Just like hair colour, your height and that distinct dimple on the left cheek, you knew you may develop the same eye problem too one day.

“Oh, Mum and Dad. I got this from you.”

Should you blame all vision problems on genetics?

Genetics form an important part of assessing the risk of developing vision impairment, however there are other influencing factors, including lifestyle and age.

The most common cause of vision impairment (vision poor enough to impact quality of life, your ability to work and study) is refractive error. This means inadequate vision due to not having glasses or because the pair of glasses you have no longer meet your needs.

What is refractive error? Refractive error is an optical defect due to the shape of the eye, resulting in the image of what you are looking at, not focusing at the back of the eye (retina).

There are a few types of refractive error, some of which are discussed below.

Myopia (short-sighted): the eye is too long, the image falls short of the retina. Commonly the person with myopia is able to see close objects while distance objects are more blurred.

There is an epidemic of myopia world wide currently with large populations of young people developing myopia during the school or university years. The concern about higher degrees of myopia is that this can increase your risk of certain eye diseases later on.

Hyperopia (Long-sighted): the eye is on the shorter side. The image focuses behind the retina which can result in difficulty reading and eye strain. Hyperopia tends to increase with age, eventually affecting distance vision as well as close.

Presbyopia: this is an age related condition the affects us all if we live long enough! Over time the crystalline lens (found behind the pupil) reduces in flexibility preventing near focus and results in
increasing difficulty with reading. Early signs can include complaining that your arms are not long enough!

While refractive error is the most common cause of correctable vision impairment in Australia, there are three common eye conditions that can also impact on your ability to see which are:

• Cataract
• Glaucoma
• Age related macula degeneration (AMD)

Family history (most importantly first degree relatives – parents/siblings) can increase your risk of these conditions and advancing age is another risk factor.

Many people think of a cataract as a growth that grows across the eye. Cataract is actually the gradual loss of transparency of the crystalline lens (located behind the pupil) that occurs (most commonly) with age. Symptoms of cataract will be a gradual deterioration in vision over time, sometimes simply a change in glasses is enough to restore the vision clarity. Ultimately, when the cataract has reached a stage where it is impacting on your quality of life, a simple operation can be performed by an Ophthalmologist to remove the cataract.

Glaucoma is sometimes referred to as the “thief of sight” because it has few symptoms in the early stages. Damage, often due to chronically elevated eye pressure, results in irreversible damage to the optic nerve and the nerve cells that transport the visual image from the retina to the brain. Initially the peripheral vision is affected and it is not until significant loss of cells occurs that the individual becomes aware of decline in their vision. Glaucoma can be treated and the damage limited (in most cases) if it is detected early enough!

Age related macula degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision impairment in people over the age of 65. AMD results in damage to the cells at the macula, (the central part of the retina where the central focus of your vision occurs). There is a strong genetic correlation with AMD, as well age and lifestyle habits such as smoking. Early signs of macula degeneration can include a gradual blurring of fine detail which increases over time. Certain forms of this condition can be treated, but only if it is identified in the early stages. Regular eye examinations and home monitoring are the plan of action with AMD, with urgent reviews by your ophthalmologist or optometrist if any change in vision is noted.

Remember that family history can be a guide as to your risk of developing refractive error or certain eye diseases but other factors can be just as important.

All of these conditions can be detected during a routine eye examination with your optometrist. The Optical Coherence Tomographer (OCT) is now part of the modern optometry practice and allows the optometrist to detect early signs of eye disease, permitting early treatment and monitoring.

Book An Appointment Today

If you think you may be at a higher risk of developing eye problems, either because of your family history or because you have noticed a change or decline in your vision, you can arrange for an eye test with an optometrist at Blue Mountains Optical and book an appointment through our website today.

The post Are Vision Problems Hereditary? appeared first on Blue Mountains Optical.

In fact, in 2015, the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society in Boston, Massachusetts in the US, launched the Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) Report which aimed to provide more detailed information for the proper diagnosis and management techniques of DED. You can read more about this report from here.

For the general public, it is advisable to be aware of what dry eye disease is. A common mistake that we encounter is that patients either downplay or disregard the symptoms when the signs are already there. Remember, early detection is key when it comes to proper eye care and the sooner that an optometrist conducts a proper eye examination, the sooner that he or she can provide the proper treatment as well. Here are some important facts that you need to know about Dry Eye Disease.

1. The basics of DED.

There are three types of tears: basal, reflex, and emotional. Basal tears are the ones that are constantly present in the eye making it moist and nourished. Reflex tears are the ones produced by irritation or an external stimulus like dust, fumes, and other irritants. The last type is the emotional tears, a result of when hormones are active whilst experiencing an emotion.

As you can see, there are several factors by which tears can be produced. A healthy eye should have enough moist enabling you to see clearly without any pain or discomfort. If there is not enough moist or tears, the tear film protecting the surface of your eye could be unstable which could lead to DED. Dry eye then is a condition in which the eye is not sufficiently lubricated and nourished.

Dry eye may sound minor for the majority but know that millions are affected by it worldwide. Here in Australia alone, one in five adults has experienced DED at some point. This number is expected to increase as our dependency on digital screens and smart devices have surged exponentially as well.

2. Risk factors.

Consistent factors are age, sex, race, computer use, contact lens wear, certain environmental conditions (such as pollution, low humidity, and sick building syndrome) and medication use (for example, antihistamines, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and isotretinoin). Other factors that can add to the risk of developing dry eye are diabetes, corneal diseases, refractive surgery, allergic conjunctivitis, the use of certain eye drops, blue light exposure, Vitamin A deficiency, arthritis, viral infection, thyroid disease, psychiatric conditions, diet that is low in omega-3 fatty acids, smoking, and other medications.

It is helpful to note too that DED is common amongst adult females especially those in the menopausal stage. However, DED can still affect both male and female patients of different ages.

3. Serious conditions that can cause dry eye disease.

People suffering from Bell’s Palsy and Parkinson’s disease often develop dry eye disease. These illnesses decrease their capability to blink exposing their eye surface to air. Consequently, this dries up the tears needed by their eye.

4. Dry eyes can lead to excessive tearing.

Many people are perplexed when their optometrist tells them that they have dry eye yet what they see, and feel is excessive tearing. The problem is not that there aren’t enough tears but that they don’t have the correct quality of tears. For some people, dry eye can be a short-term problem brought by an environmental factor such as smoke or wind. For others, it can be a chronic, long-term problem requiring immediate treatment so that vision and/or comfort are not affected.

5. There is a correlation between dry eye and the seasons.

Dry eye usually occurs during spring and winter due to low humidity. We should also be extra cautious during summer when there are chances of too much exposure to the sun. Moreover, since we know that dry eye can be the result of an infection or allergy, we should take note of the proper eyewear and protective gears needed for every season.

6. Symptoms of dry eye.

Watch out for:

• Excessive tearing
• Stinging or burning eyes
• Itching
• Scratchiness
• Stingy mucus in or around the eyes
• Excessive eye irritation from smoke or wind
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Brief or on-going blurring a vision that may change each blank

If you experience any of these, be sure to visit your optometrist immediately.

7. How to treat dry eye disease.

Do not self-diagnose and self-medicate. Anyone experiencing any of the symptoms above should refer to an optometrist to receive a proper eye test.

Be prepared to be asked for questions about your medical history, family health background, your job, your daily routine, your usual activities, the medications that you take, and many more. All of these are necessary to give the optometrist a clear view of factors that might be causing dry eye disease.

The common treatments provided depending on the results of your eye test are:

• Eye drops – there is a huge range of eye drops that may be prescribed by your optometrist.
  If you are suspecting dry eyes, do not buy unless advised and strictly follow your
  prescription. Using the wrong type might even cause for your condition to get worse.
• Artificial tears and lubricants – aid mild types of dry eye disease. Again, your optometrist will
  be the one who will advise if this is the best treatment for you.
• Punctual plugs – is a small sterile-device inserted into the tear duct of the eye so that tears
  remain on the surface of the eye.
• Surgery – some cases of dry eye disease need surgery. This is usually done by an eye
  surgeon or an oculoplastic surgeon. Your optometrist will refer you to one after the initial
  eye test done to confirm the underlying case causing your dry eye disease.

8. Prevention is best.

As is with any medical condition, prevention is always best. Check if you are including enough sources of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. This helps in the production of tears that are good to moisten and nourish the surface of your eyes. Eat lots of green, leafy vegetables and a variety of fruits too. Also, drink plenty of water.

When going outdoors, wear protective sunglasses with UV protection. If you need a new pair, visit us and we will help you choose the one that best fits your lifestyle.

Lastly, we always remind on the importance of getting regular eye tests. Changes in your vision or the occurrence of potential eye problems could happen before you know it and the best way to check these changes is through a comprehensive examination done by your optometrist.

The post 8 Facts That You Need to Know About Dry Eye Disease appeared first on Blue Mountains Optical.