Eye Care

Eyecare is so important; your eyes are one of the most important parts of your body, and they can also be one of the most sensitive to scratches, diseases, and disorders. Find out the most common types of eye issues and what you can do to prevent them (or treat them). 

Types of Eye Disorders and Diseases

There are many different eye conditions, as the eyes are connected to so many other systems in the body. Eye problems can be related to allergies, neurological disorders, and degenerative diseases. The most common types of eye issues  include:

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration
• Amblyopia
• Cataract
• Color blindness
• Conjunctivitis
• Corneal disease
• Cross eyes
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Dry eyes
• Eyestrain
• Floaters
• Glaucoma
• Itchy eyes
• Lazy eye
• Night blindness
• Poor eyesight
• Presbyopia
• Red eyes
• Refractive Errors
• Scratched cornea
• Scratched retina
• Strabismus
• Uveitis
• Watery eyes

Causes of Eye Disorders

There are so many different eye disorders that are caused by a huge host of issues, ranging from environmental changes to allergies to infection. The most common causes of eye issues include:

• Allergens
• Environmental issues (wind, pollution, etc.)
• Scratches and foreign objects
• Overexposure to light
• Infection (such as pink eye)
• Blocked blood vessels
• Inflammation
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Diseases or conditions, such as AIDs or rheumatoid arthritis
• Retinal detachment
• Hereditary diseases
• Irritated blood vessels
• Eyestrain

Preventing Eye Disorders

Not all eye disorders are created equally, and luckily there are ways you can prevent some of these issues. While some people are predisposed to some disorders, others can avoid some eye problems by:

• Wearing eye protection on windy and sunny days
• Never looking directly at the sun
• Avoiding touching your eyes and face
• Using eyedrops
• Taking allergy medicines
• Getting your eyesight checked regularly
• Avoid staring at screens for long periods of time
• Wear eyeglasses if your doctor has prescribed them
• Take a break from wearing contact lenses

At-Home Eye Treatments

Some eye issues can be treated at home, while others (such as glaucoma and crossed eyes) need to be treated by a medical professional. If you’re experiencing red eyes, itchy eyes, or floaters, you can probably treat your eye issues yourself. If the issue doesn’t go away in a few days, you’ll want to make an appointment with an online optometrist or doctor. Just some of the at-home treatments for eye conditions include:

• Taking allergy medications
• Using eye drops for itchy or red eyes
• Avoid touching your eyes if your retina has been scratched
• Blink to force a rogue eyelash out of your eye (or use eye drops)
• Remove your contacts for a few hours 
• Taking supplements, such as zinc
• Making changes to your diet (for diabetes-related eye problems)

Medical Eye Treatments

Some eye problems will not go away on their own. You should consult a medical professional to remove any stray objects that have flown into your eye, believe you may have scratched your cornea or retina, or if you believe you have an eye disease or chronic condition. 

Common medical treatments for eye diseases, conditions, and issues include:

• Prescription eye drops
• Surgery
• Removal of foreign objects
• Prescription glasses and contact lenses
• Prescription medication

We recommend contacting an eye doctor or medical professional for a consultation for most eye problems. Trying to treat an eye issue yourself can lead to a worsening of vision — and even blindness.