Tag: nutrition

Eye diseases and disorders

~ joannerambling ~ 7 Comments

This week we are looking at eye diseases or disorders at least 2.2 billion people worldwide have some form of vision impairment or eye condition that’s about 28% of the population. This figure doesn’t include things like dry eye or conjunctivitis or any other condition that doesn’t affect sight, if it did the percentage would be more like 50% of the population.

Eye diseases include any condition that affects the cornea, lens, retina, optic nerve, eyelids, or the visual pathways in the brain. Some are mild and temporary; others can cause permanent vision loss if untreated.

Eye conditions for into one of eight categories these are the following.

Refractive Disorders (Most Common Worldwide)

These affect how light bends in the eye.

  • Myopia (short‑sightedness) – distant vision blurred
  • Hyperopia (long‑sightedness) – near vision blurred
  • Astigmatism – uneven focus due to irregular cornea
  • Presbyopia – age‑related loss of near focus (40+)

Treatment: glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.

Lens Disorders

Cataracts

Clouding of the lens causing blurred or dim vision.

  • Extremely common with age
  • Treated with cataract surgery (one of the safest surgeries worldwide

Retina Disorders

These affect the light‑sensitive layer at the back of the eye.

Age‑Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

  • Damages central vision
  • Leading cause of blindness in older adults
  • Two types: dry and wet

Diabetic Retinopathy

  • Caused by diabetes damaging retinal blood vessels
  • Can lead to blindness if untreated

Retinal Detachment

  • Retina pulls away from the back of the eye
  • Medical emergency
  • Symptoms: flashes, floaters, curtain over vision

Macular Hole / Macular Pucker

  • Distortion or loss of central vision

Optic Nerve Disorders

Glaucoma

  • Damage to the optic nerve, often due to high eye pressure
  • Causes gradual, irreversible vision loss
  • Requires lifelong management

Optic Neuritis

  • Inflammation of the optic nerve
  • Often linked to autoimmune conditions

Corneal Disorders

Keratoconus

  • Cornea thins and bulges into a cone shape
  • Causes distorted vision
  • Treated with cross‑linking, contacts, or corneal transplant

Corneal Ulcer

  • Open sore, usually from infection
  • Painful and urgent to treat

Eyelid & Surface Disorders

Blepharitis

  • Inflammation of eyelid margins
  • Causes irritation, crusting, dryness

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

  • Viral, bacterial, or allergic
  • Causes redness, discharge, irritation

Dry Eye Disease

  • Very common
  • Caused by poor tear quality or quantity

Childhood Eye Disorders

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

  • Brain favours one eye
  • Treatable if caught early

Strabismus (Eye Turn)

  • Eyes misaligned
  • May require glasses, exercises, or surgery

Rare but Serious Conditions

·       Uveitis – inflammation inside the eye

·       Retinoblastoma – childhood eye cancer

·       Graves’ Eye Disease – autoimmune swelling behind the eyes

·       Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension – pressure on optic nerve

When it comes to our eyes people should seek immediate help if they experience any of the following

  • Sudden vision loss
  • Flashes or a curtain over vision
  • Severe eye pain
  • Sudden double vision
  • Chemical injury

These can indicate emergencies like retinal detachment, acute glaucoma, or infection.

Eye Issues Part 1

~ joannerambling ~ 7 Comments

Good afternoon we are looking at some of then issues that can arise with our eyes.

Now you may or may knot know there is a clear layer of membrane that covers the eye, this is usually colourless, and it has tiny blood vessels which are too fine to see.

First off is bloodshot eyes, this happens when the eye becomes infected or irritated these tiny blood vessels which is seen as fine red threads thus the name “bloodshot”. Bloodshot eyes usually return to normal slowly after the cause has gone.

Second off we have conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, this is caused by infections, allergies, or irritants that inflame the membrane covering the white of the eye and inner eyelid.

There are three different types, viral, bacteria and allergic.

Viral is most commonly caused by adenoviruses but can also stem from herpes simplex or varicella-zoster viruses. Often associated with colds or respiratory infections. It is highly contagious.

Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, or Haemophilus. Spread through contact with contaminated items (e.g. towels, cosmetics, hands). This is also contagious.

Then we have allergic which is triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or certain cosmetics. Typically affects both eyes and may accompany hay fever symptoms like sneezing and itchy nose.

Third we have spots and floaters, these are quite common and appear as black or gray spots, squiggly lines or could be blurry or shadowy spots. They move as your eyes move and are most noticeable against bright backgrounds like the sky or a white wall.

They are caused by changes in the gel-like substance inside your eye, but sudden or severe symptoms may signal a serious condition.

You should seek medical attention if, floaters suddenly increase in number, you see flashes of light, there’s a loss of peripheral vision or floaters begin to impair your vision.

More next week

Eye Care

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

Ok I am going to share a bit more about our eyes today I am focusing on eye care. Our eyes are so important, and we need to try and take care of them.

One simple thing we can do is to wear eye protection not just when working around or with things that capable of harming our eyes, but we now know that our eyes also need to be protected from the sun thus, the reason we should wear sunglasses. Most of us know we shouldn’t look directly at the sun.

However, there are some who do not realise that snow reflects a lot of light and the glare can also damage our eyes through snow blindness, this is why snow goggles should be regarded as essential when enjoying the snow.

Something many don’t think about is cleaning our eyes this is simple to so by washing our face of a morning to remove what many will call the sleep around our eyes overnight. We also should remove any make up before going to bed at night. Then there are those who wear contact lenses, some have left their contacts in longer than what is considered safe and do not clean their contacts as often as they should.

Now days there is the damage that can be done by sitting in front of a computer screen, if you are finding your eyes feeling itchy and dry then you need to take a break from staring at the screen. Apparently when we are looking at the computer screen we don’t blink enough, anyone who finds their eyes feeling dry or itchy they should consider using some dry eye drops also know as artificial tears.

As we age having our eyes checked by an optometrist which here in Australia is free to do. I have my eyes checked every year as I have diabetes.

I will write more about the different conditions that can affect the eyes in future posts.

Falling over

~ joannerambling ~ 1 Comment

Today we are looking at falling over, something that can happen to some people more as they age or if the develop a medical conditioned affecting someone’s balance and coordination. Falling is something I have done a few times in the last 4 years, thankfully I haven’t broken any bones but have had concussion a couple of times and have needed stitches after a couple of falls.

In fact, people fall for a variety of reasons, including environmental factors, physical and cognitive conditions, and even medication side effects. Common causes range from tripping hazards and poor lighting to muscle weakness, balance problems, and vision impairments. 

Medications, especially those causing dizziness or drowsiness, and certain health conditions like diabetes or Parkinson’s disease can also contribute to falls. 

Environmental Factors are things like wet floors, icy patches, or uneven pavement can easily cause a slip or trip. 

Insufficient lighting can make it difficult to see hazards and navigate obstacles like furniture, cords, or other items safely.  

Lack of support can make it difficult to maintain balance, especially on stairs or in the bathroom. 

Physical and Cognitive Conditions include things like weak leg and core muscles can reduce stability and make it harder to recover from a stumble. Difficulty with balance, walking patterns, or coordination can increase the risk of falls. 

Then we have impaired vision, or hearing which, can make it harder to identify hazards and react appropriately. Then we have conditions like dementia can affect judgment and awareness of surroundings, increasing fall risk. 

Low blood pressure can be an issue especially when rising from a seated or lying position, low blood pressure can cause dizziness and falls. 

Conditions like arthritis, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and heart disease can all impact mobility and balance. 

Certain medications, especially those affecting the nervous system, can cause dizziness, drowsiness, or confusion. Taking multiple medications, particularly those with overlapping side effects, can increase fall risk. 

The fear of falling can lead to reduced activity, which can further weaken muscles and increase the risk of falls. 

Diabetes Risk Factors

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Ok this week will look at the risk facts of both types of diabetes.

Some of the risk factors for type 1 diabetes include:

  • Family history: Having a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes increases your risk 
  • Age: Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children, teens, or young adults, but it can occur at any age 
  • Genetics: Certain genes can increase your risk of developing type 1 diabetes 
  • Geography: The number of people with type 1 diabetes increases as you move away from the equator 
  • Environmental factors: These include the amount of sunlight you get, the food you eat, and cold weather 
  • Diseases in early life: Diseases like measles, varicella, rhinitis, and eczema can increase your risk

Some of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

  • Weight: Being overweight or obese, especially around the waist 
  • Activity: Having a low level of physical activity 
  • Diet: Having unhealthy eating habits 
  • Family history: Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes 
  • Age: Being 45 or older 
  • Smoking: Smoking cigarettes 
  • Blood pressure: Having high blood pressure 
  • Cholesterol: Having high cholesterol 
  • Gestational diabetes: Having had gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby who weighed over 9 pounds 
  • Medication: Taking antipsychotic medication 
  • Sleep: Having unusual, disturbed, or reduced sleep 

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthily, and being regularly active. 

A bit about diabetes

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

This week we are looking at diabetes, I thought I had written about it before but couldn’t find one, so here is one.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly, resulting in high blood sugar levels.

There are two main types of diabetes type one and type two but there is also Gestational diabetes which is diagnosed during pregnancy with a blood sugar test, however after giving birth this type often goes away. However, having it increases your chances of developing type two later on.

Type one is often diagnosed in childhood, but it can develop at any age. It’s less common than type 2 diabetes, affecting about 5–10% of people with diabetes. The exact cause is unknown, but it’s likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. No, you are not born with it as I have heard some people say.

Then there is type two with this one there isn’t a clear pattern of inheritance, but the risk increases with the number of affected family members. This is likely due to shared genetic factors and lifestyle influences, such as diet and exercise habits. Other risk factors include being overweight, having high blood pressure, and being older. 

In both types of diabetes, sugar builds up in the bloodstream because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. 

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:

  • Urination: Frequent urination, including bedwetting in children
  • Thirst: Excessive thirst
  • Weight loss: Unintentional weight loss
  • Hunger: Excessive hunger
  • Vision: Blurred vision
  • Fatigue: Feeling very tired
  • Skin: Very dry skin
  • Healing: Sores that heal slowly
  • Infections: More infections than usual
  • Nausea: Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains
  • Mood: Feeling irritable or having other mood changes 

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop over a few weeks or months and can be severe. They typically start mild and get progressively worse. 

Type 1 diabetes can be managed with lifestyle changes, blood glucose monitoring, and medications, such as insulin. 

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:

  • Thirst: Feeling very thirsty 
  • Urination: Urinating more often than usual, particularly at night 
  • Vision: Blurred vision 
  • Fatigue: Feeling tired and lethargic 
  • Weight: Unintentional weight loss or loss of muscle bulk 
  • Healing: Slow-healing cuts, ulcers, sores, or other infections 
  • Hunger: Increased hunger

Symptoms can be mild and may take many years to be noticed. Some people with type 2 diabetes may not have any symptoms at first.

As I don’t like doing really long posts I will split into two or three parts, so will end this here.