A Slice of range V o l u m e
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Eye see clearly
THE EYE IS YOUR WINDOW TO THE WORLD. BUT WHAT DO YOU DO IF THIS WINDOW IS ALL WASHED UP?
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or the first 20 years of my life, I thought I had perfect eyesight. I can read fineprint. I didn’t have symptoms people
attributed to eye problems, symptoms such as headache, eye pain or dizziness. In fact, I could even read the smallest letters in the doctor’s eye chart. So imagine my surprise when my doctor diagnosed me with astigmatism, after a battery of tests. I did not feel like I needed glasses, but I still visited an optometrist. Only after fitting me with the correct set of lenses did I realize how much clearer the world is with glasses on. All the while I had just gotten used to seeing the world slightly blurred. Only after I started wearing glasses did I realize what I was missing. A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD
V o l u m e
Errors of refraction These are a group of vision problems as a result of the poor focusing of light in the eye. There are many kinds of refraction errors. The most common ones are: Myopia – you can clearly see near objects, but not those that are far away. Hyperopia – you can clearly see far objects, but not near objects. If you are reading, for example, you may have to place the book at arm’s length to see clearly. Astigmatism – your vision is generally blurred or distorted in varying planes of your field of vision. Straight lines seem wavy, for example. Presbyopia – this is the blurring of vision caused by the stiffening of the eyes’ lenses as a result of aging. Because the lenses have become stiff, they can no longer perform their auto-focus function. This condition is different from other causes of blurring of vision common in old age, such as cataracts. In cataracts, the lens becomes cloudy. There are other conditions due to refractive errors, but the above three are the most common and relevant.
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As in my case, refraction errors can be so mild that you may not think you have a vision problem. This is because the eye is smart: it can adjust and adapt to these errors.
One example of these is glaucoma, where the nerve of the eye becomes permanently damaged due to increased pressure inside the eye.
However, errors of refraction can worsen over time, and soon the problem becomes so great that it can no longer compensate. In addition, if untreated, errors of refraction can cause eye strain (see January 2008 issue of A Slice of Orange), eye watering, eye redness, and headaches.
The treatment of refractive errors depends on the severity of the error and your own personal preference. Those who possess errors may choose to leave the problem untreated, unless they have bothersome symptoms.
While there are ways to prevent eye strain from refraction errors, there is little you can do to prevent refraction errors themselves. Hence, the best way to manage refraction errors is through prompt diagnosis and eventual treatment. The best way to diagnose refraction errors is through a thorough eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist every one or two years. People with a family history of vision problems should have an eye exam every year. Aside from diagnosing refraction errors, regular eye exams can also help diagnose other eye diseases, including those that can lead to blindness.
Correcting your errors
Treatments include corrective glasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery. All these methods change the way light travels into the eye, so that light focuses better. All three require the supervision of a medical professional, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Do not use a pair of glasses or contact lenses that have not been specifically prescribed to you, because the wrong pair can worsen your symptoms. Usually, the first options are corrective lenses that change the direction of light entering the eye. These can be in the form of glasses and contact lenses. Which one should you choose? See the table below. Your choice will depend on your preference.
Glasses
Contact lenses
Weight
May be heavy
Light
Appearance
With frames
No frames
Fog
May fog as temperature changes
Does not fog
Eye irritation
Does not irritate eye if grades are correct
May take some getting used to
Risk of infection
Low
High if poorly cleaned, handled and stored
V o l u m e
On the other hand, refractive surgery changes the shape of the cornea, the clear, front part of your eye that helps focus light. There are many kinds of refractive surgery, and laser surgery is fast becoming the most popular option. These procedures use lasers to carve a new shape for the cornea. These are mostly outpatient procedures, where you can go home immediately after the surgery.
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Caring for your contact lenses
Is laser surgery a good option for you? Answer the following questions:
Yes
No Do you have mild to moderate vision
problem due to near-sightedness,
far-sightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia?
Yes
No Are you 18 years old or older?
Yes
No Has your vision problem remained pretty
Yes
No Are you free of other eye diseases aside
Yes
much unchanged for at least one year? from error of refraction?
No Are you free of diseases such as diabetes,
rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or fibromyalgia?
If you answered “Yes” to all of these questions, talk to your ophthalmologist about the possibility of you undergoing laser eye surgery!
Many people with errors of refraction choose to wear contact lenses instead of glasses for various reasons (cosmetic, convenience, etc.). But since contact lenses have direct contact to sensitive parts of your eye, great care must be exerted to keep them clean. There are many rules to live by, but here are the top 5 most important ones: 1. Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling your contact lenses. 2. Clean and store your contact lenses in a clean case in fresh solution, as prescribed by your optometrist. 3. Never use plain water to clean your contact lenses. Use the prescribed cleaning solution. 4. Never sleep with your contact lenses in your eyes unless you have Extended Wear contacts! 5. Don’t let the tip of solution bottles touch other sur– faces, including your fingers, eyes, or contact lenses.
ACTIVELINK Benefits Made Better
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2011 ActiveLink
Benefits Made Better
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The Orange wants to he ar from you! Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel free to contac t us. You can e-m ail our team at orange@activ elink-consult.c om.