Administering Antibiotic Eye Drops

By Mark Gerard

 

Eye infections often occur when the eye comes into contact with mascaras, eye liners and other foreign matter. Contact lens can at times also create or carry infections. Everyone's eyes are continuously exposed to the atmosphere and hence are flooded with microbes, these microbes can be infected with various forms of bacteria and viruses.

Some infections like conjunctivitis are caused when the person comes in contact with another eye, or comes into contact with tears or tissues that have been used by an infected person. This virus is highly infectious. Conjunctivitis is by far the most common bacterial eye infection, others like blepharitis, trachoma, keratitis and corneal ulcers are also not uncommon.

The symptoms manifested by the infections vary widely from reddening of the eye, irritation of the eye, drying of the eye and discharges are all to common. Not all infections can be treated with antibiotic eye drops. This is because there are drugs which are age specific and microbe specific and many can show adverse drug reactions. All of these possible adverse reactions have to be taken into consideration when any drop is being applied to the eye. Being Doctor prescribed drugs, antibiotic eye drops are to be used only after seeking advice from a medical practitioner.

The antibiotic eye drops come in small bottles with a dropper. As these are generally suspensions of a drug in a normal saline solution, they have to be shaken well before using. This ensures the drug suspension throughout. The tip of the dropper must not be touched with hand or kept on an unclean surface as this increases contamination. The eyes are first washed with some clean water then dried with a clean cloth, then the drops are held in the dropper, the head is tilted with the lower eyelid widened to form a pouch, the drops are administered, right away the patient will feel an intense burning or itching sensation, this is due to the stinging of the nerves. The eye is closed for a minute or two and held slightly with a finger to prevent the draining of the medication.

If the pain persists a Doctor has to be consulted. It is necessary that should any adverse reactions to the antibiotics become apparent, you need to visit your local GP and advise him of what antibiotic eye drop you are using and the reactions you are suffering from.

Some drugs manifest allergic reactions like rash, swelling, itching, and a rise of basal body temperature, headache, watering of eyes, tingling sensations, and higher redness can all become apparent. All these are symptoms worth worrying about and should be immediately seen to by your Doctor.

Antibiotic eye drops differ for different age groups, they also differ for pregnant mothers and disorders like diabetes etc. Eye injuries, blood pressure or thyroid disorders will also alter the strength and type of antibiotic eye drop prescribed. Any past history like previous drug reactions should also be mentioned to your Doctor prior to starting any treatment.

If the infected eye/eyes shows no sign of recovery in a 24hr period, then return to you local Doctor for further treatment.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Gerard

What Are Short Sightedness and Long Sightedness - How to Correct Them

By Max Sleck

 

Short sightedness is also called nearsightedness or Myopia and is a common vision problem when the eyes can focus on close objects but distant objects are blurry. Long sightedness, also called far sightedness or Hyperopia is the opposite of Myopia. The eyes can focus on distant objects but not on close objects.

These vision problems are very common, about 30 percent of Americans are nearsighted and 60 percent are farsighted to some degree.

The shortsighted eyeball is too long causing the image focused in front of the retina. The symptoms of nearsightedness are blurred vision but also eye strain and sometimes headache.

The causes of nearsightedness are partly genetic and partly environmental. A person who constantly does close work could end up with Myopia. You can be diagnosed with nearsightedness at any age even after age 40.

The farsighted eyeball is too short causing the image focused behind the retina. Again the result is blurred image.

Genetic factors play a role at developing long sightedness. If the farsighted eye is not corrected it can get worse. It is possible that one eye nearsighted one eye farsighted.

Myopia and Hyperopia can be combined with other eyesight problems especially with Astigmatism. The causes of Astigmatism are irregular shaped cornea or irregular shaped lens causing out-of-focus vision.

Nearsightedness and farsightedness can be corrected different ways. One solution is eyeglasses.
Another solution is contact lenses. Glasses and contact lenses are not going to make your eyes better they just help the eyes to focus on the retina. Eye surgery is another possibility. With eye surgery there are some risks involved.

You can also correct your vision and actually improve your vision with eye exercises. There are nearsighted eye exercises and farsighted eye exercises. Eye exercises can help Astigmatism too.

Learn more about how the combination of Eye Exercises and Healthy Diet can restore and maintain Healthy Eyesight.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Sleck

Puffy eyes remedies

Article by Geoff.

Many people suffer from swollen or puffy eyes. Some days it can look like you have been crying all day or you have a severe hangover. This can cause a lot of stress and self esteem problems , which themselves can exaggerate the situation. This need not be the case as there are many remedies and with a little treatment and adjustment to diet the issue can be resolved.

Causes of puffy eyes can include allergic reactions to various make up , perfume and skincare products. Also high salt in the diet is a major factor as well as direct reaction to animal hair in the air. Poor sleep pattern can also be a major contributing factor.Puffy eyes are not a permanent condition so hopefully I can shed some light on a few things that work to reduce the problem.

What Are Puffy Eyes?

Puffy eyes are a condition where the eyes begin swelling due to different factors. The skin around the eyes is very thin and is full of blood vessels which make it very sensitive. Usually puffy eyes will go away after a little bit of time or some treatments done at home. However, puffy eyes are also symptoms of other eye conditions that may require examination by an eye care professional. In cases where puffy eyes are severe and persistent or are accompanied by pain, discomfort, blurry vision, or other conditions, an eye specialist should be contacted about the problem.

Causes of Puffy Eyes

Puffy eyes can be caused by many factors. These include fluid retention, stress, allergies, hormone changes, and other factors as well. When we cry, it is often accompanied by swollen eyes. This is due to the fact that are body reacts to emotions and causes more blood to flow through the eyes which leads to swelling. Also the production of too many emotional tears can strain the eyes. Also, we get puffy eyes after sleeping. This can be caused by different factors such as too much sodium in a diet causing water retention, tossing and turning and not getting enough sleep, excessive drinking of alcohol, and others as well.

For puffy eyes that are not caused by medical eye conditions, there are many ways to reduce the symptoms.

The following is a list of what to do for treating puffy eyes:

•Wash face with ice cold water

•Limit sodium intake ( salt )

•Drink plenty of water to clean out your system

•Place two slices of cool cucumber on the eyes for several minutes

•Moisten two tea bags in cold water, chill them in the refrigerator and place them over closed eyelids for several minutes

•For allergies and puffy eyes, find out the item causing the allergic reaction and minimize its use; doctors may also provide medication in the form of shots or prescription drugs

•Try a soothing eye cream with aloe and Vitamin E, which can be applied to the eyes.Try applying some hemorrhoid cream under the thin skin of the eye. This cream contains anti-inflammatory agents that can help alleviate puffy eyes.

•Gently tap your skin where puffy, as this can encourage fluid build up to release and drain more easily

•Avoid artificial sweeteners, as these can cause your body to retain more fluid.

•Always wear UV glasses during the day. Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, even on cloudy days. Excessive exposure to the sun or unexpected sunburns often contributes to puffy eyes and leave you feeling bloated the next dayDo Remember

•Enjoy a light self-massage, which can help relieve puffy eyes. Close your eyes and gently press your ring finger underneath one eye, moving in an arc shape from the inside corner to the outside corner. Massage 10 to 15 times. Then repeat on the other eye. This is a great massage to do before jumping out of bed.

•Use two pillows to keep your head elevated while sleeping. Fluid won't accumulate underneath the eyes.

•DON'T vigorously rub your eyeballs in the morning. Avoid touching them throughout the day.

•Watch what you wear. Do your eyes puff up midday? For women, beauty products may be the culprit. Many fingernail polishes, hair sprays, and makeup contain formaldehyde, which can cause eyes to swell. Luckily, the fashion industry is wising up and new formaldehyde-free beauty products are hitting the shelves. Use the process of elimination, avoiding each product for one to two weeks, to determine which is causing the blow-up.

•Give your eyes a break! For every hour you are on the computer, take a five- to ten-minute rest. Stare out the window, close your eyes and meditate, or stroll to the water cooler. While working on the computer, try to look away every few minutes.

•Keep your bedroom free from dust, pollen, and animal dander. Remove all dust-collecting objects, wash sheets once a week in very hot water, cover the mattress and pillows with dust-mite protective coverings, and bar pets from the bed. During pollen season, wash your hair before hitting the pillow, and use air conditioning instead of opening the window.


check out http://www.puffyeyesremedies.net/

Dry Eyes are a Very Common Eye Disease

By Don Steensma

 

The term "dry eye" refers to a wide spectrum of ocular conditions. The most common symptoms are dry, red, gritty, and even watery eyes. It often feels as though there is something foreign on your eye. Every time we blink, tear glands within the eyelid secrete tears. These tears lubricate the eye and help prevent infection. A healthy tear film consists primarily of a delicate balance of two layers. A thin outer oily layer reduces evaporation of the tears. Below the outer oily layer is a watery layer called the aqueous layer, which makes up 98% of the tear film. It helps rinse and clean the front surface of the eye. These normal tears nourish and refresh the eyes.

When the normal tear film breaks down, the eye begins to dry out. When that happens our eyes begin to burn and often the tear gland releases watery tears. These tears normally are only released to rinse out a foreign body or during emotional crying. They cause inflammation and irritate the eyes. That's why dry eyes leads to red, burning,irritated eyes just like crying does.

The four basic causes for dry eye:

• Anatomical - In this case the tear drainage system is too efficient and the normal tears are drained away too rapidly.
• Oil Deficient - There are hundreds of oil glands within the eyelids. When they become deficient the oily tear layer is not adequate and the normal tears rapidly evaporate away resulting in a dry eye. It is treated with eyelid scrubs, eyelid massages and sometimes antibiotics
• Aqueous Deficient - This tear layer is primarily water. It may be deficient in an autoimmune syndrome called Sjogren's syndrome and a non-immune based condition, which is often related to hormonal levels. Some men and many women over age 45 have this problem. Some medications can also affect this layer.
• Inflammatory - Recent research indicates inflammation of the tear gland results in less tears being produced. This is thought to be a frequent cause of dry eye.

The three basic treatments for dry eye:

• Lubricating drops are the traditional treatment for dry eyes. They help but relief does not last long and sometimes there are reactions to the preservatives in the drops.
• Punctal plugs are very small plugs, which are placed in the tear drainage duct. They prevent tears from draining away, so the eye is not as dry. This is a painless procedure, which takes only a few minutes and produces substantial improvement for many people with dry eyes.
• An anti-inflammatory medication (Restasis ©) is prescribed which actively suppresses the inflammatory response rather than passively lubricating the ocular surface.

If you have red, burning, irritated, tearing eyes see your eye doctor. With the new treatments available these days, why put up with the irritation?

Dr. Don Steensma has practiced optometry in the City of Port Hueneme for 33 years. His office is located at 465 W. Channel Islands Blvd in Port Hueneme. For more information call 486-3585 or go on-line to http://www.visioneyedoctor.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Steensma

Blurred Vision - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

By Jackson Barry

 

Blurred vision is a condition wherein the images that one sees are blurry. It should be distinguished from other visual problems, particularly double vision or diplopia. Other factors that need to be considered when assessing the condition are first, if the condition is unilateral or bilateral and second, if the blurring of vision occurs intermittently or continuously.
 
Causes

• Patient may be suffering from nearsightedness or farsightedness.
• Dry eyes
• Exophthalmia
• Eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracs, senile macular degeneration, macular degeneration and in patients with diabetic lens osmosis
• Presbyopic patients
• Continuous eye irritation
• For visual distortion, individual may experience hallucinations that may show blurred
• vision.
• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency
• Certain drugs

Symptoms

Patients may experience cloudiness in the eyes. They may have difficulty focusing their vision that the objects they are looking may seem dull. Poor vision also prevents them from seeing the fine details. Moreover, patients suffering from blurring of vision may find in uncomfortable especially when they are in extreme emotional stress.

Treatment

If the blurring of vision is caused by medications such as antihypertensive, antihypertensive drugs, oral contraceptives, corticosteroids and Parkinson's disease medications, then the intake should be stopped immediately.

For diabetes, it is critical that the patient maintains the appropriate blood sugar levels. This could greatly help prevent the blurring of vision.

Blurring of vision can also be corrected by wearing the proper corrective glasses and contact lenses. It is critical for you to have your regular check up and have your doctors adjust your corrective lenses. Regular consults would also allow them to detect eye problems and diseases early.

The most important thing to prevent and treat blurring of vision is a healthy diet. A person should always take a diet rich in Vitamin A. For hypertensive patients, aside from taking Vitamin A rich foods, it is always important to monitor and maintain their blood pressures to normal levels.

If you are seeking help and advice from eye experts, you may visit Cedar Eye Clinic. Consult with a highly trained Cedar Eye specialist to help and treat your eye and vision problems.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jackson_Barry

What to Do For Tired Eyes - Avoiding Eye Strain

By Max Sleck

 

If you look at something for a long period of time you will end up with strain on eyes. It's an eye strain fatigue when your eyes get tired. Some examples are when you drive your car for a long time, when you stare at the computer monitor for hours, when you read or study especially something which is boring. Eye strain is very common, about 70 percent of those who perform extended visual task have this problem. Strain on vision is temporary discomfort as soon as you relax your eyes the symptoms will go away. You have to learn how to prevent eye strain or at least how to reduce it.

Strain in eyes has various symptoms depending on how long you use your eyes for visual tasks. The most common symptoms are tired eyes, dry eyes, headache and vision problems such as blurred vision and double vision, light sensitivity and difficulty focusing on images. You can even have back ache, neck ache and nausea.

Most people get strain in the eye due to extended use of a computer or video monitor or trying to see in dim light or expose their eyes to extreme brightness. Most people blink less than normal when doing extended visual tasks.

If you have to use your eyes for a long period of time and experience strain on vision you should take frequent brief brakes. Close your eyes for a couple of minutes, blink more frequently and look away from the computer monitor or book and focus on something else in different distances. There are other vision improvement exercises you can do too. You can massage your temples or around the eyes. If you can, get up and stretch your arms, neck and back.

Strain on the eyes is not something you can completely avoid in fact you are exposed to eye strain fatigue every single day. What you can do is to manage eye strain by learning how to relax your eyes.

Learn more about how the combination of Eye Exercises and Healthy Diet can restore and maintain Healthy Eyesight.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Sleck

Tips to Help Keep Your Eyes in Good Health

By David Giggs

 

There are millions of people in the UK alone which have problems with their eyes or their eyesight. However, there are a number of ways you can keep the sparkle in your eyes!

Diet:
What you eat will not only affect your overall well being it will also affect your eyes. Diets which do not contain sufficient Omega-3 fatty acids, which are most commonly found in oily fish such as sardines and salmon as well as some vegetables, may be susceptible to a deficiency of this vital component as the body is unable to make Omega-3 itself. The old adage that carrots are good for your eyesight holds true along with eating plenty of green vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli.

Drink:
Drinking plenty of water is not only good for your body it is also good for your eyes! Whereas too much alcohol can have a detrimental affect on your body's organ, including your eyes. Keeping to the recommendations of alcohol intake and drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day is quite literally worth taking on board.

Exercise:
Exercise is as good for your eyes as it is for all other organs of the body, should you be wondering the eyes are an organ! Those who take regular exercise will also be helping their eyesight as well as their general well being. Swimming is a great exercise, however, excessive amounts of sea salt or chlorinated water may leave eyes sore and irritated, using eye lubricating drops will help to reduce redness and irritation.

Eye sight tests:
These should be maintained regularly. As well as being essential for good eye care, other conditions and diseases can be detected during a routine eye sight test other than those purely related to eye conditions.

Having glasses to correct short or long sightedness or opting for contact lenses is a matter of personal preference. Those who opt for contact lenses will be given advice and recommendations on how to maintain and look after their lenses and eyes, including using lubricating fluids to help reduce soreness and irritation.

Age:
Eye sight deteriorates as we get older. It is a natural part of the aging process, however older people are more likely to experience dry eyes and may need to administered false tears to help keep their eyes moisturized. Age-related Macular Degeneration, AMD, is also common among older people.

Younger people who play computer games for extended periods of time may also experience dry eyes, this may be in part to staring too much. Blinking is the body's natural way to lubricate the eye, therefore anyone who has a tendency to stare at a computer screen, television or whilst reading may notice that their eyes become dry, irritated, red and sore.

Sleep:
Along with eating a healthy diet and regular exercise having sufficient sleep is also an important part of maintaining overall health. Those who lack sleep may not only find that their ability to concentrate diminishes they may as experience dry and sore eyes. The amount of sleep people need within twenty-four hours depends on the age and the general fitness of the person. Whilst many people can have four or five hours sleep, the majority of people need between eight and nine hours sleep in order to wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated!

For more information please visit the AMO Blink Intensive website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Giggs