Diabetes is an insidious disease. It can sneak up on you and damage major organs if not caught and regulated.

There are two main types of diabetes, type 1, and type 2.

What’s important to know though is that both types interfere with the body’s ability to break down starches and sugars and turn them into energy.

For mild cases, it can be managed by diet but more severe cases require insulin injections. There are quite a few health risks associated with the disease. One of the biggest problem areas is in the eyes. But exactly how does diabetes affect your eyes?

The biggest concern is inside the retina. Diabetes can cause the blood vessels in your eyes to leak and collapse, a condition called retinopathy. This condition can lead to blindness. What happens is the blood vessels weaken and collapse. The body will form new vessels but unfortunately they are much weaker. As the blood leaks out of these vessels it starves the retina of blood flow. With repeated damage these vessels will eventually build up scar tissues that can cause the retina to detach.

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes then it’s important to get yearly eye exams. If you’re at risk for blindness you want to do everything in your power to stop it. An eye doctor will be able to assess your overall eye health and can quickly tell if you’re developing symptoms of retinopathy.

Some of the warning signs to look out for are suddenly blurred vision in one or both eyes, black spots or cobwebs swimming in your vision, and the big one sudden onset of blindness.

Taking proper care of your eyes is important. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes then make sure to book an eye exam to see if you are at risk.

We all notice differences as we get older.  Our joints get creakier and our vision isn’t what it used to be.  There is a condition which you may not be aware of, called macular degeneration.  If you are over 50 and have been noticing issues with your central vision, you may find this information helpful.

What is it?

On the inside back wall of your eyeball there is a layer of tissue called the macula.  This tissue is densely packed with cells that are sensitive to light and it is responsible for your central vision.  However, as we age, this tissue can deteriorate and the condition is called macular degeneration.  There are two types, dry and wet.  Dry macular degeneration is the most common form.  Rarely, this can go on to develop into ‘wet’ macular degeneration where new blood vessels grow and leak fluid under the macula.

Initially, only one eye may be affected but eventually, both eyes usually become involved.

Macular degeneration won’t make you blind but it does adversely affect your quality of life by blurring or causing a blind spot in your central vision.

What are the symptoms?

Dry macular degeneration is usually painless and develops very slowly.  You may notice some of these symptoms:

• Needing increasingly bright light if you’re reading or doing close work
• Having problems with adapting to low light levels, like going into a dimly lit restaurant
• Printed words may look more and more blurred
• Colors may not look as bright or intense as they did before
• You may find it hard to recognize faces
• Your overall vision may become increasingly hazy
• You may notice blurring or a blind spot in the center of your vision

You may only experience problems with one eye and if you do, it may take a while for you to notice any changes because your ‘good’ eye will compensate for the ‘poor’ one.  You may suffer headaches as the good eye struggles to cope.  If you have the condition in both eyes, you would definitely notice as it would affect your vision and therefore, how you live.

Hallucinations

Some people who have macular degeneration may ’see’ patterns, geometric shapes, animals or faces as their vision is more affected.  This can lead to them not wishing to discuss the issue for fear they are going crazy – or can lead to a misdiagnosis of migraine.

These hallucinations are common to the disorder and are called ‘Charles Bonnet’ syndrome.  An optometrist would recognize this so if you suspect you have this condition, it’s worth a visit for a check up.

What causes it?

The exact cause isn’t known but it is recognized as developing as the eye ages.  Close to the back of your eye is the retina.  Just behind the retina there is a single layer of cells called the retinal pigment epithelium.  As the eye ages, these cells begin to lose their pigment and become harder.  This means that they cannot fulfill one of their functions, which is to remove outer cell segments which are no longer required by the eye.  These particles of segment waste are called drusen.  They are yellow, fatty-type deposits which start to build up under the macula and so your vision becomes worse.

Stages of progression

Dry macular degeneration has three stages:

1.      Early – There’s no loss of vision in this stage but an ophthalmologist would be able to see small drusen on the macula in one eye, or both eyes.

2.      Intermediate – You may be having problems with your central vision blurring and may be needing extra light for reading or close work.  Your ophthalmologist would now see many medium sized drusen are now visible in one or both eyes.

3.      Advanced – The area of your central vision would now have a definite spot of blurring which may become larger and more dense as time goes on.  Large drusen would now be visible on an eye examination as well as light-sensitive cells breaking down in the macula.

When should I see my doctor?

If you are over 50 and notice changes in your central vision and/or you can no longer see colors and fine detail, it’s a good idea to see your Doctor or Opthalmologist.  Make the best use of that limited time by preparing beforehand.

• When you make the appointment, ask if there’s anything you need to do in advance.
• Write down any symptoms you’re experiencing, even if you don’t think that they are related to your vision issues.
• Make a list of all medications, including any vitamins or supplements that you’re taking.
• Ask a family member or friend to take you.  Your Doctor will use drops to dilate your pupils for the eye examination and you may need someone else to drive or help you home from your appointment.

Try this free test

You may also like to check out your vision using this Amsler grid, which is freely available on the internet from the Mayo Clinic.  This is a simple test that involves looking at a grid pattern.  It may show changes in your vision that you hadn’t noticed.

How to perform the test:

• Hold the grid 14 inches (about 36 centimeters) in front of you in good light. If you usually wear sight correcting spectacles or reading glasses, then wear them for the test.
• Cover one eye.
• Look directly at the center dot with your uncovered eye.
• While looking at this dot, see if all of the lines of the grid appear straight, uninterrupted and have the same contrast.
• Repeat the above steps with your other eye.
• If any part of the grid is missing or looks wavy, blurred or dark, contact your eye doctor.

Can anyone get it?

There are some known risk factors which increase your chances of developing it:

• Age. In the USA, macular degeneration is the most common reason for severe loss of vision in the 60 and older age group.
• Family history of macular degeneration. If someone in your family had macular degeneration, then you have a higher chance of developing it yourself.  Researchers have now identified some of the genes associated with macular degeneration and it is possible that genetic screening tests may be available in the future.
• Race. Macular degeneration is more common in whites than it is in other racial groups, especially after the age of 75.
• Sex. Women are more likely than men to develop macular degeneration.  They are also more likely to experience the effects of severe vision loss from the disease, simply because (on average) they live longer.
• Cigarette smoking. Exposure to cigarette smoke doubles your risk of developing macular degeneration. Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of macular degeneration.
• Obesity. If you have early or intermediate macular degeneration, obesity will increase the likelihood of it progressing to the advanced stage.
• Light-colored eyes. People with light-colored eyes seem to be at greater risk than those with darker eyes.
• Exposure to sunlight. Some experts believe that long-term exposure to ultraviolet light may increase your risk of developing macular degeneration.  However, there is no proof to back up this claim and so it remains controversial.
• Low levels of nutrients. Antioxidants may protect your cells from oxygen damage (oxidation), which may be partially responsible for the effects of aging and therefore, for the development of diseases such as macular degeneration. Antioxidants include zinc, minerals and vitamins A, C and E.
• Cardiovascular diseases. These include high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina).

What is the treatment?

Unfortunately, there is no treatment to reverse the effects of dry macular degeneration.  However, you won’t lose your sight.  This condition progresses slowly and most people are able to continue to live relatively normal lives.  However, as previously mentioned, in rare cases, dry macular degeneration can develop into the ‘wet’ type which progresses more rapidly.

What can I do?

Check out the risk factors listed above.  Keep your weight down and try to stop smoking.  If you can’t stop, try and cut down as much as possible.

Taking anti oxidants will help.

An Age-Related Eye Disease Study sponsored by The National Eye Institute showed that a daily supplement of

• 500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C

• 400 international units (IU) of vitamin E

• 15 mg of beta carotene (often as vitamin A – up to 25,000 IU)

• 80 mg of zinc (as zinc oxide) and

• 2 mg of copper (as cupric oxide)

reduced the risk of progressing to moderate or severe vision loss by up to 25 percent.

Common causes of eye twitching

Most of us have experienced it; after a long day of working at the computer or hitting the books, one eye or the other starts to twitch.  What causes annoying eye twitching, and what can you do about it?

The vast majority of twitches are caused by a minor spasm in the muscles of the eyelid.  Like most spasms, they are caused by muscle fatigue.  Fatigue in the muscles around the eyelid can be caused by high levels of stress, sleepiness, bright lights, squinting for long periods of time, and eye strain from reading in dim light or looking at a computer screen for long periods of time.

In rare cases, twitches in the eye can be caused by physical, psychological, or neurological problems, such as epilepsy or Tourette’s syndrome.

Treatment for eye twitching
In order to relax these eye muscles and ease the twitching, you can apply a warm or a cool compress to the affected eyes, take a long, soothing bath to ease stress, or use eye drops.  A long nap or a good night’s sleep will often help stop twitching as well.

To avoid eye twitches to begin with, take frequent breaks while reading or working at the computer.  Use these breaks to look off into the distance to change the focus of your eyes.  Ensure that you always have plenty of good light in your work area.

If you suspect that your eye twitches are a result of stress, try taking a brisk walk in your lunch hour, or exercise in place for a few minutes during your reading breaks.  Soothing music, stretches in your chair, and aromatherapy are other ways to combat stress while working or studying.

Severe cases can be treated by medication, Botox injections, or even surgery.

Important
If your eye twitches are violent or do not subside in a reasonable period of time, you should discuss this with your doctor.

What are Styes and What You Can do About Them?

If you are experiencing a painful red swelling on the edge of your eyelid, the chances are that you are the victim of a sty.  Luckily, while styes can be uncomfortable or even outright painful, they are not a danger to your eye or to your eyesight.

Simply put, a sty is a pimple that forms on your eyelid.  Just as pimples are often caused by inflammation of the oil glands around the hair follicles on your skin, styes are caused by inflammation of the glands surrounding the follicles of your eyelashes.  And just like pimples, they usually come to a head, drain, and disappear in just a few days.

Styes can only be passed from person to person through direct contact.  To lower the risk of transmitting a sty, do not share your washcloths or towels with others.

In most cases, styes will disappear quickly without any intervention.  To ease pain and to speed the disappearance of a sty, you can lay a moist, warm compress such as a hot washcloth over the affected eye.  Leave the compress on your eye for ten to fifteen minutes at a time to help it drain more quickly.  Under no circumstances should you attempt to “pop” a sty.

If you wear contact lenses try switching to glasses for the time being to help reduce the inflammation.

If your sty does not disappear within two weeks, or if it is causing irritation by rubbing against your eye, you may need to have it professionally drained.  Consult with your doctor for options.

If you experience this problem frequently, your doctor can also give you an antibacterial ointment that will kill the staphylococcal bacteria before it can inflame the glands of your eyes and form a sty

Glaucoma is a very serious condition that is actually a bunch of diseases working together that cause damage to the optic nerve.  The problem with this condition is that there may not be any symptoms and damage may be done before it is diagnosed.

Doctors usually start with treatments that are related to medications as well as physical therapy, but if these things are not successful glaucoma surgery is called for.  Most doctors will put off surgery for as long as possible, because though it has become a relatively routine procedure, most doctors are hesitant to perform surgery on the eyes unless all other therapies have failed or there is an emergency that requires the surgery.

There are two types of glaucoma eye surgery, one that uses a laser and one that requires traditional surgery:

1. The laser glaucoma surgery is performed by aiming a laser light at the eye’s trabecular meshwork to open up the blockages in this meshwork to increase the flow of aqueous fluid from the eye.

2. The traditional surgery is commonly called filtering microsurgery.  This requires that a hole be made to allow excess fluids to drain from the eye.  Draining the fluid from the eye will reduce the pressure in the eye, which is the purpose of the surgery.

Laser surgery is becoming more common than the traditional incision type eye surgery

There are actually four types of laser surgeries known as:

• SLT – is the acronym for selective laser tubeculoplasty and is used to reduce the pressure by enhancing drainage of excess fluid.  This type of treatment can be repeated to treat specific cells in the meshwork.
• ALT – is short for argon laser trabeculoplasty and reduces pressure in the eye by opening the drainage canals of the eye.
• LPI – is used for narrow angle glaucoma and relieves pressure by making a hole in the iris of the eye so that the iris can move back from the cornea to allow more aqueous flow.
• Laser cyclophotocoagulation – is a procedure that produces aqueous flow by treating the ciliary body.

Traditional surgery is still used for patients, but laser is preferred as patients typically respond and heal better to it.  Traditional surgeries will be used when medication and laser procedures have failed.

There are risks associated with glaucoma surgery, but they are not greater than the risk of leaving the eye untreated.  Glaucoma affects the optic nerve, eventually causing blindness if treatment is not sought.  Glaucoma surgery has become much easier and more effective over the last several years, making it a viable option for more and more people.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) is a type of eye infection that specifically affects the membranes under the eyelids and covering the white portions of the eye.  Note that the term specifies where on the eye that the infection has occurred, not the cause.  Conjunctivitis may have a viral, bacterial, allergic, or chemical cause, just like other types of eye infections.

What are the symptoms?

Pink Eye is a particularly common eye problem in newborns and children.  Symptoms include redness in the whites of the eyes or eyelids (which led to the name Pink Eye), tearing, and itchiness.
How to stop the spread of conjunctivitis

Bacterial and viral forms of conjunctivitis can be highly contagious.  It is easy to spread the infection from one eye to the other or from one child to the other.  Sharing a towel, swimming with an infected child, or picking up a used tissue can be enough to transmit the infection.

To help stop the spread of pink eye, wash your hands often, especially after treating the infected eye, and teach your children to do the same.  Also make sure that your child knows not to touch the eye, even if it is itchy or watery, with his or her bare hands.  Be sure not to share any wash cloths, eye makeup, handkerchiefs, or tissues until a week after the infection is passed.

As a further precaution, it is a good idea to keep the infected person’s laundry, including clothes, linens, and towels, separate from the rest of the family, and to wash them in hot water between uses.

When to see your doctor

Although this type of eye infection is normally not serious, it is a good idea to consult with a doctor if your child has it.

Some types of pink eye can be treated with antibiotics, ibuprofen, or antihistamines, and your doctor can also ensure that the infection is truly conjunctivitis and not a more serious condition.