Health Archives | Page 11 of 17

Alcohol and Eyesight: How Does Drinking Affect Vision?

Written By Michael Healy

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Although the negative health effects of drinking alcohol have been well established, nearly 65% of U.S. adults continue to consume alcoholic beverages on a regular basis. Considering there is a direct correlation between health issues and the amount of alcohol consumed, the issue becomes more concerning, knowing that over 25% of U.S. adults report binge drinking (having six or more drinks in a sitting) in the last month. One of the serious, but rarely discussed, alcohol-related health issues is the connection between alcohol and eyesight.

In fact, regular consumption of alcohol has been directly associated with a number of serious short and long-term vision issues that range from blurred vision to damage to the optic nerve, resulting in permanent vision loss.

Blurry Vision and Headache: 8 Common Causes and Treatments

Written By Courtney Dryer

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It’s often said the brain is an extension of the eye, and for that reason, a headache may be a symptom of a vision problem. Headaches that are related to the eye can be of the forehead, temples, behind the eyes, and at the back of the skull. They may be excruciating or dull. They may or may not be alleviated by Tylenol or sleep. They may even present with blurred vision. If you are having blurry vision and headache, your eye doctor may ask you the following questions:

Where do your headaches occur?
Do you wake up with headaches? Do they worsen with near work?
How long does your vision stay blurry when you have the headache?
If you were to grade the severity of the headache on a 1-10 scale, what number would you give?

Here are the 8 most common reasons for blurry vision and headache, and how they are diagnosed and treated.

Sun Damage to Eyes: How Can You Protect Yourself?

Written By Michael Healy

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The harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays have been well documented. However, one of the most important, but often overlooked, areas of concern is the possible sun damage to eyes.

A recent report from The Vision Council estimates nearly 35% of the adult population has experienced eye or vision damage resulting from prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

To shed light on the importance of protecting the eyes from ultraviolet rays, it’s important to understand the various types of ultraviolet rays, the serious eye conditions that can occur, and how to protect your eyes and your vision from damage caused by exposure to the sun.

10 Helpful Tips for Dry Eye Symptoms

Written By Courtney Dryer

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Approximately 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with dry eye, and millions more have symptoms but remain undiagnosed. Dry eye can result from inadequate tear production or poor tear quality. Symptoms include:

Watery eyes
Light sensitivity
Burning /gritty eyes
Blurred or fluctuating vision

Those over 65 and female are most likely to have symptoms. However, children are commonly diagnosed due to their significant digital device use. Once you have been diagnosed, it is important to understand that dry eye is a chronic condition that will always require treatment.

Your doctor will prescribe dry eye treatment tailored to your eyes, however, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to alleviate or improve your symptoms.

Are You at Risk for Macular Degeneration?

Written By Courtney Dryer

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Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) affects 10 million Americans each year. The number of cases is expected to rise as we are living longer.

How do you prevent getting macular degeneration?

If you have a family history of age-related macular degeneration, does that mean you will get it?

Is there anything you can do to improve my sight if I currently have ARMD?

More research and funding are being dedicated to this disease than ever before, yet there is still much we do not know.