eye health

Keratitis: symptoms, treatment and prevention

Introduction Keratitis is a general inflammation of the cornea. Although often infectious in nature, keratitis can also be caused by surgical trauma or favored by the penetration of an object into the eye. Although it may ideally affect anyone, infectious keratitis occurs more often in severely immunocompromised patients (eg those affected by the HIV virus) and weakened; the a traumatic variant of keratitis is instead a typical - albeit not exclusive - condition of contact lens wearers

eye health

Allergic conjunctivitis: why in the spring?

2019

With the arrival of spring - in susceptible individuals - the allergic reaction is triggered by pollen from herbs, shrubs or trees, which are transported from the air. Ocular allergies appear, therefore, in the period of the year in which the pollens that cause this reaction are present, following the life cycle of the plant responsible and on the basis of which pollen calendars are made

eye health

Corneal tattoos for medical purposes

2019

Corneal tattooing is a practice used by ophthalmologists to treat cosmetic defects caused by serious eye diseases. The technique can restore a new pigmentation to the blind eye or it is used to correct the opacity and corneal scars in case of keratitis and cataract. Only in rare cases is the cornea tattoo intended to improve eyesight

eye health

Glaucoma and sleep apnea: is there a relationship?

2019

Recent medical research, published by the journal Ophthalmology ("Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Increased Risk of Glaucoma"), highlighted a possible link between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome ( OSAS ) and glaucoma , particularly in its normal pressure variant . This particular form of open-angle glaucomatous neuropathy can cause vision loss and damage to the optic nerve, although the intraocular pressure remains within the normal range

eye health

What is the difference between degrees and diopters?

2019

Diopters and degrees are not the same thing, although they are often mistakenly used as synonyms. The diopters indicate the refractive power that a lens must have, so as to correct the direction of the light rays that strike it. The degrees , on the other hand, do not measure the strength of the lenses or the severity of the defect, but only describe the axis of orientation in order to correct astigmatism

eye health

Laser pointers and vision hazards

2019

If pointed directly at the eyes, laser pointers can cause burns on the ocular surface and serious retinal changes , such as to cause a true maculopathy. The beam of rays can damage the retina by means of heat or photochemical mechanisms; the extent of the damage depends on the laser power and the duration of the exposure

eye health

The extreme practice of tattooing the eyeball

2019

The eyeball tattoo is the latest fashion among tattoo lovers, although the practice is much discussed. Tattooists use a very fine needle to inject a pigment diluted with a small amount of antibiotic eye drops directly into the sclera (white part of the eye) so that it is distributed under the thin upper layer of the eye or conjunctiva

eye health

What are eye banks?

2019

The eye banks are structures controlled by the Ministry of Health which have the function of collecting, selecting, storing and distributing suitable eye tissue for transplantation to hospitals. This allows greater availability of corneas and other outbuildings, with a reduction in waiting times if a transplant is needed

eye health

What complications are associated with ocular allergy?

2019

An eye allergy should never be underestimated, as it can seriously affect daily life. Just think of the inconvenience that can result in those who work at the computer or have to drive. There is also the risk that the disorder will become chronic or lead to serious corneal complications . The cornea is not normally vascularized, so it should not be affected by hypersensitivity reactions

eye health

What is cornea transplant?

2019

The cornea has very limited possibilities for self-repair, so any injuries must be treated very carefully in order to prevent serious consequences for eyesight. Because of pathologies that have irreversibly compromised transparency or curvature , the only treatment option is the replacement of the portion of the ocular surface taken from a donor

eye health

Why do we cry when we cut an onion?

2019

Onions stimulate tearing because during cutting they release substances into the air, including thiopropanal oxide, which are irritating to the eye. The tear is therefore a defense reaction , carried out to dilute the vapors released by the chopped onion. A trick to avoiding an annoying cry is to wet the knife or onion itself before starting to cut