Eyes, just like other parts of peoples’ bodies, develop diseases that may cause pain to the person. There are eye problems that also keep individuals from their regular activities, affecting their lives negatively.
People who experience any discomfort in their eyes should consult a specialist as soon as possible. Doctors offer several services that can address their needs, including the following:
LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) is a type of refractive surgery that uses a laser to reshape the tissue under the cornea’s surface. This is done to improve vision and eliminate the need for corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses. LASIK eye surgery is ideal for people who suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
This is an outpatient procedure, so the patient does not have to stay in the hospital after having this surgery. It will take approximately 30 minutes for an eye doctor to complete the operation.
After the surgery, the individual may experience discomfort for a day or two. Their doctor can give them pain medication or eye drops to help with the irritation and keep them comfortable. They can also advise the patient to wear a shield over their eyes every night until they fully heal.
The individual may notice a slight improvement in their vision right away or within a day after the procedure. However, it can take two to three months for their eyes to heal completely and for their vision to stabilize.
Cataract Surgery
A cataract is an eye problem characterized by cloudy areas in the eyes’ lens, which can cause partial or complete blindness. It usually develops in older individuals, specifically people who are over 40 years old.
Individuals who have this problem can talk to an eye specialist who will provide them with options to treat it. The doctor will most likely suggest that the patient undergo cataract surgery if their condition affects their quality of life and keeps them from doing common tasks, such as reading or driving at night.
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that can be done in less than an hour. During the operation, the doctor will remove the clouded lens of the patient’s eye. They will then replace it with an artificial one, which is called an intraocular lens, which will remain as a permanent part of the patient’s eye.
The individual’s vision may be blurry right after the procedure, and they may feel discomfort for a few days as their eyes heal. It can take up to eight weeks before their eye fully recovers from the surgery. If the patient needs to have the procedure done on both of their eyes, their doctor will schedule the surgery on the second eye once the first one heals.
Glaucoma Surgery
One of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60 is glaucoma. It occurs when the fluid pressure within the inner eye increases and damages the optic nerve fibers.
This disease is often called the “silent thief of sight” because its symptoms only show when the condition has progressed drastically. Unfortunately, once a person starts losing vision because of glaucoma, it can never be regained.
The best way to prevent the advancement of this disease is to have eye exams regularly. These will allow doctors to monitor the condition of an individual’s eyes and act immediately if they notice symptoms of glaucoma.
If a specialist sees early signs of glaucoma in a patient’s eyes, they will provide the person with different types of treatment. To control the disease’s progress, the doctor may prescribe an eye drop that can slow the production of aqueous fluids within the individual’s eye and decrease the pressure outflow.
The eye specialist may also recommend surgery to treat the condition. Two types of operations can be done to treat glaucoma.
The first one is laser surgery, an outpatient procedure that can effectively address different kinds of glaucoma. In open-angle glaucoma, the laser is used to modify the drain to control the eye pressure. In angle-closure glaucoma, it is used to create a hole in the iris to improve the flow of aqueous fluid to the drain.
Laser surgery is an outpatient procedure. After the operation, the patient might feel some discomfort in their eye. Their vision may also be blurry, but they can start doing their regular activities the day after the procedure.
Another procedure a doctor may recommend is filtration surgery. In this operation, miniature instruments are used to create a new channel for the aqueous fluid to drain from the eye. This will help relieve the pressure on the optic nerve.
This surgery is also an outpatient procedure. The patient’s eyes may be watery and look red after the operation, so they should get some rest after having it done. It will also take up to a week before they can go back to their regular activities.
Take Care of Your Eyes
The eyes are some of the most important parts of an individual’s body. They help people see the world around them and identify any dangers that may come their way. Every person must care for their eyes by eating healthy and wearing protective eyewear when going outside.
If you experience eye pain or vision loss, you need to consult a doctor immediately. They will be able to diagnose your problem and treat it through medication or surgery.
