Category: Eye Conditions

Presbyopia is the medical term for long-sightedness that is associated with age. So what is Presbyopia? Well, it is not a disease, or a condition but more a natural part of the aging process in which the eyes struggle to focus on near objects.

The initial symptoms are problems in changing focus from an object in the distance to a near by object, blurred vision (when viewing close objects), eyestrain after close-up work (especially in dim light) and occasionally double vision and headaches.

At what age does Presbyopia strike?

Presbyopia usually affects people between the ages of 40 and 50. Because it is a slow degenerative symptom, people may go a few years after first noticing the problem and seeking help.

If someone develops presbyopia before the age of 40 then it is referred to as premature presbyopia. Premature presbyopia usually occurs if someone already has hypermetropia (long-sightedness), but it can also occur in people who spend a substantial amount of time involved in close-up work such as reading, sewing or computer work. As ultraviolet exposure can be a factor, those who live in warm climates may be more likely to develop premature presbyopia.

What causes it?

The lens of the eye has to change shape in order to focus on objects of different distances. The natural resting state of the eye allows us to focus on objects in the distance, for this we use long sight. In order for the eye to focus on objects that are closer to us, the lens of the eye must change thickness.

The ciliary muscles of the eye must contract, causing the lens to alter shape. With the lens in a new thicker and more curved shape, the retina is able to bring the light rays from close objects into sharp focus. As we age, the lens of the eye becomes much less elastic and finds it harder to change shape. The ciliary muscles aren’t as strong and supple, and our vision is affected.

What can be done about Presbyopia?

Glasses or contact lenses may be prescribed. If you already wear corrective lenses, then you may find that your prescription has altered and you will need to get a new one. Bifocals or varifocal lenses may be prescribed to allow you to focus on objects that are closer up.

If you wear contact lenses they you may need to start wearing reading glasses too, or to look at different contact lenses such as bifocal or varifocals ones. Your optician can talk you through all of the options, and help you to choose something that works with your lifestyle and budget.

If you do not already wear glasses or contact lenses, then you may need to start wearing glasses for close-up work such as reading. If your optician advises you to wear reading glasses, then it is advisable to ensure that you wear them whenever you do any close-up work to support your eyes and prevent you from having symptoms such as headaches from eye strain. It is also worth being vigilant that you do any close-up work in a well lit environment as poor lighting can cause the symptoms to worsen.

Eyecare Tips

Whether you have no symptoms of presbyopia, the early signs or have noticed a dramatic difference in your near sight due to age; here are some tips to get the best from your vision.

• Visit your optician regularly to maintain the health of your eyes
• Take regular breaks when engaging in close-up work, to allow your ocular muscles to relax. Simply look into the distance every ten minutes or so, to achieve this.
• Wear sunglasses with a high eye protection factor to help prevent UV damage.
• Eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of vitamins A, C and E.
• If you work on the computer for hours a day, then avoid screen glare by keeping lights from shining directly on to the screen. Keep the screen below eye level and as far from you as possible. Speak to your optician about computer glasses which relieve screen glare and take the pressure off eye muscles.

Blurred Vision?

What causes blurred vision in eyes? Blurred vision isn’t something that should be ignored. Whilst tiredness or a common cold could be an occasional cause, regular episodes of blurred vision could be caused by something else, and could lead to more serious problems. We take a look at some of the most common causes of blurred vision and what can be done about them.

Refractive Eye Conditions

Refractive eye conditions are a common cause of blurred vision and include myopia (short sightedness), hyperopia (long sightedness) and astigmatism (where both distances cause a problem). This is easily identified by an eye test and corrected by prescription glasses or contact lenses.

Presbyopia

You may not have heard the term very often but you will certainly be familiar with the condition. Presbyopia is an age related condition typically experienced in your mid 40’s onwards which impairs the eye’s ability to focus on close objects and like the conditions mentioned above, can be helped with glasses or contact lenses.

Dry Eyes

Dry eyes affects many people, and is caused by the eyes inability to produce sufficient moisture for the eye which is essential to protect it. This can be a result of occasional irritations such as the weather, allergies or blocked ducts. Many dry eye problems can be helped with the use of eye drops which can help to keep the eye moisturised and encourage tear production.

Ill Health

Blurred vision can happen as a result of common health problems such as cold and flu, migraines and hayfever. If blurred vision has come on at the same time as other symptoms associated with these conditions, the blurred vision should improve as the other symptoms are treated.

Cataracts

One of the most serious sources of blurred vision is a cataract, which unfortunately, like many other eye conditions, develop as we age. A cataract is essentially the clouding of the lens, which causes blurred vision and an inability to focus. Cataracts can be treated with surgery and many people are able to regain their sight following a successful procedure.

There are of course more serious causes of blurred vision and you should be extra cautious if you develop sudden blurred vision without an obvious cause or other symptoms. If you are concerned at all about blurred vision, Chapman Opticians can help diagnose the cause and provide treatment where needed. Get in touch with one of the team to arrange your appointment.

Infants

Development of the eyes takes place between the first 3-10 weeks in the womb. There after changes will continue to occur much till their adolescence. These stages are interpreted into the following significant changes you should be observing in your child and potential problems to be aware of. The well-being of our vision are of great importance as 80% of our memories are created by what we see in day-to-day life.

Warning signs

• Child struggles to track objects by 3 months
• Eyes remain disordered and unable to lock onto objects
• Eyes appear white

Premature babies may have abnormal replacement of tissue in the retina in serve cases can lead to blindness. Hence, internal eye exams should be made to rule out Retinopathy or Prematurity (ROP), highlighting the importance of immediate incubation after birth.

Complaints about double or blurred vision is also a cause for concern to make a visit to the optometrists, which may also offer referrals to the GP if necessary. Dilation can also be performed in our clinics, this observes the retina and optic nerve to identify any on-going problems particularly used to treat sight loss and various other eye conditions.

Other signs of eye sight problems

• Sitting to close to the TV or holding a tablet
• Sensitivity to light
• Squints when reading
• Frequently eye rubbing
• Reports headaches/eye pain

4 months +

In the early 4 months’ baby’s eyesight remains poor as they can only perceive objects 8-10 inches from their face. Hand and eye coordination will begin as they start stacking blocks and track moving objects. Usually minor crossing of the eyes will occur as coordination is yet lacking. Coloured vision is expected to develop at 5 months. You may find as they attempt to examine smaller objects, a cheeky game of hide and seek allows them to build on facial and object recognition.

At 8 months your baby should have clear vision and the ability to calculate distance between objects. Baby’s found to crawl during their growth will have better coordination skills and full 3D interpretation of their surroundings to pick up small objects using their thumb and forefinger. Although in rare cases glasses may be needed.

12 Months +

By 12 months they should be able to tell between near and far. At the two year mark your child should have the capabilities to fully immerse in exploring the environment. Make sure you keep sharp edges especially cabinets away from your child. They also should be encouraged to scribble and draw to create interest in primary colours,visual books cam be helpful in this instance. Colour blindness could also be identified at an early stage, if signs of any struggle to decipher between reds, browns and oranges or blues and purples.

4 Years +

Your child should be able to have an eye test at the age when they are able to decipher their alphabet.  Many schools will start screening at the age of 4+. Usually short-sightedness begins at ages 6+ or earlier as computer and tablet usage in children rises. If you recognise your child to have lazy eye, effective procedure is most successful before the age of 7. Also make sure your child’s eyes are UV protected.

The growth spurt

As eyes continue to develop it becomes increasingly important to have regular eye test, the earlier problems are identified the easier they can be treated. Into adulthood eye sight may deteriorate, frequent monitoring is essential particularly if headaches and eye strain occurs. As many as 1 in 5 children are reported to be short sighted. Take advantage that Children under the ages of 16 or those in education will continue to receive FREE eye test under the NHS.

UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial UV rays, can seriously damage your eyes.

Most people probably understand the link between ultraviolet (UV) radiation and skin cancer. But many are less aware of the connection between UV radiation and eye damage.

With increased levels of UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, it is important to take the necessary precautions to protect your eyes.

What Is UV Light?

The sun’s primary danger to us comes in the form of UV light or radiation. UV radiation is a component of solar radiation. Artificial sources like welding machines, tanning beds, and lasers can also give off UV radiation.

There are three types of UV radiation. UV-C is absorbed by the ozone layer and does not present any threat. UV-A and UV-B radiation can have adverse long- and short-term effects on the eyes and vision.

How Does UV Light Affect Eyesight?

Both long- and short-term exposure to UV radiation can harm the eyes, affect vision, and compromise overall eye health. There are several eye diseases and conditions caused or aggravated by exposure to UV radiation, such as:

Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration (AMD) is caused by damage to the retina over time and is the leading cause of age-related blindness. Extended exposure to UV light increases your risk of developing macular degeneration.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens — the part of the eye that focuses the light we see. UV light, especially UV-B rays, increases your risk for certain types of cataracts. It is estimated that 10% of all cataract cases are directly attributable to UV exposure.

Pterygium

Often called “surfer’s eye,” pterygium is a pink, non-cancerous growth that forms on the layer of conjunctiva over the white of your eye. UV light from the sun is believed to be a factor in the development of these growths.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer in and around the eyelids is also linked to prolonged UV exposure.

Photokeratitis. Also known as corneal sunburn or “snow blindness,” photokeratitis is the result of high short-term exposure to UV-B rays. Long hours at the beach or skiing without proper eye protection can cause this problem. It can be very painful and may cause temporary vision loss.

Who Is at Risk?

Everyone (including children) is at risk for eye damage from UV radiation that can lead to vision loss. Any factor that increases the amount of time you spend in the sun will increase your risk. If you answer yes to more than one of these questions, you may be at higher risk of UV radiation damage to your eyes:

• Do you spend long hours in the sun? (Skiing, mountain climbing, swimming, at the beach, etc.)
• Do you use a sunlamp, tanning bed or booth?
• Do you live in the mountains or the US Sunbelt?
• Have you had cataract surgery (in one or both eyes) or do you have a retinal disorder?
• Are you on certain medicines, such as tetracycline, sulfa drugs, birth control pills, diuretics and tranquilizers (that increase the eye’s sensitivity to light)?
• Are you a welder, medical technologist or do you work in the graphic arts or in the manufacturing of electronic circuit boards?

How Can You Protect Your Eyes from UV Light?

Know the dangers. UV rays can come from many directions. They radiate directly from the sun, but they are also reflected from the ground, from water, snow, sand and other bright surfaces.

Wear proper eye protection and hats to block the UV rays. To provide adequate protection for your eyes, sunglasses should:

• Block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation
• Screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light
• Be perfectly matched in color and free of distortion and imperfection
• Have lenses that are gray for proper color recognition

If you spend a lot of time outdoors in bright sunlight, wrap around frames can provide additional protection from the harmful solar radiation. Lastly, don’t forget about protection for your children and teenagers, as they typically spend more time in the sun than adults.

Foods For Healthy Eyes – Really?

We were all told the same thing when we were younger “Eat your carrots, they’ll help you see in the dark.” Sure, we all rolled our eyes and sure we ate them anyway to see if the theory was actually true, but our parents may not have been far off the mark. There is plenty of research to suggest that eating certain foods can have multiple benefits for your eye health, as well as help to slow down or even reverse the effects of ageing.

Leafy Greens

It is widely known that green vegetables are good for you. However leafy greens such a broccoli, spinach and cabbage have high levels of lutein, a key property for helping to protect the eyes by creating pigments in the macula which can help to protect from age related macular degeneration (ARMD) which is one of the most common causes of blindness in the UK, particularly for the over 60s. These foods are cheap and easy to prepare and can be added to other dishes and so are an easy way to get this key nutrient into your body.

Orange Foods

Carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash and pumpkins contain high doses of carotene, converted by the liver into Vitamin A, which can help protect your eyes from harmful sunlight and allow your eyes to absorb more energy. This can also help you to see better in the dark, so technically your parents were right!

Eggs

Versatile and cheap to buy, eggs contain components that form glutathione, an antioxidant which can help reduce the impact of glaucoma through maintaining the flow of fluid in the eye and can also help to protect against cataracts.

Blueberries

Blueberries contain anthocyanosides, which have been proven to improve night vision as well as helping to fight against ARMD.

Oily Fish

Salmon, cod, tuna, haddock and sardines are high in Omega-3 oils, including essential DHA (a polyunsaturated fat) that forms around 30% of healthy retina tissue. Studies have shown that children who consume a regular dose of Omega-3 have better eyesight than those who don’t.

Omega-3s also have a number of other health benefits which should make them a staple part of your diet. Eating to improve your eye health is easy, you can even combine some of the foods above to create a satisfying meal that will not only taste great, but give you extra health benefits too.

We recommend a broccoli and salmon omelette with a side of spinach and some carrots to give you some essential vitamins and nutrients to improve your eye health and protect yourself from future eye problems. If you are concerned about your eyesight at all or want more information on how you can boost your eye health and prevent future problems, contact one of the team at Oldfields Opticians who will be happy to arrange an appointment.