Even though mostly harmless, eye allergies can be highly irritating. This explains why these allergies are among the most common reason for paying a visit to the ophthalmologist, or in some cases, even the emergency room. Around 40% of the American population is affected with eye allergies, with the condition being more pronounced in the allergy season. A rare form of eye allergies known as keratoconjunctivitis may result in visual problems, caused by scarring of the cornea.

The major causes of eye allergies include-

• Allergic conditions like hay fever, dermatitis, and asthma
• Certain medications and cosmetics (makeup, perfume etc.)
• Environmental irritants (grass, pollen, dust mites, feathers, fur etc.)
• Underlying eye disorders
• Use of contact lenses
• Food allergies (soy, egg, wheat, fish, peanuts etc.)

Symptoms-

• Red or bloodshot appearance caused by inflammation of the conjunctiva
• In chronic cases the redness might be accompanied with eyelid swelling and a watery discharge
• Itching/ burning sensation
• In some forms of allergy, there might be a thick discharge from the eyes, accompanied with crusting/ scales
• Permanent scarring and visual changes caused by chronic rubbing/ scratching
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision
• Drooping sensation in eyelids
• Other symptoms of allergy like a running nose and sneezing
• Symptoms usually appear in both eyes, even though in some patients one eye might be more affected than the other.

Treatment-

• OTC products can be efficient in treating eye allergies at home
• In some cases, simply flushing the eyes with water can offer relief
• Artificial tears are effective in diluting allergens and preventing them from sticking to the eye surface
• Antihistamine eye drops can suppress irritation and itching
• Decongestants shrink the blood vessels, hence reducing redness
• Mast-cell stabilizers relieve both itching and redness and have a quicker onset of action
• In case of severe symptoms that do not respond to other eye treatments, steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops can be administered.
• Topical NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) are used to suppress swelling and itching
• Cold compresses and refrigerated eye drops offer immediate relief from eye allergy symptoms
• In case of allergies caused by environmental factors, patients should make an effort to keep the triggers away, such as minimizing carpeting, regular cleaning, keeping doors and windows closed, etc.

For more information on various eye problems, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254-634-7805.

It is a well-known fact that diabetes is associated with a number of eye disorders, some of which might even result in blindness if left untreated. These disorders are together classified as “diabetic eye disease”, interchangeably used with the term “diabetic retinopathy”. However, diabetic retinopathy is just one of the many eye conditions that patients with diabetes are prone to having, other common ones include cataract and glaucoma.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common disorders that fall under diabetic eye disease, and is the leading cause of blindness in America. It occurs due to certain changes in the blood vessels in the retina, such as swelling, blockage, oozing fluid, or growth of new blood vessels. Since the retina is the primary region of the eye associated with proper vision, any change in it affects the vision, and in severe cases, completely distorts it, leading to blindness. Diabetic retinopathy affects 40% of the people with type 1 diabetes, and 20% of those with type 2 diabetes.

While many patients remain unaware of the condition, with the presence of background diabetic retinopathy, the disorder is more pronounced in others, who suffer from maculopathy or proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In maculopathy, the macula of the eye is affected, impairing the ability to focus on details like small print or people’s faces. This disorder can be cured with the help of laser treatment, after which the peripheral vision (required for day-to-day activity) is restored in most patients, while the central vision might remain affected to a certain extent.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the most critical of all the three types, and affects approximately 5% of all patients with diabetes. It is more common in patients with type 1 diabetes, and affects nearly 60% of the patients who have had diabetes for more than 30 years. In this type of diabetic retinopathy, a proliferation of new blood vessels occurs in the retina, which might result in several complications such as extensive hemorrhages or complete vision loss.

Other eye complications associated with diabetes include temporary blurring, which varies with blood sugar levels, and cataract, in which the vision becomes clouded, and can be corrected with a minor operation. Diabetics are advised to have an annual diabetic eye screening to detect any eye disorder at any early stage, and to visit their GP immediately in case of any unusual vision-related problems. It is also important to visit an eye doctor and keep a check on important health parameters like blood sugar levels, blood pressure, cholesterol level, etc.,  to maintain an active lifestyle.

To know more about diabetic retinopathy and its treatment, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254-634-7805.

Amblyopia, also known as “Lazy Eye”, is a common vision disorder in which the patient sees normally with one eye, but blurred images with the affected eye. Even though the final view that one sees is normal, the disorder, if left untreated, can significantly affect vision the vision at a later stage. In fact, it it’s the most common cause of visual impairment in one eye, among children and adults.

The disorder affects 1-5% of the population, and can occur either due to improper transmission of visual signals through the optic nerve, or because of the brain turning off an eye affected by another disorder, like strabismus. It commonly affects children, and responds best to treatment when diagnosed by an Optometrist before the age of five. In rare cases, both the eyes might be affected.

Symptoms:
The disease might go undetected for a long time, since the overall vision of the patient remains normal. Telltale signs of the disease include-

• Improper depth perception
• False perception of space
• Reduced response to speed
• Difficulty in seeing 3-D images
• Restricted stereoscopic depth perception
• Uncoordinated movement of both eyes
• Inability to fix gaze at one point
• Drooping eyelids
• Squinting to look at something
• Cataract in one eye
• Turning of the eye inwards or outwards

Causes:

• Abnormality during vision development
• Childhood cataracts
• Vision disorders like near sightedness, far sightedness, and astigmatism
• Family history of the condition
• Imbalanced positioning of both eyes

Treatment:

• Treatment of the condition is started by identifying the underlying cause of the disease.
• Glasses are usually prescribed to correct vision in the affected eye.
• Even though glasses can effectively correct misalignment of eyes, in some cases, surgical intervention might be necessary. In these cases, the eyes are straightened by performing surgery on the eye muscles.
• Certain eye exercises have been found to be efficient in correcting faulty visual habits that result from the disorder.
• Once the underlying cause has been treated, the eye doctor might recommend patching the normal eye, so that the affected eye can be strengthened. However, over-patching should be avoided, as it might lead to “reverse amblyopia”.
• In another less successful approach, topical atropine eye drops are administered to blur vision in the normal eye.
• Various forms of perceptual learning can be employed for the treatment of the disorder after the age of 9.

To know more about Amblyopia and its treatment, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen or call us at 254-634-7805.

It is extremely important to ensure that your child gets regular eye examinations, so as to ensure that any eye disorder that he might be suffering from gets identified and treated in its early stages. Considering that nearly 10 percent of preschoolers have vision problems, there is a need to start getting your child’s eyes tested at an early age. By identifying a vision problem in your child before it is too late, you can help in improving the efficacy of the treatment plan, because such a child is likely to be more responsive to treatment.

Getting an eye-checkup for your child is not just limited to the identification of vision disorders like short-sightedness, but can also be useful in identifying underlying health disorders like diabetes, or other eye disorders that children are prone to suffer from. Some of the most common eye disorders that affect children are eye infections like blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and sties; astigmatism (distorted cornea), far-sightedness/ near-sightedness, strabismus (crossed eye), amblyopia (lazy eye) and astigmatism.

If you notice any abnormality in your child’s eyes, you must immediately visit an eye doctor to get it checked. Important warning signs of eye disease in children include-

• Vigorous eye rubbing
• Excessive blinking
• Persistent redness
• Inability to hold gaze while looking at an object
• Inability to maintain eye contact while speaking
• Closing one eye for better focus
• Seeing far-off or nearby objects as blurred
• Difficulty in reading
• Unexplained headaches
• Squinting

Even though some of the aforementioned disorders might need expert medical care, many of them can be taken care of with the simple remedy of eyeglasses. Eyeglasses are a very useful visual aid for children of all age groups with eye disorders, and can help to correct poor vision, and to help in the development of the eyes during this critical stage.

The most common application of eyeglasses for children is in corrective refractive vision disorders, which include myopia (near-sightedness) and hyperopia (far-sightedness). By wearing glasses, the vision of children can be restored, and this can help them in adjusting better to their environment. In addition to this, glasses are also useful in eye disorders where one eye is weaker than the other. They help to reduce strain on the weaker eye, hence helping the child in improving focus and correcting misalignment or crossed eye. In case of poor vision in one eye, wearing glasses also helps to protect the weaker eye.

Visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center for all kind of eye glasses for children. We are located at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254-634-7805.