Drying Up Watery Eyes From Allergies

By Hillary G Glaser

 

Anyone who has ever suffered from seasonal allergies, especially in the spring and summer when everything is blooming, understands how irritating watery eyes can be! During the spring and summer, it's not uncommon for women who suffer from allergies to stop wearing eye makeup and stick to waterproof mascara. Those who wear contacts are used the concept of swapping from their contact lenses to their glasses when their eyes start tearing up. Eye allergies are usually hereditary are commonly associated with other allergic reactions. When an allergy attack happens, your eyes react to harsh allergens that are likely wreaking havoc in other areas of your body. Think of it this way, dust doesn't bother everyone but to someone with a dust allergy, extra mucus is created to ward off the allergen and excess tears are produced to rid the eyes of dust.

Unfortunately, allergies can also trigger other issues like conjunctivitis (pink eye), asthma, and even an eye-nose combo called rhino conjunctivitis. Symptoms of allergies are a lot like the symptoms of a cold. Sufferers usually have itchy and watery eyes, runny noses, sneezing, bouts of coughing, headaches from sinus congestion, and itchy noses, mouths, and throats. Eye allergies are caused by many airborne allergens like pollen, dust, mold, and even pet dander. Other allergens, like bug bites and stings, generally do not cause eye allergies but certain medications can cause your eyes to react badly.

Treating eye allergies is relatively simple. The first treatment is avoidance. It's the most common treatment because you're doing your best to avoid what's causing your allergy. If your eyes are itchy and you have pets, try to keep your house free of pet dander and dust by covering your furniture with washable covers. When it's hot outside and the wind has picked up, stay inside with the air conditioner on - it'll lessen the chances of you being affected by pollen. If you need to venture outside, opt for sunglasses that wrap around in order to protect your eyes from the allergens. Also, driving with the windows closed with help.

Medications are another great treatment - especially if you're not sure what is causing your allergies to flare. No one wants to stay inside all day, especially when it's beautiful outside, so you may want to try some of the over-the-counter medications to dry up your eyes and block the allergens. Each non-prescription medication has an advantage and disadvantage - before shopping for the medication, ask your neighborhood pharmacist to help you select the right medicine. Don't try it out on your own if you've never taken allergy medicine before. Another option is to consult an allergist for a prescription since prescription medications are usually more effective and stronger.

Today's medication also includes eye drops that contain anti-histamines and decongestants. They'll help dry out your eyes and relieve many of the symptoms caused by allergens like watery eyes, runny noses, sneezing, and itchiness. Consider using eye drops to help dry up the mucus and tears that plague you during allergy season.

There are a few relief options when it comes to watery eyes - you can opt for medications and eye drops that contain decongestants and anti-histamines. Decongestants will dry up the mucus in the nasal cavities and help you breathe while anti-histamines help block out allergens from affecting you. Eye drops will help clear the tears, mucus, and allergens from your eyes - so will washing your eyes out with water but eye drops may contain medication to help the process go by more quickly.

Another great idea is to swap out your contact lenses and try wearing your prescription eyeglasses. By swapping to your eyeglasses frames, you're allowing your eyes to breathe and keeping debris from getting trapped in your eyes.

Hillary Glaser is a social networking specialist and expert in cross-media promotion, currently working on promoting prescription eyeglasses. She is the Director of Marketing and Special Projects for GlassesUSA.com - the easiest way to buy glasses online, which now offers free shipping on all US orders with the code FreeShip10.

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Quick Tips On What To Do Before Lasik Eye Surgery

By Colin Scott

Lasik eye surgery will give you an opportunity to eliminate contacts or glasses permanently and get to see normally. During this surgery, the surgeon will correct the shape of the cornea and this will allow you to focus naturally. Since vision is very important, it's quite understandable that you will be worried and concerned when you have to undergo a Lasik treatment. This article will give you some suggestions that will help you to prepare for this corrective eye surgery.

Talk to your doctor. No doubt you've already spoken with him/her and the decision was made together for you to get this surgical treatment, but ensure that you understand specifically what the doctor is expecting you to do during the days and weeks prior to procedure, in addition to during the recovery period. In case you weren't given some written instructions, you can ask the doctor for this and also jot down any other important information. Normally, Lasik eye surgery will not be particularly painful; however, if you are worried about pain or even if you are nervous and fearful about the surgery itself, ask the doctor about medications that you can take.

Do not wear contacts at least 2 to 4 weeks prior to your surgery. In general, one month will be suggested for wearing hard contact lenses. As an alternative, you should wear glasses to enable your corneas to get the natural shape.

Take one or two days from work following your surgical procedure. The doctor can recommended the number days you need to stay away from work, based on the nature of your job and also any restrictions you might have to complete certain tasks. In case you have to work in a dusty environment or in outdoor spaces, you might have to take several extra days from work.

Get someone to take you home after the surgery and also to carry out chores afterward because you will not be able to drive right away. On the day of the surgery, you should dress comfortably and loosely tie long hair away from your facial area. Prior to the surgery, you avoid using any form of make-up, lotions or creams around your eyes. The doctor will most likely recommend that you have a light breakfast before the surgery and also that you take your regular medications, in addition to any medication that was prescribed to help with the treatment. This surgical procedure generally lasts for about 20 to 30 minutes, which means that you will be able to have a much better vision in no time.

For more great tips on Lasik Eye Surgery [http://lasikeyesurgerycostsinfo.com/] visit [http://lasikeyesurgerycostsinfo.com/].

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How To Relieve Red Eyes

By Predrag Iljic

Avoid rubbing your eyes as it stimulates mast cell degranulation and histamine release. Instead, you may use cool compresses.

Vitamin C is nature's natural anti histamine thus oranges and vitamin C supplements may be helpful to relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Brightening eye drops can only be used very occasionally. The chemicals used in these eye drops constrict the blood vessels in your eyes and this eliminates the redness but if you use it too often or too long your eyes will be more bloodshot than they already were. This effect caused by excessive or prolonged use of vasoconstrictors is called Rebound Hyperemia. The vasoconstrictors that reduce redness by contracting the eye's blood vessels are addictive, in the sense that over time, more and more is needed to achieve the same effect.

To relieve mild red eye symptoms you may close your eyes and splash cold water several times onto your eyelids, this will cause the blood vessels to constrict and will help to cool and lubricate your eyes.

Another home made treatment is placing two cotton balls in cold skim milk, squeezing them out and putting them on your eyelids for about 10 - 15 minutes.

Omega 3 appears to play a substantial role in stabilizing the tear film and this may help your eyes (However, you should make sure that you do not have any hidden food allergies, as even the healthiest food can make you ill if you are allergic to it.)

Taking Lutein, Blue Berry or Vitamin A, B supplements can also help your eyes. Grape seed extract contains antioxidants which may strengthen the blood vessels in the eyes. Glucosamine amino acid strengthens elastin and collagen tissues (which is what the blood vessel is comprised of).

Predrag Iljic has been suffering from different allergies for as long as he can remember. If you would like to learn more about different causes and available treatment options for red eye symptoms please visit Predrag's web site for Red eye causes and treatment [http://www.bloodshoteyes.org]. If you think allergies could be contributing to any health problems that you may experience please visit another web site produced by Predrag Iljic - Advice for hayfever, skin, food and other allergies

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Causes of Color Blindness and How Does it Happen

By Jannah J Smith

During college days, I remembered when we took the college entrance examination. A friend of mine did not pass the physical exam of the school because he is color blind. How could this happen? Is it possible that a person is color blind? Let me first discuss what color blindness is. Color blindness or color vision deficiency is the inability of a person to know the differences between some colors.

Color blindness is due to a default gene and it can also occur due to eye, nerve and brain damage or exposure to chemicals. A chemist named John Dalton, a color blind conducted a study about color blindness. Because of his work, the condition was named Daltonism. This term is now referred to as Deuteranopia. It is classified as a mild disability. There are situations that color blind individuals have an advantage over those that have normal color vision because they can better penetrate certain color camouflages.

The human retina has two kind of light cells. The rod cells that is active in a low light and the cone cells that are active in a normal day light. In a normal eye, there are three kinds of cones that contain different pigments. These pigments are activated when it absorbs the light. The absorption capacity of the cones differ, one is sensitive to a short wavelength, one to a medium wavelength and the other one to a long wavelength. The absorption capacity of these three systems covers much of the visible spectrum.

Different colors are recognized when the different types of cones are being stimulated to a different degree. For example, a red light stimulates the long wave length cones. When the wave length is reduced, the other two cones are stimulated increasingly that causes the change of color to blue. The gene that is involved in color vision is the X chromosome. Color blindness is more common in males than females because of the fact that males have only one X chromosome while females have two.

Color blindness can be inherited and can be congenital. Individuals that are color blind since birth can be color blind for the rest of his life depending on the mutation. In some cases, certain color blindness can progress to legal blindness and sometimes a person will totally become blind.

Janna contributes to many free article directories and is a paid staff writer for FreeArticleDigest.com, where you can find articles on subjects ranging from wood file cabinets [http://www.freearticledigest.com/computers-and-office/woodfilecabinets.html] to stackable storage bins [http://www.freearticledigest.com/home-and-garden/stackablestoragebins.html]. You may republish this article free of charge, anywhere online, as long as all keyword links are left intact.

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Natural Remedies and Tips for Eye Health

By Nigel Le Monnier

Experts will tell you that healthy eyes are a good indication of total body health. They are one of the most important organs of the body, and vision is one of the most precious gifts.

If you feel concerned that the state of your eyes is not as healthy as it should be, there is a strong possibility that the cause of that problem stems from simply not caring for them. Often malnourished diets, neglect, and lifestyle habits are primary reasons for poor eye health.

Physicians will also tell you that the single most import step to caring for your eyes is having your eyes tested regularly every two years, or every year if you wear eye glasses or contact lenses.

While these recommendations are extremely valuable and important to eye care, how you take care of your eyes daily with home care, using natural remedies, is priceless.

Sometimes all it takes is a little effort to get started on a programme to enhance eye health, and while not all eye problems can be prevented, you can invest the time and effort weekly to pamper your eyes for optimal results.

Practice the habits of eye health and you will be pleased knowing that you kept at bay many of the common incidences of vision problems that occur with earnest as we get older.

Natural Remedies
The human eye is a complex sense organ and we use it to interact with and interpret our world. We receive light and images from the environment, which is then transmitted to the brain for understanding. Its role as part of a larger internal communication network is unmistakeable. We use our eyes to perceive our world to observe nuances, assess dangers, and provide us with insights.

Taking care of them begins with learning how, applying a few tips and supplementing with some home remedies.

1: 10 Foods for eye health
• Avocadoes-- contain lutein, important in the prevention of macular degeneration associated with aging and cataracts. They are also great sources of eye nutrition including: vitamins A, E, and B6.
• Carrots - contain ample amounts of beta carotene, pro-vitamin A.
• Broccoli - is a good source of vitamin C, calcium, and lutein.
• Kale - is a good source of vitamin A, lutein and other eye nutrients.
• Spinach - is a valuable source of vitamin A and zeaxanthin.
• Tomatoes -are high in vitamin C and lycopene, important eye nutrients
• Garlic - contains a wealth of ingredients for eye health including: selenium, vitamin C, and quercetin.
• Sunflower seeds - contain selenium and other eye nutrients that prevent cataracts.
• Papayas - are rich sources of pro-vitamin A.
• Brazil Nuts - high in selenium.

2: 3 Easy natural remedies
1: Swollen, irritated eyes - cut a fresh piece of aloe vera plant with the yellow/green sap oozing, Pat the sap over the eye and leave on for half an hour or longer. Rinse off. The irritation usually eases quickly and can be repeated as often as you need to. Note: rinse the skin of the aloe before applying to the eyes.

2: Puffy Eyes - Place wet tea bags in the freezer to chill and while chilling apply olive oil or coconut oil to your eyelids with a cotton ball. Remove tea bags from freezer, recline, placing the tea bags over the eyes for approximately 10 minutes. Remove, wash face and moisturise.

3: Eye strain from computer use - after 20 minutes, look at a distant object and blink several times, this helps with accommodation and frequent blinking will prevent dry, sore eyes. Exercise your eyes by rolling them gently side to side, up and down, and diagonally; this builds eyes muscles and reduces fatigue.

3: Supplements for eye health:
• Eyebright
• Fennel
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B6
• Zinc and copper
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Lutein and Zeaxanthin
• Bilberry

4: Eye health tips
There are several pieces of advice that we can use to enhance our eye health.
• Wearing sunglasses in dazzling sunlight and reflections, particularly sea and snow.
• Placing a filter screen on lap top/computer monitors.
• Pursuing a healthy diet and exercise.
• Cutting back on smoking.
• Giving your eyes regular breaks from contact lenses.
• Closing your eyes for brief moments to give them a rest and prevent strains
• Use colloidal silver as a safe remedy for eye infections.

Although we use our eyes everyday, it's one of those organs that we simply forget about, like our lungs and breathing, its invaluable function is only noticed when something goes wrong.

Be protected by natural remedies and tips provided for eye health. Daily care plus once a week more intensive pampering should be done to nurture your precious asset.

Nigel Le Monnier has over 20 years-experience as a qualified natural health professional in the UK. He is now writing articles for a website solely devoted to bringing a comprehensive range of natural health advice to everyone. To find out more about natural eyesight care visit his website at Natural Health 4 Life.

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5 Common Causes of Eye Irritation and Recommended Measures

By Divya Varma

Eye irritation is a common problem experienced by individuals of all age groups. It is actually itching, stinging, burning or other painful irritating sensation in the eyes. The common symptoms associated with eye irritation is itching, redness, soreness, swelling, tearing, burning, pain, fatigue etc. along with a blurred vision. In such a situation patient often feels as if there is a speck in his eyes.

A host of conditions may lead to eye irritation, out of which, some require an immediate consultation with an ophthalmologist and some go away with time without requiring any medical treatment. But if you ever happen to suffer from a condition of eye irritation, you must avoid rubbing your eyes, using eye makeup etc., and you must also protect them from dust. Following are five mostly observed eye irritation causes along with the precautionary or curative measures that one should take in each of the cases:


1. Foreign Particles in Eyes:

If something like a dust particle or eye makeup has gone in your eyes, it can cause an eye irritation. In such a case, you must wash it off properly with cold tap water without rubbing your eyes. This should solve the problem.


2. Dry Eye Syndrome:

Constant computer use without blinking eyes, hormonal changes, use of contact lenses, dry atmospheric conditions, certain medicines and cigarette smoke leads to a situation in which the tear glands do not produce enough amount or quality of tear drops to keep the optimum level of moisture in the eyes, resulting in dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome also causes eye irritation and if not treated may result in blurred vision and infections. In such a situation, you must visit an ophthalmologist, who may prescribe you a suitable eye lubricating drop, gel or ointment to maintain the correct moisture level in your eyes. Dry Eye Syndrome is not curable but it can be dealt with using external lubrication or by surgical methods. However, in most of the cases, the problem of Dry Eye Syndrome itself could be avoided at the first place if you take regular breaks and try to blink your eyes often while working.


3. Infections and Allergies:

Eye irritation may very often make the white portion of your eyes (sclera) look red and in case if you have the other symptoms of eye irritation as well, you might have caught an infection known as conjunctivitis. Although, allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious, the viral conjunctivitis is. It is best in such a situation to visit your family doctor or an ophthalmologist to get it treated fast. He may prescribe you a suitable eye drop along with some oral medications.

Similarly, eye irritation may be caused by allergies also. People may have foreign particles allergy, smoke allergy or seasonal allergies. In such cases as well the eyes become red. If you are suffering from this, you must pay attention to the pattern of your disease and try to find out what you are allergic to. Ophthalmologists prescribe drugs or eye drops which must be used as and when required to take care of such a condition.


4. Sub-conjunctival Hemorrhage:

Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage is a condition caused by the broken blood vessels beneath the tissue covering the sclera. It makes the eyes look red and really frightening at times. However, in general, it is not harmful and often does not cause any discomfort or vision related problems. But to be on the safer side and to be sure that there is no other problem causing the red eyes; one must consult an eye doctor. This problem generally does not require any medication and goes away with time.


5. Injuries:

In case of injuries to eyes, they may become red, swollen and painful. Injuries to eyes are very dangerous and require an immediate consultation with your ophthalmologist. Injuries may not only result in visible ailments but they may also cause some internal damages. In such cases, whether or not the injury is major, you must consult an eye doctor immediately to know the impact and get treated timely so as to avoid permanent vision loss or any other complications. For some immediate relief, however, you can use ice packs on your eyes.

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All You Should Know About Glaucoma: Risk Factors and Testing!

By Shawn P Grant

If it is diagnosed soon, glaucoma can be taken care of to avoid greater decline in eyesight or sight loss. Although, because they are experienced in a gradual manner, the indications of glaucoma can be hard to spot without a test carried out by an eye doctor. If glaucoma hits a late phase without being diagnosed, it may cause severe vision loss.

Glaucoma results from damage to the optic nerve, caused by a boost of fluid pressure in the eye or a problem in the optic nerve itself.

The eye requires a specific amount of pressure to permit the eye to maintain its shape, because it is made up of liquid, called aqueous humour. In a strong eye, this liquid moves throughout the eyeball at a consistent pace. If the drainage tubes which carry the liquid away from the eyeball become clogged, strain starts to develop within the eye. This increase in pressure can cause harm to the optic nerve.

Specific characteristics make an individual more disposed to having glaucoma:
  - The main consideration is age. The older someone becomes, the greater the chance of glaucoma developing.
- Someone suffering from short-sightedness or myopia also has a greater chance to develop glaucoma.   - Another significant factor is one's family history in identifying those people who can be at risk for glaucoma. If you have a family member with glaucoma, your chances of developing the condition are considerably greater.
 - Ethnicity is another factor that can have an affect on both an individual's likelihood of developing glaucoma and the variety of glaucoma. Those of Asian descent are prone to "closed angle" glaucoma, while those of African or Afro-Caribbean nationality are prone to "open angle" glaucoma.

There are six tests that can be given to identify glaucoma. It is strongly urged that anyone over 40 is tested for glaucoma minimally every two years.


Ophthalmoscopy:
For this exam the optometrist inserts eye drops to the eye ball to dilate the pupil. The color and shape of the optic nerve can then be examined. The test is given using a magnifying glass light, which will light up the rear of the eye, making it more clear to see the optic nerve. The optometrist may make use of a digital camera to set aside a photograph of the optic nerve.

Gonioscopy:
The eye will be numbed with eye drops and a mirrored lens is placed alongside the eye to analyze the angle among the iris and the cornea. This is the area of the eye where liquid drains away. The angle between the iris and the cornea tells the optometrist whether the person has "open angle" or "closed angle" glaucoma. The onset of "closed angle" glaucoma is often quite painful, while "open angle" glaucoma forms more gradually and is often much more advanced before a person pays attention to any of the warning signs.

Tonometry:
A very specific tool is used to puff air into the eye, permitting the optometrist to assess the eye pressure. Greater eye pressure is a significant sign of the presence of glaucoma.

Pachymetry:
This test uses a specific device to measure the width of the cornea. By measuring the width of the cornea, an optometrist can better interpret the result of the tonometry test.

Visual Field Testing (Perimetry):
While the individual being examined stares straight ahead, the optometrist brings out little vivid lights at the edge of the person's peripheral vision. If the patient has difficulty seeing some of the vivid lights, it may indicate that glaucoma has begun to affect his or her vision. This test is usually administered by a computer.

Nerve Fiber Analysis:
If the thickness of the optic nerve has been decreasing in certain areas, this shows that there is harm created by glaucoma.

Make sure you speak to your optometrist in regards to glaucoma testing right away!

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