glaucoma
My father (48) lost vision in the left eye due to glaucoma five years ago. When we met an eye specialist he said it was too late to restore his vision. Isn’t it possible to restore his vision through cornea transplantation?
Cornea transplantation can help restore vision only when its loss is due to some problems related to cornea. It can’t make any difference in blindness caused by glaucoma, in which the nerves in the retina (a layer at the back of the eyeball where the image of an object is formed) are damaged, and the damage is irreversible. Since your father can’t see for the last five years, it’s unlikely that the vision in the left eye can be restored. However, a proper assessment of his eye should be done before the final diagnosis. Glaucoma is characterised by an increased pressure in the eye, with damage to the nerves that are responsible for vision. The disease can be treated by medicine or surgery depending on its stage of progress. At the moment, it’s important to take care of his right eye, because it may also get affected by glaucoma. Please consult an ophthalmologist.
dimness of vision
My mother (58) has been suffering from a dim vision in the right eye for the last six months. An eye specialist says it is due to cataract. He suggested a surgery because the cataract is in a mature stage. However, my mother is a diabetic, and, in spite of treatment, her blood sugar can’t be controlled. This makes us slightly worried. Is it possible to go for the operation with diabetes?
A mature cataract can give rise to many complications, including glaucoma. I suggest a cataract surgery for her as early as possible. Diabetes patients can go for an operation even with a blood sugar level of 150-160 milligram. You haven’t mentioned your mother’s sugar level. If it’s above 150-160 milligram, it should be brought down through insulin and a restricted diet. However, it should be noted that diabetes may lead to a number of complications during and after cataract surgery. Which is why she needs proper attention. Diabetes often harms the retina, so your her retina should be checked prior to the operation. If there is any record of the condition of the retina prior to the development of cataract in the right eye, it may also be useful for the assessment. If the retina is affected by diabetes, it should be kept in mind that even after cataract operation her vision may not be satisfactory.
white spot
Since childhood my daughter (18) has a white spot on the black part of her left eye. Even though her vision is normal, the spot looks ugly. Could you suggest a remedy?
As the vision is normal, there is nothing to worry about. There are several measures to combat the cosmetic problem associated with the spot in your daughter’s eye. The white part can be made black by tattooing it with some chemicals. However, it’s a temporary solution. The spot may also be tackled with cornea-grafting in which a part of the cornea from a donor is transplanted over the white spot. Camouflaging the spot with coloured contact lens may also be helpful. But no solution of her problem should be attempted whimsically. Before a particular treatment is undertaken, your daughter’s eye condition should be assessed properly by an ophthalmologist.
double vision
My daughter (6) complains of double vision, especially after she studies for an hour or so. This has been going on for sometime now. What’s wrong with her eyes? Is it something serious?
Your daughter needs a proper check-up to find out if there’s any defect in the refractive capability of her eyes. If it’s there, it should be corrected with spectacles. However, sometimes such double visions may occur due to weakness in eye muscles, so this possibility should be looked into and corrected with eye-exercises. If the double vision is not due to any disease and appears to be controlled spontaneously after some time, no treatment in necessary. Only a thorough observation involving regular eye check-ups will be sufficient.
YOUR HEALTH
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