Contact Lens Complications
The last 20 years has seen a tremendous increase in the use of contact lenses. Despite the recent trend towards fashionable eyewear and the advances in refractive surgeries, there are still approximately 1 million Australians who are currently wearing contact lenses. This is partly because of the variety of lens materials, replacement schedules, specialty designs, and convenient contact lens care systems available today.
While there are many benefits of contact lenses, both cosmetic and therapeutic, contact lens wear is not without risk of complications. Ocular complications of contact lenses include iatrogenic (inappropriate fit, prescription or wearing schedule), patient non-compliance or misuse, as well as inherent problems with the patients tear film, lids, lashes, or meibomian glands. Contact lenses are implicated in the pathophysiology of many anterior segment disorders. Most commonly, these complications are due to hypoxia (oxygen deprivation to the cornea), mechanical stress, infection, or immunological factors. Soft contact lenses, also known as hydrogels, worn as extended wear (that is, up to a 7 consecutive day wearing schedule including overnight wear) have a significantly higher incidence (10-15 times the rate for daily wear hydrogels) of ocular complications. This is because corneal hypoxia is greatly exacerbated by overnight contact lens wear.
A recent study found that in any given year, over 7% of all contact lens wearers experience an ocular complaint that is serious or bothersome enough to warrant a visit to their optometrist. The list of potential problems is long, and while many of the complaints are relatively minor, a few are potentially sight-threatening (see Table).
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... many days with no apparent problem or complication. However, sleeping in contact lenses, while convenient, substantially increases the risk for infection and other complications. The oxygen supply to the cornea drops overnight while wearing a contact lens. This can lead to swelling of the cornea (giving blurred vision or the visualization of rainbows around lights), breakdown of the corneal surface, and ultimately infection of the cornea (ulcer). This risk is high enough that many eyecare providers discourage against the use of contact lenses on an extended wear basis. If the lenses are used this way, extreme caution should be taken, and the lenses should be removed with any sign of trouble (eye redness, pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, etc). In fact, it may be reasonable to consider refractive surgery as an alternative to extended wear contact lens use.
The TearLAb device allows the practitioner to monitor and supervise the tear film’s osmolarity, which is an important factor correlated with dry eye. In normal patients tear osmolarity is low and very similar to blood osmolarity (290 milliosmoles per litter). This indicates that tears are in proper homeostasis. On the other hand, dry eye patients have elevated (> 316 mOsm/L) and unstable tear osmolarity which can vary both over time and between eyes.[4]. This test is simple and quick to perform which can be easily delegated to a consultant or a technician
Miguel, Maria Fernanda, ProfessorH. Kent Bowen. Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston and Dr. Bradford J. Shingleton. Harvard Business School. Rev. May 20, 1997.
Conjunctivitis - Patient has conjunctival injection with clear watery discharge. The patient does not, however, present with typical eye crusting.
Optometrists have accepted vision therapy, which is a medical treatment for optical muscle disabilities, as a feasible treatment used for eye related problems; claiming the treatment can strengthen vision and give the patient the opportunity to understand visuals quicker and clearer (Press). Vision therapy originated in the 1950s and over the past 25 years, has gained popularity, mainly because of new technological innovations in the field of treatment. Generally, vision therapy is prescribed as a measure mainly for people between the ages of 3 and 18. With the results from a comprehensive series of eye tests, the optometrist can work with the patient using special instruments—prisms, filters, occluders, and eye lenses—and strengthen the eye muscles, thus improving sight. According to optometrists in favor of vision therapy, these methods of treatment using these instruments function as safer routes to repair eye disabilities. Although vision therapy can yield favorable results, the practice as a treatment for innate eye disabilities has been in hot debate lately; as it can exceed $8000 and insurance companies do not cover the treatment. For decades, insurance companies have refused to accept vision therapy as a legitimate method for repairing eyesight (Boink). Concomitant with lack of insurance, the cost for a full treatment can exceed $8000, and doctors cannot guarantee a successful outcome. Recently, parents of children with eye related disabilities, such as amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (cross-eye), and doctors have attempted to cooperate with public schools to allow families access to school-funded doctors to practice vision therapy. With a tight budget, most schools cannot afford to supply vision therapy, and a...
My interest in the career of optometry stems from my first experience in the optometry office to receive my first pair of glasses when I was in middle school. I distinctly remember the moment when my optometrist slipped my new glasses over my eyes for the first time. Suddenly, everything in the room came into sharp, clear focus. I knew that the glasses would help me see the board in school, but I was astonished to find that I could see small details about the room, as it had never before occurred to me that I should have been able to see these details. I was also surprised that I was even able to see the expressions on the faces of people who were standing far away from me. It was one of the most incredible, freeing, and empowering moments of my life. As I walked out of the optometry office, I felt
The results could be catastrophic. A soldier must always be alert and aware of their surroundings. How can they be if they are sleeping? It only takes one set of eyes to spot an ambush, a sniper, or an IED, preventing something terrible from happening. It only takes one set of closed eyes to allow one of those thing to take the lives of soldiers who didn’t need to die. Sleeping on guard is just as dangerous. That soldiers battle buddies trusted them to protect them. If that soldier ends up sleeping, they could get their battle buddies killed, and it would be entirely their fault.
No, not "Why am I going to class so early?" but "Why do I need these contacts?" With this project I will attempt to explain the basics of vision and corrective lenses, as I, myself, finally learn the reason for sticking my finger in my eye every morning.
There are also risks involved with not getting enough sleep. Most people will be very sleepy and drowsy during the day, mood and behavioral problems. and even increased vulnerability to drugs and alcohol. These things could also develop into more serious sleep disorders.
Optometry involves of a combination of intricate practical skills and academia allowing the improvement of an individual’s vision as an outcome changing their quality of life. I would feel privileged to gain the opportunity to study Optometry enabling me to improve the ocular health and vision of others as it would be a valuable contribution to the society.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye”, is one of the most well-known and treatable eye infections for both children and adults. The name was chosen because it is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelids. It is commonly called “pink eye” because of the red color of the eye from irritation and was described as such.
The patient is a 43 year-old female insurance sale agent who came to the clinic for annual eye examination. She complained from symptoms of ocular irritation and burning when she wakes up in the morning. She felt ocular dryness in the afternoon and the eyes look red. She has also noted different height of her eyelids when putting make-up on. She denied significant problems with driving, TV watching, computer use or reading. She also denied flashes, floaters or diplopia. The patient was myopia with no prior eye surgeries, previous history of eye trauma, amblyopia or strabismus. She did not use any medication. The past ocular family history was negative. Social history was negative, too.
At first, people's eyes begin to feel dry and they have trouble concentrating, causing their eyesight to weaken. Their reaction time slows down as well as their thinking process and judgment. These effects are minor but as one’s body weakens, their immune system is affected as well. This may cause their body to catch an illness or disease. Afterwards, their body becomes very weak and it will take a while before it can heal properly. In addition, their heart gets tired and cannot perform its job properly, so prolonged sleep deprivation also leads to risk of heart diseases. Not only does sleep loss make people feel tired, but it is also harmful to their body by increasing the risk of health problems (“Sleep Deprivation: What Are the Physical Effects” , Griffin R. Morgan, Mann Jeff, Peri Camille, Pietrengeelo
Lack of sleep ages our skin. Some of you may have an experienced of missed sleep due to study or watching movies, you may have noticed that your eyes become puffy and dark circle appeared under your eyes. But you have to take note that chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin and fine lines.
Optometry is unique when compared to a field such as general medicine; as a field, optometry is relatively new to many people. The importance of optometry has moved beyond simply helping patients see better, to maintaining the health of the eye and working to screen for many other health conditions. Because its importance is becoming more understood and well known to the general public, the number of patients seeking treatment is growing drastically. As stated above this drastic growth is not only increasing the number of patients but also the number of places optometry is being practiced as well as changing the demographics of the patients being see...