78% of urban youth are in front of the computer screen/ mobile screen for about 12 hours a day. Such extensive strain to the eyes can have long term effects on vision.  Act now to protect your eyes by following these tips-

1) Ensure appropriate glasses or contact lens prescription which is also adequate for computer use. 
2) For prolonged exposure, use glasses to help with contrast, glare, and eye strain when using a computer.
3) Adjust your computer such that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This allows you to look slightly down at the screen.
4) Avoid any glare on your computer from windows or lights. Use an anti-glare screen if required.
5) Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor.
6) If your eyes feel dry, blink more often.
7) Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds. At least every 2 hours, get up and take a 15-minute break.

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Protect Your Eyes While Working. 7 best ways.

The eye is a complex organ. It is made up of a number of different parts which together build a sense of image. Retina is a very significant part of the eye. It is this part of the eye that helps it project the image. The object image is ultimately created on this part of the eye. But it is also a very sensitive and delicate organ. There are many abnormalities that may affect the retina. Central Serous Retinopathy is one such abnormality.

This medical condition of the eye is precipitated when there is a buildup of fluid behind the retina. This leads to the detachment of the retina. The patient may experience gradual or even sudden loss of vision as the central retina gets detached.

The Retina and its Structure

The retina is a very important part of the eyes. It is a membranous structure where vision takes shape and is composed of several layers. It contains special photoreceptor cells that help in identifying color, vision, etc. There are different cells that help in central as well as peripheral vision. The central region of the retina is also known as macula. Retinal Detachment is a disorder of retina that can turn people blind or low in vision. Medical intervention is necessary to regain lost vision.

Symptoms of Central Serous Retinopathy

Patients need to be aware of the symptoms lest they should be caught completely unaware of it.

Objects may appear farther away than usual.

White portions of images may appear dull and lines may appear crooked.

Patients may experience blurry vision in the initial stages.

However, it does not always a precipitate symptom. If fluid buildup is not affecting the central vision area, the patient may not experience any deterioration in central vision. This is a perception that the central part is responsible for the central vision. He or she may experience a clear central vision, although there is a fluid buildup. Nevertheless, it may eventually push the central part and detach the retina resulting in Central Serous Retinopathy. Patients may experience a darkening or blurring of their central vision. This is usually limited to one eye. However, one may experience such problems in both eyes at different stages of life.

Risk factors

Though the contributory factors are not well known, it is thought that stressful lifestyles and some medicines can contribute to such ailments.

Treatment

Treatment may not always be required in all cases. Doctors may just ensure that built-up fluid is draining out. However, if fluid is not draining out, medical intervention is necessary doctors may go for treatments like photodynamic therapy, thermal laser treatment, or medications. Doctors may also recommend stopping steroids and bringing in lifestyle changes.

Conclusion:

People who notice any changes in their vision or experience pain or blurry vision should consult an Ophthalmologist as soon as possible. If a person is already suffering from any eye disease and experiences such symptoms, he/she should immediately seek medical attention without waiting for his/her next appointment.

In some cases, the fluid dissolves itself with no further medical treatment. However, if it does not, a variety of medicines and medical treatments are available.

Central Serous Retinopathy - What Should You Know?

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in people across the globe. It damages the optic nerve that carries sensory images from the retina to the brain. A faulty eye pressure is responsible for damaging the very delicate optic nerve fiber causing small blind spots in the retina. Unfortunately, for most patients this disease only gets diagnosed when the number of blind spots is on the higher side.

Types of Glaucoma

Open angle: This is a type of Glaucoma which results from the blockage of the drainage angle of the eye resulting into an increased eye pressure.
Angle closure: This is the kind of Glaucoma which results from the narrowing down of the drainage angle leading to complete blockage.
Target segment of Glaucoma

Family history: Inheritance surely plays a role in case of Glaucoma too. If Glaucoma runs through families of an individual, there are higher chances of getting this disease. Although there is no hard and fast rule about it, the risks of inheriting this disease are on the higher side.
Eye injury: If there is any history of previous eye injuries, the probability of the onset of Glaucoma cannot be turned down. Specially, if the injury is related to optic nerve, there are very high risks involved.
Bilateral Oophorectomy: Dual Ovary removal before the age of 40 results in deficiency of estrogen resulting in Glaucoma. Although most surgeons warn their patients of the possible risk of these procedures, many surgeries such as these have resulted in patients losing eyesight in the form of Glaucoma.
Patient with Diabetes: In case of acute diabetes, retina gets damaged and the eye starts producing new blood vessels on the iris resulting into an increased eye pressure. This condition often leads to Glaucoma due to blockage of fluid flow in the eye.
Eye Conditions: Myopia, multiple surgeries to the eye, blunt trauma etc. can lead to Glaucoma. A patient who has undergone any kind of eye surgeries suffers from inflammation. However, major inflammation is often found twisting blood flow in the eye resulting into Glaucoma.
If a patient is 40 or above: After a person reaches 40 years of age, a lot of diseases start cropping in to the body. Studies show that Glaucoma has a higher frequency in people who is more than the age of 40 or above.
High eye pressure: A patient with an eye pressure of above 21 mm HG is also at a very high risk of getting glaucoma. For a normal person the IOP lies between 10 to 21 mm HG.
Blood flow related disease: Diseases such as acute migraine, hypertension and low blood pressure which involves blood flow related problem often aggravate to glaucoma.
Ethnic Background: Statistics show that people from Afro American, Hispanics, Asian and Caribbean background have greater chances of being affected by Glaucoma.

Glaucoma - Are You at Risk?

Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye's optic nerve. It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve.Glaucoma is the second largest cause of eye blindness in the world.

There are several types of Glaucoma:
1. Open-angle Glaucoma
2. Normal-tension Glaucoma
3. Angle-closure Glaucoma
4. Congenital Glaucoma
5. Secondary Glaucoma
6. Glaucoma suspect

How will you know that you are suffering from Glaucoma?
Only half the people with glaucoma are aware that they are suffering from this condition. When Glaucoma develops, there are usually no early symptoms. This is why glaucoma can 'steal' sight gradually.

Symptoms:
1. In its early stages, open-angle Glaucoma has no obvious symptoms. As the disease progresses more blind spots develop in the peripheral (side) view.
2. An attack of angle-closure Glaucoma includes the following:
a. Severe pain in the eye or forehead
b. Redness of the eye
c. Decreased vision or blurred vision
d. Vision rainbows or halos
e. Headache
f. Nausea
g. Vomiting
If you get any of the symptoms rush to your doctor and take an eye exam as soon as possible.

Causes:
1. Eye injury
2. Inflammation of the eye
3. Dilating eye drops
4. Blocked or restricted drainage in your eye
5. Use of steroid-containing medications (pills, eye drops, sprays)
6. Poor or reduced blood flow to your optic nerve
7. High or elevated blood pressure

Who is at Risk for Glaucoma?
People with more risk of developing Glaucoma include people who:
1. Are over age 40
2. Have family members with glaucoma
3. Have high eye pressure
4. Are farsighted or nearsighted
5. Have had an eye injury
6. Have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation or other health problems affecting the whole body.

Types, Causes and Symptoms of Glaucoma

Eye allergies or allergic conjunctivitis involves the inflammation of the conjunctiva in the eyes. Eye allergies are different from contagious or bacterial conjunctivitis. Eye allergies are common during summer. Homeopathy is an ideal way to cure eye allergies without any side effects. Here are some homeopathic medicines, which treat eye allergies, along with the symptoms when they are prescribed.

 Apis mel: this homeopathic medicine is ideal for eye allergies characterized by burning and stinging in the eyes. Oedema accumulates around the eyes; the eyelids swell and become puffy. Watery discharge comes out of the eyes.
 Euphrasia: this is an ideal medicine for treating eye allergies where there is an acrid discharge from the eyes. The discharge is acidic and burns the skin it comes in contact with, and there is burning pain in the eyes. The eyes stay watery.
 Argentum nitricum: it is an ideal homeopathic remedy in case of eye allergies with prulent discharge. The patient develops photophobia and splinter like pain is felt in the eyes. The conjunctiva swells and the discharge is abundant. 
 Ruta: this is a great homeopathic medicine to cure eye allergies where there is a sensation of a foreign body in the eyes. Indicated by severe eye irritation, the patient feels as if a dust particle is stuck in his eyes. The eyes become red and quite painful.
 Pulsatilla: pulsatilla is an ideal homeopathic medicine when there is relief due to the application of cold water. Symptoms include discharge of a thick, yellow fluid from the eyes along with itching and burning. The eyelids feel like they have been agglutinated.

In case of eye allergies accompanied by itching or burning sensation, you can apply natural home-based remedies as well. They are:

 Applying a cold compress: application of cold compress around the allergy affected area will give you relief. Soak a cloth in cold water and apply it gently. Use chamomile tea bags as a cold compress.
 Use cucumber: put slices of cucumber over the affected area in the eyes to get relief from eye allergies. Cucumbers possess anti-irritation properties and reduce puffiness, swelling and irritation. 
 Rosewater: rosewater is an effective remedy for eye allergies. It soothes and cools the eyes, and the eyes become clear. You can use rose water as an eye drop or wash your eyes with it.
 Green tea: green tea is completely natural and provides relief to eye allergies. It accounts for soothing the eyes and is anti-inflammatory in nature.

Eye allergies are common and affect people most during the summer. They reoccur every year and give you a bad time. Homeopathic and natural treatment methods for eye allergies are among the best remedies.

Homeopathic and Natural Treatment for Eye Allergies

Astigmatism is an eye condition where there is an imperfection in the curvature of the cornea. The cornea and lens are smooth and equally curved in all directions, which helps to focus the light rays to the retina. But if there is an imperfection in the curvature, then you will suffer from a refractive error. Astigmatism is not an eye disease. It is simply a condition where the eye is not able to focus the light. 

Causes: 
Irregular shape of the cornea is the main cause for astigmatism. It might also be caused because of the imperfect shape of the lens. Suffering from astigmatism is very common. You are either born with the condition or you might have developed it after an eye surgery. It is an incorrect concept that watching too much of television or reading without enough light causes astigmatism.

Types: 
There are three different types of astigmatism:
1. Myopic astigmatism: When the principal meridians of the cornea are nearsighted.
2. Hyperopic astigmatism: When the principal meridians of the cornea are farsighted.
3. Mixed astigmatism: When one of the principal meridians is nearsighted and the other is farsighted.

It can also be classified in two other types:
1. Regular astigmatism: When the principal meridians are perpendicular to each other.
2. Irregular astigmatism: When the principal meridians are not perpendicular to each other.

Symptoms: 
Blurry or distorted vision, strain in the eye, eye discomfort, squinting and headaches are a few symptoms of astigmatism

Diagnosis:
If you notice the symptoms stated above, make sure you pay a visit to your ophthalmologist. If you are suffering from astigmatism, your doctor will do an eye test to check how much your eye is able to focus on light. After conducting his tests, he will determine how much power you have and you will have to wear glasses of that power. Apart from the option of wearing glasses or artificial lenses, you can also go for a surgery to correct the condition. LASIK is an option among the many other options of surgeries available.

Diet: 
Eat foods rich in sulphur. Foods like fish, green vegetables, pineapple, garlic, onion, olive oil, etc are rich in sulphur. Hence, eating these will help you battle astigmatism.

All About Astigmatism

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