Causes of Blurred Vision - What Are the Main Causes of Blurred Vision?

By Elizabeth Moller

     

Life can be more difficult if you are experiencing blurry vision. It would be more frustrating to know that it can be a sign of many illnesses or serious health problems. Quality of vision depends not only on a transparency and clarity of crystalline lens, but conductivity and normal functioning of an optic nerve and structure of retina. The major causes of blurred vision actually are the weakening or eye muscles. It is very important to keep eye muscles in perfect condition because movement of eyeballs, adjustment of the curvature of the lens and many functions of the eyes depend on them.

Some of the common causes of blurred vision is cataract. The sign of this problem is the noticeable blurring and worsening of eyesight such as night vision, fading of colors. People with cataracts have difficulty in driving at night because the glaring headlights of the passing vehicles can dazzle the eyesight.

Another eye problem that can deteriorate vision is macular degeneration. People will suffer from macular degeneration if the neurons which are located at the back of the eyes cannot detect the light. Because the neurons are defected, the blurring image cannot be corrected by eye glasses or contact lenses. Many researchers and eye care practitioners suggest that certain nutrients which have high level of antioxidants such as zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamins A, C and E will halt or slow the development of macular degeneration.

Eyesight disorder may also be caused by nearsightedness, or myopia as it is medically termed. Nearsightedness is a condition in which close objects are seen clearly, but far away objects that are seen blurred because the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved. As a result, light focuses in front of the retina so you see a blurred image. Myopia is a common disorder and it has been reported that more than 25 % of American adults suffer from this eye disorder.

One of the causes of blurred vision is farsightedness or hyperopia. In the opposite of myopia, farsightedness occurs if vision is better for distant objects than for near objects because the eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature, so the light which enter the eye is not focused correctly.

When you are experiencing dry eyes sometimes images can appear fuzzy. Your eye needs constant flow of tears to provide constant moisture and lubrication to maintain vision and comfort. When there is an imbalance in this tear system you may experience dry eyes. Dry eyes may be due to low humidity, low blink rate or windy conditions. Complications are uncommon but go to see a doctor if vision becomes affected (more than slight temporary blurring).
 

The main causes of blurred vision may due to the result of misuse or overuse of the eye muscles. Therefore, it is important to find out the cause of the muscle irregularity rather than going to an ophthalmologist. It is widely known that the glasses or contact lenses do not provide you a solution instead making your condition worse. There are simple vision habits for you to learn and practice everyday that will help you to improve your eye ability to see clear and relax. To stay away from blurry vision just click: Better Vision, you will be guided to a new direction to correct your vision without surgery and improve vision through simple do-it-at-home eye exercises, eye relaxing techniques and many other vision trainings to achieve better eyesight and the overall health of your eyes.
 

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Fast and Lasting Relief For Your Itchy Eyes

By Mark Rosenberg, M.D.

It's that time of year again when patients come to me with runny noses and watery eyes begging for some relief from their allergies. They complain that trying to function with itchy or twitching eyes is not only a nuisance but gets in the way of enjoying life. Being an allergy sufferer myself, I have to say I can relate. That's why I have personally researched a few natural remedies that really work.

The Underlying Cause of Your Itchy Eyes

The number one cause of itchy eyes is hypersensitivity to dust or pollen. This is an allergic reaction to something the body is trying to fight off similar to a virus or bacteria.

This causes you experience symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, itching, and irritated eyes. About half the population of Americans have some degree of allergies, and according to studies, seventy-five percent of all common allergic reactions affect the eyes.

Soothe Itchy Eyes Naturally

When it comes to allergies, the best advice is to avoid the culprit that is affecting you. But in the case of itchy eyes, it's impossible to shield yourself from any possible source or irritation that might be in the air.

When you are indoors I always recommend a good air filter that removes much of the dust particles. This of course is a way of controlling the air you breathe when you are inside, but let's take a closer look at what you can do when you are out in the elements.

There are two natural supplements that I recommend.

oThe first is Perilla frutescens extract. Perilla frutescens is a plant in the mint family that grows commonly all over Asia and is used for both food and medicine.

In a study published Experimental Biology and Medicine researchers found that people with allergies who take a daily dose of Perilla frutescens extract enjoy reduced symptoms including less itchiness in their eyes.

oThe second is Butterbur extract. Butterbur extract proved as effective as leading prescriptions in reducing and preventing allergy symptoms including itchy eyes.

My Eyes Aren't Itchy-They're Twitching

Patients not only report itchy eyes, but describe a condition known as twitching eyes. Eye twitching is caused by small muscle spasms below or above the eye and is usually triggered by stress or fatigue. In most cases, the spasm will last a little while and then go away on its own. Although it is not a serious condition, twitching eyes can be very annoying and tiring.

To prevent mild eye spasms from occurring or to stop the twitching I advise my patients to get a good night's sleep and some relaxation. I always ask them to take a moment to think about the sources of stress in their life and find ways to relieve it. By reducing stress or finding an outlet for tension usually prevents future eye twitching episodes.

If your eye twitching persists longer than two days or if it causes your facial muscles to spasm as well, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to rule nerve issues and to explore other treatment options.

Your eyes play an important role in the quality of life. You are not alone if itchy or twitching eyes are your problem. Don't continue to suffer in silence, talk to your doctor about some of the natural remedies mentioned here. Finding the best method to relieve your symptoms will allow you to make the most of the outdoor environment as well as your indoor space.

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Institute For Healthy Aging

http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com
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Can Lack of Sleep Affect Your Eyes?

By Dr. Charles Simon

     

    

In a society known for being on the run, many often try not to think about what the effect is on their health. What is well known on the other hand is, our ever-increasing to-do list. Days are filled with a long laundry list of "must-do's" and sleeping falls to the backburner of importance. The affects of not getting a good night's rest may not only affect your mood the next day, but also your vision. No, we are not talking about the aesthetics and those dreaded dark circles or under-eye bags, but the actual health of your eye is in jeopardy when you do not receive adequate sleep.

Studies show that the eye needs at least five hours to replenish. Without adequate time to revive themselves, your eyes cannot work to their full potential. Over time this can lead to consequences, including popped blood vessels in the eye due to the strain on the eye.

For example, a shortage of sleep can contribute to dry eye. Think of sleep as a way to recharge and refresh your eyes to prepare them for the next day. When you don't get sleep, your eyes look and feel as tired as the rest of your body may feel. When tears do not adequately lubricate the eye, a person may experience. Those suffering from dry-eye may experience some pain, light sensitivity, itching, redness, or even blurred vision.

An extended lack of sleep has also been attributed to other more serious eye conditions, such as Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION). This usually occurs in elderly to middle age people with a history of sleep apnea. The condition is an inflammatory disease of blood vessels that occurs especially with aging. Over time, damage to the optic nerve occurs from insufficient blood supply to the eye and it eventually can cause vision loss.

To bypass any future problems that are eye health related, it is best to make getting sleep a priority for your health. If you have a hard time finding time for shut-eye, it is suggested to make a plan to schedule sleep and stick to it. Often times, other items may seem serious but sleep is the time the body replenishes itself. If scheduling sleep is not the problem, and then maybe the problem is actually falling to sleep. In that case, there are thousands of remedies for sleep. Some include: 1. Not exercising before bed, 2. Limit caffeine intake during the day, 3. Reducing stress levels, 4. Take a warm bath before bed, and 5. Use aromatherapy solutions.
 

Contributed by Dr. Charles Simon, CEO of Simon Eye Associates. For more information on eye health and vision please visit our website: Simon Eye Associates

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Computer Vision Syndrome - Why You Get Eyestrain and the Need for Computer Glasses

By Bill A. Valentine, Ph.D.           

 

    

Computer eyestrain is the number one office-related health complaint in the U.S., with some 60 million Americans suffering from computer eyestrain according to the American Optometric Association. Computer use at work and home continues to grow exponentially. Computer use is associated with a number of visual and physical symptoms experienced by 50%-90% of all computer users. So, if you have experienced fatigue, headache, eye strain, blurred vision, dry or irritated eyes and neck or back aches at the computer it is possible that you are suffering just some of the symptoms called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Solving the symptoms of CVS requires a visit to your eye doctor to determine if you need corrective lenses while working at the computer, especially if your computer use is two or more hours a day. The reason for computer vision related problems is further explained with a simplified description of how the eye and brain processes visual information.

Working at a computer is more visually demanding than doing other standard office work such as reading printed documents. Human vision is not designed for staring into a computer screen. Your eyes require constant sharp edged images like the characters found on ink and paper to process and focus on comfortably. The eye system of lens focusing is referred to as accommodation. Computer images are made up of tiny round dots, known as pixels. Since your eye cannot focus on the tiny round pixels, you must constantly refocus or accommodate to keep the images sharp. The eyes can't keep a constant relaxed focus on the computer screen, even when you increased the number of pixels per square or max out the computer's refresh rate. The monitor is constantly being "redrawn", and this eventually leads to repetitive stress of the eye muscles and fatigue.

Bifocals are not helpful at the computer. In fact, the bifocal only increases the problem since the reading portion of the bifocal is designed for a shorter distance than a computer screen and for a much lower visual angle. The tendency to lift the chin up and move closer to the screen just leads to lower back and neck problems. Progressive lenses (eyeglasses without bifocal lines) have the same shortfalls since the area for intermediate computer vision is found in the lower half of the glasses and the area for viewing is limited.

If you spend two or more hours working at the computer CVS can be a real problem at home or in the workplace. Savvy employers are beginning to recognize that increase work production can be realized with eyewear designed for computer use. Visit your eye doctor who is ready to help you eliminate the problems of Computer Vision Syndrome with a dedicated pair of computer glasses. You can benefit from a natural head and neck position with computer glasses or the new ergonomically designed clip-on computer reading glasses.

You can choose to have a dedicated pair of computer glasses custom made or you may be wondering how to convert your existing general purpose pair of eyeglasses that you use for distance and reading only into computer glasses. Well, there is an easy and affordable way by using a new innovative clip-on lens to view a computer monitor. Simply clipping the lens on to the bridge portion of your general wear eyeglasses that you are already wearing, and you can immediately feel and see the difference while working on a computer. Save your eyes from nagging eyestrain and improve your ability to be productive in the workplace as well. A pair of dedicated computer glasses or the new clip-on computer reading glass will do much for you in all aspects of work, as well as and make you a feel better outside of work since they will eliminate much of the eyestrain, lower back discomfort and neck pains that you are experiencing.
 

Bill Valentine, Ph.D., is a Certified Ophthalmic Optician and Eye Care Professional with over 40 years experience as a Dispensing Optician and Educator. Bill is committed to helping you find practical eyewear solutions to all your visual needs. Are your Bifocals, Trifocals, or Progressive lenses a pain in the neck when you work on the computer? Now there is a simple, affordable solution!

Clip-on Computer Reading Glasses http://www.cliponcomputerreadingglasses.com/ Permission is granted to reprint & repost this article provided the resource box and all links remain intact.

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3 Steps for Preventing Macular Degeneration

By Patrick T Langley

     

    

Sometimes we don't think about how valuable our eyesight is until something threatens the loss of our vision. Macular degeneration is one real threat to our vision as we age. In fact, macular degeneration is the leading cause of fine vision loss in Americans over the age of 60, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that affects the macula, a part of the eye's retina that provides central vision. Central vision refers to the sharp, focused kind of vision that allows you to see objects clearly. It's necessary for many daily-living tasks, including driving and reading.

Since the damage caused by macular degeneration cannot be undone, it pays to take steps to prevent macular degeneration. Here are three research-proven steps that can help prevent the onset of AMD:

1) Eat Well: We all know that our diet plays a big part in the condition of our overall health, and the health of our eyes is no exception. According to amdalliance.org, research has shown that eating a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens, can reduce the risk of AMD. Dark leafy greens include kale, collards, and spinach.

The types of fats you take in are also important in preventing macular degeneration. A study done by the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary found that "bad" fats, such as the ones found in processed snack foods, increased the risk of macular degeneration.

Foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly albacore tuna and salmon, reduced the risk of AMD. Thus, try to avoid foods like potato chips, French fries, and prepackaged cakes, pies, and cookies. Try instead to eat two or more servings of fish high in Omega-3s a week.

2) Don't Smoke: Many studies, including a 1996 study published in JAMA, showed that men who smoked twenty or more cigarettes a day had an increased risk of developing AMD compared to non-smokers. If you're a smoker, saving your eye-sight is another reason to quit. Even if you don't think you can quit altogether, reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke daily to less than twenty may help reduce your risk of AMD, though quitting altogether is preferable.

3) Schedule Routine Eye Exams: Since the damage of AMD cannot be reversed, it's important for the condition to be caught early so that treatment can begin. All adults over the age of forty should have an eye exam at least every two years. Adults over the age of sixty should have a yearly eye exam. These exams should be comprehensive, dilated eye exams performed by an ophthalmologist. A skilled ophthalmologist will be able to catch AMD in its earliest stages.

It may be hard to pass up that bag of chips or another cigarette, especially when your eyesight doesn't seem currently threatened. But if you work to keep yourself healthy now, your eyes will stay healthy later.

If you're over the age of forty and haven't had an eye exam lately, look for a board-certified ophthalmologist in your area and schedule an appointment today.

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Corneal Abrasions: Scratches on Your Eyes

By Dr. Charles Simon

     

    

Have you ever had that feeling that there was something scratchy in your eye that you couldn't get out? It may have been a corneal abrasion.

A corneal abrasion is a cut or scratch to the cornea, the clear cover on the front of your eye that covers the iris (the colored part) and helps it to focus light. While they can be painful, they are quite common, and minor ones heal with little consequence to your vision. However, some corneal abrasions can be serious and threaten your eyesight, so it is important to educate yourself about these eyesight ailments.

How do they happen? Essentially anything that touches your eye could cause a corneal abrasion. They are especially prevalent with contact lens wearers. Contacts that are over worn, improperly fitting, or improperly cleaned can be the culprit for abrasions. Say you walk into a branch - there could be wood, plant, or even bug debris that gets stuck in your eye and scratch your corneas. Outside on a windy day? Fast moving dirt and dust particles can get lodged under your eyelid and rub against your eyes. Even rubbing your eyes too hard can cause abrasions, especially if your fingernails touch the eye surface.

Prevention: Protect yourself from these bothersome abrasions. Be sure to wear goggles if you are working with machinery that causes particles to fill the air. Keep your nails neat, and contact lens wearers - keep them clean and remove them before you sleep!
If you are hit in your eye(s), or if you get something in them - pay attention to them for the next couple days. Sometimes irritation doesn't hit you right away. You may notice a sensation as if there is something in your eye that you cannot rinse out, tearing, blurred vision, or spasms causing you to squint.

Contact your eye doctor if you have eye pain or sudden increase in blurred vision - even if you have not knowingly had an accident with your eyes.
 

For more information on eyeglasses and vision please visit our website: Simon Eye Associates

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The Use Of Lazy Eye Muscle Exercises To Improve Vision Of Ambylopia Patients

By Tommy Sjoberg 

Lazy eye, which is also known as Amyblopia, is an early childhood condition where a child's eyesight in one eye does not develop as it normally should. When a person suffers from this condition, it means the visual sensory organ is not communicating images correctly to the brain. The brain focuses on one eye more than the other, virtually disregarding what we call as the "lazy" eye. The problem is usually in just one visual organ, but can sometimes affect both of them making it the most common cause of partial or total blindness. Fortunately, there are eye muscle exercises available that can help strengthen the muscles and connection of the eyes to the brain.

Usually, an ophthalmologist and an orthoptist treat children with lazy eye. Treatment tends to be more effective the younger the child is. However, there are evidences of new hope for adults with the same condition. There are two treatment approaches: treating an underlying eye problem and getting the affected part to work so that vision can develop. Although corrective surgery is often needed to treat amyblopia, vision exercises can help strengthen and fix a this condition.

Prior to starting lazy eye exercises, consult your ophthalmologist to determine whether these eye exercises will be effective in your particular case.

Types of adult lazy eye exercises

Eye exercises can be very efficient in improving amyblopia and can improve the communication between the brain and the eye. Some of the best lazy eye exercises include:

• Palming
• Tracking
• Focusing
• Rolling

Palming

Palming is an exercise that helps your visual organ to relax. It can be done as a warm-up exercise prior to other lazy eye exercises. With this kind of exercise, cup the palms of one hand over each eye (left over left and right over right) and intertwine your fingers on your forehead. Make sure your eyes are shut while doing this. Perform this for 5 to 10 minutes and breathe deeply.

• Make sure that your hands will block out any penetrating light and help the eyes acquire total relaxation.
• It should remain closed and unfocused. An indication of the it being relaxed is when most of the spots and flecks of color in the field of vision have disappeared already.

Tracking and Focusing

With these exercises, the use of an eyepatch is involved. The strong eye is to be covered with the eye patch as an object is moved up and down, diagonally, and from left to right in front of the field of vision. This allows the affected eye to forcibly track it. Focusing involves drawing the object close to and then moving it away from the face. This exercise will also force the affected eye to shift focus as the object moves. Regular tracking and focusing should be done to maintain progress.

Rolling

Eye rolling exercise helps the muscles of the lazy eye to work. With the stronger eye covered with a patch, sit on the ground with legs folded. The neck and head should be straight while looking in front. Now, without lifting your chin, look up at the ceiling of the room by simply raising your eyes. Hold it for five seconds. Do the same thing below and in all the corners turn by turn. End the exercise by looking at the tip of your nose and squeeze your eyes shut tightly; then slowly loosen the eyelid muscles with the eyes remained closed for a few moments. Afterwards, rub your palms together and cover it over your eyes. That's the time you open your eyes.

To produce significant results, adult lazy eye exercises must be done over an extended period of time. It should also be done consistently to take effect. If you have any questions regarding these exercises, consult your doctor to best meet your concerns.

You can learn more about lazy eyes and the different lazy eye exercises to help strengthen your eye muscles and prevent visual loss.

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Eye Allergies

By Dr. Charles Simon

     

    

Eyes red or itching? Suffering from seasonal allergies? If you're like me, you fled to your local drug store this weekend to stock up on allergy medicine, and found many of the shelves empty. Did you know between 30-50% of Americans suffer from allergies? Moreover, 75% of those allergies affect the eyes! That's a lot of red, itchy, watery eyes in this country.

What causes them? Most allergies are airborne, and that's where they come in contact with your eyes and nose. They are triggered by particles from substances like pollen, ragweed, mold, dust, and pet dander. Some other causes include reactions to preservatives in lubricating eye drops, or from cosmetics. If your eye drops are irritating you, you may want to switch to a kind without preservatives.

Eye allergies are often hereditary, and they occur as a result of other allergic processes. For example, if your eyes are excessively watery as a result of allergies, it's because your body is releasing histamines. Those histamines are making your eyes water, not the allergen. Sometimes the reactions in your eyes are actually over-reactions. If a non-threatening substance gets into your eyes, your eyes can perceive it as harmful. For example: dust. Dust is relatively harmless in small amounts, but if a person is especially susceptible to eye irritation, he or she may experience major tearing, mucous, itchiness, or redness. While that can be extremely annoying, it doesn't mean your vision is being affected.

Allergies can lead to other health problems, too. Specific to the eyes, your allergies can cause asthma symptoms to flare up or other upper respiratory problems. That, in addition subconsciously scratching your nose and eyes back and forth can cause conjunctivitis, or pink eye.

We cannot control the changes of the seasons and the allergies that come with them, so we have to avoid and treat. If you are affected by pollen, you can try to stay inside in the air conditioning on especially high pollen days. If you are going outside, you can wear wraparound sunglasses to keep pollen and other particles out of your eyes. Avoidance can be hard though, especially during the week when you have to be out and about, so you can treat your allergies with either prescription or over-the-counter treatments. Speak with your doctor to find out what's right for you. If your eyes are really suffering, eye drops with antihistamines may be best for you. Always consult your eye doctor before beginning to use medicated eye drops regularly.
 

Delaware's most trusted eye care provider with 27 years of experience and excellent service.
For more information about eye care and glasses, visit our website Simon Eye Associates

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