Coping With Eye Problems
It’s frustrating to suffer from troubles with your eyes, but not know what causes them. Being knowledgeable about common eye problems, symptoms,and treatments is the first step to healthy eyesight.
CVS
Symptoms:
CVS, or computer vision syndrome, unfortunately affects millions of people daily. If you work at a computer, you’re likely affected. Not sure if you may be a victim of CVS? If you work at an office with bright lights that reflect off of your computer screen, then you may be subjected. Also, check your computers contrast, if it’s too bright or too dark, it can cause problems. There are several symptoms of CVS, such as eye strain, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and loss of focus.
Treatment:
Sadly, most people have to work with computers daily, so CVS can’t be avoided. There are things, however, that you can do to cope with CVS or make it better. Some people start wearing computer glasses when they’re staring at the screen. They have a special anti-reflective coating that helps to reduce the glare on your screen. Since computers are in your immediate zone of vision, and it is important that all your focus is placed infront of you, make sure your computer is at eye level. Also, sit at least an arms length from the monitor, but not too far away, to avoid eye strain.
Cataracts
Symptoms:
Cataracts form when the lens of the eye is clouded by a mass of proteins binding together. These can grow and diminish your vision, so early treatment is the best. The first sign of having cataracts is fuzzy or blurry vision. However, some people first notice a temporary improvement in their close-up vision.
Treatment:
If you have cataracts, you have two options for treatment. The first option is easy, just prescription eyeglasses and a recommendation for stronger lighting. If these steps do not work, surgery is next. The surgery, thankfully, is safe and routine. The clouded lens is simply removed and replaced with a clean, plastic lens.
Astigmatism
Symptoms:
Astigmatism is a very common eye problem, and can happen to anyone, regardless if you are near or far sighted. Astigmatism is the result of a misshapen cornea. Most people with astigmatism notice slight eye discomfort, blurry vision, and headaches.
Treatment:
Astigmatism can be easily treated. Most people that have astigmatism notice no difference, and therefore do not require treatment. If you do need treatment, you are first given a toric lens, or a lens specially designed for astigmatism. You can even find toric lenses available in a contact lens, so they are very convenient. For people with high levels of astigmatism, refraction surgery may be needed.
Dry Eye
Symptoms:
Luckily, dry eye is very easy to diagnose, since the symptoms are so easy to discover. Common symptoms are burning, itchiness, and chronic dryness. Excessive watering is also a symptom, since eyes overcompensate to make up for the dryness with excessive tears. If you have problems producing tears, it is also likely that you suffer from dry eye.
Treatment:
Treatment for dry eye is one of the easiest treatments for any eye condition. A daily drop is normally used. Often these are over the counter and do not require a prescription. However, if your dry eye is severe, they do make prescription strength eye drops for dry eye. There are several types of over the counter dry eye drops, and they can benefit people who suffer from contact irritation, allergies, eye strain, and dry eye.
Celeste Johnson is a writer for Reading Glasses Shopper. She is interested in eye health issues and developments in eye wear, such as pocket reading glasses. Celeste enjoys reading, writing, and shopping.
