When talking about blindness, common sense leads us to an idea of total darkness. However, eye problems can look more like a spectrum than an all-or-nothing perspective.
The theme gained social media after a publication by rehabilitation and mobility instructor for the blind and visually impaired Mike Mulligan, from New Hampshire, in the United States.
In the video, the specialist reveals, using special glasses, how people with different degrees of vision impairment see (see below ).
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that about 285 million people in the world have impaired vision. In addition, most cases could be avoided or have treatments that allow for a better quality of life.
In Brazil, the last Demographic Census (IBGE 2010) identified more than 35 million people with some degree of visual impairment.
Ophthalmological diseases can occur for several reasons, from genetic causes to lifestyle habits. Some, in the medium and long term, can lead to vision problems and, in more serious diagnoses, even lead to complete blindness.
Know the main eye diseases
In the formation of vision, light follows a path that goes from the ocular system to the brain. On this path, it crosses the pupil, crosses the crystalline lens, passes through the retina and travels along the optic nerve towards the brain, from electrical stimuli.
Refraction is the phenomenon in which a beam of light crosses the different structures of the eyeball, reaching the retina, for the formation of an image, which will be sent to the brain.
People with refractive errors or refractive errors face difficulties for light to reach the retina clearly. The known causes are: size of the eyeball, irregularities in the cornea and opacity of the optical means. Among the most common diagnoses are:
Myopia – When the eyes can see objects that are near, but cannot clearly see objects that are far away.
Hyperopia – When the eye is smaller than normal, it makes it difficult for the crystalline lens (a kind of “lens” that is located behind the pupil) to focus objects close to the eye on the retina.
Astigmatism – When different curvatures in the cornea form the image in different planes, which causes distortion.
Presbyopia – Also called “tired eyes”, it is more common after the age of 40, making it difficult to see near and far.
Other conditions
According to physician Fernando Malerbi, coordinator of the Department of Ocular Health of the Brazilian Society of Diabetes (SBD) and member of the teleophthalmology commission of the Brazilian Society of Retina and Vitreous (SBRV), the main causes of blindness in adults are cataracts, glaucoma , age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetes (or diabetic macular edema – DME).
A cataract consists of the progressive loss of transparency of the crystalline lens, the natural lens of the eye, caused by an opacity. The problem is responsible for 47.8% of cases of blindness in the world, but it can be corrected. Aging is the most common cause of cataracts in the eye. The diagnosis is clinical, carried out during an ophthalmological consultation and the treatment is basically surgical and quite effective.
already the glaucoma is a disease characterized by a group of conditions related to optic nerve damage and visual field loss, usually associated with increased intraocular pressure. It is the biggest cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Treatment for glaucoma is initially done with eye drops that lower intraocular pressure, but there is still no cure.
A diabetic retinopathy it is a complication of diabetes, being the main cause of blindness in people active in the labor market. A Age related macular degeneration (AMD) It is a degenerative disease that affects the macula, a small central part of the retina, responsible for seeing details.
warning signs
The main symptoms for eye diseases, which should serve as a warning as soon as they appear, are:
- Blurry vision;
- eye tremor;
- difficulties adapting to light;
- Red eyes;
- tearing eyes.
These signs are not always related to serious problems, but in case of discomfort, it is essential to seek specialized medical help to treat and prevent possible complications.
eye care
Some daily care and healthy habits can prevent the development of possible eye diseases. Be careful with excessive exposure to TV, computer and smartphone screens, as staying in front of screens for a long time can cause dry eyes, visual fatigue and sleep disturbances.
The use of sunglasses reduces the exposure of the eyes to the harmful effects of ultraviolet solar radiation. Scratching your eyes can cause irritation, eye damage or even corneal problems.
In dry weather, moisturizing the eyes with lubricating eye drops can be beneficial. The use must be made from medical guidance and excess must be avoided.
Sleeping little can cause eye irritation and visual fatigue, ideally you have a minimum of 8 hours of sleep a day. A rich and varied diet, including dark green vegetables and legumes, fish and seeds, provides vitamins that are beneficial for the functioning of the retina.
In addition, it is important to be careful with products that are very close to the eyes, such as chemicals, makeup and dyes, which can cause irritation and allergies in the eyes and eyelids. Makeup should be removed from the eyes before going to bed.
Regular consultations allow you to assess the quality of your vision and update your eyeglasses if necessary.
Source: CNN Brasil
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