Sight is one of the senses we use the most, and the eyes’ importance in everyday life is very well known.

The mechanism that allows us to see what is around us is very complex: Our vision works thanks to the synergy between the eye and certain parts of the brain, providing us with visual information.

Before reaching the retina, the light stimuli that hit the eyes go through the different transparent components that make up the eye (cornea, aqueous, crystalline, and vitreous humor), a critical step in allowing the brain to interpret visual stimuli correctly.

Taking care of our eyes is essential. One should ensure a healthy lifestyle by undergoing regular eye examinations from a young age and not underestimating any signs that indicate an eye disorder.

Eyes: The Signs Not to Underestimate

From an early age, the eyes should be kept under control through regular eye examinations. The ophthalmologist will provide the most appropriate course of action depending on each person’s age and needs.

However, some signs deserve attention, requiring a consultation with an ophthalmologist. For example:

  • Floaters or moving bodies: Images of small corpuscles that seem to float in front of us within the visual field. These are opacities of the vitreous body, the mass that fills the inside of the eye; when light passes through the vitreous body, encountering such thickenings, it casts shadows on the retina, disturbing vision. They are also called “flying flies” because they move and oscillate in our visual field when we shift our gaze. They are related to a disruption of the vitreous body of the eye. There are several causes, from degeneration due to age to high myopia, trauma, or dehydration. It is a fairly common phenomenon; however, it is best not to underestimate them as they may also indicate vitreous detachment from the retina, requiring a specialist investigation.
  • Red eyes: Also called conjunctival hyperemia, are a widespread disorder caused by dilation of blood vessels due to irritation or infection. In most cases, the root causes of red eyes are easily detectable, and the condition resolves in a relatively short time; in other cases, eye redness may be due to injury, trauma, or foreign bodies in the eye; more rarely, red eyes are associated with the presence of serious diseases such as an acute attack of glaucoma, uveitis, keratitis, scleritis. Again, if the symptom persists, seeing an ophthalmologist is recommended.
  • Excessive tearing: When there is irritation or inflammation on the eye’s surface due to infection, allergies, foreign bodies, or other substances, the eye produces more tears. Excessive tearing can affect one or both eyes and cause blurred vision, eyelid disease, and the formation of secretion scaling.
  • Double vision (or diplopia): Two images are seen when looking at an object. It may affect one eye only (monocular diplopia) – in this case, it is usually due to irregularities in the surface of the cornea or problems with the cornea or retina – or both eyes (binocular diplopia), the most common cause of which is strabismus but can also be brought about by neurological or muscular problems.
  • Pupils of different sizes (or anisocoria): The pupils change size physiologically to regulate the amount of light entering the eye. That’s because, in the dark, they are larger, while if the light is bright, they tend to narrow. Dilation and constriction occur simultaneously for both pupils. However, if the pupils differ in size, they could indicate physiological anisocoria, physical damage to the eye (trauma, infection), or pathology affecting the iris or pupil.
  • Eye pain: Alone or in association with other symptoms such as red eyes, tearing, and swelling of the eyelids (swollen eye). It could be attributable to eye diseases such as conjunctivitis, uveitis, glaucoma, and allergies, but also (especially if it occurs alone) related to other medical conditions (such as trigeminal nerve inflammation).
  • Decreased vision: Can manifest in a variety of ways. You may see less well, see shadows, or see as if you have a curtain over your eye. It can affect only one eye, both eyes or just part of the visual field.

Eyes: The Most Common Disorders

Refractive Defects: Myopia, Hypermetropia and Astigmatism

Refractive defects are visual pathologies that prevent us from focusing on objects around us properly and, therefore, require prescription glasses or contact lenses. Myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism are refractive defects.

Myopia and Refractive Surgery

Myopia is a refractive defect that prevents distant objects from coming into focus. It occurs because instead of the image forming on the retina, it forms in front of it. Myopia can be mild from 0 to 3 diopters and medium when the visual deficit ranges from 3 to –6 diopters or severe or pathological when the deficit exceeds –6 diopters.

There is a family predisposition to myopia, but those who read for long periods or do precision work, perhaps by profession, can also reach high degrees of myopia. Myopia can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, or following an eye examination with the specialist, refractive surgery with the excimer or femtosecond laser, which reshapes the cornea and corrects the vision defect in the long term, can be considered.

What Is Hypermetropia and How to Treat It

Hypermetropia is a refractive defect that results in difficulty seeing close objects that are blurred. Blurred vision, eye soreness and burning, eye fatigue, hypersensitivity to light, and headaches are characteristic symptoms of hyperopia.

Hypermetropia can also be corrected with glasses and contact lenses; the lenses used are convex, with the thickness tapering toward the edges, and structured to focus light convergence on a single focus point. Refractive surgery using excimer lasers may be considered in some cases.

What Is Astigmatism and How to Correct It

Astigmatism is a refractive defect that causes distorted, blurred, and unclear vision. It can also be associated with myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia.

The disorder occurs regardless of the proximity of what is being observed, as the morphology of the cornea itself causes it; the cornea of people with astigmatism is more elliptical, resembling that of a rugby ball (and not round), affecting the focus of what is being observed.

Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses and contact lenses, but refractive surgery with an excimer laser can also be considered.

Presbyopia: When Does It Appear?

Presbyopia is a refractive defect in which the crystalline lens loses the ability to change its shape to allow near focusing. This defect is age-related and often appears between the ages of 40 and 46.

Tear Disorders

The lacrimal glands secrete a fluid, the tears (or tear film), composed mostly of water, oils, salts and proteins, and mucins.

Tears are not only related to emotional states but mainly allow eye lubrication, allowing the eyelid to flow and the eye to nourish. Tearing also protects the eyes from dust, bacteria, and any foreign bodies.

Lachrymation disorders can manifest as excessive tearing, dry eye, and obstruction of the tear ducts. Avoiding DIY solutions (e.g., with eye drops or artificial tears) and seeing an ophthalmologist is recommended in the presence of any of these symptoms.

  • Excessive tearing: Occurs when there is irritation or inflammation of the surface of the eye (due, for example, to infection, allergies, foreign bodies, or other substances) and is an ocular protective mechanism. It can occur at all ages, affect one or both eyes, and cause blurred vision, eyelid lesions, and discharge formation. Any leakage of tears from the conjunctival sac to the eyelid skin (epiphora) could be due to several causes, such as decreased or obstructed tear flow to the nose, eyelid malposition, inflammation, and tear overproduction (rarer). In some of these cases, the solution is surgical.
  • Dry eyes: In this case, the eyes are not adequately lubricated. Dry eyes can be due to decreased tear secretion, too dry environment, getting a cold or taking allergy medications, smoking (including passive smoking), eye trauma, and aging.
  • Tear duct obstruction: This is the inflammation of the tear ducts brought about by a narrowing (stenosis) of the mucosa lining them. Stenosis prevents the proper outflow of tears and can cause infections due to tear stagnation. The obstruction may be congenital (present from birth) or acquired in cases of chronic inflammatory disease affecting the tear ducts.

Conjunctivitis

What Is Conjunctivitis and What Are the Causes

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye disorders; it is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that lines much of the eye and gives it moisture. Conjunctivitis can be allergic, bacterial, or viral; indeed, it can be caused by an allergy or by the presence of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, or viruses), but also by a foreign body (such as sand or dust), toxic substances, or drugs.

What Are the Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

Bacterial conjunctivitis presents with pus in the eye.

Viral conjunctivitis manifests with symptoms such as:

  • Eye discomfort;
  • Swelling of the eyelid and conjunctiva;
  • Copious tearing;
  • Discomfort with light (photophobia);
  • Visual disturbances.

Symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis are:

  • Itching;
  • The feeling of a foreign body;
  • Tearing;
  • Swelling of the eyelid;
  • Photophobia.

How to Treat Conjunctivitis

If conjunctivitis is present, it is a good idea to consult the ophthalmologist, who, during the specialist examination, will identify the type of conjunctivitis and indicate the appropriate therapy, which may include antiviral, antibiotic, or antifungal eye drops or eye drops with antihistamine or cortisone.

Viral conjunctivitis (related to influenza viruses, for example) is the most contagious form. It can be transmitted through using shared pillows or towels, by direct contact, or due to poor hand hygiene.

Age-related Disorders

Like the rest of the body, the eyes also undergo the aging process and the consequent increased risk of certain age-related diseases, such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

Cataracts: What Is It and How the Procedure Works

A prevalent eye disease, particularly after age 60, cataracts are the opacification of the crystalline lens, the ocular lens that focuses images to be projected onto the retina. 

Opacification results in a significant reduction in vision in both quantity and quality.

To treat cataracts requires surgery, which can be performed with a femtosecond laser. This delicate procedure requires proper equipment and a skilled and experienced surgeon. 

Adequate screening is needed before surgery, with diagnostic tests that evaluate the picture comprehensively.

What Is Age-related Macular Degeneration and How It Is Treated

Age-related macular degeneration is among the most common eye diseases after age 55. 

This disorder affects the macula, the central area of the retina. Age-related macular degeneration results in the progressive loss of central vision, with significant repercussions on the autonomy of the sufferer.

A distinction is made between a nonexudative or “dry” form and an exudative or “wet” form. The former includes the presence of lesions called drusen (accumulations of cellular debris) and areas of atrophy. In contrast, the wet form comes with the forming of new vessels under the retina.

Initially, taking antioxidant vitamins and mineral supplements may be helpful to slow the progression of the disease.

The wet form requires intravitreal injections of drugs that inhibit VEGF, the growth factor that stimulates the formation of new vessels and promotes fluid release from the vessels.

Glaucoma: What Are the Symptoms and What Are the Treatments

Glaucoma results in the deterioration of the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting information from the retina to the brain. It is the second leading cause of visual impairment, mainly due to increased internal pressure in the eye.

Glaucoma is very dangerous because its presence is often asymptomatic, and patients come to the ophthalmologist in the terminal stages of the disease. Periodic eye examinations are essential.

The main symptom of glaucoma is reduced visual field, particularly peripheral vision, and the first signs are often found when driving or reading.

Visual difficulties caused by glaucoma are permanent, so detecting the disease in its early stages is critical. Treatment involves drug therapy or surgical treatment, depending on the stage of the disease and the patient’s condition.

Computer Vision Syndrome

It is estimated that about 70-90% of people who work in front of electronic screens (PCs, tablets, smartphones, etc.) daily suffer from computer vision syndrome (or CVS), a combination of various symptoms (visual, neurological, and motor) that are exacerbated by working remotely. The first research on this syndrome was conducted over 65 years ago, and over time, researchers have discovered several factors that induce its onset. Beyond a personal predisposition, other factors also contribute as well, such as:

  • Blue light emission from electronic screens straining the eyesight.
  • Poor resolution of the monitors used.
  • Less frequent eyelid movements. Suffice it to say that we usually blink between 17 and 20 times a minute. At the same time, in front of a screen, we experience a significant reduction, reaching eye opening and closing movements limited to 12 to 15 times a minute, with obvious repercussions on vision.

Eye health should not be neglected, so it is necessary to take the required precautions to protect it and reduce the risk of decreased vision, which becomes even more substantial as we age. The crystalline lens (the portion of the eye that focuses on nearby objects), for example, loses some of its natural elasticity with aging.

What Are the Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome?

Symptoms can be temporary and usually occur after working 2-3 hours in front of a screen and include:

  • Burning eyes
  • Visual fatigue
  • Frequent headaches
  • Neck pain
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Itchy eyes
  • Dry eyes
  • Decreased concentration
  • Discomfort.

How to Prevent Computer Vision Syndrome?

Although annoying, the syndrome is not dangerous in itself; prevention remains essential to ensure eye health. Therefore, it is advisable to:

  • Regularly look away from the screen to a point at a greater distance. For example, it is suggested that for every hour spent in front of a screen, do so for ten minutes. Getting up and moving around a bit also brings benefits to the neck.
  • Use filtering glasses that protect against blue light if the screen emits ultraviolet radiation, which harms eyesight. Modern screens, however, usually no longer emit this radiation;
  • Use glasses if necessary.
  • Take breaks during work sessions.
  • Have adequate lighting that facilitates vision. Specifically, the screen should be barely brighter than its surroundings, which ideally should be glare-free.
  • Use high-definition screens.
  • Hold the monitor 50-70 centimeters away so the top edge is at eye level. The head should be tilted slightly downward.
  • Use special software that makes the light emitted by monitors more yellow.
  • Improve one’s posture, such as keeping the shoulders and head back while using smartphones and avoiding bringing the face closer to the screen to favor the opposite movement.