Beginning about age 40, when reading at closer distances begins to become a struggle, or having an elderly parent lose vision, people become concerned about eye health. But the truth is that vision and eye health are a lifelong concern. For those lucky enough to have two sighted eyes, the vision in each eye is precious. And many of the common diseases and injuries involving the eye can cause permanent and irreversible vision loss. Those who have only one functioning eye have to be even more cautious.
Eye Health Library
Common Eye Health Subjects
Vision & Eye Exams
Vision of 20/20 means that a person can see at 20 feet what a normal-sighted person can see at 20 feet. When vision worsens, the number on the bottom increases, such as 20/50 or 20/400. Conditions that reduce vision are many, and include:
- Corneal diseases, including scarring, injury and deformities
- Cataractous changes of the natural lens
- Glaucoma, including open angle, narrow angle and others
- Retinal disease, including macular degeneration, gliosis, retinal detachment and more
Cornea
In creating the eye, Nature has done something brilliant. Not made of glass, plastic or acrylic, the cornea is able to be perfectly clear because of layering of a precise collagen fiber pattern. Conditions that can negatively impact the clarity of the cornea include:
- Scars and injuries
- Keratoconus and other malformations
- Infections and ulcers
- Inherited loss of internal cells required to pump water out
Dry Eye
The tears are a thin and complex layer of fluid that coat the surface of the cornea and conjunctiva, providing both good vision and comfort. Dry eye symptoms may be a result of too little production or too much evaporation. Causes of dry eye include:
- Reduced estrogen levels
- Autuimmune conditions such as Sjogren's, Sarcoid and Lupus
- Inflammation
- Loss of eyelid tone
Lens and Cataract
A cataract is not a film over the eye, but rather a yellowing of the natural lens that is inside the eye. Cataracts may be mild or severe, and are a major cause of blindness in the Third World. Issues relating to cataract include:
- Causes: aging, diabetes, trauma, chronic steroid use.
- Surgical methods: femtosecond laser assisted versus manual ultrasound
- Intraocular lens choices: monofocal, toric, multifocal, accommodating
- Special issues, including pseudoexfoliation syndrome
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is not one disease, but instead includes many conditions that include damage to the optic nerve in the back of the eye, which is sometimes, but not always, associated with elevated eye pressure. Treatment varies depending on the severity and type. Issues include:
- Type of glaucoma: Open angle, closed angle, pseudoexfoliative, pigmentary, inflammatory and more
- Prescription eyedrop therapy and side effects
- Laser treatments for open angle and narrow angle glaucoma
- Surgical methods: trabeculectomy, microstents, surgical lasers, valves
Retina
Like plastic wrap in the bottom of a bowl, the retina lines the inside of the back of the eye. The retina is the "film" of the eye, receiving images that then get transferred by nerves to the back of the brain to provide us vision. Many conditions can affect good retinal function, including:
- Macular Degeneration: age-related, myopic and congenital forms
- Retinal detachment
- Retinal artery and vein occlusions
- Macular gliosis and scarring
Eye Nutrition
At only one inch in diameter, the eye is constructed of hundreds of delicate structures. Science has now shown benefit to nutritionally supporting the eye for these issues:
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Dry Eye Symptoms
- Low Retinal Pigment Level
Eye Health Products
VisiVite offers a full selection of products for common eye health concearns.
View all products