When you learn more about your eyes, you see how amazing they are. That's why at Clínica Nivaria we're sharing ten facts about your eyes that you probably didn't know, along with tips on what you can do to minimize or seek treatment for common eye problems.
1. Your eyes can get sunburned and also develop skin cancer
You know you can get sunburned any time of year. Your eyes are just as susceptible as your skin, and people often don't give them enough protection. Photokeratitis is the accumulation of too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the eyes. It can even cause blindness.
You can easily avoid this problem by wearing sunglasses that block 99% of UVA and UVB rays. If you don't wear sunglasses, you risk developing basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer that most often occurs on the lower eyelids. If you start these preventative measures with your children, who tend to spend more time outdoors, protecting their eyes from the sun will likely become a natural habit for them.
2. Your tears reveal much more than emotions
Tear loss is commonly called Dry Eye Syndrome and has a wide variety of causes. Symptoms of dry eye include:
- There is not enough tear production.
- Dry, itchy eyes.
- Blurred vision.
- Red eyes.
There are two different glands that control tear production: the lacrimal glands and the Meibomian glands. Problems with the lacrimal glands mean you won't have enough tears, while problems with the Meibomian glands cause your tears to evaporate too quickly. At Clínica Nivaria, we offer a variety of treatments to relieve the symptoms of dry eye.
3. The process for repairing cataracts is like science fiction.
As people age, the risk of developing cataracts increases. A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens. The lens focuses light onto the retina to create vision. If the lens becomes very cloudy, vision begins to be blocked. While age is the most common factor in developing cataracts, having diabetes or smoking increases that risk even further.
There are two common types of cataract surgery, and laser cataract surgery is one of them. During this procedure, our specialist makes a small incision in the cornea, the dome-shaped tissue that protects the eye's lens. The surgeon then quickly and carefully removes the lens. Our doctor can then place an intraocular lens in one or both eyes, as needed, to replace the lens and correct vision problems.
4. A proper diet can improve your eyesight
There are many nutritious foods that support overall eye health. Eggs are a great place to start. They're high in lutein and zeaxanthin, which act as antioxidants to protect your eyes from various problems. Eggs also contain zinc, which helps the body produce melanin. Several other foods are excellent for eye health, including leafy green vegetables, oily fish, and nuts.
5. Blindness is widespread.
If a person generally has good vision, it can be difficult to imagine what it's like to have a severe visual impairment. Many people are considered legally blind, but they can still read and perform their daily activities. Average vision is labeled 20/20. A person with 20/30 vision sees at 6 meters what others see at 9. While most people with mild vision problems have 20/30-20/60 vision, for some, the rating goes up to 20/1000 or even worse. Anyone whose vision cannot be corrected to at least 20/200 in their better eye is diagnosed as legally blind.
6. Excellent eyesight doesn't last forever.
Once people reach their mid-40s, they often begin to notice that their vision isn't what it used to be. For reasons scientists are only now beginning to understand, Baby Boomers are actually more likely than their living parents to experience age-related vision problems, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD makes it harder to see objects up close. Incidents of age-related vision problems are projected to double by 2030.
7. Eye color can be a good predictor of your overall health
People like to speculate about what your eye color says about your personality. However, researchers are only just beginning to uncover the relationship between eye color and overall health. People with light-colored eyes, such as gray, blue, or green, are at higher risk for certain types of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer.
Eyes can also change color over time, particularly as a result of a health problem such as diabetes. While some people are born with each eye a different color, a condition called heterochromia, this can be a sign of a serious health problem, such as pigmentary glaucoma. This condition causes pigment from the iris to shed into nearby tissues, increasing eye pressure.
8. Do you need major eye surgery? There's a specialty for that.
Beyond LASIK eye surgery or intraocular lens implants , there is a wide range of possible eye surgery procedures that people may need at some point. People suffer serious injuries to their eyes and eye sockets every day.
Oculoplastic surgery is a specialty that provides treatment for the entire eye orbit, including the eyelids, eye socket, tear ducts, and face.
These procedures are often cosmetic in nature, designed to reconstruct the face after an injury or health problem has damaged the eyes. For example, eyelid surgery is more than just a cosmetic procedure. Heavy eyelids can obstruct vision. Eyelids also tend to turn inward or outward as people age, which can be uncomfortable. The oculoplastic surgeons at Clínica Nivaria treat these and many other conditions.
9. Your skin can regenerate your retina
Macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness worldwide, may eventually become a thing of the past. For years, scientists have been using embryonic stem cells to create retinal tissue for retinal transplants. However, the use of embryonic cells to cure people is fraught with controversy, and researchers have been searching for alternatives.
In late 2011, doctors in Japan were able to grow retinal tissue for a patient using stem cells scraped from his arm. These doctors used genetic manipulation to make the skin cells grow retinal tissue. They grew the new tissue in a petri dish and used it to replace the patient's retina. Researchers say this treatment for AMD could become widely available as early as 2020.
10. There is no such thing as an eyeball transplant
People designate themselves as organ donors, and that includes eyes. But recipients of organ donations don't receive a whole eyeball, but usually just the cornea.
Doctors use the eyes of donors willing to help others. People with severe vision loss can receive corneal tissue from a donor. Most people who need corneal transplant surgery have a damaged or diseased cornea, causing pain or vision loss. Despite minor risks, there are many benefits to corneal transplantation, including:
- Vision restored.
- Glaucoma resolution.
- Elimination of astigmatism and other eye conditions.
Complications are minor and rare, and most corneal transplants successfully cure the patient's eye problems. The routine work performed daily to prevent age-related vision loss, minimize dry eye symptoms, and generally protect the eyes from environmental elements has a lasting impact.
You only have one pair of eyes. Take the time to protect and care for them with the best specialists in the Canary Islands. Call us; we'd be happy to help. Book your appointment today by calling us at 822 027 777. We look forward to seeing you at our Ophthalmology Clinic in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
