| 
CIBA Vision does not currently offer any treatments for Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Please visit our sister company Novartis Ophthalmics for more detailed information and treatments for AMD. Or visit Novartis Ophthalmics' specific AMD website at www.visudyne.com. Age related macular degeneration or AMD is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss for people over the age of 60. It is estimated that 2.5 million people in developed countries will suffer vision loss from this disorder and that there are approximately 200,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The macula is the small portion of the retina located at the center of this light sensitive lining at the back of the eye. Light rays from objects that we are looking at come to a focus on the retina and are converted into electrical impulses, which are then sent to the brain. The macula is responsible for sharp straight- ahead vision necessary for functions such as reading, driving a car and recognizing faces. The effect of this disease can range from mild vision loss to central blindness. That is, blindness "straight ahead" but with normal peripheral vision from the non-macular part of the retina which is undamaged by the disease. Ninety percent of cases of AMD is of the atrophic or dry variety. It is characterized by a thinning of the macular tissue, develops slowly and usually only causes mild vision loss. The main symptom is often only a dimming of vision when reading. The second form of AMD is called exudative or wet because of the abnormal growth of new blood vessels under the macula where they leak and eventually create a large blind spot in the central vision. This form of the disease is of much greater threat to vision than the more common dry type. Macular degeneration is most common in people over the age of 65 but there have been some cases affecting people as young as their 40s and 50s. Symptoms include blurry or fuzzy vision, straight lines like telephone poles and sides of buildings appearing wavy and a dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision.  Top
- Anatomy. Simply defined is a section of your eye. More precisely, it is the fluid-filled space inside the eye between the iris and the innermost corneal surface. Top
If you experience a distortion or blurring of images at all distances - nearby as well as far -you may have astigmatism. Even if your vision is fairly sharp, headache, fatigue, squinting and eye discomfort or irritation may indicate a slight degree of astigmatism. A thorough eye examination, including tests of near vision, distant vision and vision clarity, can determine if astigmatism is present. Astigmatism is not a disease nor does it mean that you have "bad eyes." It simply means that you have a variation or disturbance in the shape of your cornea. How is it diagnosed?
Astigmatism is diagnosed in the course of a thorough eye examination. If the degree of astigmatism is slight and no other vision correction such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, are present, corrective lenses may not be needed. If the degree of astigmatism is great enough to cause eyestrain, headache or distortion of vision, prescription lenses will be needed for clear and comfortable vision. How is it treated?
Your eye care professional will recommend corrective eyewear, contact lenses or spectacles, to help the eye direct light in a more effective manner. The corrective lenses needed when astigmatism is present are called Toric lenses and have an additional power element called a cylinder. They have greater light-bending power in one axis than in others. CIBA Vision offers many Toric contact lenses for the correction of astigmatism - Focus® Toric, Focus® DAILIES® Toric, FreshLook® Toric, and FreshLook ColorBlends® Toric and others. Your eye care professional will perform precise tests during your eye examination to determine the ideal lens prescription. Click here to learn more about CIBA Vision contact lenses available for individuals with astigmatism. What causes astigmatism?
Astigmatism usually occurs when the front surface of the eye, the cornea, has an irregular curvature. Normally the cornea is smooth and equally curved in all directions and light entering the cornea is focused equally on all planes, or in all directions. In astigmatism, the front surface of the cornea is curved more in one direction than in the other. With the cornea's shape more like that of an American football or rugby ball than a basketball, the light hitting the more curved surface comes to a focus before that which enters the eye through the less curved surface. Thus, the light is focused clearly along one plane, but is blurred along the other so only part of an image can be in focus at any time. This abnormality may result in vision that is much like looking into a distorted, wavy mirror. The distortion results because of an inability of the eye to focus light rays to a point. How does astigmatism affect sight?
The crystal clear cornea is situated at the very front surface of the eye and enables light to enter the eyeball. The cornea accomplishes about four-fifths of the refractive work needed for clear vision, bending light rays toward one another into a point. The lens, located behind the cornea, further refines the refractive work begun by the cornea and directs the point of light toward a precise location on the retina, known as the fovea. If light is not focused into a fine point on the fovea, the image that reaches the retina cannot be clearly transmitted to the brain. When astigmatism is present, the surface of the cornea is distorted instead of being spherical. It is unable to focus light rays entering the eye into the fine point needed for clear vision. At any time, only small proportions of the rays are focused and the remainder is not, so that the image formed is always blurred. Usually, astigmatism causes blurred vision at all distances. Why are corneas shaped differently?
Not all corneas are perfectly curved, just as sets of teeth are seldom perfectly aligned. The degree of variation determines whether or not you will need corrective eyewear. If the corneal surface has a high degree of variation in its curvature, light refraction may be impaired to the degree that corrective lenses are needed to help focus light rays better. The exact reason for differences in corneal shape remains unknown, but the tendency to develop astigmatism is inherited. For that reason, some people are more prone to develop astigmatism than others. Who develops astigmatism?
Astigmatism is very common. Some experts believe that almost everyone has a degree of astigmatism, often from birth, which may remain the same throughout life. Of interest to parents and those who work with children, astigmatism may contribute to poor schoolwork but is often not detected during routine eye screening in schools. Does astigmatism get worse?
Astigmatism may increase slowly. Regular eye care can help to insure that proper vision is maintained. How will astigmatism affect my lifestyle?
You may have to adjust to wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses if you do not wear them now. Other than that, astigmatism probably will not significantly affect your lifestyle at all. Top
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding or darkening that develops in the normally clear lens of the eye. This prevents the lens from properly focusing light on the retina at the back of the eye, resulting in a loss of vision. A cataract is not a film that grows over the surface of the eye. How are cataracts treated?
If your cataract develops to a point that daily activities are affected, you will be referred to an eye surgeon who may recommend the surgical removal of the cataract. You, along with your doctors, will decide on the type of post-cataract vision correction that you will use. The most frequent form of visual correction is an intraocular lens (IOL) implant, which is inserted in your eye at the time of surgery and serves as a "new lens." In some cases, however, eyeglasses or contact lenses may also be needed to provide the most effective post-cataract vision. Is surgery the only way to treat cataracts?
Your eye care practitioner can prescribe changes in your eyewear that will help you see more clearly until surgery is necessary, but surgery is the only proven means of effectively treating cataracts. The surgery is relatively uncomplicated and has a success rate of at least 95 percent. Who gets cataracts?
Cataracts are most often found in persons over the age of 55, but they are also occasionally found in younger people, including newborns. While a comprehensive eye examination by an eye care professional can determine for certain if you have a cataract forming, there are a number of signs and symptoms which may indicate a cataract. Among them are: - Blurred or hazy vision where colors may seem yellowed
- The appearance of dark spots or shadows that seem to move when the eye moves
- A tendency to become more nearsighted because of increasing density of the lens
- Double vision
- A gradual loss of color vision
- A stage where it is easier to see without glasses
- The feeling of having a film over the eyes
- An increased sensitivity to glare, especially at night
What causes cataracts?
It is known that a chemical change within the eye causes the lens to become cloudy. The change may be due to advancing age or it may be the result of heredity, an injury or a disease. Excessive exposures to ultraviolet or infrared radiation present in sunlight or from furnaces, cigarette smoking and/or the use of certain medications are also cataract risk factors. Cataracts usually develop in both eyes, often at different rates. Can cataracts be prevented?
Currently, there is no proven method to prevent cataracts from forming. However, some measures, such as wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays, can be taken to lessen the risk. Ask your eye care professional for additional recommendations. When will I need to have cataracts removed?
Cataracts may develop slowly over many years or they may form rapidly in a matter of months. Some cataracts never progress to the point that they need to be removed. Usually, you will be ready to have the cataract removed when it is having a significantly adverse effect on your lifestyle. Your eye care practitioner will arrange a consultation with a surgeon who will decide on the appropriate time for removal. Most people wait until the cataracts interfere with daily activities before having them removed. What happens after cataract surgery?
You, along with your doctors, will decide on the type of post-cataract vision correction that you will use. The most frequent form of visual correction is an intraocular lens (IOL) implant, which is inserted in your eye at the time of surgery. The IOL replaces the crystalline lens and serves as a "new lens." In some cases, however, eyeglasses or contact lenses may also be needed to provide the most effective post-cataract vision. Why are they called cataracts?
Sometimes cataracts can be seen as a "milkiness" on the normally black pupil. In ancient times, it was believed this cloudiness was caused by a waterfall - or cataract - behind the eye. Top
If you see two of whatever you are looking at simultaneously, you may have a condition known as double vision, also referred to as diplopia. Double and blurred vision are often thought to be the same, but they are not. In blurred vision, a single image appears unclear. In double vision, two images are seen at the same time, creating understandable confusion for anyone who has it. What causes double vision?
There are two possible causes. One could be a refractive error. Light from an object is split into two images by a defect in the eye's optical system. Cataracts might, for example, cause such a defect. A second cause could be the failure of both eyes to point at the object being viewed; a condition referred to as "strabismus" or "squint". In normal vision, both eyes look at the same object. The images seen by the two eyes are fused into a single picture by the brain. If the eyes do not point at the same object, the image seen by each eye is different and cannot be fused. The result is double vision. Why might eyes not point in the same direction? Possibly because of a defect in the muscles which control the movement of the eyes or in the control of these muscles through the nerves and brain. What are the implications of double vision?
Double vision can be extremely discomforting. The brain acts to alleviate the discomfort by suppressing, or blanking out, one of the images. In young children, if this suppression persists over a continued length of time, it can lead to an impairment of the development of the visual system. The suppressed eye may get to the point where it is unable to see well, no matter how good the spectacle or contact lens correction. Doctors call this condition amblyopia. Since it is a result of a defect in the interpretive mechanisms of the eye and brain, it is more difficult to treat than a refractive condition (one having to do with the eye's ability to bend light). How is double vision treated?
Treatment of double vision consists of eye exercises, surgical straightening of the eye or a combination of the two. Therapy is aimed at re-aligning the squinting eye where possible without surgery and re-stimulating the part of the visual pathway to the brain that is not working correctly. Top
If your eyes sting, itch or burn, you may be experiencing the common signs of "dry eye." A feeling of something foreign within the eye or general discomfort may also signal dry eye. CIBA Vision offers many options for the treatment of dry eye or "dry eye" like symptoms. What is dry eye?
Dry eye describes eyes that do not produce enough tears. The natural tears that your eyes produce are composed of three layers: - The outer oily layer, which prevents or slows evaporation of the tear film
- The middle watery layer; which moisturizes and nourishes the front surface of the eye
- The inner mucus layer, which helps maintain a stable tear film.
Dry eye may occur because the volume of tears produced is inadequate (we all produce fewer tears as we get older, and in some cases this can lead to dry eye symptoms). It may occur because the composition of the tears has changed so that they are unstable and evaporate more quickly. What causes dry eye?
Dry eye symptoms can result from the normal aging process. Exposure to environmental conditions, as well as medications, such as antihistamines, oral contraceptives or anti-depressants, can contribute to the symptoms of dry eye. Dry eye can result from chemical or thermal burns to the eye. Dry eye may also be symptomatic of general health problems or other diseases. For example, people with arthritis are more prone to dry eye. In addition, you may have "dry-eye" like symptoms from allergies or even from a reaction to your contact lens solution. How is it diagnosed?
During the examination, your eye care practitioner will ask about your general health, use of medications, and work and home environments to determine factors that may be contributing to dry eye symptoms. This information will help your doctor decide whether to perform dry eye tests. To test for dry eye, your doctor may use diagnostic instruments that allow a highly magnified view of your eyes or small strips of paper or thread and special dyes to assess the quantity and quality of the tears. How is it treated?
Dry eye cannot be cured, but your eyes' sensitivity can be lessened and measures taken so your eyes remain healthy. The most frequent method of treatment is the use of artificial tears or tear substitutes, such as CIBA Vision's AQuify®. For more severe dry eye, ointment can be used, especially at bedtime. If you have dry eye or "dry-eye" like symptoms, ask your practitioner about the many solutions CIBA Vision offers. - Focus® DAILIES® - by replacing lenses daily you may avoid pollen or pollutant build-up on your lenses.
- Clear Care® - studies indicate that sensitivities to the chemicals and preservatives in multi-purpose solutions (such as ReNu MultiPlus® or OPTI-FREE® Express®) may cause eye discomfort. Clear Care is formulated without the added preservatives found in most multi-purpose solutions.
- AQuify® Lens Drops - preservative-free blink-activated comfort drop for longer lasting contact lens comfort.
To keep dry eye symptoms in check, you and your practitioner need to work together. Follow his or her instructions carefully. If you have increased dryness or redness that is not relieved by the prescribed treatment, let your practitioner know as soon as possible. Will dry eye harm my eyes?
If untreated, it can. Excessive dry eye can damage tissue and possibly scar the cornea of your eye, impairing vision. Dry eye can make contact lens wear more difficult since tears may be inadequate to keep the lenses wet and lubricated. This can lead to irritation and a greater chance of eye infection. Therefore, it is important to follow your eye care practitioner's recommended treatment plan. Top
The most common types of ocular (eye) allergies are seasonal and perennial (year round) allergic conjunctivitis. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (hay fever conjunctivitis) is the more common type accounting for the majority of allergic conjunctivitis cases.
As its name suggests, it is related to specific pollens that spore during specific seasons. Symptoms generally include red, itchy and watery eyes. People affected by hay fever and other seasonal allergies also experience symptoms involving the nose and throat. Perennial allergic conjunctivitis is a year-round allergic condition. These allergic responses are often related to animal dander, dust or other allergens that are present in the environment year round. Symptoms are similar to seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, however, they tend to be milder. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis generally occurs in the spring months (grass pollen induced) and in the late summer months (ragweed pollen induced). Itching is a dominant symptom in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis diagnosis, as well as watery/mucus discharge, burning, and redness. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis unless you can find a way to completely avoid coming into contact with the allergens. What Treatment Options are Available?
Relief from seasonal allergic conjunctivitis comes in many ways. Allergy shots, a desensitization process, can be helpful for some people in reducing symptoms and the need for other medications. There are also various topical and oral medications readily available at local pharmacies and drugstores. For particularly serious cases, a variety of prescription medications are available. If you wear contact lenses and suffer from dry, itchy eyes, ask your doctor about Focus® DAILIES®. Even if you are non-allergic, you can develop red, irritated eyes when scratchy pollen builds up on your lenses. Daily disposable lenses allow you to discard the lens before airborne irritants get a chance to build up. If you are presbyopic ("over-40" loss of near vision), CIBA Vision also offers Focus® Progressives and Focus® DAILIES® Progressives multi-focal lenses. Do Oral Antihistamines Provide Effective Relief?
Most medications fall into the antihistamine category, either topical or oral. Both work to block the release of histamine, which causes many of the symptoms. Orally ingested antihistamines may partially relieve ocular symptoms. They can be a convenient way to obtain relief although it can often take an hour or more before they begin to work. Some oral antihistamines can produce unwanted side effects such as drowsiness, irritability and dryness. They work best if taken before exposure to the allergen, but pollen release is dependent upon many seasonal and daily climatic factors that can't be accurately predicted. Topical antihistamines, in the form of eye drops, may prove the most effective way to get relief from Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis (SAC). Visit our sister company Novartis Ophthalmics for eye drop treatments for allergy eyes, such as ZADITOR?. Unlike oral medications, eye drops allow the medication to get directly to affected eyes. Many contain both an antihistamine and a decongestant. Applied when necessary, these drops can alleviate most of the annoying symptoms such as itching, redness, tearing and swelling within minutes. New and highly potent prescription topical antihistamines are also available from your doctor that work on contact and provide hours of relief with virtually no side effects. One of the most effective things you can do however is to check with your doctor, allergist or eye care professional first. He or she can properly diagnose your condition and recommend the best treatment for you. Top
If you can see objects at a distance clearly but have trouble focusing well on objects close up, you may be farsighted. Your eye care practitioner may refer to farsightedness by its medical names, hypermetropia or hyperopia. Hyperopia causes the eyes to exert extra effort to see close up. After viewing nearby objects for an extended period, you may experience blurred vision, headaches and eyestrain. Children who are farsighted may find reading difficult. Hyperopia is not a disease, nor does it mean that you have "bad eyes." It simply means that you have a variation in the shape of your eyeball. The degree of variation will determine whether or not you will need corrective lenses. What causes farsightedness?
Hyperopia most commonly occurs because the eyeball is too short; that is, shorter from front to back than is normal. In some cases, the cornea having too little curvature may cause hyperopia. Exactly why eyeball shape varies is not known, but the tendency for farsightedness is inherited. Other factors may be involved too, but to a lesser degree than heredity. How does farsightedness affect sight?
Our ability to "see" starts when light enters the eye through the cornea. The shape of the cornea, lens and eyeball help bend (refract) light rays in such a manner that light is focused into a point precisely on the retina. If, as in farsightedness, the eyeball is too short, the "point of light" focuses on a location behind the retina, instead of on the correct area of the retina, known as the fovea. As a result, at the point on the retina where a fine point of light should be focused, there is instead a disk-shaped area of light. Since light is not focused when it hits the retina, vision is blurred. Convex lenses are prescribed to bend light rays more sharply and bring them to focus on the retina. Who is affected by farsightedness?
Many people have a degree of farsightedness, yet it is only a problem if it significantly affects your ability to see well or causes headaches or eyestrain. How is it diagnosed?
Hyperopia is seldom diagnosed in school eye-screening tests, which typically test only the ability to see objects at a distance. A comprehensive eye health examination that checks both near and far vision is necessary to diagnose farsightedness. How is it farsightedness treated?
Convex lenses -- eyeglasses or contact lenses -- are usually prescribed. They bend light rays more sharply and bring the rays into focus on the retina. To determine the best avenue of treatment, your eye care professional may ask a number of questions about your lifestyle, occupation, daily activities and general health status. For instance, you may be asked whether or not you frequently need near vision. Providing candid, considered answers to the questions and working with your eye care professional will help assure that your corrective lenses contribute to clear sight and general comfort. A comprehensive eye examination at the recommended intervals will ensure that minor changes in vision are diagnosed and treated so that your vision will remain as clear and comfortable as possible. How will hyperopia affect your lifestyle?
If glasses or contact lenses are prescribed, it may take a few days to adjust to them. After that, farsightedness probably will not significantly affect your lifestyle. Top
Glaucoma can steal your vision gradually and without you noticing, yet glaucoma is a serious disease that can result in severe loss of sight. The best defense against glaucoma is regular eye examinations. Glaucoma most often strikes people over age 50, but it is recommended that during adult life everyone be tested at least every two years. Some people with glaucoma do experience symptoms, but symptoms vary depending on the type of glaucoma. What is glaucoma?
The build-up of pressure inside your eye leads to glaucoma. Aqueous fluid, which fills the space at the front of the eye just behind the cornea, is made behind the iris (the colored part of the eye) in the ciliary body. It flows through the pupil (the dark hole in the center of the iris), and drains from the 'anterior chamber angle,' which is the junction between the edge of the iris and the cornea. If this outflow of liquid is impaired at all, there is a build-up of pressure inside the eye that damages the optic nerve, which carries visual images to the brain. The result is a loss of peripheral vision. Thus, while glaucoma sufferers may be able to read the smallest line on the vision test, they may find it difficult to move around without bumping into things or to see moving objects to the side, such as cars. Primary open-angle glaucoma
By far the most common type, primary open-angle glaucoma develops gradually and painlessly. Since there are no early warning signs, it can slowly destroy your vision without your knowing it. The first indication may only occur after some considerable vision loss. Acute angle-closure glaucoma
Acute angle-closure glaucoma results from a sudden blockage of the drainage channels in your eye. This causes a rapid build-up of pressure inside your eye accompanied by blurred vision, the appearance of colored rings around lights and at times, extreme pain or redness in the eyes. Why is glaucoma harmful to vision?
The optic nerve, located at the back of the eye, carries visual information to the brain. As the fibers that make up the optic nerve are damaged by glaucoma, the amount and quality of information sent to the brain decreases and a loss of vision occurs. How is glaucoma treated?
Glaucoma is usually treated with prescription eye drops and medications. In some cases, surgery may be required to improve drainage. The goal of the treatment is to prevent the loss of vision by lowering the pressure in the eye. Will my vision be restored after treatment?
Unfortunately, any vision loss as a result of glaucoma is permanent and cannot be restored. This is why regular eye examinations are important. What causes glaucoma?
Some causes are known, others are not. Causes differ depending on the type of glaucoma. The exact cause of open-angle glaucoma, where the drainage channels for the aqueous appear to be open and clear, is not known. Closed-angle glaucoma can occur when the pupil dilates or gets bigger and bunches the iris up around its edge, blocking the drainage channel. An injury, infection or tumor in or around the eye can also cause a rise in internal eye pressure either by blocking drainage or displacing tissues and liquid within the eye. A mature cataract also can push the iris forward to block the drainage 'angle' between the iris and the cornea. Glaucoma can occur secondarily to a number of other conditions, such as diabetes, or as a result of some medications for other conditions. Who gets glaucoma?
Glaucoma most frequently occurs after age 40, but can occur at any age. If you're of African heritage, you are more likely to develop open-angle glaucoma -- and at an earlier age -- than if you're Caucasian. Asians are more likely to develop narrow-angle glaucoma. You have a higher risk of developing glaucoma if a close family member has it or if you have high blood pressure or high blood sugar (diabetes). There is also a greater tendency for glaucoma to develop in individuals who are nearsighted. Those at heightened risk for glaucoma should have their eyes checked at least once a year. Will I go blind from glaucoma?
If diagnosed at an early stage, glaucoma can be controlled and little or no further vision loss should occur. If left untreated, side awareness (peripheral vision) and central vision will be destroyed and blindness may occur. How is glaucoma detected?
Tests for glaucoma are part of a comprehensive eye examination. A simple and painless procedure called tonometry measures the internal pressure of your eye. Ophthalmoscopy examines the back of the eye to observe the health of the optic nerve. Your eye care practitioner will also do a visual field test, a very sensitive test that checks for the development of abnormal blind spots. Can glaucoma be prevented?
No, but early detection and treatment can control glaucoma and reduce the chances of damage to the eye and a loss of sight. Top
If you can see objects nearby with no problem, but reading road signs or making out the writing on the board at school is more difficult, you may be near- or shortsighted. Your eye care professional may refer to the condition as myopia, a term that comes from a Greek word meaning "closed eyes." Use of the word "myopia" for this condition may have grown out of one of the main indications of nearsightedness: Squinting to see distant objects clearly. Myopia is not a disease, nor does it mean that you have "bad eyes." It simply refers to a variation in the shape of your eyeball. The degree of variation determines whether or not you will need corrective eyewear. What causes nearsightedness?
Myopia most often occurs because the eyeball is too long, rather than the normal, more rounded shape. Another less frequent cause of myopia is that the cornea, the eye's clear outer window, is too curved. There is some evidence that nearsightedness may also be caused by too much close vision work. How does myopia affect sight?
Our ability to "see" starts when light enters the eye through the cornea. The shape of the cornea, lens and eyeball help bend (refract) light rays in such a manner that light is focused into a point precisely on the retina. In contrast, if you are nearsighted, the light rays from a distant point are focused at a place in front of the retina. As the light will only be focused in that one place, by the time it reaches the retina it will have "defocused" again, forming a blurred image. Who is affected by nearsightedness?
Myopia usually occurs between the ages of eight to 12 years. Since the eyes continue to grow during childhood, nearsightedness almost always occurs before the age of 20. Often, the degree of myopia increases as the body grows rapidly, and then levels off in adulthood. During the years of rapid growth, frequent changes in prescription eyewear may be needed to maintain clear vision. How is myopia diagnosed?
Myopia is often suspected when a teacher notices a child squinting to see a blackboard or a child performs poorly during a routine eye screening. Further examination will reveal the degree of the problem. A comprehensive eye health examination will detect myopia. Periodic examinations should follow after myopia has been discovered to determine whether the condition is changing, and whether a change in prescriptive eyewear is needed. Eye exams also help to ensure that vision impairments do not interfere with daily activities. How is myopia treated?
Corrective concave lenses are prescribed to help focus light more precisely on the retina, where a clear image will be formed. Depending on the degree of myopia, glasses or contact lenses may be needed all of the time for clear vision. How will nearsightedness affect my lifestyle?
If glasses or contact lenses are prescribed, it may take you a few days to adjust to them. After that, nearsightedness will probably not significantly affect your lifestyle. However, more severely nearsighted individuals may find the condition limits their choice of occupation in some cases. Nearsightedness in children:
School-age children may have vision problems ranging from mild to severe. When problems are suspected, it is important that the child have a comprehensive eye health examination to determine the nature of the problem and to rule out serious eye diseases. When vision conditions are treated properly, the child will enjoy the best possible sight. To help a child cope with nearsightedness: - Avoid referring to the child's eyes as "bad eyes;" instead, tell the child that his or her eyes just bend light differently and corrective lenses are needed to help focus light rays.
- Use illustrations and simple explanations to help the child understand how a differently shaped eyeball may result in his or her nearsightedness.
- Consider contact lenses as an option.
- Do not restrict the child's activities because of poor vision.
- Include the child in discussions about his or her eyesight.
- Encourage the child to verbalize concerns about the adjustment to rapidly changing vision.
Top
- Anatomy. Simply defined is a section of your eye. More precisely, it is the space between the back of the iris and the front face of the vitreous; filled with aqueous fluid. Top
Hold the book up close and the words appear blurred. Push the book farther away, and the words snap back into sharp focus. That's how most of us first recognize a condition that eye care professionals call presbyopia, a name derived from Greek words meaning "old eye." Eye fatigue or headaches when doing close work, such as sewing, knitting or painting, are also common symptoms. Because it is associated with aging, presbyopia is often met with a groan -- and an expectation that reading glasses or bifocals are inevitable. Until recently this was true, however CIBA Vision's Focus® Progressives and new Focus® DAILIES® Progressives soft contact lenses can provide clear and comfortable vision at all distances without the hassles, vision jumps and distortions typical of bifocals or reading glasses for individuals with presbyopia,. What causes presbyopia?
As we age, body tissues normally lose their elasticity. As skin ages, it becomes less elastic, and we develop wrinkles. Similarly, as the lenses in our eyes lose some of their elasticity, they lose some of their ability to change focus for different distances. The loss is gradual. Long before we become aware that seeing close up is becoming more difficult, the lenses in our eyes have begun losing their ability to change shape to help focus light rays. Only when the loss of elasticity impairs our vision to a noticeable degree do we recognize the change. How does the loss of elasticity affect sight?
Our ability to "see" starts when light enters the eye through the cornea. The shape of the cornea, lens, and eyeball help bend (refract) light rays in such a manner that light is focused into a point precisely on the retina. The crystalline lens plays a key role in focusing light on the retina. When we are young, the lens is flexible. With the help of tiny ciliary muscles, it changes shape, or accommodates, for both near and distant objects by bending or flattening out to help focus light rays. As we age, the lens becomes stiffer. Changing shape becomes more difficult. Not only does focusing on near objects become more difficult, the eye also is unable to adjust as quickly to rapid changes in focus on near and distant objects. When does it occur?
The flexibility of the lens begins to decrease in youth. The age at which presbyopia is first noticed varies, but it usually begins to interfere with near vision in the early 40's. Presbyopia affects everyone and there is no known prevention for it. How is the problem diagnosed?
An accurate, thorough description of symptoms and a comprehensive eye health examination, including a testing of the quality of your near vision, are necessary to diagnose presbyopia. How is presbyopia treated?
Traditionally, eye care professionals prescribe bifocal spectacles or reading glasses to help the eye accommodate for close-up work. However, soft contact lenses such as CIBA Vision's Focus® Progressives are rapidly increasing in popularity as an exciting new alternative for people with presbyopia. CIBA Vision also offers Focus® DAILIES® Progressives - the first daily disposable contact lens for the correction of presbyopia What lens option will work best for me?
Your eye care professional may ask a number of questions to help determine the best avenue of treatment. You may be asked to describe your usual lifestyle or daily activities and from this your practitioner will be able to recommend a solution most suited to your needs. Once my vision is corrected for presbyopia, will I require frequent lens changes?
Presbyopia is a gradual change, happening over a number of years so your prescription will need to be updated periodically. Changes are best made at your regular eye examination rather than after the need for change starts to cause you difficulties. Top
Do you occasionally see specks or threadlike strands drifting across your field of vision? Then, when you try to look at them, do they seem to dart away? If so, you're seeing what eye care practitioners call spots or floaters. While almost everyone sees a few spots at one time or another, they can occur more frequently and become more noticeable as you grow older. If you notice a sudden change in the number or size of spots, you should contact your eye practitioner right away so you can be sure they are not the result of a more serious problem. What are spots or floaters?
Spots are small, semi-transparent or cloudy specks or particles within the eye that become noticeable when they fall within the line of sight. They may also appear with flashes of light. What causes them?
The inner part of your eye is made up of a clear, jelly-like fluid known as the vitreous. Occasionally, small flecks of protein and other matter become trapped during the formation of the eye before birth and remain in the eye's vitreous body, resulting in the spots. When flashes of light occur causing spots to become noticeable, it can be a result of the jelly-like vitreous shrinking and pulling on the retina. This tugging action stimulates the retinal receptor cells to "fire," causing the perception of light flashes. Can these spots cause blindness?
Most spots are normal and rarely cause blindness. But spots can indicate more serious problems. If you notice a change in the number and size of spots, a comprehensive eye examination is in order to determine the cause. On rare occasions, vitreous detachment can cause small tears or holes in the retina. The damaged part of the retina subsequently does not work properly and a blind or blurred spot in vision results. If untreated, retinal tears or holes can continue to worsen and severe vision loss can result if the retina becomes detached. How are spots diagnosed?
In a comprehensive eye examination, your eye care practitioner will look into your eyes with special instruments that allow an examination of the health of the inside of your eyes and possible observation of the spots. This is often done after the practitioner puts special drops in your eyes to make the pupils larger (called dilation) to allow a larger view of the inside of your eyes. These procedures provide your eye practitioner with relevant information to detect spots. How are spots treated?
While flashes and floaters are normally not serious or treatable, they can be symptoms or signs of either vitreous or retinal detachment. In either of these cases, treatment with lasers and/or surgical intervention may be necessary to preserve your vision. If you notice a sudden increase or change in the number and type of spots and floaters, contact your eye care practitioner immediately. Top
Here are other helpful web sites that offer additional information on eye care. ? www.allaboutvision.com - Comprehensive, objective information about vision correction and eye health
?www.fda.gov - Food and Drug Administration Home Page Professional Sites
? ASCRS
? American Academy of Ophthalmology
? The American Academy of Optometry
? American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS)
? The American Medical Association
? British Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Society
? Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
? |
