It seems that many of us take our good health, and in particular, our main sensory skills totally for granted. However, imagine what our lives would be like if all of a sudden we lost just one of our senses and we could not speak, hear, feel, taste or see. If asked which of these senses would be missed the most it is highly likely that the most feared sensory loss by the vast majority of people would be their sight. So bearing this in mind if anyone has even a small problem with their eyes or sight they should go and seek proper eye care advice to ensure they are not suffering from an eye related disease.



If you are unfortunate enough to develop a particular eye related disease then receiving qualified and timely eye care will be of particular significance to you. Failure to undergo relevant treatment of the disease could result in your vision becoming impaired, also known as low vision. Vision impairments can varying in severity from just mild cases right through to extremely severe cases. You are suffering a from a major impairment if your vision remains poor despite you using contact lenses, glasses or undergoing a course of medication or in some cases even undergoing a surgical procedure. Eye ailments also include birth defects and other eye disorders which can result in vision impairment.

Did you know that in the United States age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration are the primary causes of vision impairment? Regular eye care and treatment can help with the four most frequent eye problems which are, in no particular order, conjunctivitis, retinal disorders, cataracts and glaucoma.

Conjunctivitis is an eye ailment that is commonly referred to as pink eye. This eye problem is extremely contagious and unless treated quickly and correctly can result in many, if not all, members of a household contracting the infection. Symptoms can include vision problems, fluid discharge from the eye, swelling, aches, irritation and redness. The treatments for this condition include prescription eye drops, antibiotics, compresses and creams.

Retinal disorders involve the eye's retina. This is tissue connected to the back of the eye ball. The retina is able to sense light and transmits images to the human brain. Retinal disorders affect the retina's vital tissue, which provides pinpoint and our main vision mechanisms. Examples of retinal disorders that can affect the vital tissue include macular hole, retinal detachment, floaters, and macular pucker. Qualified eye care can help successfully treat each of these disorders.

When people suffer from cataracts they experience clouding over of the lens of the eye. It is estimated that more than half of Americans over the age of 80 have either had cataract surgery or currently have cataracts. The Symptoms of cataracts include:

* Unclear vision, particularly at night

* Suffering from the affects of glare

* Recurrent prescription changes for contact lenses or eyeglasses

* Seeing Paler hues of color

* Experiencing double vision

Cataracts typically worsen quite slowly. In later stages it often results in surgery to remove and replace the unclear lens with a manmade lens. You can help prevent suffering from cataracts by wearing hats with brims and sunglasses when you are outside.

The final age related treatable eye disease to cover is glaucoma. This condition damages the optic nerve in the eye and usually occurs as a result of excessive fluid pressure in an eye. The problem is considered hereditary so those with a family history of glaucoma, as well as people 60 plus years, are considered to be in the high risk group. If you are in either of those groups it is strongly recommended that you have eye examinations annually. If you suffer from this disease treatments for glaucoma include prescription medication and eye drops as well as surgery.

Healthy vision is something that should be appreciated and not be taken for granted. Take time to ensure your eyes and your eyesight are well cared for by having regular checkups.