Vision Care for the Diabetic

There are a numbers of diseases in which the eyes are at risk of harm.  Diabetes is a disease that has the capability to cause visual problems and even blindness.  Knowing this, your doctor will want to monitor your eyesight regularly.

The way in which diabetes affects the eyes is; that while the pancreas can't produce the insulin required to balance the sugar, this break down of sugars and starches affects the flow of blood effectively.  With a decreased flow of blood to the nerves in the eyes, the flow of oxygen is diminished.  When an organ does not receive adequate oxygen, it begins to kill off nerve endings that are required to sustain the organ's function.  This also affects the eyes.

Depending on the type of diabetes you have your doctor will want to make every effort to ensure you are taking care of all your vital organs and again, this includes your eyes.  The lack of oxygen can cause eye diseases such as retinopathy which causes damage to the retina, or it may cause cataracts, or glaucoma.  Diseases such as this may ultimately cause blindness if left untreated.

Symptoms may not be immediately obvious, therefore when you are diagnosed with diabetes, it is imperative to have them looked at often.  It isn't until the symptoms have gotten so bad many people see their doctor.  By the time they are seen, the damage may already be irreversible.

Knowing some symptoms ahead of time could be of great help.  If you are unsure what to watch for, don't be afraid to ask your doctor or optician.  That's what they are there for. 

Some ways to help prevent your eyes from being affected by diabetes is to;

1. Have your eyes tested regularly
2. Do what is required to keep your sugar balance in check.  If this becomes a problem you should have it checked and your eyes should be a part of what they check.
3. Good nutrition.  A healthy diet as prescribed by your practitioner can help immensely.  Not only in the balance of your sugar, but it also allows for healthy flow of your blood and carries the oxygen required to the organs effectively.
4. Exercise.  Doing what you can to keep the blood pumping can help too.  Your practitioner can help you devise a plan that will suit you best.
5. Avoid smoking and alcohol.  These can cause poor circulation in your blood and minimize the flow of oxygen your organs so desperately need.  Your body is already dealing with a sugar imbalance problem; don't give it more to fight against.

When should you see your doctor?  If at any time you have questions or concerns you should see your doctor.  You can ask for help if you experience any blurriness, seeing of spots or see lights flashing, (any abnormal disturbances) and for certain, if at any time you should lose the vision of an eye or both, see your physician immediately.  Even if it's for a short period of time, this could be a sign you don't want to ignore.

With all the things you need to deal with having diabetes, whether type 1 or 2, it's always best to take care of your self and see your practitioner often.  The best form of prevention is action.  Don't leave things to chance and don't ignore symptoms you are experiencing, even if it seems silly.  There is simply nothing silly about losing your eyesight.

Take care of your eyes; they depend on you, as much as you depend on them.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is designed for educational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner. This information is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice. Nor is it a diagnosis or treatment.

Ruth's passions are people and pet health. She is a wife, a stepmom a dog owner and a business person. Naturally Rebuilding Vision is a new interest Ruth has delved into. Get A Free Report And Join Our Free Lesson-Vision Tip Series:
http://www.rebuild-your-vision.com

This article is not meant to diagnose or treat.  This article is strictly for your information.  Always consult a professional.

 

 

Contact lenses can be both practicle and fashionable!

Contact lenses can be both practicle and fashionable!

Contact lenses are basically a practical device. But there is no reason they won't also be a fashion statement, a technique to change your natural attributes to fit your fancy. The types of contact lenses that make that likely fall into 4 classes. Visibility tints are sometimes a light blue or green cast infused into a contact lens.

The dye is too weak to affect how your eye color looks, but it's acceptable to make the contacts straightforward to see. That helps when inserting them and minimizes the odds of losing one. An enhancement hint, in contrast, is a richer dye that does change the hue of your natural eye color. They will not change your color from, say, blue to brown but can give blue or green eyes a more colourful look. They are nearly opaque and are engineered to change the natural color of your iris, the colored portion of the eye. Brown eyes can be made to look blue, blue eyes can change to brown with the flick of a lens. They come in a collection of colors including hazel, green, or blue and even violet or grey. These types of  contact lenses typically do an awfully effective job not only of shifting or changing color, but of making the effect look extraordinarily natural.

Frequently colored dyes are boosted with dots, stripes and other features to mimic the mottled look of the iris. The central portion is clear to permit for full passage of light. Since the pupil of even the lightest eye-colored person is still extremely dark the natural effect isn't marred. At the acute end of the range of effects are special melodramatic lenses used for 'eye decoration'. They might be in the shape of slits to supply moggy's eyes or bigger colored areas to make the iris look unnaturally massive. They can be purposely designed in perverted colors like red or white to supply a personality effect for a party or simply for fun. A full range of special-contact lenses are available but virtually all of them still give the facility to improve vision the way regular contact lenses do. They're typically available in soft, RGP, regular wear or extended wear, and other common selections. Some dramatic lenses may be designed only for effect with no 'eyeglasses' capability, but even lots of those are available for people that do need contact lenses.

Could wearing contact lenses actually damage your eyes?

Could wearing contact lenses actually damage your eyes?

Millions of people the world over wear them daily and for years without health issues or maybe discomfort.

Still, about 4% of all contact lenses users experience some form of health issue at some time. Hazards of wearing contact lenses, whilst terribly low, are now not nil. Your percentages can be improved by correct use, though. One overall issue is the undeniable fact that any contact lens will prohibit the amount of air that gets to the eye. With the recognition of seven day or perhaps 30-day successive wear lenses, that problem ( whilst little ) is bigger than it was in the past.

Except for infection, discomfort and blurred vision can happen when a lens is worn for over some days. That irritation can happen to the eyeball itself, and also to the lens and surrounding tissues. GPC produces itching and redness on the encompassing tissue, the result of protein buildup on the surfaces of the lens. Swelling happens on the inside surface of the eyelids and can produce a sticky discharge too. When this happens, you need to can use until your eye care pro declares the lenses are safe to wear again. Regular, careful lens care and correct use can cut back the chances of any re-occurrence.

 

Corneal erosions, while rare, are also far from unknown among contact lens users. A little scratch on the clear tissue over the pupil can occur when tiny particles of grit get between the lens and the eye, sometimes as a consequence of poor cleaning or handling. But it can happen even to the most careful, as airborne or finger-borne material lands on the skin of the eyeball. Little pieces of eyelash, cotton threads, airborne plant material and much more can all wind up in the eye. With a lack of contacts these things are usually washed away by the tears and eyelid collaborating. In a lot of examples, antibiotics are requested since infection is common under these circumstances.

Pollen and other material can also produce allergic reactions that are often amplified by contact lenses. The eyes become red and irritated and over the top ripping can happen, leading to blurred vision and discomfort. Often the reaction is the result of additives in the lens cleaning solution. It occurs more frequently with soft contact lenses. Treatments include removing the lens for a while, changing solutions and using different storage techniques. The lenses themselves could cause issues if they change shape. Whilst rare, formerly well-fitting contact lenses can notice the effects of temperature and age, causing tears and oxygen to less efficiently make it to the eye. This supposed Tight Lens Condition may cause pain, redness and even swelling of the cornea. Correction contains remeasuring the eye and fitting new contacts after the eyes have recovered. The cornea itself can change shape, as can the entire eyeball. The change is delicate, but with contact lenses the tolerations are little.

If corneal warpage ( as it's called ) does occur the result can be discomfort and a rise in the chances of infection. The condition is commoner with gas permeable and hard lenses, which are less flexible than soft contact lenses. If this occurs, healing can take weeks or months, during which time contact lenses cannot be worn. As the eye resumes its ordinary shape, vision can change. In rare cases the astigmatism is permanent. In all cases, following the maker's and your eye care pro's guidance about cleaning, insertion and removal, contact lenses care and wear are your best shot to avoiding issues.