Methods to maintain perfect eye health

Methods to maintain perfect eye health

Eye-related complications need to be taken quite seriously. According to a survey, many people are not too serious about their eye health, as only 30% of the population go for eye check-ups regularly. Apart from weak vision, various other conditions that can lead to eye-related problems. Below is a list of some of the most common ones.

Different types of eye conditions

Glaucoma

The increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in your eyes can lead to many complications, which are known as glaucoma. It is a group of diseases of the eye. The optic nerve of the eye is affected due to the increased IOP. This can also lead to a complete loss of vision.

Cataracts

It is a cloudy lens that forms in your eye. Even though this condition does not cause any pain, cataracts lead to blurry vision. While aging is the most common cause of this condition, it can also be a result of diabetes, certain medications, trauma, and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Retinal detachment

Your eye health can be seriously affected by a detached retina. The retina is a tissue located at the back of your eyes. Sometimes, it can get separated from its underlying structures. It is caused by a fluid build-up, but it does not cause any pain. It results in flashing lights, compromised visuals, and floaters.

Allergies

Eye allergies are common. However, the severe form of allergies can lead to blindness, cornea damage due to inflammation, and other issues. Eye allergies are caused due to seasonal changes, medication, and dust.

Apart from the aforementioned, the various other eye conditions include uveitis, sty, keratoconus, blepharitis, chalazion, corneal ulcer, myopia, and color blindness.

Diagnosis

Regular visits to an eye specialist are the best way to maintain your eye health, as they can diagnose any eye condition before it can get serious. There are many different methods to determine eye-related issues. Some of the common ones are:

Refraction

It determines if you have farsightedness or nearsightedness.

Snellen test

This test is done to check the accuracy of your vision.

Visual field test

It is performed to test the range of your field of vision in both the eyes, one after the other. In this test, you need to close one eye while the other one is being examined by the doctor

Goldmann perimeter

Your peripheral vision is tested with this method.

Ophthalmoscopy

A flashlight is used to check the health of your retina and other areas behind the pupil.

Tonometry

This test is done to determine the eye pressure.

Maintaining eye health

If you want to maintain good eye health, you need to be serious about eye health. You need to eat healthy, which must include the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Staring at the mobile or computer screen continuously can harm your eyes, too. Resting your eyes every 20 minutes, blinking more, and using an eye drop prescribed by the doctor can help. When you are going out during the daytime, do not forget to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the UV rays.

Most importantly, you need regular eye check-ups to make sure that any eye-related issue is diagnosed before it can affect you.

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Understanding arthritis – A common joint condition

The joints are constantly working while we move our limbs, so, understandably, people may develop certain joint conditions that cause pain and compromise mobility, especially with age. One of the common joint conditions is arthritis, which leads to joint inflammation and mild to severe pain. While there are several types of arthritis, the two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Stages Rheumatoid arthritis has four stages: Stage 1: At this stage, inflammation occurs inside the joints, and swelling, stiffness, and joint pain are the common symptoms. Stage 2: The inflammation of the joint lining, synovium, aggravates at this stage and results in cartilage damage. The affected joints’ range of motion is also compromised, causing pain and discomfort. Stage 3: At this stage, the severity of the joint condition increases, and it leads to bone damage. This results in more pain, loss of mobility, and weakness of muscles. The bones rubbing against each other can cause bone deformity as well. Stage 4: This is the final stage where the joints stop functioning completely. It leads to more pain, stiffness, and swelling, and the bones may even fuse, which is known as ankylosis. Osteoarthritis also has four stages of progression: Stage 1: Wear and tear may affect the knee joints, and minor spur growths on the affected bone can also be seen, but the condition does not cause too much pain at this stage. Stage 2: The bone spur growths increase and cause pain, and the knee joints become stiffer. Stage 3: This stage is characterized by joint inflammation leading to increased pain and stiffness. Walking can also cause popping sounds in the joints. Stage 4: The space between the bones in the joints becomes very narrow, causing the cartilage to wear down. Also, a chronic inflammatory response caused by the breakdown of cartilage aggravates discomfort and pain. Diagnosis of arthritis These joint conditions can be diagnosed using several tests. A physical examination reveals whether a patient has red, warm, and tender joints, and this test also helps examine the fluid around the joints. A rheumatologist can analyze the level of inflammation in the joints to determine the type of arthritis an individual is affected with. Also, blood tests are undertaken to check for antibodies like anti-CCP, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibody. In addition, X-ray, CT scans, and MRI are also performed to check the condition of the cartilage and bones. Prevention of arthritis A family history of joint conditions like arthritis or aging can increase one’s risk of developing arthritis, but making certain lifestyle changes can also help lower the chances of developing the condition. To start with, one should include more foods with omega-3 fatty acids in their diet as these healthy fats are anti-inflammatory. One should also exercise regularly, keep their weight under check, reduce stress on their joints, and try to avoid injuries. Also, if one notices any symptoms of arthritis, they should consult a doctor immediately as early diagnosis goes a long way in managing the condition effectively through timely treatment.

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What you should know about arthritis as a joint condition

The joints in our bodies are constantly working while we move our limbs. Hence, it is understandable that with time we may develop certain joint conditions that lead to pain and compromised mobility. One of the very common forms of these conditions is arthritis. It leads to joint inflammation. A condition that mainly affects people over 65 years of age, it can be more commonly seen in women. Different stages of arthritisThere are many different types of arthritis, but the two most commonly occurring ones are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis has four stages. Stage 1During this stage, inflammation occurs in the joints. Swelling, stiffness, and joint pains are common symptoms of this stage. The joint tissues swell up, too. Stage 2During this time, the joint lining, synovium, is inflamed even more and results in cartilage damage. The joints’ motion capability is compromised due to this, leading to pain. Stage 3In this stage, the severity of the joint condition becomes even more harmful. Rheumatoid arthritis leads to bone damages. This results in more pain, loss of mobility, and weakness of muscles. Stage 4This is the end stage where the joints stop functioning completely. It leads to more pain, stiffness, and swelling. Osteoarthritis has four stages of progression, too. Stage 1Tiny wear and tear may occur on the knee joints, and spur growths on the bone can be seen. It does not cause too much pain. Stage 2The bone spur growths increase and lead to pain. The knee joints start to become stiffer.Stage 3During this time, the joint inflammation leads to even more pain and stiffness. Walking can result in popping sounds, too. Stage 4The space between the bones in the joints become very narrow, which leads to wearing of the cartilages. A chronic inflammatory response is caused by the breakdown of cartilages and leads to even more discomfort and pain. Diagnosis of arthritisThese joint conditions can be diagnosed by a doctor using medical tests. A physical exam will reveal if you have red and warm joints. The test is also performed to examine the fluid around your joints. A rheumatologist can analyze the levels of inflammation in your joint fluids and blood to determine what type of arthritis you have. Blood tests are also done to check for antibodies such as anti-CCP, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibody. X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans are also performed to check the condition of your cartilage and bones.Prevention of arthritisA family history of arthritis or aging can cause you to suffer from the disease, and you may not have any control over it. However, there are certain things that can be done to lower the chances of you developing arthritis. To start with, include omega-3 in your diet. You should also exercise regularly, keep your weight under check, not put your joints under stress, and try to avoid injuries.If you ever feel any symptoms of arthritis, you should see your doctor immediately. They can help you slow the progress of the joint condition.

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