Caring Your Vision - Special Aspects

Synopsis

Status of eye diseases in the U.S.: Why you should visit your ophthalmologist more often Latest available numbers show that over 24.4 million Americans age 40 and older have been diagnosed with cataracts while a shocking 50% of all Americans are estimated to develop the disease by the time they are 75. Another 7.7 million Americans age 40 and older are battling diabetic retinopathy and 2.7 million suffer glaucoma. And the figures go on and they grow with millions being diagnosed with dry eye or eye infections. To paint a bigger picture, the population of the U.S. as of 2017 is just over 329 million people with so many being prone to face a life-limiting disease that may have otherwise a reduced the impact if action would have being taken. Eyes are one of the few body parts that rarely hurt when something is wrong happening, so having regular eye tests is important to help become aware of any potentially dangerous illnesses. Ophthalmologists can also identify and predict early onset of mental illnesses and as well cardiovascular disease or liver conditions. Having a family history of eye disease also is a factor that increases the risks of developing one for you. Just as normal as it is to talk to your healthcare professional about your family history of cardiovascular disease or cancer, for instance, is providing an as complete as possible record. Take for instance AMD – it is thought to have a gene-related cause, increasing chances to as much as half of suffering from it later on if one of the members of your family did too.

Get your fact and advice on age- related macular degeneration What to look out for – Age-related macular degeneration typically affects people age 50 and older. Because its causes are not entirely known and the symptoms are unnoticeable in early stages, regular check-ups are recommended. An ophthalmologist will conduct an eye exam and look for yellow toned deposits around the macula area of the retina, and called drusen. The symptoms that should alarm patients are blurred central vision and struggling to see fine details. Two types of macular degeneration – This devastating condition splits into two main categories:–‘wet’ and ‘dry’. They are named after the way the disease affects the eye’s inside, however it does not necessarily mean that a patient would experience either watery or dry sensations. Dry aged-related macular degeneration is the most recurrent type. It has a slow and irreversible progression damaging central vision. In the latest stages it causes a blank area in the eyes’ central vision, typically in both eyes, but it never leads to total blindness. What can you do to prevent it – There are several things specialists recommend in an effort to prevent or reduce the chances of getting an age-related macular degeneration diagnosis. Among the most important habits a person can benefit from quitting is smoking. Just imagine that people who smoke are four times more exposed to developing macular degeneration, public health experts at the University of Manchester said in a British Medical Journal.

Diabetic retinopathy: what’s happening around the world? Losing vision because of diabetes complications is irreversible for most of the times, which is why it is always better to try and prevent retinopathy from happening than try to treat it. Comprehensive dilated eye tests should be taken at least every year. Unfortunately, in developing or under developing countries resources and healthcare services are either insufficient, inaccessible or unaffordable for many. If you think about the fact that early detection and treatment reduces the risk of blindness by a staggering 95%, it becomes a lot clearer why treatment should be delayed as little as possible. This would also take some of the burden’s pressure on countries. There are steps, patients can take on their own to minimize risks like adopting an intensive blood glucose management program. By making appropriate lifestyle choices regarding nutrition, exercising and medication, the onset of retinopathy can be prevented by 76%. If you have already been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, there are several treatment options available. Injectables have been reporting positive results in restoring or improving vision for people who can tolerate having them performed in their eyes. Other options include laser surgery or corticosteroids.

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