What is coronavirus?
There are many types of viruses called coronaviruses, and some of them can make you sick. The new type we are hearing about now as part of this pandemic is called COVID-19. This virus causes mild to severe lung illness.
People who are exposed to coronavirus may show symptoms anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure. Those symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some people can develop pneumonia and become seriously ill or die from coronavirus complications.
How can coronavirus affect your eyes?
The first thing to understand is that coronavirus can spread through the eyes — just as it does through the mouth or nose.
When someone who has coronavirus coughs, sneezes, or talks, virus particles can spray from their mouth or nose onto your face. You are likely to breathe these tiny droplets in through your mouth or nose. But the droplets can also enter your body through your eyes. You can also become infected by touching your eyes after touching something that has the virus on it.
It might be possible for coronavirus to cause a pink eye infection (conjunctivitis), but this is extremely rare. If you have pink eye, don’t panic. Simply call your ophthalmologist to let them know and follow their instructions for care. Keep in mind that whether pink eye is caused by a virus or bacteria, it can spread if someone touches that sticky or runny discharge from the eyes, or touches objects contaminated by the discharge.
Call your ophthalmologist for guidance in the following situations:
- You have macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy and get regular eye injections
- You notice changes in your vision (like blurry, wavy or blank spots in your field of vision)
- You notice a lot of new floaters or flashes in your vision
- You suddenly lose some vision
- You have eye pain, headache, red eye, nausea and vomiting
Protecting your eyes and health
Guarding your eyes — as well as your hands, nose, and mouth — can slow the spread of coronavirus. Here are some ways you can keep your eyes safe and healthy during this coronavirus outbreak.
- If you wear contact lenses, try switching to glasses for a while. Contact lens wearers touch their eyes more than the average person. Consider wearing glasses more often, especially if you tend to touch your eyes a lot when your contacts are in. Substituting glasses for lenses can reduce eye irritation, and they may be a barrier that reminds you not to touch your eye. If you must wear contacts, be sure to clean and disinfect them exactly as your eye doctor recommends.
- Wearing glasses may add a layer of protection. Corrective eyeglasses or sunglasses can shield your eyes from infected respiratory droplets. But keep in mind that they don’t provide 100% security. The virus can still reach your eyes from the open sides, tops and bottoms of your glasses. For better protection, you must use safety goggles if you’re caring for a sick patient or potentially exposed person.
- Stock up on eye medicine prescriptions if you can. If your insurance allows you to get more than one month of necessary eye medicine (like glaucoma drops), you should. Some insurers will approve a 3-month supply of medication in times of natural disaster. Ask your pharmacist or ophthalmologist for help if you have trouble getting approval from your insurance company. As always, request a refill as soon as you are due. Don’t wait until the last minute to contact your pharmacy.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes. It can be hard to break this natural habit, but doing so will lower your risk of infection. If you feel an urge to itch or rub your eye or even to adjust your glasses, use a tissue instead of your fingers. Dry eyes can lead to more rubbing, so consider adding moisturizing drops to your eye routine. If you must touch your eyes for any reason — even to administer eye medicine — wash your hands first with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then wash them again after touching your eyes.
- Use common sense to stay healthy. Wash your hands a lot. Follow good contact lens hygiene. And avoid touching or rubbing your nose, mouth and eyes.
Did you know that diabetes can cause eye disease? If left untreated, it can cause vision loss or even blindness. To help you keep your vision healthy, here are five things the National Eye Institute (NEI) would like you to know about diabetic eye disease:
1 A group of eye problems— People with diabetes may face several eye problems as a complication of this disease. They include cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness in American adults age 20–74.
2 No symptoms, no pain— In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms. A person may not notice vision changes until the disease advances. Blurred vision may occur when the macula swells from the leaking fluid (called macular edema). If new vessels have grown on the surface of the retina, they can bleed into the eye, blocking vision.
3 Have diabetes? You are at risk— Anyone with diabetes is at risk of getting diabetic retinopathy. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get this eye disease. In fact, between 40 and 45 percent of those with diagnosed diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.
4 Stay on TRACK— That is: Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor; Reach and maintain a healthy weight; Add more physical activity to your daily routine; Control your ABC’s—A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels; and Kick the smoking habit.
5 Get a dilated eye exam— If you have diabetes, be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic eye disease can be detected early and treated before noticeable vision loss occurs.
Iclinix advanced Eye Care is a superspeciality Eye Hospital in south delhi, with advanced Retina specialists and Retina doctors to take care of Diabetic Retinopathy and other diabetic related Eye Disorders
A retinal detachment is the separation of the retina from its tissue inside the eye.
The retinal separations are mostly the result of a rupture, hole, or tear.
Retinal Detachment Symptoms:
It is a painless eye condition. Following signs should alert you to visit a retinal specialist to rule out a retinal detachment right now
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- a sudden appearance of many floaters – tiny particles like spots/hair/strings that float in your vision and move with eye movements
- sudden flashes of light – a bright spark like lightning which can be perceived even with eyes closed
- shadow or curtain over part of the vision which progressively worsens
How does a retina detachment occur?
The common retinal detachment occurs when the gel of the eye (vitreous) leaks through holes/tears in the retina thereby lifting it from the choroid
Why does the retina tear?
As one ages, the gel that fills the eye shrinks/collapses and becomes more liquid. Eventually the vitreous may separate from the retina a process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). When the vitreous peels of from the retina, it may sometimes pull it forcefully resulting in a retinal tear
Detached Retina Risk Factors:
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- Myopia– High minus numbers
- A family history of retinal detachment
- History of RD in one eye
- Any eye surgery including cataract and LASIK
- Laser Capsulotomy (YAG)
The goal is to get the retina back quick in place so that it starts getting its blood supply and oxygen. A retinal detachment is fixed by a retina specialist by simple & advanced surgical techniques Effective diagnosis and repair of retinal detachments are critical because the improvement of visual vision is substantially more significant if the retina is repaired before the removal of the macula or central region.
· Scleral Buckle
– In this technique, the retinal tear is fixed by an “EXTERNAL” approach ( without entering the eye). In scleral buckling, the tear is sealed using a freezing technique called “CRYOTHERAPY’ and then supported by a piece of SOLID SILICONE BUCKLE. It is a technique that requires great skill and clinical acumen
· Vitreo Retinal Surgery
– In this technique the retinal tear is fixed by an “INTERNAL” approach It uses sophisticated machines and instruments (MIVS – MICROINCISION VITREOUS SURGERY) to remove the gel of the eye, the vitreous. The tear is then sealed with the LASER. The retina is then supported with either SILICONE OIL or INTRAOCULAR GAS injection. The patient is required to maintain the face, down position for few days after the surgery
Iclinix Advanced Eye Care is super speciality Centre working towards preservation of vision from Retinal detachment and other Retinal disorders both in children and adults. We have world-class laboratories and the highest quality equipment to diagnose and treat most of treatable eye conditions.
