It has been observed that certain thyroid diseases can affect the eyes. The most common thyroid disease having eye manifestation is ‘Graves disease’. Graves disease is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid hormones are produced in excess. The thyroid gland is over stimulated to produce excess of thyroid hormone. In "Graves disease" the body itself produces antibodies against the thyroid gland that over-stimulate the thyroid gland. Theses antibodies also affect the eyes.

How eyes are affected?

• The antibodies affects the orbit of the eyes. These antibodies cause over-stimulation of the cells of orbit that in turn produces certain chemical that causes damage to the eye. Swelling within the eye may cause optic nerve damage in the later stage.
• Inflammatory reaction is initiated around the eye which may lead to swelling and redness around the eye.
• The cornea of the eye may become dry due to the inflammatory changes in the eye.

Symptoms

• Pain in the eye
• Upper lid retraction
• Swelling and redness in the eye
• Dryness in the eye
• Impaired vision
• Double vision
• Widening of the space between the eyelids
• Forward protrusion of the eyeball

Treatment

• Thyroid disease is treated to ensure the optimum levels of thyroid hormone in the body
• For less severe cases where dryness is the common complain, frequent lubrication of the eyes by artificial tears.
• Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops for inflammation and redness
• Surgery may be requires in severe cases. Most common type of surgeries performed is Orbital decompression surgery, Eye muscles surgery and Eyelid surgery

Eyecare For Graves Disease

• Smoking cessation – It has been observed that smoking can aggravate the eye manifestation of the graves disease.
• Regular treatment of thyroid disease
• Cold compresses can provide relief in pain and also provide moisture to the eye
• Protect the eye from direct sun contact by using sunglasses.

For complete eyecare contact Killeen Eyecare Center: Serving Killeen, Harker Heights and Fort Hood areas in Texas TX.

Retinopathy is the damage to the retina of the eye and diabetic retinopathy is the damage to retina caused as a complication of the diabetes. It occurs in patients who have long history of diabetes and can even cause the loss of vision in such patients.

Retina acts as a film in the camera for our eye. The image of the object is created on the retina and the image converts into the electrical signals that are passed to the brain. Patient with long history of uncontrolled diabetes have high glucose content in the blood. Accumulation of the glucose in the blood vessels of the retina damages these blood vessels. This causes decreased blood supply to the retina and thus ischemia, which, in turn, contributes to development of retinopathy.

Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy

• Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes and thus diabetes is the cause of the diabetic retinopathy.

Risk factor that may lead to retinopathy in diabetic patients includes;

• Duration of diabetes – Generally patients with long history of diabetes are more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy.
• Increased level of glucose in the diabetic patients
• Hypertension – systemic hypertension in diabetic patients increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy

Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy can be asymptomatic in the initial stages. Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy in the later stages include;

• Blurred vision
• Partial or complete loss of vision
• Hemorrhage in the retina that causes dark streaks or a red film that may block  the vision

Diagnosis

Eye examination –

• Eye specialist dilates the pupil by putting some eye drops and examines the retina of the eye. Abnormal blood vessels, fatty deposits on retina or hemorrhages can be seen in this dilated eye examination.
• Fluorescein angiography

Treatment

• Photocoagulation – It is the laser treatment wherein the leaking blood vessels of the eye are sealed or repaired.
• Vatrectomy - It is a surgery done to remove the scar tissues on the retina.

Prevention or care of eye in diabetic patients

• Control over blood glucose levels
• Regular eye examinations of patients who have diabetes .Early diagnosis help to prevent blindness or vision loss in the patients.

For complete eyecare, contact Killeen Eyecare Center. Killeen Eyecare Center serves Harker Heights, Killeen and Fort Hood area in Texas.

It is a disease of tears and ocular surface of the eye. Tears are the main source of nourishment to the ocular surface of the eye. Tears are made of compounds that keep the eye moist and clean. If the production of tears in the eye is less or if the chemical composition of the tears are altered so that they evaporate quickly, leads to dry eye syndrome

Causes Of Dry Eye Syndrome

• Natural ageing process causes ageing of the tear glands
• Medicines like certain antihypertensive, Parkinson’s disease medication, antidepressants may cause lesser production of tears
• Living condition e.g. if you live in dry and humid climate or your office or home has dry heating systems
• Insufficient blinking. This can occur when person works for longer hours on computer Wearing contact lenses for longer period
• Systemic diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome

Symptoms Of Dry Eyes

• Irritation in the eye due to dry sensation
• Burning and itching in the eye
• Pain
• Feeling of a foreign body in the eye
• Sometimes watery eyes can also result since dry eyes causes overstimulation of tear glands that leads to overproduction of tears
• Blurred vision
• Symptoms generally gets worse towards the end of the day

Treatment Of Dry Eyes

• The dry eye syndrome is an ongoing condition and is generally not completely curable. However the symptoms of the conditions can be treated
• Optometrist may prescribe artificial tears, Cyclosporine or corticosteroid drops depending on the condition of the eye.
• If the symptoms are intense and interfering with the daily activities, optometrist may suggest surgery as the treatment of dry eyes syndrome.

Self Care For Eyes

• Try to maintain less humid environment at house and work place. More humidity in air causes evaporation of tears
• Wear sunglasses to avoid dust and other particles in the air. These may worse the symptoms of dry eyes
• Frequent blinking of the eyes stimulates the tear glands and keeps the eyes moist. If working for longer hours in front of computer, frequently blink your eyes
• Adequate rest and sufficient sleep may also relieve the symptoms

Killeen Eyecare Center Provides Complete Eyecare Solutions in Fort Hood, Killeen and Harker Heights, Texas (TX)

Cataract is the clouding of the eye lens.
Lens of the eye refracts the light on to the retina of the eye. The lens changes its size and shape to properly focus the light on the retina so that the correct image of the distant or near object is formed on the retina.
   
Causes Of Cataract

• Aging – Lens of the eye is made up of proteins. The protein in the lens maintains the clarity of the lens.  With advancing age the chemical composition of the lens proteins changes and proteins generally gets distorted. This causes clouding in the eye lens.
• Congenital Cataract- Due to hereditary causes, cataract can be present at the time of birth. This condition is rare.
• Recent researches have shown that prolonged exposure to ultra-violet radiations can also cause cataract.
• Severe trauma or injury to the eye.
• Other medical conditions like Diabetes, obesity
• Long term uses of steroids like prednisone.
• Hereditary causes – People with family history of cataracts are more prone to develop the cataract.

Symptoms OfCataract

• Blurring and gradually loss of vision
• Diminished color vision
• Difficulty in glare
• Increased nearsightedness
• Double vision in one eye
• Increased difficulty of vision at night

Diagnosis

• Visual Acuity test – This test is done to evaluate the problem with the vision. It is done to test the vision. By reading the letters or numbers from the card held 14 inches from the face.
• Dilated eye test- Pupil us dilated or widened by putting some eye drops in the eye. The eye is then examined by the doctor. This test allows the doctor to see more of the lens and retina.
• Glare sensitivity test

Treatment Of Cataract
The symptoms of the early cataract can be improved by

• New eyeglasses for altered vision
• Brighter lighting and magnifying glasses during reading, watching TV
• Anti glare sunglasses
• Surgery – Surgery is done only when symptoms of the cataract doesn’t improve with above methods and are so severe that they cause difficulty in performing daily life activities. In cataract removal surgery the natural lens of the eye that has developed opacification is removed and artificial lens implant is inserted.

Killeen Eyecare Center provides consultation and treatments for various eye problems.