vision impairment

A stye is an inflamed oil gland on the edge of your eyelid, where the lash meets the lid. Often times individuals with a stye can experience the feeling that something is in the eye, increased sensitivity to light, excess tearing, or tenderness. Styes are often painful, and left untreated can grow to temporarily impair your vision.

The three strep process detailed below is one of the best and easiest ways to treat a stye at home, and should be performed twice daily.

Step 1: Warm Wet Heat

You want to place a warm washcloth over both eyes for 10 minutes. If the washcloth cools down heat it back up in the microwave for a few seconds. The warm wet heat is essential for softening the stye.

Step 2: Mechanical Cleansing

Use a washcloth with baby shampoo or Ocusoft Lid scrub pads to clean the eyelid margin. You want to scrub from side to side, not up and down. Make sure you get the lid margin (where your lashes are) while being careful not the scratch the eye itself.

Step 3: Firm Pressure

The two steps above will not be helpful without firm pressure. You must coax the stye into draining. This is done by taking your fingertip and ‘rolling’ your finger from the cheekbone up to the lid margin, and from the brow down to the lid margin. This should be done multiple times in order to cover the whole margin of both eyes. Please ensure the pressure is firm. Don’t hurt yourself, but don’t be afraid to press hard, as gentle pressure will not assist you at this point.

A stye will linger until it drains, and in many cases it can take a few days for them to clear. If the above remedy does not prove helpful, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at your earliest convenience. Layering in certain medications, or minor procedures are sometimes beneficial in treating a particularly stubborn stye.

Eye pain and vision impairment are serious symptoms that require prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, please contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

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Sources:

PubMed Health

Anne Arundel Eye Center

One in four children, roughly 12.1 million children worldwide, have a vision impairment. Of children ages three to five, one in 20 have a problem that could result in permanent vision loss if left untreated. Most of these issues, however, can be corrected if caught early enough and treated properly.

You should have your child’s eyes examined shortly after birth, before each school year, and as any problems arise. As parents, it is important to be aware of the warning signs your child might be experiencing impaired vision. These include:

•Blurred or double vision
•Headaches or pain in the eyes
•Difficulty copying from board at school
•Holding books close to read or sitting close to the T.V.
•Squinting
•Sensitivity to light
•Burning, itching, watery or redness in eyes that is not explainable

If you suspect your child is suffering from any of the above conditions, do not hesitate to schedule an eye exam with your regular eye doctor. An eye care professional can rule out various eye diseases, recommend treatment, and prescribe corrective lenses if appropriate.

The most common types of eye problems seen in children are:

•Myopia (nearsightedness)
•Stabismus (crossed eyes)
•Amblyopia (lazy eye)

In order to increase awareness of childhood vision problems, August has been named National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. And with the school year right around the corner, now is the perfect time to schedule your child’s next eye exam.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

You can follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well!

Sources:

1) August is National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month: Foods your whole family can eat for healthy vision DiscoverBulk.com

2) August in National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month LAReaders.com

3) Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month NewEngland.HealthCHarities.org

4)August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month KISBYTO.Blogspot.com