in front of the retina, instead of on the retina.

  Hyperopia or Farsightedness - This condition is just the opposite of myopia. Distant objects are clearly visible but those located close to you appear blurry. However, some people may not observe any problem with their vision at a young age. If you have significant hyperopia, objects at any distance, far or near, can appear blurry.

  Presbyopia - This age-related condition affects your ability to focus on things closely. This happens because as you age, the lens of the eye is unable to change shape to allow the eye to focus on nearby objects clearly.

  Astigmatism - In this condition, the eye cannot focus light onto the retina evenly. As a result, images appear stretched out and blurry.

  Amblyopia or Lazy eye - This vision development disorder begins during early childhood and infancy. In this condition, the eye does not achieve normal visual acuity despite using contact lenses or prescribed glasses. Usually, amblyopia affects only one eye.

Can early diagnosis help treat the problem?

Yes, it can. Your eye care specialist can diagnose refractive errors and detect what exactly is impeding your vision with a comprehensive dilated eye examination. Upon encountering the symptoms mentioned above, one should consult an ophthalmologist at the earliest and get oneself checked.

If the condition is detected early, vision problems due to refractive errors can be treated. The common treatment options include the use of contact lenses, prescription glasses, and surgery (in severe cases).
People with visual problems should also adopt some lifestyle changes to correct their vision - eat more veggies, get adequate sleep and rest, abstain from smoking etc. Additionally, you should get periodic eye check-ups to monitor the condition.

Difficulty In Vision - It Can Be Better If Treated On Time!

Swelling of the conjunctiva membrane due to an infection is called conjunctivitis. It can affect one or both eyes. The blood vessels get inflamed and the eye looks red or pink. Pink eye is the common name of conjunctivitis.

Symptoms

The symptoms of conjunctivitis are very obvious:

The white part of the affected eye appears reddish because the membrane which is affected is a layer that covers the white.

The affected eye is extremely itchy.

The eyelids get swollen.

It is painful, especially when the surroundings are bright.

A crusty layer may or may not form during sleeping and it can make it difficult to open the eye.

The infection typically affects one eye first and catches on to the other eye within a day because it is highly contagious. People in contact with the affected person are highly susceptible to contracting the infection.

Causes

This highly contagious infection is painful and itchy and needs immediate attention. The treatment is the same no matter what the cause. The main causes are:

Bacterial infection (indicated by sticky secretion).

Viral infection (indicated by a watery secretion).

In infants, it can be the cause of a partially opened tear duct.

Sometimes it happens due to an allergic reaction.

A Chemical reaction.

Immediate Action

Before going to a doctor and getting medicines, some immediate steps must be taken. Here are some things to do to reduce the discomfort and prevent the infection from spreading.

Contact lenses must be removed to prevent further infection. Infected contact lenses must be discarded or disinfected.

Contact with other people must be avoided. Direct physical contact, using the same towel or eye products must be avoided.

Avoiding touching the unaffected eye, it might prevent infection of the second eye.

Using a lukewarm compress can relieve some of the pain.

Using an over-the-counter hydrating eye drop can relieve some of the itchiness and the annoying sensation of having something in the eye.

Treating Conjunctivitis in Ayurvedic Way

Antibiotics have a lot of side effects and it does not sit well with some people. This is why a more natural approach is recommended. Ayurveda helps treat all the symptoms with zero side effects. Ayurvedic treatment is effective because it has everything needed:

Anti-inflammatory properties.

Antioxidants.

Antibacterial properties.

Ayurvedic treatment always works for conjunctivitis and does not cause any side effects. It is best to prevent getting infected altogether though. Using fresh sheets, fresh towels, disinfected eyewear and avoiding touching the eyes before disinfecting the hands can help.

Take Away

Conjunctivitis is one irritating eye infection which is contagious in its nature. However, it can be cured with proper care and ayurvedic treatment. It is always advisable to consult an ayurvedic specialist before going for any of the ayurvedic treatment.



Conjunctivitis - How Can Ayurveda Help?

Cataract is generally associated with old age. However, in some unfortunate cases, children could be affected by cataract as well. A cataract can be defined as a cloudy or opaque layer that forms on the eye's natural lens that lies behind the iris and the pupil, leading to eventual loss in vision. Cataract can affect children in one eye or both eyes.

Cataract can be a congenital birth defect or can develop as the child grows older. The latter case is known as pediatric cataracts. The exact cause of cataracts in children is not known, but it has been associated with a number of genetic disorders, low birth weight and infections during pregnancy. Traumatic events such as an injury to the eye can also cause cataracts.

The earlier a cataract is diagnosed and treated, the better it is. It is easier to identify a cataract that affects both eyes than a cataract that affects only one eye. If a congenital cataract is not treated in time, the part of the baby's brain used for sight may not develop properly. Hence it is crucial to recognize cataract symptoms.

Here are a few you should look out for:

    Not looking directly or responding to large, colourful objects.
    Not being able to find small objects while crawling.
    Excessive squinting or shielding their eyes to bright sunlight.
    Eyes that do not focus on the same point.
    White reflex instead of a red reflex in photographs.
    Uncontrolled movement of the eye.

Cataracts that are too small to affect sight can be treated with eye drops to dilate the pupil. However, this provides only temporary relief. Surgery is the most preferred form of cataract treatment. This surgery can be performed even in the first few weeks of a baby's life. The child is put under anesthesia and a microsurgical instrument is used to break the lens into small pieces and remove it.

This surgery is followed by the use of lenses or glasses to help the eye regain its power to focus again. In some cases, the lens may be implanted to replace the natural lens. In cases where cataract affects only one eye or one eye is more severely affected than the other, there may be a tendency to develop amblyopia or lazy eye syndrome. In such cases, it becomes necessary to patch the good eye shut and stimulate vision in the eye that has undergone surgery.

Cataract in Children

Glaucoma is a type of eye disease in which the optic nerve of the eyes get damage. The problem gets worse over time and leads to a condition where a person is not able to see, thus blindness.

Glaucoma can also cause due to the pressure buildup inside the eyes. This buildup of pressure is known as intraocular pressure which leads to damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve of the eyes is responsible for transmitting images formed on the retina to the brain. Due to the damage of this optic nerve, people suffering from Glaucoma may lose their vision completely and permanently.

Glaucoma is one main leading cause of blindness all over the world. For treating Glaucoma, there are many options and surgical methods are available. However, Ayurveda is one of the most effective methods to cure this problem naturally and completely.

Symptoms

The problem usually does not show any early symptoms. However, some of the common symptoms that may occur due to Glaucoma are:

Seeing halos around lights

Red eyes

Vision loss

Lazy eyes

Nausea

Vomiting

Eye pain

Narrowed vision

Ayurvedic Treatment of Glaucoma

Ayurveda is known for its wisdom in treating body ailments in the most natural and effective way. Ayurveda seems to have a cure for every ailment and this is true for Glaucoma. There are many herbs and therapies available which help in relaxing the pain, reduce the redness, drain the deposited fluid, improves vision, etc.

According to Ayurveda, any problem is caused due to the disturbance of balance in the doshas. It says that the disturbance of Kapha dosha may lead to Glaucoma.

Among various herbs used in Ayurvedic treatment, some of the herbs used in Ayurveda to treat Glaucoma are:

Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa): It is one of the leading herbs used to cure the Glaucoma. It has the diuretic properties which help in controlling the disease by draining the excess fluid from the eyes. It also prevents the damage of optic nerve and reduces intraocular pressure.

Triphala: Triphala is another herb used in Ayurveda to treat this problem. It is usually used as an eyewash. It also reduces intraocular pressure and prevents vision loss. The herb also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that protect the optic nerve from damage.

Amla (Phyllanthus emblica): It is also a beneficial herb that manages and treats Glaucoma. It contains Vitamin C and has antioxidant properties protecting the ocular tissue, optic nerve, and retina.

Take Away

Ayurveda is one of the most effective ways to treat Glaucoma. However, it is always advisable to consult an Ayurvedic specialist before going for any of these herbs. Some lifestyle changes and exercises along with Ayurvedic treatment will help a person to gain better result.

Glaucoma - How Can Ayurveda Avert It?

Are you losing your sight day by day? Does it make difficult to see you at night? Is this the onset of Blindness? Get to know about Retinitis Pigmentosa with these tips.

What actually is Retinitis Pigmentosa? 
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of diseases, which causes a slow, but progressive vision loss. It is a genetic disorder that affects the ability to respond to light.This inherited disease causes a slow loss of vision, beginning with decreased night vision and loss of peripheral (side) vision and eventually results in blindness.

Causes:
Retinitis pigmentosa is often hereditary (runs in families). If you or your partner has retinitis pigmentosa, there may be up to a 50 percent chance that you will pass it on to your children. Ask your ophthalmologist about genetic counseling if you are planning to have children.

Symptoms:
1. Slow loss of vision
2. Beginning of decreased night vision
3. Loss of peripheral vision
4. Difficulty in identifying colours

Diagnosis:
If you have poor night vision or a loss of side vision or if there is a history of retinitis pigmentosa in your family, your ophthalmologist will conduct a comprehensive eye exam to determine if you have retinitis pigmentosa. Your ophthalmologist will dilate your eyes to look at the back of them for signs of disease.

Treatment:
Currently there is no known cure for retinitis pigmentosa. However, research has shown that vitamin A palmitate may slow the progression of certain forms of RP. Your ophthalmologist can advise you about the risks and benefits of vitamin A palmitate and how much you can safely take. Taking too much vitamin A palmitate can be toxic, and evidence of vitamin A palmitate effect on RP progression is not substantial.
Another recommendation for slowing vision loss from RP is to wear sunglasses to protect your retina from harmful ultraviolet (UV) light.

Retinal prosthesis is also an important area of exploration because the prosthesis, a man-made device intended to replace a damaged body part, can be designed to take over the function of the lost photoreceptors by electrically stimulating the remaining healthy cells of the retina.

Retinitis Pigmentosa: What You Should Know About It?

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