Common eye problems and how to prevent them

How to prevent 5 of the most common eye problems

We’re all aware of ways in which we can make an effort to stay healthy when it comes to diet and exercise, but how many of us make a conscious effort to protect our vision and eye health? A number of common eye problems can actually be avoided – or their onset can be delayed – by making lifestyle changes and being aware of what to look out for so you can seek prompt treatment.

We’re going to look into some of the most common problems and conditions which affect our eyes and vision, and discuss ways in which to avoid these in the future.

Cataracts

Cataracts are one of the most common eye conditions that people experience. In fact, cataract surgery is performed over 400,000 times a year in the UK, highlighting just how widespread the condition is. Cataracts form as a natural part of the ageing process and occur when proteins in your eye clump together and cause clouding in your lens. Cataracts can only be cured by removing your eye’s natural, clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial lens, and this is a treatment we offer at Optimax. However, there are certain steps you can take which may delay the onset of your cataracts and prevent the need for treatment by a few years.

Preventing Cataracts

Although cataracts occur as a natural part of the ageing process, your lifestyle can impact at which point they occur. Activities such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and spending a lot of time in the sun can cause cataracts to form earlier than they otherwise would. Smoking reduces the supply of antioxidants which can reach your eye, which can be a catalyst for the formation of cataracts. Heavy metals in tobacco smoke, like lead, copper and cadmium can also accumulate in the lens, again promoting the formation of cataracts. Quitting smoking is the best way to avoid this. Sun exposure is also known to lead to cataracts as the UV rays can cause the lens to cloud over time. Wearing sunglasses is the best way to avoid overexposure to UV rays and protect yourself from the early onset of cataracts. Drinking too much alcohol is another action which can cause cataracts to form earlier than they otherwise would. This is because excessive alcohol consumption can affect your vitamin absorption, damaging your eye health. Reducing your alcohol intake could also reduce your risk of developing cataracts early.

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a hereditary condition affecting the cornea (the transparent window at the front of the eye). Keratoconus occurs as a change within the structure of the cornea making it weaker and thinner, resulting in a 'cone shaped' forward bulge. It leads to myopia (short sight) and, if the steepening is uneven, also astigmatism. This results in visual distortion, often leading to people with keratoconus to rely heavily on glasses and other visual aids.

Preventing Keratoconus

Keratoconus can get progressively worse throughout your teen years and early 20s, affecting your vision negatively and resulting in poorer vision over time. The main treatment for keratoconus, corneal cross-linking (CXL), can stabilise the condition, but it cannot completely reverse the effects that the condition has already had on your vision. CXL treatment uses a combination of Riboflavin (Vitamin B) drops and ultraviolet light that reacts with the collagen fibers in the cornea, strengthening them by creating more 'cross-linking' among them. This prevents further progression of keratoconus in 90% of patients, and you can learn more about having CXL at Optimax here.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is relatively common and it’s a condition that causes inflammation and crusting of the eyelids. It results in swelling, soreness and even a burning sensation in the eye. In severe cases, blepharitis can even cause blurred vision due to the swelling and watery eyes. You may also experience styes or eyelid cysts and foreign body sensation in the eye.

Preventing Blepharitis

Preventing blepharitis usually involves lifestyle adjustments and taking steps to ensure good eye hygiene practices are followed. This often involves throwing away any makeup or cosmetic products that you may have allergic reactions to, as well as avoiding chemical fumes and smoky atmospheres that can trigger the condition. If these lifestyle adjustments don’t work, you may be recommended a treatment plan involving gel supplements and artificial tears to improve your symptoms. Discover more about blepharitis treatment.

Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can occur for a number of reasons and it affects over 600,000 people in the UK. AMD affects your macula, which is the central part of your retina. The macula is responsible for colour vision, central vision and seeing fine details and when your macula deteriorates, it affects your central vision. Your central vision is key for so many day to day activities and interactions like reading, working, and recognising people’s faces. Although your peripheral vision remains unaffected with AMD, treatment can’t restore any lost central vision, which is why it’s so important to prevent it from developing in the first place.

Preventing Macular Degeneration (AMD)

The number of people suffering with AMD is rising all the time and this is likely because the risk factors are beginning to apply to more people. Risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity are a growing problem both nationwide and globally, and 5% of cases of blindness around the world occur as a result of severe AMD. In order to protect your vision and avoid AMD, the main advice is to quit smoking, exercise more, and eat a healthy diet. Regular exercise keeps your blood pressure low, promoting overall eye health, while a balanced healthy diet provides the nutrients you need for a healthy density of macular pigments. Read more about foods which can boost your eye health.

Glaucoma

80 million people worldwide suffer with glaucoma which, if left untreated, can lead to total blindness. Glaucoma affects your peripheral vision and symptoms include noticing changes to the edges of your visual field, as well as tunnel vision, eye pain, blurry vision, and halos appearing around bright lights. It occurs when the fluid in your eye cannot drain properly, causing pressure to build up in the eye. This pressure, over time, leads to optic nerve damage which is what causes you to lose your peripheral vision.

Preventing Glaucoma

People with high blood pressure tend to have higher eye pressure, which is a risk factor for developing glaucoma. Therefore, keeping your blood pressure low is a good first step to preventing glaucoma for developing. You can manage your blood pressure by partaking in exercise regularly and eating a well-balanced diet low in salt. Another crucial part of preventing and treating glaucoma is to catch it early, which can be done by attending regular eye tests. Even if you don’t feel any symptoms coming on, it’s possible that your optician may detect signs of glaucoma before it begins to affect you. The sooner you can have treatment, the better the chances are of preserving your vision.

This blog post is part one in a series of blog posts discussing the most common eye conditions, how to identify them, and how to treat them. Check back to discover some other common eye conditions and learn what you can do to prevent them from damaging your eye health.