Medical conditions that affect eyesight

Some medical conditions have a variety of risk factors. However, there are some that affect eyesight; leading to eye deterioration or serious eye diseases and in some cases, it can lead to total blindness if not diagnosed and treated.

The major medical conditions that affect eyesight include;

1. Diabetes: this is a condition that occurs as a result of the inability to produce enough of or properly utilize insulin which leads to abnormally high blood sugar levels. Diabetes can lead to a variety of eye-related complications but the most significant is called diabetic retinopathy. This eye disease comes in two forms;

• Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: this is the early stage of diabetic eye disease. In this, new blood vessels are not growing or proliferating. This weakens the blood vessels in your retina. Tiny bulges emerge from the walls of the small vessels that can leak fluid or blood into your retina. This is leading cause of vision loss in diabetic people.
• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy: this is the advanced stage of the eye disease. It happens when retina starts growing new blood vessels due to the close off of damaged blood vessels. The new blood vessels are fragile and can leak into the clear substance that fills the center of your eyes (called vitreous humor). These blood vessels can also form scar tissue which causes the retina to detach from the back of your eye. This can affect your central and side vision.

2. Hypertension: high blood pressure is another medical condition that affects eyesight. This is because your eyes have several blood vessels, subjecting these blood vessels to the effects of high blood pressure, it can lead to damages. These damages can lead to eye stroke which is comes with blurry vision or sudden vision loss. Also, hypertension can lead to reduced blood flow to the optic nerve which damages the cells in the eyes. This can lead to permanent vision loss.
3. Shingles: this is a viral infection caused by varicella-zoster virus; the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant. If reactivated, it comes back as shingles. Some people with shingles can get it in and around the eyes in the form of rash in one side of the upper face. This is called ophthalmic herpes zoster. Shingles can cause scarring of the cornea and can even lead to vision loss.

Other medical conditions include:

    4. Lyme disease: this is a disease caused by the bite of a tick infected with a type of bacterium. It usually appears in the form of a rash at the site of the bite. In the early stage of the disease, there are some visual symptoms which includes; blur, double vision and sometimes conjunctivitis (Apollo). At later stages of the disease, inflammation of the eyes can occur which can affect the optic nerve and lead to serious visual impairment.

  5. Autoimmune disorders: Certain autoimmune diseases can lead to eye-related problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, etc. Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with redness in the white part of the eyes. Multiple sclerosis targets the brain and nervous system. In this, the immune system attacks the nerves causing these nerves to try to repair themselves by forming scar tissues. These scar tissues can interfere with the central nervous system causing reduced cognitive function and vision problems. Multiple sclerosis has also been linked to swelling of the optic nerves. Lupus can inflame the eye tissues and damage the skin of the eyelids. Also read our previous article on lupus.

READ:  https://www.naturesfieldng.com/2022/05/10/what-exactly-is-lupus/

 6. Sickle cell disease: An eye disease called sickle cell retinopathy is a common complication of sickle cell disease. It happens when the sickle cells block blood flow to the retina. This leads to inflammation and low oxygen levels. Some symptoms of sickle cell retinopathy include flashes, dark shadows or sudden vision loss.

You can also watch our video on World Sickle Day! #shinelightonsicklecell #sicklecellwarrior.

 7. Liver disease: Inflammation of the liver referred to as hepatitis can also cause damage to your eyes. Hepatitis can cause yellowing of the eyes. Drugs used to treat hepatitis can also cause swelling in the vessels of the retina. Other eye problems associated with liver disease include; dry and itchy eyes, redness of the eyes and sensitivity to light.

EFFECTIVE REMEDIES FOR HEALTHY VISION AND TO IMPROVE EYE DISEASES

1. Use good quality eye supplement: Sometimes the food you eat may not provide enough nutrients needed to maintain healthy vision especially if you have other medical conditions. Therefore, you should go for Nature’s Field Eye Cap which contains powerful eye antioxidants that improves eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataract as an adjunct to prescribed drugs. It also promotes eye clarity and supports the macula of the eyes.
2. Wear sunglasses: You may associate this with fashion but we strongly you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Too much ultraviolet exposure increases the risk of cataract and macular degeneration.
3. Manage chronic conditions: Managing the existing condition is the first line of action as this will help improve your eye health.

Also consider the following;

    4. Quit smoking: Smoking has been implicated as a risk factor in a variety of health conditions so it is not surprising that it smoking also affects your eye health. Smoking increases your risk of developing cataract and age-related macular degeneration.

   5. Always keep your hands clean: It is often the habit of a lot of people to touch their eyes several times in a day. Hence, it is important to always ensure your hands are clean to avoid transmission of germs that can cause harm to the eyes and lead to eye disease.

  6. Consult your Ophthalmologist: Remember that your eyes are very delicate therefore, ensure you consult an eye specialist once you notice symptoms associated with eye-related diseases.

Recommendations

 It is not advisable to wait till you have an eye disease or your eye condition has deteriorated before taking care of your eye. Start taking a good quality eye supplement to ensure your eyes remain healthy. There is no better way to do that than with Nature’s Field Eye Cap.