Doctors recently stated that coronavirus infection can affect the eyes and reduce visual acuity. A dangerous virus can cause swelling, spasms of the eye muscles, disturbances in the functioning of the optic nerve, inflammation of the retina, as well as various pathologies. Moreover, we are talking not only about the elderly, but also about middle-aged patients. What serious diseases are we talking about? And how can this be avoided? Cataract How is it manifested? A characteristic symptom is a decrease in visual acuity in one eye compared to the other. One of the common reasons for this is the development of cataracts in one eye. A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye - the lens. This leads to a gradual decrease in vision. Depending on the location of the lens opacity - in the central or peripheral part of it - vision can either immediately decrease, or remain high for a long time. The closer the opacity is to the center of the lens, the more vision is reduced. In addition, the appearance or increase of myopia can be a symptom of cataract. Also characterized by a paradoxical improvement in vision in the dark and deterioration in bright light up to the intolerance of such light, the appearance of a headache. What to do? The only effective treatment is surgical removal of the lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Such an operation is less traumatic and is put on stream. It allows you to correct deviations - astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia, and sometimes - even get rid of all types of glasses. Glaucoma How is it manifested? The disease is asymptomatic. This is precisely her cunning. It does not manifest itself in any way in the initial stages. There is a deterioration in the quality of vision at a certain time of the day, flies in front of the eyes, fogging, the appearance of rainbow circles around the light source may appear. Neurological disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, endocrine disorders, kidney and gastrointestinal tract diseases can also provoke the development of glaucoma. Glaucoma is often inherited. What to do? Reduce intraocular pressure. At the first stage of treatment, drops are used, which are very effective if the instillation regimen is observed. The second stage is the operation. Unfortunately, glaucoma treatment is lifelong, it is not completely cured. The conditions are simply created under which it is possible to preserve the remains of vision. At the same time, you can prevent the rapid development of the disease, observing three simple rules: do not be nervous, do not strain and take care of your eyes. Patients with glaucoma are contraindicated in heavy physical labor, work in which you have to tilt your head strongly, night shifts, irregular working hours. It is recommended to watch TV in a well-lit room. You can strain your eyes, for example, reading, writing, sewing, but in good lighting. If unpleasant sensations appear in the eyes, you should immediately take a break. Glaucoma is often associated with cataracts. Often, the treatment of cataracts and glaucoma is combined, especially when it comes to surgery. With glaucoma, you can also implant an artificial lens instead of the removed one. Hyperopia How is it manifested? The very first symptoms of hyperopia are well known: the eyes begin to get tired, headaches appear, but the main thing is the deteriorating vision at close range. Farsightedness that progresses over the years causes a violation of the outflow of eye fluid, which can subsequently lead to glaucoma. Therefore, with myopia after 35 years, it is necessary once a year, and at an older age - once every six months, it is imperative to check the condition of the fundus. What to do? Many people think: you need to go without glasses as long as possible. Supposedly it is worth putting them on, and the eyes will begin to "lazy", and vision will deteriorate much faster. In fact, everything is exactly the opposite: the sooner you start correcting your vision, the better. The visual apparatus will be protected from unnecessary loads, which will preserve the vigilance of the eyes for years. There is also debate about which is better - contact lenses or glasses? On the one hand, the lenses are, of course, more convenient: due to their fit, they provide high clarity of vision, a wider field of view. Finally, unlike glasses, they do not fog up or glare. But the older a person, the more difficult it is for him to use lenses: with age, the majority of the tears change, the regeneration of the epithelium covering the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye, the elasticity of the lens and eyelids, and the use of lenses becomes less comfortable. And the fingers of older people are no longer so sensitive and dexterous, and it is already more difficult for them to insert or remove lenses. Macular degeneration How is it manifested? Its symptoms are the appearance of a spot in front of the eye, distortion of straight lines, difficulty in reading or recognizing faces. Macular degeneration is the general name for a group of diseases in which the central area of the retina (macula) is affected. Central vision is impaired, which can lead to irreversible partial blindness. It is the most common cause of permanent blindness in people over 60. The causes of macular degeneration are still not fully understood. Many studies link macular degeneration with a lack of certain substances in the human body, antioxidants, vitamins C, F, zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin. Also, the development is facilitated by the lack of omega-3 unsaturated acids. In addition, studies have shown the dependence of the onset of this disease on smoking. What to do? One recent study has shown that the disease can be halted or even prevented by eating a low-carb diet. For this disease, doctors usually prescribe vitamins (A, B, E) with minerals, a diet with a predominance of vegetables and fruits (green vegetables, fresh fruits, carrots, berries, sprouted legumes and cereals), as well as vasoconstrictor drugs (trental, picamilon, cavinton, tanakan). And remember: it is better to identify and treat any disease at an early stage. Be sure to visit an ophthalmologist every six months.
