What can I do if I have low vision ?
Many people with low vision are taking charge. They want more information
about devices and services that can help them keep their independence.
Its important to talk with your eye care professional about your
vision problems. Even though it may be difficult, ask for help.
Find out where you can get more information about services and devices
that can help you.
Keep in mind that many people require more than one visual device.
They may need magnifying lenses for close up viewing, and telescopic
lenses for seeing in the distance. Some people may need to learn
how to get around in their neighborhoods.
If your eye care professional says, "Nothing more can be done
for your vision," ask about vision rehabilitation. These programs
offer a wide range of services, such as low vision evaluations and
special training to use visual and adaptive devices. They also offer
guidance for modifying your home as well as group support from others
with low vision.
Investigate and Learn... Be persistent. Remember that you are
your best health advocate. Investigate and learn as much as you can,
especially if you have been told that you may lose more vision.
It is important that you ask questions about vision rehabilitation
and get answers. Many resources are available to help you. Write
down questions to ask your doctor, or take a tape recorder with
you. Rehabilitation programs, devices, and technology can help you
adapt to vision loss. They may help you keep doing many of the things
you did before.
NEW
KERATOCONUS (cone shaped cornea)
What is keratoconus?
Keratoconus is a common bilateral corneal condition, occurring in more
than 1 in 1000 people. The condition typically starts in adolescence
and early adulthood.
Keratoconus is a disease with an uncertain cause, and its progression
following diagnosis is unpredictable. If afflicting both eyes, the
deterioration in vision can affect the patient's ability to drive a
car or read normal print. Further progression of the disease may lead
to a need for surgery.
Despite its uncertainties, keratoconus can be successfully managed
with a variety of clinical and surgical techniques, and often with
little or no impairment to the patient's quality of life.
SYMPTOMS
At early stages, the symptoms of keratoconus may be no different from
just having the need for spectacle correction. As the disease
progresses, the vision deteriorates. Visual acuity becomes impaired at
all distances, and night vision is sometimes quite poor. Some
individuals have vision in one eye that is markedly worse than that in
the other eye. Some develop photophobia (sensitivity to bright light),
eye strain from squinting in order to read, or itching in the eye.
There is usually little or no sensation of pain. Keratoconus can cause
substantial distortion of vision, with multiple images, streaking and
sensitivity to light.
DIAGNOSIS
This is usually done by an ophthalmologist with a detailed eye
examination. Diagnosing early keratoconus can be tricky, since mild
disease often does not show any identifiable signs on slit-lamp
examination; however, recent and a more definitive diagnosis can be
obtained using corneal topography, in which an automated instrument
projects an illuminated pattern onto the cornea and determines its
shape from analysis of a digital image. The topographical map reveals
distortions or scarring in the cornea, with keratoconus revealed by a
characteristic steepness of curvature which is usually below or around
the centre of the cornea. The topography record of the degree and
extent of the deformation is used for assessing its rate of
progression. Unilateral cases tend to be uncommon. Sometimes it’s a
mild condition in the better eye, below the limit of clinical
detection. It is common for keratoconus to be diagnosed first in one
eye and not until later in the other.
At our hospital, we use a very sensitive Topography instrument called
the ‘Topolyser’ from Wavelight Inc.
Put Your Eye to the Keyhole !
Cataract is the most common problem that requires
eye surgery. Till date there is no drug which has been proven to treat
cataract. Surgery to remove cataract is the only effective treatment.
In conventional cataract surgery, the cataract is removed as a whole;
therefore the size of the incision is large (12-15 mm) and needs 5-7
sutures. Now more advanced techniques have been developed.
Enter Phacoemulsification
This the current gold standard of cataract surgery. In this
technique a 2.8 mm self-sealing tunneled incision is made through
which a probe is introduced into the eye. The tip of this probe
vibrates fragmenting the cataract into microscopic pieces which are
aspirated out of the eye.
Injecting the Lens
Once the opaque lens of the eye has been removed by cataract
surgery, a replacement for the lens is needed to restore the focusing
ability of the eye. This is done by planting an artificial intraocular
lens into the eye at exactly the same position from where the cataract
has been removed. This becomes a permanent part of the eye. Foldable
intraocular lens of the eye have revolutionized cataract surgery, as
they can be folded and injected into the eye through the 3 mm
self-sealing tunnel incision made for the phacoemulsification
procedure.
Thus minimally invasive cataract surgery because
of the markedly smaller wound size and self healing wound which is
secure even without sutures, offers the patient a host of advantages.
Clear Benefits
You can return to normal activity within hours of the procedure as
opposed to a few weeks with conventional surgery.
The fast wound healing, minimally induced
astigmatism and early stabilization of refraction, offer you quick and
easy visual rehabilitation with better vision. The keyhole eye surgery
are routine procedure done at Shroff Eye Hospital, Mumbai.
For Detailed Dossier on
Eye Care Treatment, please write to us at
mktg@mediescapes.com
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