• The Anterior of the eye consisting of the Sclera (the white of the eye) and the Cornea.
• The Posterior of the eye consisting of the Retina (the back of the eye), the Optic Nerve (sending impulses to the brain translating the image), the Iris (the fluid containing colored part of the eye) and the Macula (the highly sensitive area of the retina responsible for focusing).

How Eye Works?

• When you look at an object, light rays are reflected from the object to the cornea.
• Light rays pass through the cornea, which does most of the focusing
• The pupil in the Iris opens to let in more light when its dark, and closes to let in less when its bright
• The lens fine tunes the focusing
• Here at the retina, the light rays are converted to electrical impulses that are then transmitted through the optic nerve, to the brain, where the image is translated and perceived in an upright position.
  

Symptoms

• Cloudy or blurry vision.
• Colors seem faded.
• Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright with glare. A halo may appear around lights.
• Poor night vision.
• Double vision or multiple images in one eye.
• Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Causes

The above-mentioned symptoms can be those of cataract. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people.

Treatment

The symptoms of early cataract may be improved with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. If these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective treatment involving replacement of the cloudy lens with an artificial lens. Cataract removal is one of the most common and one of the safest and most effective types of surgery.



Myth busters - Facts about Cataracts

• Cataracts do not travel from one eye to the other
• Cataracts are not caused by using the eyes too much
• Cataracts are not related to cancer
• Cataracts cannot be treated or removed with a laser

Symptoms

• At first, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms. It causes no pain. Vision stays normal.
• Slowly, symptoms like trouble focusing, poor night vision, sensation of a blind area, headaches associated with exercise, halos around light and pain in eye - particularly when associated with smoky vision.
• Gradually, people start missing objects losing their peripheral (side) vision and seem to be looking through a tunnel.
• Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

Causes

Increased eye pressure resulting from the building up of fluid within the eye known as intra-ocular pressure leads to the risk for glaucoma in which the optic nerve gets damaged. Glaucoma can be acute that occur suddenly or chronic that continue to be present for a long time.



Treatment

Glaucoma treatments include eye drops or oral medication given in different combinations. If medication is effective in controlling the intra-ocular pressure, surgery is done to create a new drainage channel for the aqueous fluid to leave the eye.

Symptoms

• Blurred Vision
• Strain in the eyes
• Headaches
• Squinting

Causes

The above symptoms occur in case of refractive errors where the length of an adult eye ball which is normally 24mm, either increases (Myopia) or decreases (Hypermetropia), causing difficulty in focusing resulting in blurred vision.

Myopia or nearsightedness usually develops in the school going age and usually stabilizes soon after. However Hypermetropia or farsightedness can develop at any age.


Treatment

A thorough eye check up and accurately prescribed eyeglasses or contact lenses can easily counter these refractive errors.

• Blurry vision
• Distorted vision
• Straight lines appear wavy
• Objects may appear as the wrong shape or size
• The loss of clear, correct colors
• Difficulty reading
• A dark, empty area in the center of vision

Warning Signs and Risks for Vision Problems in Children

• Squinting, closing or covering one eye
• Constantly holding materials close to the face
• Tilting the head to one side
• Rubbing eyes repeatedly
• One or both eyes turn in or out
• Redness or tearing in eyes
• Premature birth
• Developmental delays
• Family history of "lazy eye" or "thick glasses"
• A disease that affects the whole body (such as diabetes, sickle cell or HIV)

If you notice any of these symptoms, make sure your child sees an eye doctor for a comprehensive children’s eye exam. Keep in mind that not all children’s vision problems can be diagnosed by you or a school nurse; only an eye doctor has the training and equipment to catch everything.

Symptoms

Warning signs include:

• Hazy or blurred vision
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Color confusion
• Trouble reading, cooking or doing close-up tasks
• Difficulty recognizing familiar faces
• Light sensitivity (complaints that lights are too dim indoors)
• Problems reading street signs or crossing the street

SCEH team recommends you to always use protective eye wear such as glasses made for the purpose or heavy goggles when doing anything that could endanger SCEH team recommends you to always use protective eye wear such as glasses made for the purpose or heavy goggles when doing anything that could endanger your eyes like active sports, using power tools, working with chemicals or house hold cleaners or with sprays or radiant lights.

However in case of an eye injury, follow the instructions below and immediately rush to the nearest eye specialist.

Injury caused by small objects

• If you get something in your eye, don’t rub your eye.
• Try blinking the eye under running water.
• Objects in the lower lid can be removed by pulling down on the skin just below the eyelid.
• Lift your upper eyelid outward and gently pull it down over the lower lash causing tears to flow washing the object out of your eye repetitively.
• If you are wearing contact lenses, remove the lens and clean it thoroughly before putting it back in your eye
• If you are hit in the eye by a large object such as a ball or a rock with high speed can result in serious injury. Don’t attempt to manipulate the eyes yourself.
• See your ophthalmologist who can check your eye for any internal damage.

Injury caused by chemicals and dangerous liquids or powders

• For chemicals or oils or other caustic materials splashed in your eyes, immediately flush your eyes with cool water for at least 15 minutes.
• If you are wearing contact lenses, remove them immediately.
• See your ophthalmologist immediately and take along with you the chemical bottle or the label to show to the doctor.

• Never attempt to treat a cut, laceration or penetrating eye injury (caused by knives, hooks or pointed instruments) except to stop the bleeding of eyelids or skin areas around the eyes.
• Seek immediate medical attention.

SCEH team recommends you to seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Sudden loss of vision
• Blurred vision, even if gradual of time
• Double vision
• Flashes
• Floaters in vision, which may look like spots, flies, etc
• Sudden marked distortion in vision
• Severe redness of the eye
• Severe pain in the eye, itching or dryness
• Scratchy feeling or feeling that there is something in the eye
• Light sensitivity, especially if severe or painful
• Haloes around lights
• Discharge, especially if heavy and with pain or redness of the eye
• Inability to see at night
• Fluctuating vision
• Protrusion of the eye, especially with pain or loss of vision