Why is Vision Health for All Ages Important

Why is Vision Health for All Ages Important?

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While you care for your overall health more than anything, maintaining a proper and healthy vision is equally important! Several eye problems can be treated if detected early. Hence, regular eye exams for all ages are vital.

Conducting regular eye exams for all ages is necessary to ensure you aren’t dealing with common eye problems.

Whether you’re an adult or a preschooler, whether you’ve perfect eyesight or struggle with something genetic, regular eye exams are necessary for all ages.

  • It’s believed that mostly adults can develop an eyesight problem. However, even preschoolers are subjected to them.
  • Vision disability is among the most common disabilities in children. Despite this, only 1 in every 7 preschoolers receives an eye exam.
  • Vision screening for kids aged 3 to 5 years is essential to catch eye conditions like lazy eye early for effective treatment.
  • Most people aged 12 and older with refractive errors can see better when diagnosed early and given the proper treatment.

If you don’t take proper checkups, some preventive eye conditions can cause major problems like:

  • Cataracts, the clouding of the eye that makes your vision foggy.
  • Glaucoma which damages the optic nerve.
  • Diabetic retinopathy that destroys the blood vessels in the back of the eye.
  • Macular degeneration is age-related that affects the central vision.

If it’s been a while since your last checkup, schedule one this month!

For inquiries, questions, and appointments, call our Patient Care Lines: 

📱 (+63) 917 862 7454

📱 (+63) 921 217 0517

📞 (+632) 7-368 5238

🖥 Talk to our Consultants via Livechat: https://shinagawa.ph/

📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/shinagawa_ph/

What Can Worsen Astigmatism

What Can Worsen Astigmatism?

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Astigmatism refers to the term in which your cornea or lens isn’t round in shape. It’s a common vision disorder, and its symptoms include blurred vision, difficulty with driving at night, headaches, eye pain, and glare sensitivity. Astigmatism usually develops in childhood and changes our eye shape into a football-like shape from its usual spherical form.

This unusual shape causes light rays to bend in more than one direction, which causes blurred vision.

Astigmatism usually doesn’t require any surgeries, and in most cases, you can treat it with glasses or contact lenses but if left untreated several factors can cause Astigmatism to worsen.

WHO IS AT RISK OF ASTIGMATISM?

Astigmatism is a common problem, and while it can happen to anyone, there are people with a higher chance of developing it due to certain factors. 

You are more likely at the risk of Astigmatism if you have:

  • A thin cornea
  • A family history of Astigmatism
  • A history of eye surgeries. This can include cataracts and other surgeries as well.
  • Excessive Farsightedness (hyperopia)
  • Extreme nearsightedness (myopia)

There are several effects of Astigmatism as normal vision differs from that of how people with astigmatism see. But generally, people who have Astigmatism have difficulty when they are driving at night.

CAN ASTIGMATISM GET WORSE?

Not only Astigmatism mostly every refractive error can worsen with time if left untreated at an early stage. According to advanced research, we saw that the simultaneous presence of myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is one of the key factors that helps Astigmatism progress further. Therefore we recommend visiting an eye specialist at least once a year so you can detect your eye problems at an early stage.

WHAT CAUSES ASTIGMATISM TO WORSEN?

Several factors are responsible for making your Astigmatism problem worse, and the doctor will likely look out for the same. In some cases, a rare condition known as Keratoconus, in which the cornea begins to bulge outwards in a cone shape, causes Astigmatism to worsen.

Whereas in others, Astigmatism usually gets worse when a person turns more than 50. Your Corneal and Lens curvature is known to change with time, which means this condition will also change as you age.

Even though Astigmatism worsens with time, treating it is a no-brainer. An eye specialist can usually do it with the help of corrective lenses, refractive surgery, and specialty contact lenses.

DOES ASTIGMATISM GET WORSE WITH AGE?

As mentioned earlier, astigmatism can get severe as we age. The corneas in your eye become highly irregular, and when you go to your eye specialist, you might notice that the prescriptions frequently keep changing, leading to different eye exams.

Your astigmatism symptoms might be more severe when you are suffering from other refractive issues or keratoconus. However, astigmatism is a common problem that can be treated easily. If you notice any symptoms of Astigmatism, you must contact your eye specialist so they can treat your problem at its early stage without the need for any surgeries.

For inquiries, questions, and appointments, call our Patient Care Lines: 

📱 (+63) 917 862 7454

📱 (+63) 921 217 0517

📞 (+632) 7-368 5238

🖥 Talk to our Consultants via Livechat: https://shinagawa.ph/

📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/shinagawa_ph/

Reasons Why Your Eyelashes Hurt

Reasons Why Your Eyelashes Hurt

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Eyelashes are one of the most important parts of your face. They help you to look more attractive, giving you a better look. But sometimes, this part of your face goes through pain and tears. 

There are many people out there who experience the pain of lashes damaging their eyes due to various reasons. For this one, we discuss the different causes of your eyelashes hurting you so badly.

What causes eyelash pain?

Eyelash Extensions

An eyelash extension is a cosmetic procedure that involves growing out your own natural lashes with synthetic ones. The process typically lasts between two to three hours and can involve multiple visits to your local salon in order to achieve the desired results.

Many women consider eyelash extensions to be a great way to add length and volume to their natural lashes. However, if you have sensitive eyes or are allergic to the materials used in the procedure, this may cause irritation and discomfort.

Ingrown Eyelashes

Ingrown eyelashes are a common medical condition. They occur when the eyelash grows into the eyelid and becomes trapped. The skin around the eyelash becomes inflamed and swollen, which can cause pain when you blink, close your eyes, or rub your eyes.

It can also cause inflammation, redness, and discomfort. It’s more common in adults, but it can happen to children as well. The pain associated with ingrown eyelashes is usually mild to moderate and may last for several days.

Blepharitis/Eyelid inflammation

Blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelid margin. In other words, it’s a red, swollen area around the outer edge of your lid. Blepharitis causes pain and irritation, which can lead to inflamed and tender eyelids.

Bacteria that cause blepharitis thrive in warm, moist environments — such as those found around your eyelids — where they produce irritating toxins that inflame your eyelids and cause painful redness and swelling.

The good news is that blepharitis has many effective treatments available from your doctor or pharmacist, including antibiotics and topical medications such as corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone). If you have persistent symptoms, you may need to wear protective eye shields for several weeks until you have healed completely.

Stye

A stye is an infection of the oil glands in the eyelid that causes swelling, redness, and tenderness of the upper inner eyelid. The term stye is a misnomer because it is not actually an eye condition but an inflammation of the oil glands under the upper eyelid.

The most common cause for styes is bacteria or a virus. Styes may also be caused by a blocked tear duct, allergic reaction to cosmetics or other substances that can irritate the skin, colds or allergies, injury to the eyelid, or excessive rubbing against your eye.

Stye treatment involves draining any excess fluid from beneath your skin. You may have a mild fever during this process, as well as some swelling in your eye area. Your doctor will give you a medicine to reduce inflammation and swelling and prevent bacterial growth.

Eyelash Mites & Lice

The most common causes of eyelash pain are mites and lice. These pests can be extremely annoying, irritating, and painful for your eyes.

Mites are tiny insects that live in the sebaceous glands near the eyelashes. They feed on the oil found in this area, causing irritation and inflammation. The mite is transferred from human to human via close contact with hair or skin flakes.

Lice are parasites that infest human hair follicles, spreading through close contact or via contaminated clothing or bedding. They feed on blood and can cause intense itching and irritation of the eyelid margin and adjacent skin.

Entropion

Entropion is a condition in which your lashes rub against the inner corner of your eye socket when you blink. This happens because the eyelashes grow inward instead of outward like they’re supposed to do, causing them to press against the sensitive skin inside your eye socket as they move up and down with each blink of an eye. Entropion can lead to scarring and corneal abrasions on the eye’s surface — which can cause significant pain and discomfort.

Eyelash Ptosis

Eyelash ptosis is a condition where the eyelashes droop or fall out. It’s caused by an imbalance of the muscles that control the eyelid and the muscle that lifts up the eyelid, called levator palpebrae superioris. This condition may make your eyes look smaller than normal and give you a tired or sad appearance. You may have some discomfort or pain when blinking or opening your eyes wide. In some cases, you might notice a dry spot where one of your lashes should be but isn’t anymore.

So you might think your eyelashes hurt because they are fragile and weak, but in fact the reason is something more complicated than that. Eyelashes are a part of your body, just like your hair, and when they hurt, it means something is wrong. 

It isn’t necessarily a cause for concern, but it is important to figure out why your eyelashes hurt, so you know how to prevent the discomfort in the future. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Shinagawa.

For inquiries, questions, and appointments, call our Patient Care Lines: 

📱 (+63) 917 862 7454

📱 (+63) 921 217 0517

📞 (+632) 7-368 5238

🖥 Talk to our Consultants via Livechat: https://shinagawa.ph/

📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/shinagawa_ph/

Comparing Scratched Cornea and Pink Eye

Comparing Scratched Cornea & Pink Eye

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Confused between an eye scratch and an eye infection? Both can feel similar, but the cause and treatment are very different, and it is important to know the difference.

Let’s explore the differences between the two so you can get the right treatment and care for your eyes.

What is Pink Eye?

Pink eye is also known as conjunctivitis and occurs when the conjunctiva, or the transparent covering over the white portion of the eye, becomes red and swollen. This is typically caused by a viral infection and results in a sharp, poking sensation along with redness and tearing. It can affect one or both eyes and often causes sensitivity to light.

What is a Scratched Cornea?

A scratched cornea, on the other hand, is much more painful. The cornea is the most sensitive part of your body and a scratch can result in severe sensitivity to light and tearing. It may difficult to keep your eye open and the onset is usually sudden.

Can you have similar symptoms with a scratched cornea and pink eye?

Both conditions cause similar symptoms and it can be challenging to tell the difference. Both a scratch and an infection cause a feeling of something in the eye as well as light sensitivity and tearing.

Is it pink eye or scratched cornea?

Let’s take a moment to compare the symptoms of scratched cornea vs. pink eye. Identifying the symptoms is the first step to catching any illness, so knowing the difference is important.

Symptoms of Pink Eye

If you have conjunctivitis, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms in one or both eyes.

  • Puffy eyelids
  • Pain
  • Thicker discharge
  • A burning sensation
  • Crusting
  • Hazy vision
  • Itching
  • Tearing
  • Sensitivity to light

Symptoms of Scratched Eye

If you have a corneal abrasion, the following symptoms will only be present in one eye.

  • Tearing
  • Light sensitivity
  • Hazy vision
  • Extreme pain
  • An uncomfortable feeling of something stuck in your eye

Pink Eye vs. Corneal Abrasion: What are the causes?

Distinguishing between pink eye and a scratched eye can be based on the cause:

  • A corneal abrasion may result from something physical entering the eye, such as an edge of a paper sheet, dust, sand, metal, or even dirt. People who rub their eyes while wearing contact lenses or have dry eyes might also be vulnerable.
  • On the other hand, conjunctivitis can be caused by a virus or bacteria that can be spread from person to person, allergies, chemical irritation, or smoke.
  • Lastly, if you can pinpoint something that caused physical trauma to your eye just before the onset of symptoms, it is likely to be a corneal abrasion. However, if other people around you have similar problems, it is most likely conjunctivitis.

What are the other key differentiators of pink eye and scratched eye?

Here are some other factors that may help you determine the cause of your eye symptoms:

Impacted Location

A corneal abrasion is the result of being physically hit in the eye and is usually only in one eye. Meanwhile, pink eye infection often starts in one eye and can spread to the eye soon after.

Pain & Sensitivity

The discomfort from a scratched cornea is much more intense than that from pink eye. Additionally, sensitivity to light is more severe in cases of a corneal scratch.

The Type of Discharge

Pink eye is known for a thicker white, green, or yellow discharge and may also bring about watery eyes and a runny nose. On the other hand, the eye produces tears and thin mucus in the case of a scratched eye. 

Furthermore, a green, yellow, or thick discharge from a corneal abrasion requires medical care, as it indicates an infection.

What are the options for treatment for pink eye and corneal abrasion?

Our doctors can customize treatment to suit your individual needs in the following ways.

For a Scratched eye:

  • A patch to cover the eye and prevent blinking
  • Antibiotic drops to reduce the risk of infection
  • Drops or ointment to relieve pain and discomfort
  • Special drops to dilate your pupil and relieve pain.
  • Additionally, contact lenses may be prescribed to accelerate the healing process and reduce pain.

For Conjunctivitis:

  • If you have an allergic pink eye, your doctor may give you eye drops to help reduce itching and swelling around the eyelids. You can buy artificial tears from the store, which will help soothe your eyes and flush out any allergens.
  • If your pink eye is caused by a virus, treatment focuses on making your eyes feel better, such as putting a cool, wet washcloth on your shut eyelids.
  • If it is bacterial pink eye, you may be prescribed antibiotics in the form of eye drops to manage the infection.

Are you suffering from a painful and uncomfortable pink eye or a scratched cornea? Don’t endure the agony any longer – contact our team of experienced eye specialists now and experience relief with our assistance!

For inquiries, questions, and appointments, call our Patient Care Lines: 

📱 (+63) 917 862 7454

📱 (+63) 921 217 0517

📞 (+632) 7-368 5238

🖥 Talk to our Consultants via Livechat: https://shinagawa.ph/

📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/shinagawa_ph/

Keys to Maintaining Healthy Eyesight

Keys to Maintaining Healthy Eyesight

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An underrated ingredient of a good quality of life is healthy eyesight.

As many as one in six adults struggle with sight-threatening eye conditions and far more than that live with some level of vision loss as they get older. Age is a risk factor for many of the major causes of blindness, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and cataracts, but there’s a lot we can do to minimize our chances of developing these conditions.

Lifelong Healthy Habits

There are more benefits to eating healthy and staying active than simply staying trim and fit. These habits are also good for eye health! Fruits and dark leafy greens are particularly important for eye health. It’s also important to exercise regularly and avoid harmful habits like smoking (a huge risk factor for many of the above sight-threatening conditions).

Don’t Skip Doctor Visits

Without treatment, chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can cause serious eye problems (among other health complications). Diabetes increases the risk of macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, while untreated high blood pressure can increase the risk of eye strokes.

Each of these conditions can result in permanent vision loss, which is why regular doctor visits can make such a difference for eye health. Early diagnosis means these conditions have less time to cause damage before you begin fighting back.

Keep Track of Ways Your Vision Changes

Most changes to our eyesight are gradual ones, making them harder to notice at first. Whenever you notice a change, make an appointment with the eye doctor. Maybe you’ll only come out with good news and an updated prescription, or maybe we will catch the early signs of a developing eye condition.

Sudden changes to your vision are even more important to report to the eye doctor. Symptoms like flashes of light, a dark curtain or shadow over the vision, blurry vision, or a sudden increase in floaters are worth an urgent trip to the eye doctor, as they are signs of retinal detachment. It can be corrected if treated in time, but can cause permanent vision loss if not.

Know Your Eye Disease Risk Factors

We already mentioned age as a risk factor, and if you have a family history of eye diseases, diabetes, or high blood pressure, you are probably at high risk of developing them as well. Age and genetics are obviously beyond our control, but our diet, exercise, use of protective eyewear like sunglasses, and eye exam schedule are not!

The Importance of UV-Blocking Sunglasses

The damage to our eyes from the UV rays in sunlight is cumulative over the course of our lives and permanent. We should be as diligent in protecting our eyes from sunlight as we are in protecting our skin. Make sure to choose sunglasses that block 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays (they will say so on the label). Polarized lenses are pricier but especially good because they block glare coming in from most directions, making them great for driving on a bright day.

Eye Exams Should Be a Priority

Regular eye exams are essential. Modern medicine and technology can’t reverse many sight-threatening conditions, but we can slow or halt their progress if we catch them early on. A simple eye exam could be the difference between permanent vision loss and extra decades of healthy eyesight. Ask us what your ideal eye exam frequency is at your next appointment. We will also be happy to offer you more tips on maintaining healthy vision.

See how healthy your eyes and eyesight are by scheduling a Comprehensive Eye Screening with our experienced doctors!

For inquiries, questions, and appointments, call our Patient Care Lines: 

📱 (+63) 917 862 7454

📱 (+63) 921 217 0517

📞 (+632) 7-368 5238

🖥 Talk to our Consultants via Livechat: https://shinagawa.ph/

📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/shinagawa_ph/