Puffy Eyes - Instant Relief Treatments & Ways to Prevent Eye Puffiness

By Kacy Carr






Do you find your eyes puff up regular or show deep coiled black circles often? Do the bags under your eyes sag heavily? If you are embarrassed over your puffy eyes then you are not to worry because there are treatments to reduce eye puffiness. If we can get to the bottom of why puffy eyes have occurred then there is every possibility of curing the problem.

We associate eye puffiness to lack of sleep. Should this not be the case in your case after catching up with sleepy eye, then puffiness may be caused by other of which will need to be determined by your doctor. Mild or severe puffiness can happen through numerous factors. Most primary are allergies and skin disorders. Eyes can puff up and swell if fluid settles round them or through climate change and hormone levels. This condition is also marked down as heredity. Swollen eyes are not normally seen as a symptom of seriousness. Nevertheless not to be ignored either. How to reduce and treat puffy eyes is a question we answer with good news by clarifying there are ways to treat and prevent puffiness.

You need to elevate the head at every possibly moment when resting or sleeping. Propping the head up will control extra fluids from filling around the eyes. For instant relief apply a cold water compress to the skin just under the eye to take swelling down. Cucumber potato or apple slices placed over the eyes will refresh, reduce and soothe tired eyes. Chilled gel masks or used moist tea bags do the same. Cotton wool pads soaked in cold water or milk and applied for 10 to 15 minutes works wonders.

Skin that envelops the eye is sensitive so take care when treating them and with what you treat the eyes with. Does haemorrhoid cream reduce puffiness? As we speak we have no true proof that it does and with no clinical evidence to prove otherwise you should avoid using haemorrhoid cream unless suggested by your GP. The cream is known to cause irritation and dryness leading to inflammation. If you have tried different solutions to help reduce puffiness and no sign of any swelling going down see your doctor. Your GP can from examination eliminate other possible causes like kidney or thyroid issues. Puffiness can also derive as a side effect (allergic reaction.)

If you think you look a sight for sore eyes read on.

If the body begins to dehydrate it starts to retain water which can lead to puffy eyes. Drink plenty of water, not only is this good for controlling puffiness it is good for your overall health in general.

Sleep on your back if possible because this helps circulation. Sleeping on your tummy has the reverse affect allowing fluid to flood the eyes. Leaving make-up on overnight is unhealthy and can cause irritation. Alcohol and salty foods may increase fluid retention which ultimately can lead to puffy eyes.

It is known that some women retain water prior to their period, and certain women this shows around the eyelids. Maintain a good hormonal balance to help prevent this from happening. Add fruit and vegetables to your daily menu.

As with the ageing process skin loses elasticity and this can give cause for the eyes to swell. It is imperative to use a quality sunscreen block when out in the midday sun to protect the eyes from damaging sun ray's. Keep your diet rich in antioxidants and if this is not possible take supplements.

Moisturize the skin round the eyes to stop the skin drying up.

Dull corneas are a sign of severe vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A is a crucial element of importance for night vision. A well balanced daily diet of fresh fruit vegetables and certain nuts is helpful.

One reason for eye strain is poor lighting while reading or sewing. Doing these things under dim lighting causes the eyes to weary and this can be avoided by using proper lighting. By making a few minor adjustments to how you do things will help you avoid eye strain. Change the angle at which you hold a paper or book while reading. Closeness can strain the eyes. Be careful of long hours sitting in front of the television or computer, have a break. If you have an eye concern then consult an optician.

There is no special way to completely relax the eyes and the surrounding muscles other than to just close them.

Treat dark circles with a mixture of pulpy tomato (quarter) turmeric powder, lemon juice and gram flour. Apply over darkened skin and rinse off once dried.

Look after your eyes and they will look after you so you may see things more clearly

Puffy Eye Treatments

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

Cataract Surgery Complications

By Himanshu Jakhar

 

Cataract surgery has come a long way in the past 2 decades and while a relatively safe procedure, there still can be complications after surgery. Most of these complications are minor ones though and can be corrected, and don't worry too much - the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery reports that 98 percent of cataract surgeries are a success!

A cataract is actually a problem with the lens of the eye that causes symptoms such as faded colors and blurriness. The lens of the human eye is clear and therefore light can pass through to our retina which creates vision. A cataract forms on the lens and looks like a cloudy spot, affecting our ability to do everyday activities like reading, driving or seeing in the dark. To resolve this cataract surgery is performed and it removes the damaged part of the lens and replaces it with a plastic implant called an intraocular lens - the good news is that once removed, a cataract cannot grow back.

There are no prescriptions or drugs that can correct a cataract and therefore the only solution is surgery. Surgery is never done on both eyes in the same day and is often an outpatient procedure. As with all surgeries there is a risk hat infection and or bleeding will occur, and in the case of cataract surgery there is an increased risk of the retina detaching. The most common complication of cataract surgery is something called posterior capsule opacity. This occurs when the lens capsule, which surrounds and protects the lens of your eye, has cells from the outer layer of the cornea that begin to grow onto the capsule. This creates hazy vision which is sometimes worse than what the cataract caused. Thankfully there is a laser treatment that corrects this complication which occurs in about 20 percent of patients.

Another complication that may occur is when the intraocular lens that is implanted into the eye becomes dislocated or gets out of position often causing the patient to experience double vision. This problem can be easily corrected by your surgeon who will simply reposition the lens. If this becomes a problem a second time the intraocular lens can be sewn into place. It is important for a patient to report any problems to their doctor immediately upon noticing them because with just a few months the implanted lens 'grows' into place and becomes much harder for a surgeon to reposition or remove.

Cataract surgery does come with some other minor complications such as swelling or a droopy eyelid, but these problems usually clear up with time and do not cause major interference with a patient's renewed vision. The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery report that 95 percent of patients have their vision restored to the level that is was at before the cataract developed and interfered. Additionally, a high level or premium intraocular lens can actually improve a patient's vision. So while complications are inherent with any surgery, many people choose cataract surgery as a safe and effective way to remove their cataract and restore their sight.

Learn more about cataract and different cataract surgery options

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How Safe Is Laser Eye Surgery Anyway?

By Dr James Genge






Laser eye surgery has been tried and tested over its 23 years of existence. Over 36,000,000 LASIK procedures have been performed throughout the world, and nobody has lost an eye from having the procedure. The risk associated with laser eye surgery is less than that associated with contact lenses, and as far as infection goes, it represents a small one-time risk, as opposed to the ongoing risk of infection with contacts.

Laser eye surgery's safety has been experimented with and assessed by government and military organisations such as the US Navy, the Australian Army, and NASA. Their investigations show that blade-free LASIK (ie. creating a corneal flap with a femtosecond laser) is safe and approved for the SAS, Top Gun pilots and NASA astronauts.

Professional sportspeople also have used laser eye surgery to ensure their best performance on the field. This includes sportspeople such as Tiger Woods and David Beckham, whose vision correction procedures undoubtedly allows them to perform at their peak.

Despite having such an exceptional safety profile however, laser eye surgery is still surgery, and therefore will always have the potential for complications. Such complications are generally rare and always manageable though, which I will discuss below.

Enhancement:
LASIK surgery is performed on the eye, an organic tissue. Though the procedure is extremely accurate, there is an average 3-4% risk the correction will be decent but not absolutely optimal. In these cases, I usually wait around 3 months to ensure the stability of the residual glasses prescription, then lift the same corneal flap created earlier to "fine tune" the procedure's outcome. These enhancements are minor corrections, and are therefore more accurate. A great advantage of laser eye surgery is that, although highly stable in the long term, should anyone experience any refraction shift in their vision, enhancements such as these can be at almost any time in the future.

Risk of infection:
As mentioned before, the rate of infection as a result of laser eye surgery procedures is extremely low, far less than infections resulting from contact lenses. Corneal scarring resulting from infection occurs even less than this, at a rate of less than 1 in 20,000. Even if this occurs, it is correctible with a corneal transplant. As a corneal subspecialist, I've performed a lot of corneal transplants, but have never had to perform one for this reason.

Corneal flap issues:
Blade LASIK introduced the risk of creating an abnormal flap (such as a buttonhole flap). However, blade-free (femtosecond laser) LASIK eliminates this risk altogether, and due to this enhanced safety, it is the only form of laser eye surgery I perform.

With blade-free laser eye surgery, inflammation under the flap can sometimes occur (this is called diffuse lamellar keratitis), and can be managed by an increase in anti-inflammatory eye drops. If cells on the cornea grow (epithelium - a very rare occurence), they will generally absorb and disappear. If they ever proliferate, the flap can be lifted and the offending cells removed.

Dry Eye:
Temporary dry eye phenomenon is created when the nerves of the cornea are cut, which occurs during laser eye surgery. It can take about 3 months for these nerves to regenerate. During this time I would advise replenishing the tear film with lubricating drops.

Ectasia:
Ectasia is fortunately a very rare occurrence in which laser vision correction causes the cornea to become too pliable, and therefore bulges forward over time. Extreme cases of ectasia have been corrected by corneal transplantation, however fortunately pre-operative screening of patients has increased in accuracy, meaning candidates unsuitable for laser eye surgery are almost always identified before the procedure. Recent advances in the technique of collagen cross-linking also allows us to stop this rare complication from progressing further, and lets the patient maintain their vision while avoiding a cornea transplant. I am one of few eye surgeons in Australia who is experienced in this and can perform it in my surgery, however I have never needed to perform it on my own patients.

Glaring and Halos:
After the procedure, patients sometimes see starbursts or halos around lights in the night. This is most often due to the corneal flap dehydrating and stabilising, and it is rare to see this phenomenon persist longer than about a week.

Quality of vision:
The majority of patients feel that their vision after laser eye surgery is better than their vision with glasses or contacts before the operation. There is always a very small minority who experience visual quality less crisp than their pre-operative vision, but this situation is generally rectified by laser enhancement.

Laser eye surgery's proven and maintained track record of safety, accuracy and efficiency make it the clear treatment for becoming independent from glasses or contact lenses. Recent advances in blade-free femtosecond LASIK takes this to new levels, and surely represents the height of eye surgery and vision correction.

Dr James Genge (M.B., B.S., B.Med.Sci. (Hons)., F.R.A.N.Z.C.O.) is an ophthalmic micro surgeon and internationally trained Laser Eye Surgery, Cataract and Corneal Surgery Subspecialist. Want to learn more about LASIK and Laser Vision Correction? Visit his site at Laser Eye Surgery Sydney.

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

Home Remedies For Pink Eye Or Conjunctivitis

By Kevin Pederson

 

Pink eye or conjunctivitis, is one of the most common eye infection. When conjunctiva, a thin transparent covering the eyeball is inflamed, the eye experiences irritation, becomes swollen and reddens. This air borne disease spreads from person to person through direct contact is called "sore eye" in layman language.

                 
Pink eye symptoms are easily noticeable as the eyeball and insides of eyelids become inflamed. The eye starts to itch and then turns red, followed by watery secretion. In some cases, pus is also formed, which dries up especially when one sleeps making the eyelashes stick together.

The few known causes of sore eyes are mostly bacterial or viral infection, eye-strain, working in dim lighted conditions, allergic reaction to some substances in the air or causal contact like a handshake, etc, with someone whos infected.

Simple practices like washing hands with antiseptic soap, avoiding the using towels or anything else of the person infected, using clean cloth or tissue to clear the eye discharge, wearing protective eye gear and screens in places where welding occurs and avoiding chemical irritants and allergens, etc. can be put in use to avoid spreading the disease.

To speedup the recovery process and ease the discomfort in the eye, try some of these home remedies

Application of warm compress over the eye for 10 minutes or so, three to four times in a day soothes the inflamed eye.

Use cotton balls dipped in clean water to wipe the crusts in and around the eyes and eyelids will help the healing process.

Warm compress works fine with kids and even adults, but for those (adults only) who have excess discharge should mix baby shampoo and warm water in the ratio of 1:10. Clean the eye and eyelashes with soft cotton ball dipped in this solution. Warm water softens and loosens the crusts and shampoo cleans the area around it.      

 Boil handful of dried coriander in warm water to make an excellent eye wash. It provides relief burning and lessens the pain and swelling.

Another home remedy for pink eye. Mmake a poultice of grated potato and place it on affected eye. Instead of potato, try grated apple. The condition should clear up in 2 or 3 days time.

Boric acid eyewash can be used to clean and soothe the eyes.

Warm tea bags placed on the eyes eases the discomfort of conjunctivitis.

Herbal eyewash made with 2 tsp chamomile flowers steeped in 2 cups of boiling water is a good substitute for eye drops. Chamomile tea bags placed on the eye soothes the itchiness.

For infants experiencing pink eye, dab the babys eye with freshly expressed breast milk, 2-3 times for few days and see the difference.

Eyebright is known to be best herb for treating the pink eye as it has excellent cleansing and strengthening properties. Mix few drops of eyebright tincture with 1 cup boiled water, cool and strain. Dip a cotton ball in this eyewash and gently wipe the eye and its surrounding area.

A cup of Indian gooseberry juice mixed with 2 tsp of honey taken twice daily is useful in treating conjunctivitis.

Goat milk yogurt poultice applied to the infected eye daily brings relief.

 

About the Autho

 

Kevin Pederson

Kevin Pederson, webmaster for home remedies, such as Home Remedies gives you natural cures to treat daily commonly faced ailments in the comfort of your home.

Betoptic Betaxolol Eye Drops Treatment of Glaucoma

By Jack Lemon

 

Betoptic (Betaxolol) : Rx eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma

Betoptic is a medicated eye drop which is counted amongst prescription medication. It has been approved for lowering ocular hypertension or open angle glaucoma. The generic name for Betoptic is betaxolol which is a selective beta1 receptor blocker and is used for the treatment of this particular eye disease. Clinical studies done on this drug have proved that taking these eye drops have effectively lowered eye pressure. This eye medication was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in terms of ocular use. It came out in the year 1985 as Betoptic (0.5) solution and Betoptic S (0.25) solution agin in the year 1989.

Betoptic (Betaxolol) is counted amongst a group of prescription drugs known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents. These are often known as beta blockers. As medications, these beta blockers block beta receptors in the body. These beta receptors are located in the body at a number of places and these also includes the eyes. The beta blocks work by lowering the pressure in the eyes by reducing the amount of fluid produced by the eyes (aqueous humor) at the same time.

This medication comes in two forms – Betoptic solution and Betoptic S suspension. In terms of the solution, the medicine is dissolved in the liquid where shaking is not required. In case of Betoptic S suspension, the medication is not dissolved and should be shaken very well before each application. Both the products have been approved for the treatment of glaucoma.

Possible side effects of Betoptic (betaxolol)

In case you notice any of these signs while using these eye drops such as allergic reactions, swelling of your tongue, lips, throat, face and difficulty in breathing, you should immediately get emergency help. You should stop using this medication and seek medical advice if you see any of these side effects,

• Slow heart rate
• Oozing, drainage or crusting of your eyes or eyelids
• Symptoms of bronchospasm such as trouble in breathing, tightness of chest and wheezing
• Severe itching, swelling, pain, redness, burning or discomfort in and around the eye area

Also known as eye pressure, glaucoma can be explained as a complex eye disease which is multi-factorial and has typical characteristics such as damage of the optic nerve and loss of the visual field. It is characterized by increased pressure inside the eye, also known as intraocular pressure (IOP). Even patients with a normal range of IOP has the threat of developing glaucoma.

 

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Buying Prescription Glasses Online

By Young So

 

Technology continually is advancing and this has lead to people doing just about everything online and now even buying prescription glasses online. Who would have thought you could by glasses on the internet. However, while you can get them online, there are a few precautions that of course should be taken to ensure you get the best ones for your money rather than getting ones that are going to break the minute you get them. Not only can it offer added convenience, but some sites allow you to save money and you can even get a wider selection of glasses to choose from.

For those skeptical about ordering glasses online, you might want to research and see if anyone you know has ordered online before. This allows you to learn about their experience and how smooth things went.

Consult Your Doctor
Before you decide to just jump online and order your glasses, you should talk to your doctor to see exactly what is causing you to need prescription lenses. Your doctor is the one that typically gives you he prescription so you cannot buy your glasses until you know the strength you are going to need. You need to make sure your getting a verified and proper prescription. You should get everything in writing even down to the PD which is your Pupil Distance as this ensures your eyes line up properly.

Do Your Research
You are going to have to spend some time online looking for your frames and a reliable provider. This is where the shopping is done and you should always begin with major retailers that have a strong reputation before you go with others. There are some places that even allow you to try on frames in a virtual setting as long as you have a picture of your face that is clear enough to use. You should also be looking for reviews of other consumers to see how their experience was with that particular site or even other sites.

Choose Your Frames
The next thing when buying prescription glasses online is to choose the perfect frames you are going to enjoy and be happy wearing. Whether you want something based strictly on style or functionality, you can choose from literally thousands of frames based on color or shape. There are some that look like you are not even wearing glasses. These are a hit nowadays among women who are self conscious about wearing glasses.

Order Your Glasses
When you buy prescription glasses online you can rest assured that you are going to get the ones ideal for you. As long as you have the necessary measurements from your eye doctor, you should be OK. Take the time to research and virtually try on frames so you know what you are getting. This allows you to make sure you like how the glasses look on your face as well as the style. You can even find transitional frames which are great to prevent having to have your glasses and a pair of sunglasses.

CheapGlasses123.com is the emerging online optical store selling high quality cheap glasses, such as prescription eyeglasses (single vision myopic glasses, bifocal and progressive eyeglasses etc.,), prescription sunglasses (with RX tinted lenses). CheapGlasses123.com guarantees lowest possible price in the market. CheapGlasses123's return and refund policy makes any purchase risk-free ones.

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

Eye Styes - A Frustrating But Often Easy to Deal With Problem

By Jeff Binstock

 

An eye stye, or also sty as it is sometimes spelled, is an infection of the glands at the base of the eyelashes. These glands secrete either oil or sweat and can sometimes become inflamed. A stye is also sometimes referred by its medical term: hordeolum. A stye can be external or internal depending on its location on the eye. External styes are found on the outside of the eyelids and often look like a small red bump or pimple usually at the base of the eyelashes. Internal styes are infections of the oil-secreting glands that line the inside of the eyelids. Styes usually have a sudden onset and often last around 7-10 days if not treated right away.

What Causes a Stye?
Styes are commonly caused by bacteria, usually either Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus intermedius, as these are the two most common bacteria found on the skin. Styes can also be caused by the blocking of the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes. Styes are common in people of all ages and are one of the most common eye conditions. They are often triggered by stress, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, or poor hygiene. Bacteria can also be transferred to the eye from other parts of the body, and usually occurs when frequent rubbing of the eyes occur.

How do I know if I have an eye stye?
When a stye is first developing, the eye or eyelid may be itchy, tender, or uncomfortable. When the stye first begins to appear, there may be a small bump that looks similar to a pimple. As the stye progresses, the bump may enlarge and the eyelid may swell. The eye may become red and uncomfortable as well. In serious cases, vision may become impaired.

Other stye symptoms may include:
• A small bump on the eyelid, usually at the base of the eyelashes
• A localized or general swelling of the eyelid
• Pain and discomfort in the affected eye
• Redness of the eyelid or the eye itself
• Tenderness or discomfort when the eye is touched
• Crusting of the eyelid margins
• Burning in the eye
• Droopiness of the eyelid
• Blurred vision
• Mucous discharge in the eye
• Sensitivity to light or photophobia
• Excessive tearing in the affected eye
• Discomfort when blinking the eye
• Sensation of a foreign body in the eye

What are my choices for eye stye treatment?
The first step in treating a stye is to apply a warm compress on the affected eye. This should be done four to six times a day for approximately 15 minutes each time. By doing this, you will help open up and drain the stye and will help start the healing process. The stye should then be scrubbed gently with a non-irritating, antibacterial solution. These solutions can be found by going to the Scrubs and Rinses page. It is important to mention that even though the stye may look like a pimple, it should never be squeezed or punctured, as a serious eye infection could result. People with eye styes should also avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses, as this could aggravate the area and even spread the infection.

Other treatments that may be helpful are to use various eye ointments or drops that provide relief. These products can often be applied directly to the stye and help to numb the pain, combat the infection, and encourage healing of the stye site. In some cases, a prescription medication may need to be provided by a doctor and in severe cases, surgery may be needed to drain or remove the stye. Although rare, it is important to seek medical treatment from a doctor if the stye is getting worse or not healing after a week.

How long will these eye styes last?
Eye styes are harmless in most cases and usually go away within a week. With adequate treatment, styes tend to heal quickly rarely have complications. Again, if the stye is getting worse or any part of the actual eye is affected, seek medical attention immediately.

How Can I Prevent Styes from Occurring?
Stye prevention is closely related to proper hygiene. Proper hand washing is critical. People should also try to avoid rubbing their eyes, as this can easily transmit bacteria to the eyelid. For people prone to getting styes, eyelid scrubs can be used regularly to clean the eyelids and prevent bacterial infections or blockages of the eyelid glands. It is also recommended not to share items used on the eye such as contacts or cosmetics. Women are advised to remove eye makeup at night and to properly clean their cosmetic tools. Unfortunately, eye styes are stubborn and often reoccur. However, proper daily hygiene and eye stye treatment can reduce the severity and frequency that these styes occur.

To learn more about eye stye treatment and purchase some helpful products that can treat and prevent styes, please visit Eye Stye Treatment.net http://www.eyestyetreatment.net

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