Glaucoma Symptoms | Types | Treatment
If your optometrist or ophthalmologist has told you that you have glaucoma, you may be wondering what that means and how it can affect your sight. Glaucoma is a serious eye disease, but in most cases it can be controlled with correct treatment. Read on to find out glaucoma symptoms, types and treatment options. At the end we leave you with some tips to saving your sight with glaucoma.
What is Glaucoma?
Fluid is always flowing through the inside of your eye. If you have glaucoma, this fluid does not flow normally. Pressure inside your eye then rises and damages your sight. If the pressure remains high, it can cause blindness.
Your eye drains sort of like a sink. If the drain is clogged or blocked, the sink backs up. With glaucoma, the holes that fluid drain through get clogged or blocked. Pressure rises and it slowly destroys the delicate fibres of the optic nerve that send visual information to the brain and vision loss occurs starting with side vision.
Types of Glaucoma
The type of glaucoma you have depends on the size of the angle between the iris and the cornea, where the drainage holes lie.
Open Angle Glaucoma
This is the most common kind of glaucoma. Eye pressure rises slowly and destroys vision gradually, starting with side vision. There is no pain or other warning signs. In some cases vision may be lost, even though pressure stays within a normal range (low tension glaucoma).
The angle between the iris and cornea is normal, but the drainage holes get clogged from the inside.
Closed/Narrow Angle Glaucoma
This is less common. The condition is either acute (closed angle) or chronic (narrow angle). With the acute form eye pressure rises suddenly and vision can be lost within a few hours and must be lowered right away to prevent blindness. Severe pain, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision can occur with an acute attack. With the chronic form of closed angle glaucoma, pressure rises more slowly and often without any symptoms.
The angle is narrower than normal. If fluid can’t get through the angle, the iris pushes forward and blocks the drainage holes.
Other forms of glaucoma can be linked to an injury or inflammation of the eye, a cataract, an eye tumor, or advanced diabetes.
Who Does Glaucoma Affect?
The major risk factor for glaucoma is age. Glaucoma most often affects people over 50, but everyone over 35 should be tested at least every 2 years. African people are more likely to develop open angle glaucoma at a younger age, than if you are Caucasian. Asians are more likely to develop closed angle glaucoma. You also have a higher risk of developing glaucoma if a close family member has had the disease or if you have high blood pressure or high blood sugar. If you are at risk for glaucoma, you should have your eyes checked at least once a year.
How Is Glaucoma Diagnosed?
Most people learn they have glaucoma during an eye exam. Simple tests that measure your eye pressure and examining the inside of your eye usually alert your eye doctor to a problem. Other tests reveal loss of vision and damage to the delicate structures of your eye.
Taking Your Medical History
Because glaucoma is often hereditary, your eye doctor needs to know if other members of your family have the disease. You also need to tell your eye doctor about any medical conditions you have, such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure, irregular heart beat or lung disease that could affect your eye pressure.
Measuring Your Eye Pressure
An instrument called a tonometer measures the pressure inside your eyes. Your eye doctor lightly touches a plastic prism to your eyeball. Your eye is numbed with drops, so this should be painless. Sometimes your pressure may be measured by a tonometer that sends a puff of air onto the cornea.
Examining Your Optic Nerve
Your eye doctor examines the inside of your eyes for changes in your optic disc. Changes indicate damage from pressure. Your eye doctor looks through each pupil with a hand held instrument called an ophthalmoscope. Your pupils may also be dilated and pictures taken to record changes in your optic disc.
Checking Your Drainage Angle
Your eye doctor examines the angle between the iris and the cornea, where the drainage holes lie. A special lens called a gonioscope is used which tells the eye doctor whether the drainage angle is open or closed. This helps determine the kind of glaucoma you have.
Testing Your Field of Vision
A visual field test, called perimetry, tells your eye doctor whether you have lost any side vision. A printout is then made to show your field of vision.
How is Vision Loss Stopped?
Your eye doctor cannot restore vision that has already been lost, but in most cases eye pressure can be lowered to prevent further loss of sight. Your treatment depends on the type of glaucoma you have and how it responds to medication. Some cases may require laser treatment or surgery.
Treating Open Angle Glaucoma
In most cases of open angle glaucoma, pressure inside the eyes rises and damages the optic nerve. The only ways to control pressure and prevent loss of vision are to decrease fluid production or increase drainage. To decrease fluid production, your eye doctor may prescribe eye drops. To increase drainage your eye doctor may recommend eye drops or laser treatment or surgery to open the drainage holes.
Depending on your condition, you may use one or more kinds of eye drops. Drops that decrease production of fluid are used one or two times a day. Drops that increase drainage are used two to four times a day. Most people can use eye drops without any side effects, but they can cause headaches, eye irritation, blurred vision and other symptoms.
Laser Treatment
When eye pressure can’t be controlled with eye drops, laser treatment is used in a procedure called trabeculoplasty. The laser is a beam of energy that can be focused to a tiny point. The laser is aimed at precise spots around the edge of the iris (coloured part). Each burst of laser stretches the tissue to open the clogged holes and allow fluid to drain freely.
Surgery
When laser treatment can’t control your eye pressure, the eye doctor may suggest a procedure called trabeculectomy. A new drain is made in your eye so that fluid can bypass the clogged drainage holes. The doctor makes a flap in the sclera (white part), and a tiny hole is made under this flap. This new opening allows fluid to drain freely. This is usually done as outpatient surgery. You’re awake, but your eye is numbed so you shouldn’t feel any pain.
Treating Closed Angle Glaucoma
This is a medical emergency so urgent treatment is needed to lower pressure as fast as possible to prevent damage to the optic nerve and save your sight. Eye drops are needed every 15 – 30 minutes to decrease production of fluid and pull the iris away from the drainage holes. Your doctor may also use diuretic pills and medication given through an IV line to decrease production of fluid.
Once the pressure is lowered, a laser is used to make a new opening in your iris. This is called an iridotomy. This takes a few minutes and you can go home afterwards and resume your normal routine. Your doctor may check your pressure again the next day.
Tips for Saving Your Sight
Untreated, glaucoma can quietly steal your sight. Always stick to your treatment plan and save your vision. Because glaucoma can run in families, encourage other members of your family to have their eyes checked regularly too.
- Use your medication as directed- even after your pressure is under control.
- Make and keep regular appointments with your eye doctor.
- Tell your eye doctor if you have any side effects, notice any changes to your vision, or forget to take your medication.
- Make sure you understand exactly how and when to take your medication. Learn the name and dosage of each drop and what it does.
- If you forget to take your medication, take it as soon as you remember. Don’t wait until the next regular time.
- Wherever you go, always carry your medication with you. Take an extra supply when you travel.
- Tell all your doctors that you have glaucoma and give them a list of your medications. This can help prevent interactions with other medications you take.
- When you buy over the counter drugs, read the label. Check with your eye doctor if the label says that anyone with glaucoma shouldn’t take this medication.
Choosing Your Perfect Eyeglass Frames
Today I want to help you with choosing your perfect eyeglass frames. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then the frames around them should reflect the wearer. Because people generally recognize you by your face, the eyeglasses you choose to wear are a very real part of your identity. Whether you want to appear sophisticated, youthful, conservative or style-conscious, the right eyewear can help you shape how you are perceived, and if you choose to wear only one pair of frames for everything you do; that says a lot about you too.
For some celebrities, glasses form part of their identity. Comedian Drew Carey continued to wear glasses for this reason even after getting corrective laser eye surgery. John Lennon wore his round lens spectacles from his time with the Beatles to his death. Elton John is still noted for wearing odd coloured glasses. In pop culture, glasses was the only disguise Superman needed to hide his alter ego, Clark Kent.
Matching Eyeglass Frames to Face Shapes
Here are some general tips when choosing eyeglass frames:
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Eyewear should repeat your personal best feature, e.g. a blue frame to match blue eyes.
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The frame size should be in scale with your face size.
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And most important, the frame shape should contrast your face shape.
So if you have a round face made up mostly of soft curves, you’ll look best in angular or square frames. And if you have a more angular or narrow face (rectangular or square), go for a rounded style. If your face is heart shaped, try something delicate like semi-rimless or rimless style, to balance the narrowness of the chin. For those with an oval face, you are free to experiment, since any style will suit you.
The key is to avoid a round shape frame on a round face, because contrast is what creates emphasis and balances your features.
What Do Your Frames Say About You?
Your choice of frames can either show people the real you or it can create an image you want them to see. The idea is to choose an eyeglass frame to match your personality and lifestyle; What activities do you take part in? What type of work do you do? What do you need your spectacles for?
Most people benefit from more than one pair of eyeglasses for different occasions, just as you would need more than one pair of shoes, for sport, cocktail parties, office etc.
So, are you a fast paced business man, an outdoor enthusiast, a busy mum, a pensioner or a student? Are you a creative person, like an artist? Or like most people, do you have a lifestyle with a number of different activities?
Here are some tips when choosing eyeglass frames for your specific lifestyle.
1. Eyeglasses for Serious Business
A conservative looking frame works best. It looks professional and will instill trust and confidence in you business clients and colleagues.
-Try to avoid bright colours and unusual shapes.
-Titanium and stainless steel are always good choices
-Rimless and semi-rimless gives that professional look in frame styles.
In terms of colour, silver, gunmetal, brown and black are recommended for men.
Brown, golden tones, silver and burgundy are good choices for women.
2. Eyeglasses for The Creative
Show your creative side with modern shapes and geometric designs. Thicker and larger plastic frames work well. Try unusual colours like blue, green and purple. Multi coloured frames are another possibility.
3. Frames for the Modern Baby Boomer or Senior
Just because you are eligible for pension, doesn’t mean you should wear stodgy, old fashioned frames. Those huge old fashioned metal frames in aviator shapes should be thrown out! Everyone wants to look young and modern. Your frames should be uplifting for the face such as upswept rectangles for men and cat eye shapes for women. Certain colours can also make you look younger. A slight shine to a frame adds life to the face of a woman. Avoid dull, boring colours.
4. Frames for Campus
University or college is a time to develop your own identity and show your style.
On campus, there are no constraints. So you have the freedom to choose bright eye catching colours, unusual shapes and interesting details. These are all available in a number of brand names.
5. Eyewear for the Busy Mum or Dad
For a busy parent, with little time to worry about the latest trends, a basic yet stylish pair of spectacles works best.
Ovals, upswept rectangles and soft cat eye shapes are very functional and still look great. Depending on you personal style, you could try a basic frame shape with details of diamante accents or a recognizable designer logo.
Colours such as plum, deep red, light green and black can also add a fashion edge to a basic frame.
6. Glasses for the Weekend Warrior
Most adults live dual lives- their normal 9 to 5 weekday life and their more active life on the weekends. Just as dress shoes are wrong for the gym, your regular 9 to 5 glasses are the wrong choice for sport and active wear. For the best comfort, performance and safety during “weekend warrior” hours, choose at least one pair of sport sunglasses or sport eyeglasses. See blog on Sports Vision.
Conclusion
We all like convenience. But the truth is, there are many aspects to your life and personality. And to complement your multi- dimensional lifestyle, you need more than one pair of eyeglasses. New frames are a great way to update your look without buying a whole new wardrobe.
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Diabetes and the Eye
Are you worried about diabetes affecting your eyes and vision. Well today we will be talking more about the effect diabetic patients may experience with their eyes. So the first question to answer is “What is Diabetes?”
In diabetes, there is too much sugar in the blood.
When the blood sugar is constantly or frequently high, many complications occur: eyesight can suffer, heart attacks and other blood vessel problems can occur, and one’s lifespan can be shortened. When the blood sugar is maintained at a normal level, the complications of diabetes including serious diabetic retinopathy can be reduced. Controlling blood sugar is the single most important thing a person with diabetes can do to prevent the complications of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes usually occurs at a young age. People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin to survive and to control blood sugar. They should test their own blood sugar levels with a glucometer several times a day so they can adjust their diet, exercise, and insulin doses to keep the blood sugar at the required level. They should follow a diet controlled in carbohydrates and low in fat and cholesterol. Regular exercise is also important as it helps reduce blood sugar.
Type 2 diabetes usually starts in adult life and is often not dependant on insulin for control of blood sugar. Maintaining normal weight and a diet low in calories, fat and cholesterol is very important. Blood sugar can be controlled either with diet alone or in combination with pills to lower blood sugar. In some cases, insulin treatment is also necessary.
In addition to the importance of diet and exercise, there are other factors that can affect diabetes. High blood pressure is very bad for people with diabetes because it increases the risk of complications, including vision loss. Smoking is known to be particularly bad for people with diabetes because it promotes the closure of blood vessels.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic Retinopathy is the most common eye disease associated with diabetes. In diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels of the retina become abnormal and this causes the problems that people with diabetes have with their eyesight. Normally, the blood vessels of the retina do not leak. But with diabetes, the retinal blood vessels can develop tiny leaks. These leaks cause blood to seep into the retina. The retina then becomes wet and swollen and cannot work properly. The form of diabetic retinopathy caused by leaking retinal blood vessels is called Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR).
Another problem with the retinal blood vessels in diabetes is that they can close. The retinal tissue which depends on those vessels for nutrition, will no longer work properly. This causes the growth of new abnormal blood vessels, which can be very bad for the eye. These new blood vessels are weak and can cause bleeding and scar tissue which can cause blindness (total loss of vision). This type of retinopathy which causes closure of blood vessels and the growth of new vessels is called Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR).
Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR)
In diabetes, the retinal blood vessels can develop tiny leaks. Blood and fluid seep from the retinal blood vessels and fatty material deposits in the retina. This causes swelling of the retina, and it is called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).
When this occurs in the central part of the retina (macula), vision will be reduced or blurred. Leakage elsewhere in the retina will have no effect on vision.
A patient with a wet, swollen macula, or with exudates in the macula, will have some loss of vision, including blurring, distortion, or darkening. If one eye is affected, the other eye may also be affected, though the problem may not be equally severe in both eyes. If diabetic retinopathy has affected each macula severely, central vision may be lost from each eye and the ability to see detail will be lost. These patients learn to use the areas outside the macula to see some detail. This ability to look slightly off centre usually improves with time, though the eyesight will never be as good as it was before the central retina (macula) was damaged by leaky blood vessels. So people who have NPDR will usually be able to see well enough to take care of themselves and continue those activities that do not require detailed vision.
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR)
In PDR, retinal blood vessels close off and large areas of the retina lose their source of nutrition. When this happens, peripheral or side vision is reduced, and the person’s ability to see at night and adjust from light to dark is often diminished.
As a result of this loss of nourishing blood flow, the retina responds by developing new blood vessels that are abnormal. This can be a huge problem and can be very dangerous to the eye. These new vessels do not nourish the retina properly and may start to bleed and cause scar tissue on the retina. The scar tissue pulls the retina off the back of the eye and causes a detachment. This can lead to severe vision loss or even total blindness.
Sometimes these new blood vessels can also grow on the iris (coloured part of the eye), and it may close off the normal flow of fluid out of the eye. This results in increased pressure in the eye and causes glaucoma. This causes permanent changes, resulting in vision loss, pain, and even total loss of the eye.
It may be impossible for a person with diabetes and early PDR to know that any of these changes are occurring. For this reason, it is essential that every person with diabetes be examined regularly by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. These examinations should occur regularly, every 6-12 months, depending on the degree of retinopathy. The earlier theses changes are discovered, the better the chance of saving vision. The later these changes are discovered, the greater the chance of blindness.
Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy
Laser Surgery
Laser surgery can be very helpful in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. The laser beam is a high energy light that turns to heat when it is focused on the parts of the retina to be treated. In NPDR, the laser seals the leaking blood vessels or reduces the leakage and allows the retina to dry. In PDR, the laser destroys the diseased portions of the retina to stop the growth of the abnormal new blood vessels.
Essentially, the major purpose of laser surgery is to prevent further vision loss. Laser surgery may not always be best or even possible. The decision to use laser depends mostly on the type of diabetic retinopathy, its severity, and a judgment regarding how well it may respond to laser surgery.
Because diabetes is a condition for which there is currently no cure, the diabetes may continue to damage the retina. Even with laser surgery patients may continue to lose vision. But when laser is the right treatment, the chances are that it can prevent further visual loss.
Questions about Laser Surgery
What is the purpose of laser surgery?
In NPDR, the leaking blood vessels cause the retina to become wet and swollen, causing vision loss. Laser surgery stops the leakage from these vessels to prevent vision loss.
In PDR, the growth of new abnormal blood vessels causes severe visual loss by bleeding into the eye and forming scar tissue which pulls on the retina causing a retinal detachment. The laser stops this growth and detachment and thus prevents further visual loss.
Will I have to go to hospital?
Laser surgery is usually done in the doctor’s office or in the hospital as outpatient surgery. After the surgery, you will be able to go home and resume your normal activities without special restrictions.
Is the surgery safe?
In most cases, no complications occur but, as with all surgery, there are some risks. There is a small chance that the laser beam might not be aimed properly and that healthy retina might be destroyed and vision lost. Laser might also cause bleeding and scarring. Fortunately, these complications are rare.
What are the after effects of laser surgery?
Certain types of laser surgery may cause loss of night vision. So these patients might not be able to drive at night. Sometimes peripheral or side vision may be reduced after surgery. Most patients have some degree of blurring of central vision which passes with time but in a few patients it may be permanent. Rarely, there is a lot of swelling after surgery which causes an increase in eye pressure. This is very painful and the patient should call the treating ophthalmologist immediately.
Are the effects of the laser permanent?
In most cases, leaking blood vessels remain closed and the growth of new abnormal blood vessels is stopped permanently after surgery. But because diabetes continues, it is common for the leakage to develop in new areas. If laser surgery is indicated, however, the outcome is always better than if no surgery is done.
Does laser surgery cause any pain?
For NPDR, laser surgery is almost always painless, though a few patients do experience some discomfort. After the laser surgery, the eye is patched for the rest of the day. In PDR, many patients experience some pain. The eye is usually anesthetized.
How long does laser surgery take?
Depending on the extent of the problem, laser surgery for NPDR may take anywhere from a few minutes to a half hour. For PDR it may take from 15 minutes to an hour or more.
What will my vision be like after laser?
Vision is often blurred but it usually improves within a month. There will be small black areas or blind spots where the laser spots were placed. These will be permanent but become less noticeable with time. Peripheral and night vision is likely to be reduced.
How many treatments will I need?
For NPDR, usually one treatment is all that is required. However, if new leaks develop later, additional surgery will be necessary. For PDR, two or three sessions are usually required.
Can anything help if central vision is lost in each eye?
Those patients who have lost central vision in both eyes will be referred to a low vision specialist who helps patients learn to use their remaining vision to its fullest. They make use of low vision aids like magnifying lenses, telescopic lenses, special filters etc.
Will using my eyes hurt them?
You cannot hurt your eyes by using them. There is no way in which using your eyes can do your eyes any harm, whether by reading, watching television or driving.
Diabetes and Your Eyes
If there is a fairly large, rapid shift in your blood glucose level, you may notice that your vision becomes blurry. This may occur prior to the diagnosis of diabetes, or it may develop after the initiation of treatment or a change in treatment of diabetes. This difficulty with vision or focusing will disappear once the blood sugar has been stabilized for about 1 week. So, measure your own vision in each eye, separately, each day. Know what you can see each day. If you notice a change in your vision, call your optometrist or ophthalmologist for an appointment. It is important for all patients with diabetes to have a thorough retinal exam regularly, about every 6-12 months, even when there are no problems. Also, be sure to talk to your own medical doctor about the importance of diet and exercise and the dangers of smoking and high blood pressure. And, most of all learn to maintain the best possible control of blood sugar.
Pineslopes Optometrists will always be available to answer your questions and to help in every way possible. You are encouraged to call with any unusual symptom or worry. We are here to help you.
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Eye Strain Headache Relief
Think you have an eye strain headache? Do you suffer with headaches whenever you try to read a novel or a textbook or any fine print? Do you find it strenuous for your eyes to watch TV? Do your eyes feel tired and sore after prolonged computer work? Looking for some eye strain headache relief? Today you will learn all about eyestrain from an optometrist and I will even give you my top 10 tips to help eye strain relief by yourself.
If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you could be suffering with an eyestrain headache. Most of us cause these types of headaches ourselves by constantly over exposing our eyes to television, computer screens and video games.
What is Eye Strain?
Eyestrain is a common form of eye discomfort that occurs when the eyes tire after you have been doing a particular visual task for prolonged periods, such as spending several hours in front of the computer.
Symptoms of eye strain include headaches, painful or uncomfortable eyes and vision problems. These eye strain symptoms are normally not present when you wake up but normally come on by visual tasks like reading. Most often, what you need is a new pair of glasses or contact lenses, or maybe the muscles that align the eyes are strained and just need a rest.
What Causes Eyestrain?
Focusing your eyes for prolonged periods on a fixed object, especially between 40cm and 80cm. Eyes are strained more by close viewing than distance viewing.
Poor lighting. Near work under poor lighting conditions causes the eyes to focus under difficult conditions.
Glare, either direct or reflected, makes it difficult to see. Direct glare would be glare directly into the eyes form bright overhead lighting or sunlight through a window. Reflected glare would be from your computer screen. As your eyes strain, facial and eye muscles tighten.
Contrast is the difference between the brightness of the object being viewed and its immediate environment. Excessive contrast will lead to eyestrain.
Vision problems. With blurred vision, you will get a headache in no time! You may be straining to see because you need corrective spectacles or you may need to update your current spectacle or contact lens prescription. This just means that you are creating too much strain on your eyes without giving the proper rest or the required nourishment the delicate tissues and blood vessels around your eyes.
Symptoms of Eye Strain
- Headaches
- Blurred or double vision
- Pain in the eye
- Red, watery eyes
- Dry eyes that feel scratchy or uncomfortable
- Heaviness of the eyelids or forehead
- Back aches and neck aches
- Spasm of the muscles surrounding the eyes
- Twitching of the eyelid
How is Eye Strain Treated?
Having eye strain does not mean that you should stop using the computer or reading or watching television. You should identify the cause of the eyestrain and correct it. This would involve:
- Having a comprehensive eye examination to see if you require spectacles and to rule out any eye disease or eye disorder as well as to make sure that your current spectacle or contact lens prescription is correct.
- Assessing your work environment. A professional trained in ergonomics may be helpful in arranging your workstation to reduce eye strain. You can get your free desk ergonomics copy of “SOS My Desk” from Pineslopes Chiropractic Clinic. Just email the chiropractors and ask for SOS My Desk.
10 Tips To Help Relieve Eye Strain:
So here it is an optometrists Top 10 Tips to help eye strain relief:
- Ensure that your computer screen and reading material is not too close to your eyes.
- Take a 2 minute break from your computer after every hour. Do this by looking into the distance or by simply closing your eyes. Slowly blinking the eyes a number of times may also help give the eyes a gentle massage.
- Focusing your eyes between two different focus distances can tire the eyes. Always try to keep your reading material at the same distance as your computer screen.
- Work stations and lighting should be arranged to avoid direct and reflected glare. Place the computer where there is no glare from windows or light and keep screens clean and dust free. Using a glare filter on your computer screen also helps.
- The computer monitor should be slightly below eye level. This will allow you to look downward at the screen and allow you to blink more frequently and thus prevent dry eye.
- Wear sunglasses that reduce glare and offer 100% UV protection while driving or working outside. This reduces strain on the eyes and prevents squinting which may tire eye and facial muscles.
- When reading, knitting or drawing, hold your material about 40cm from your eyes. Also, use adequate soft light (a 60 watt bulb).
- Room lighting should never be as bright as your computer screen. Find a way to darken the area around the computer screen.
- While watching TV, the room lighting should be 50% dimmer than the screen. Do not watch in total darkness though as this makes the contrast in light too great. Also sit at a reasonable distance away from the TV. Too close viewing distances can also cause eyestrain.
- For those of you enjoy doing yoga, there are some asanas and exercises specifically addressed to your eyes. This is beneficial to you from all aspects.
Hope this helps you get some eye strain headache relief soon. If any problems or questions please call us at Pineslopes Optometrists on 011 465 4028/9 or via our optometry contact page.
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Contact Lenses
Over the last decade the contact lens industry has seen an explosion in sales as the different shapes, sizes, colours and designs of the contact lenses have grown. Today, millions of people are choosing to wear contacts instead of glasses. Some are skeptical though, that a tiny disc of different material and colour can be worn on the eye daily and still provide clear comfortable vision. So read on to learn more about the different types, coloured lenses, how to take care of and health warnings about contact lenses.
WHAT ARE CONTACT LENSES?
Definition: A contact lens is a corrective, cosmetic or therapeutic lens placed on the cornea of the eye.
Leonardo da Vinci described and sketched the first ideas for contact lenses in 1508, but it took more than 300 years before lenses were actually worn on the eye.
Contact lenses usually serve the same corrective purposes as spectacles, but are lightweight and almost invisible. They are thin optical discs, worn directly on the eye and are held in place by layers of tears. The contact lens acts as an extension of the eye itself, correcting aberrations that cause a variety of defects.
‘Clear’ prescription contact lenses have a faint blue colour called a visibility tint to make the lenses more visible when immersed in cleaning solution. Cosmetic contact lenses are deliberately coloured to alter the appearance of the eye. Most contact lenses are surfaced treated with a UV coating to reduce UV damage to the eyes natural lens.
CONTACT LENSES or EYEGLASSES
Contact lenses are worn for many reasons, often because of their practicality and appearance. When compared with spectacles, contact lenses are less affected by wet weather, do not steam up and provide a wider field of vision. They are suitable for a number of sporting activities. Additionally, certain eye conditions likekeratoconus and aniseikonia cannot accurately be corrected by spectacles and contact lenses are a much better option.
Some other reasons to wear contacts are:
- The advances in contact lens technology in recent years have given people a great amount of freedom and comfort.
- Contact lenses move with your eye, allow a natural field of view, have no frames to obstruct your vision and greatly reduce distortions.
- They do not fog up, like glasses, nor do they get splattered by mud or rain.
- Contact lenses do not get in the way of your activities.
- Many people feel they look better in contact lenses.
- Today, almost all corrections can be done with contact lenses and more eye care professionals are recommending their use to a wide variety of patients.
TYPES of CONTACT LENSES
Disposable soft contact lenses are normally worn from 2 weeks up to 30 days and then discarded. They are made of soft, pliable plastics that allow oxygen to reach the eye. They are easy to adapt to and comfortable to wear and are available in almost all prescriptions. They require daily removal and cleaning.
Daily wear soft disposable lenses are worn for a single day and then discarded. The major advantage of this is that there is no lens cleaning or lens care required and new lenses are worn everyday. The disadvantage is that they are not appropriate for all prescriptions and may not provide sharp enough vision for some people.
Extended-wear lenses are soft and can usually be worn continuously for up to 30 days without being removed.
Rigid gas permeable lenses (hard) are made from slightly flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through them. They may provide sharper vision than soft lenses and can be used to correct most vision problems. However, they do take longer to get used to them (approx. 2 to 4 weeks).
Spherical contact lenses are soft or hard lenses that contain a single prescription power.
Aspheric contact lenses are used by people with only slight astigmatism.
Toric contact lenses are soft or hard lenses that combine a spherical and cylindrical component to correct astigmatism. They are usually thicker in one area than another so they can stay in the correct position on the eye.
Bifocal or multifocal contact lenses work like bifocal or multifocal spectacles. They provide sharp vision up close and at a distance. These are usually given to patients over the age of 40.
Orthokeratology lenses are also called Ortho-K or reverse geometry lenses and are a non-surgical method of reshaping the cornea. They are worn overnight and they progressively adjust the cornea’s shape, correcting the vision defect. The effect lasts about 12 hours before reversing itself.
COLOUR CONTACT LENSES
Coloured contact lenses have become very popular across the globe, especially in these times when it is important the way you look and to always change something about your looks. Coloured contact lenses are NOT for medical purposes; they are used to change the way a person looks i.e. purely cosmetic and decorative reasons. Coloured contact lenses have become a fashion accessory like a new bag or shoes, and they are also representing a way to have fun.
Coloured contact lenses come in many types and many styles. For dark coloured eyes, blue, grey, green and hazel are recommended. For light coloured eyes, all shades of blue, green and gray work well. There are also contact lenses that imitate the eyes of cats, or contact lenses that make you look like a vampire. The choice here is endless and can be great fun. They are becoming increasingly popular with teenagers and young adults as they seek to find their most appealing eye colour /complexion / hair colour match. Increased technology and supply has led to coloured contact lenses becoming increasingly affordable to many.
The coloured contacts are as safe as normal clear contact lenses and it is important to clean them daily, to follow exactly the rules regarding their wearing and NOT borrow them to another person.
HOW TO TAKE CARE of CONTACT LENSES
Wearing contact lenses DOES restrict the amount of oxygen passing through the cornea and if a contact lens is worn for too long it may cause blurry vision, pain and redness. Improper cleaning and care of contact lenses can cause bacterial infections which can lead to other eye diseases. Contact lenses require greater care than spectacles because they come into direct contact with the eye. Whatever is on the lens-dust, pollen, bacteria and chemicals, also reaches the eye surface.
Always follow the optometrist’s directions, as well as manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning methods. Your optometrist should also be consulted about changing brands of solution.
Avoid swimming with contact lenses because of the risk of bacterial contamination from the pool or sea water.
Contact lenses have to be cleaned daily and should be removed for sleeping.
Potential Risks in Wearing Contact Lenses
Corneal ulcers can occur from long term contact lens use. Ulcers can cause scarring, lead to vision loss, including partial or complete blindness.
Treat your lenses with care, follow the instructions of your optometrist, clean daily, limit your wearing time and they will reward you with great comfortable vision.
SIGNS OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
It is normally not difficult to wear contact lenses. However, there are times where problems are experienced. If any of the following happens, contact your optometrist as soon as possible:
- Sudden onset of blurred vision,
- Red, irritated eyes
- Uncomfortable lenses
- Pain in and around the eyes
Following your optometrist’s advice and scheduling regular follow up visits will prevent most problems.
FAQ ABOUT CONTACT LENSES
Here are some the other frequently asked questions I get as an optometrist who prescribes contact lenses:
1. At what age can I wear contact lenses?
With the variety of lenses now available, more people can wear contact lenses. Children as young as 8 years can wear contact lenses if they are responsible enough and properly trained. Contact lenses are normally good for their self esteem and prevent them from being teased at school. They would require more frequent follow up visits.
2. If I wear bifocals/multifocals, can I wear contact lenses?
There are many options for people who are over the age of 40 and are affected by presbyopia. Presbyopia occurs when, as part of the natural aging process, the eye’s crystalline lens loses its ability to bring close objects into clear focus.
These people would require a bifocal or multifocal contact lens to provide clear vision at distance as well as near. Another option is Monovision. This means wearing a contact lens for near vision in one eye and, if needed, a lens for distance in the other eye. A third option would be a combination of contact lenses and reading glasses.
3. If I have astigmatism- can I wear contact lenses?
Many people with astigmatism are under the impression that they can’t wear contact lenses. But nowadays, toric lenses are available and these work perfectly for astigmatism.
Astigmatism is a long word for distorted vision as a result of having an irregularly shaped cornea. Toric lenses have the ability to correct this defect and they also have a stabilizing mechanism that keeps them flush on your eye when you blink.
4. Can contact lenses damage my eyes?
If you have never worn contact lenses before, putting something in your eye can seem a daunting task. But millions of people around the world wear contact lenses without any problems. As long as you follow the basic cleaning steps, you could be one of them. Colour contacts and ‘crazy lenses’ normally arouse curiosity and envy among your friends. It is important to never, ever share them as this could cause a nasty infection.
5. What if the lens goes behind my eyeball?
It is impossible for a foreign object like a contact lens to go behind the eyeball. The worst that could happen is that the contact lens may slide and get misplaced under the eye lid. If this happens, move the eyes in the direction of the lens, which will slide back into place.
6. Is it better to get my contact lenses from an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist?
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor and specializes in the eye. They are concerned more with eye surgery and treating eye diseases. There are a few who would specialize in contact lenses. An optometrist is trained to perform eye examinations and prescribe vision correction devices like spectacles or contact lenses. Both can give you the contact lenses you need. Find one you’re comfortable with and be assured that you are in good hands.
Health Caution: Many sites on the internet offer to buy contact lenses online. Almost all eye care professionals advise against this. Direct contact with your optometrist and regular check ups are of utmost importance.
Want to ask more about getting a pair of contacts please use our contact form below or call Pineslopes Optometrists on 011 465 4028/9
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Sport Vision Improvement
Do you want some sports vision improvement? Do you wish you could cut a few strokes off your golf score? Or do you always seem to be just a few steps away from the soccer ball? Maybe your having trouble returning your tennis partner’s serve? Vision, just like speed and strength, is an important component in how well you play your sport. There is much more to vision than just seeing clearly. Your vision is composed of many interrelated skills that can affect how well you play your sport. Just as exercise and practice can increase your speed and strength, it can also improve your visual fitness and accuracy.
Photo Credit: Richard Masoner
Because all sports have different visual demands, an optometrist with expertise in sports vision can assess your unique visual system and recommend the proper sport prescription glasses, sport contact lenses, or design a vision program to maximize your visual skills for your specific sport.
Remember, a thorough eye examination by your optometrist is a great place to get the winning edge.
Eye protection should also be a major concern to all athletes, especially in certain high-risk sports. There are thousands of sports related eye injuries each year, and nearly all can be prevented by using proper protective eyewear. For outdoor sports, appropriate sunglasses are a must, and some sport-specific designs may even help you improve your game. Ask your optometrist which type is best suited for your favorite sport.
WHAT IS SPORTS VISION?
Sportsvision describes all the aspects of vision required in sport. It is much more complex than simply recording how well you can read a vision chart, or see straight ahead.
A sports vision assessment would record:
- Visual Acuity-how well you can see straight ahead of you
- Eye Dominance
- How well the eyes work together to provide 3D vision. This is directly related to timing and accuracy. Striking a ball or aiming at a goal.
- Peripheral awareness.
- Eye speed and ability to follow a moving target.
- Ability to cope with poor contrast
- Which colour filters improve your vision?
FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT AN ATHLETES PERFORMANCE
Dynamic Visual Acuity
If you are playing a sport like squash, tennis, rugby, soccer or hockey, it is important that you are able to see objects while you and/or the objects are moving. Without good dynamic visual acuity, these sports will be difficult for you.
Visual Concentration
When you miss an easy ground ball or a short putt, it may be that you are distracted by things around you. Our eyes normally react to movements in our periphery (spectators, other players or even birds flying nearby in the distance. Visual concentration is the ability to screen out these distractions and stay focused on the ball or the target.
Eye Tracking
Playing any sport with a fast moving ball or opponent, it is important that you be able to follow objects without much head motion. Eye tracking helps you maintain better balance and react more quickly.
Eye-Hand-Body Co-ordination
This is how your hands, feet, body and other muscles respond to the visual information gathered through your eyes. This is vital in most sports as it affects both timing and body control.
Visual Memory
When you are running towards a soccer or hockey goal or running between wickets, you need to process and remember a fast moving, complex picture of people and things. This is visual memory. The athlete with good visual memory always seems to be at the right place at the right time.
Visualization
Picture yourself hitting a perfect drive or scoring a goal from a free-kick. Believe it or not, picturing yourself doing it can actually help you do it. Visualization is the skill that enables you to see yourself performing well in your “mind’s eye” while your eyes are seeing and concentrating on something else, usually the ball. Using scanning techniques, researches have found that the same areas of the brain that light up during performance also do so when you visualize the performance.
Peripheral Vision
When a soccer player sees a teammate out of the corner of his eye, he is using his peripheral vision. Since much of what happens in sports does not happen directly in front of you, it’s important to increase your ability to see action to the side without having to turn your head.
Visual Reaction Time
The bowler releases the cricket ball and you swing a little late and you hit a weak drive down the ground or worse, you miss the ball completely. Or, maybe you have difficulty returning that tennis serve. You need to improve your visual reaction time, or the speed with which your brain interprets and reacts to your opponent’s action.
Focus Ability
The split second that it takes you to change focus from an object far away to one near you may delay your reaction time and cause you to frequently miss a bowler’s fast ball or miss an easy volley.
Depth Perception
In tennis or squash, depth perception enables you to quickly and accurately judge the distance between yourself, the ball, your opponent, teammates, boundary lines and other objects. When shooting or hunting, if you consistently over or underestimate the distance to your target, poor depth perception may be at fault.
Vision Options for Athletes
Enhanced sports vision skills can give an athlete a competitive advantage. Sports vision specialists can help you improve hand-eye coordination and get good protective eyewear to prevent eye injuries.
Sport Contact Lenses
Contact lenses give you a competitive advantage in sports, especially when it comes to providing a wider field of view.
Eyeglasses that Enhance Sport Performance
Glasses offer eye protection, colour enhancements, light control or a combination of features.
Sports Vision Specialists
Sports vision specialists can assess your athletic performance, as well as offer comprehensive training. They are eye care practitioners that have an in-depth, functional understanding of the physiology of the visual system and its importance in relation to the specific sport the athlete is involved in. They also understand the demands each sport has on the visual system before a treatment/therapy can be implemented for the athlete. Sport vision specialists also advise athletes and coaches on the prevention of eye injuries in sport as well as first aid treatment of such injuries.
Sport Vision Tests and Therapies
Improve eye-hand-body coordination, ability to track a moving object or improve depth perception. Sports vision therapy aims to treat a wide variety of problems that athletes face.
Orthokeratology for Athletes
These eye-shaping contact lenses worn only at night are a safe vision correction alternative for athletes.
EVEN MORE INFORMATION WHY YOU NEED SPORTS VISION IMPROVEMENT
In most sport, vision is the dominant sense. One would think that seeing clearly is all that is needed to make vision dominant, right? However, vision skills required in sport are much more complex. For example, catching a ball is an extremely complicated action. Visual information from your eyes tells you where the ball is in space. Using this information, you have to judge the speed of the ball, its direction and you need to estimate where the ball will be when it is within catching distance. This all happens within a matter of milliseconds.
Catching a ball is just one of the many actions occurring in sport and the eyes give you the visual information to perform these tasks. Studies have shown that about 23% of athletes have visual problems and about 33% for umpires, referees and officials. These deficiencies can all be corrected by a sports vision optometrist.
If you feel that your sport performance could need some improvement, consider seeing a sports vision optometrist. Not all optometrists have an interest in sports vision and some differ in their level of expertise. Always make sure you ask the right questions i.e. level of experience, do they have all the necessary equipment to evaluate sports vision skills? Etc.
Vision plays an important role in all sport. Improving your visual skills could make all the difference to your enjoyment of your sport.
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Welcome to Pineslopes Optometrists
Hello, and welcome to the Eye Guy website. My name is Nishan and I am the owner and principle Optometrist Fourways at your service at The Eye Guy here in Fourways, Sandton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. What I would love to do for you is to help you understand why your eyes are so important to your health. The eyes are neglected and abused everyday till we cannot see properly anymore or we need glasses.
I have a passion for educating people on eye health and love helping everyone to look good and see better with whatever vision needs they require. So you might be wanting your first pair of eyeglasses, a pair of contact lenses or maybe your want to customise your sport sunglasses with prescription lenses to see better. Well guess what? An optometrist can help you with those vision needs and more.
You need to take care of your eyes as you only get one pair in your lifetime. So you should get an eye examination which you can at Pineslopes Optometrists or at least get the very basic free vision screening, so you know how healthy your eyes really are.
Again I hope Pineslopes Optometrists can help you with your vision an optical needs and there will be plenty of information coming in the near future on eye health in our blog. In the meantime, you can read some more about the what is an optometrist, eye products, eye health services or how to find Pineslopes Optometrists right here.
Oh and one last added bonus, again, I want you to have healthy vision and eyes. So if you have a question about your eyes or glasses needs, then please let me at least try get you to see an optometrist or an opthalmologist who can help you. We look forward to seeing you at Pineslopes Optometrists.
Regards,
Remember give us a call at Pineslopes Optometrist for any eye needs on 011 465 4028/9
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