Bulging eyes is a condition where the eyes seem to be protruding from their normal position in the eye socket. Some other terms used to refer to bulging eyes include proptosis, exophthalmos, and protruding eyes. Some instances of what might appear to be bulging eyes might be a mistaken identity of prominent eyes, a hereditary condition that is usually harmless.

Sudden development of bulging eyes should be a cause for concern, and an individual must seek attention from an eye specialist as soon as possible. Excessive exposure of a big part of the eye to air will interfere with the lubrication and moistening process, and when the pressure gets too much it can interfere with the vision process and possibly lead to vision loss. A doctor has special instruments to determine whether an individual has bulging eyes or not, therefore it is very important to go for diagnosis as soon as you suspect you or a loved one has the condition.

Most common causes for Bulging eyes

The development of bulging eyes can have a close relationship with some common eye and thyroid diseases such as Glaucoma, Haemangioma, Hyperthyroidism, Neuroblastoma, and Haemorrhages behind the eye. Also, people suffering from leukaemia, Graves’ ophthalmopathy, and several other eye conditions are likely to develop bulging eyes.

In the case of prominent eyes, there is little cause for concern because the condition is hereditary. However, it is important to look at images of the individual when he or she was young and compare them with present day photographs. If the individual had protruding eyes from a tender age, then it truly is the non-threatening condition.

Signs that an individual has Bulging eyes

The most obvious symptom here includes the eyes seeming as if they are protruding too far from the socket. Other symptoms include; pain in the eye, dryness, difficulty in closing the eyes fully when blinking or even sleeping, a lot of white space between the eyelid and the top part of the iris, difficulty in normal eye movements, redness in the eye, and scarring in serious conditions.

Here are some practices to adopt or let go of in order to get some relief from the condition, especially if it is related to a thyroid disease:

1. Quit smoking
2. Protect your eyes from direct sunlight and dust – which is an irritant
3. Use eye drops to deal with the dryness
4. Use more pillows to raise the head in bed, since this reduces puffiness in the eyes

Possible course of treatment

Owing to the numerous possible causes for bulging eyes, the treatments will tend to vary with the cause. Therefore, visiting a doctor is very important so that he or she can establish the root cause and prescribe the best treatment method.

• It is very common for people suffering from the condition to require eye lubricating agents such as eye drops and artificial tears, for them to keep the eye moist and well lubricated. Furthermore, in order to address the cases of inflammation behind the eye, doctors will usually prescribe corticosteroids.
• People suffering from Graves ‘ disease usually undergo orbital decompression, a process where one or several of the eye socket’s four walls is removed. The decompression allows fat tissue to find a way out of the orbit, which in turn causes the eye to regain its normal position in the socket.
• Bulging eyes resulting from a thyroid disease will require treatment through several stages, depending on whether the disease is in its active phase or whether it is in its inactive phase. A thyroid disease can cause the thyroid hormone to be overactive or underactive, and medication to control the level hormonal activity in the thyroid is available.
• Radiotherapy is another course of treatment that uses X-rays to get rid of cells and reduce tissue and muscle swelling. A few side effects of this treatment can include mild cataracts and worsening of the bulging eye symptoms for a short period.
• In cases where the doctors consider the condition to be extremely serious, reconstructive or even plastic surgery may be the only course of treatment. Doctors usually result to this form of treatment when they realize that medication is not dealing with the bulging and yet they want to improve the eye’s appearance. In addition, when the condition has led to complications in the blood vessels, surgery is usually the only way out.

Is prevention an option?

Sadly, most of the cases of bulging eyes that have hereditary connections are impossible to prevent, so an individual will need to seek treatment immediately after the condition starts to surface. However, most other occurrences of bulging eyes have preventive measures as well and cures.

Another name for Lazy eye is amblyopia, and it is where one of an individual’s eyes is weaker and does not see as clearly as the other eye does. This condition develops in infants, it is evident by the age of four years, and one out of every 50 children is likely to develop lazy eye. It is possible to have both eyes suffering from this condition though having lazy eye in both eyes is not as common as in one eye. When people ignore lazy eye, it will develop into severe eye complications.

Since the brain and the eye depend on the nerve pathways connecting them, those that belong to the lazy eye lack the proper stimulation required to function normally. This condition leads to the brain favoring one eye over the other, and it might eventually stop recognizing signals from the lazy eye.

How do you identify lazy eye?

A lazy eye tends to wander and finds it hard to keep up with the normal eye, making it seem as if the eyes are not working together. The eye can wander inward or outward, and fail to perceive images clearly or even at all. However, it is very important for people to visit a doctor and have an eye examination since at times identifying lazy eye might not be as obvious as one might think.

Since lazy eye usually develops in small children, it is at times difficult to know that an infant is suffering from this condition. Doctors have ways of telling whether a child is suffering from the above condition or if the child is developing squint, cataracts, cross-eyes or other eye conditions through various routine tests. However, older children are able to tell if one of their eyes if developing symptoms of lazy eye, and that should warrant a visit to a doctor immediately.

What causes lazy eye?

Seeing an object is not as simple as it sounds. A lot happens from when light bounces off an object to when the brain perceives and transforms those signals into a three-dimensional image. When the process has a form of an interruption, then the eye can develop the above condition. The most common interruptions here include:

1. Deprivation – This condition is common where one eye has a form of cloudy matter affecting its vision, probably developing because of cataracts. Lack of clear vision in the eye deprives the eye of vision and eventually its function.
2. Refractive – If the ability of each eye differs due to farsightedness, nearsightedness, eye surface imperfections or any other irregularity, it can lead to lazy eye. However, eye professionals can easily correct this situation using contact lenses or glasses.
3. Strabismus – For effective visual perception, the eyes have to coordinate and view an object together. However, when the muscles responsible for balancing the eyes do not work properly, the eyes can turn out or cross in. Most people suffering from lazy eye have this condition.

Is it possible to diagnose the condition in children?

A doctor will need to establish which eye is the weaker one, and then test both eyes to reveal whether both need some form of treatment. Children ranging from newborns all the way to preschoolers might not be in a position to explain their condition, but a few tests can reveal the problem and treatment can begin immediately.

Eye specialists can use red reflex tests, moving objects tests to test a baby’s ability to fixate his or her gaze, photo screening, and using pictures and letters for the older children. During this period, the eye specialists can also check for tumors in the eye, inflammation, and any other eye complication.

What are the lazy eye treatment methods?

The sooner an eye specialist can begin the treatment, the better the chances an eye has for a complete recovery. The most common treatment avenues include:

• Wearing corrective eyewear – Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses are a great way of dealing with astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. In instances where the doctor detects the condition early, corrective eyewear is sufficient to correct the problem.
• Wearing eye patches – The patient here wears an eye patch over the good eye to stimulate the functionality of the weaker eye. Wearing the patch for a few hours in a day will help to correct lazy eye. Totally depending on the lazy eye for a few hours every day, helps its underdeveloped pathways to develop completely.
• Using eye drops – As opposed to applying eye drops to deal with dry eyes or other related conditions, the drops here play the role of blurring the stronger eye’s vision. This blurring forces the weaker eye to step up, and it starts to develop normally.

Surgery – A child’s eyes can wander and cross an indication of a serious condition of lazy eye. In such cases, the doctor can repair the problem surgically. For young children, lazy eyes accompanied by cataracts or drooping eyelids can require surgery to correct.

The eyes may occupy a very small part of the human body, but they are some of the most fragile and sensitive organs we have. Being able to see is a gift that the larger population of human beings and animals has, and this gift is highly dependent on the condition of the eyes. Owing to a number of factors, the eyes can face some complications that require the attention of medical professionals in order to save them from failing to perform their roles effectively or even at all. However, here are some conditions that the eye is likely to recover from, with little to no attention from the eye doctor:

1.       Dry eyes

The above is a condition where the eye is either not producing enough tears or where it produces excess tears. Without enough tears in the eye, an individual feels as if there is sand or grit in the eyes, a condition that can get very uncomfortable. This condition can result from severe air pollution or even aging. When an individual stays away from the pollution and uses eye drops, his or her eyes may regain normal function with time.

2.       Blepharitis

Eyelid inflammation, loss of eyelashes, thickening of the eyelids, and the eyelids becoming scaly and red are some of the conditions that result from Blepharitis. The main causes of this condition include different types of bacteria or some skin inflammation, which prevent the normal functioning of the oil glands located close to the base of where the eyelashes grow. This condition affects people differently and if it persists for long, an individual is required to seek medical attention to prevent serious infections or visual complications. However, pressing the eyes with a hot and wet cloth repeatedly for a few minutes every day, and cleaning the eye thoroughly can get rid of this condition with time.

3.       Hordeolum

The eyelids can suffer slight to severe inflammation, a condition that experts refer to as sty. A soft and tender raised nodule, usually appearing on the eyelid, characterizes this infection. The swelling, which results from a bacterial infection, can result into the eye remaining shut when an individual is attempting to open it. This condition has a close connection to rosacea, and pressing the nodule with a hot and wet cloth several times in a day will clear the condition. Persistence of the condition for over a week will, however, warrant medical attention.

4.       Eyelash lice

Eyelash lice are more annoying and contagious than they are dangerous. Many people with eyelash lice experience itchiness in the eyelids, irritation in the eyes, tiredness, an ill feeling, fever, and eye redness. A doctor can diagnose the eyelash lice with the help of a slit lamp biomicroscope, which helps to see the lice even though they have clear bodies with blood seemingly passing through them. In addition to maintaining a good level of hygiene, you can get rid of the lice; using fine forceps and you can suffocate the eggs using non-medicated or petrolatum ointments.

5.       Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis can result from an eye’s exposure to fungi, bacteria, allergens, viruses and other agents that lead to palpebral inflammation or bulbar conjunctiva. An individual suffering from the above condition has enlarged blood vessels, which become red and are most of the time very itchy. Usually, when an individual with this condition wakes up in the morning, his or her eyes are stuck together and the eye produces some discharge and even tears. In mild situations, the condition will not require treatment from an eye professional, although an ocular decongestant will do wonders here. However, if the situation is not improving, do not hesitate to visit the doctor.

6.       Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a type of a skin inflammation that can result in scaling, swelling, intense itching, and reddening of the eyelids. This condition usually results from an allergic reaction owing to contact with a new skin product or even the destruction of the skin’s protective layer. The interesting thing is that an allergic reaction can even result from a product that an individual has used for many years, and, therefore, an individual has to be very careful what products he or she is using. The eye will naturally heal from this condition after an individual refrains from using the products causing the allergic reaction, or even when the skin’s protective layer grows back.

7.       Thermal eye damage

For thermal damage to occur, an individual will have to be caught off-guard because blinking helps to prevent damage to the eye in such instances. However, when an eye is exposed to dangerous light, it can develop thermal damage. Some of the ways an eye can suffer the above damage is through exposure to Ultraviolet rays, a sunlamp or to the light from a welder’s arc. In mild cases of thermal damage, the eye will heal without any complications. However, if the eye does not show signs of improvement, an eye lubricant can help to remedy the situation. Further complications will require immediate medical attention.

What Produces Night Vision?

Night vision is an important part of eyesight. Loss of night vision is caused by illness and age. The retina, a thin layer of tissue in the inner eye that consists of blood vessels and photoreceptors, converts light into electrical impulses. These photoreceptors, approximately 120 million rods and 7 million cones, receive light.

The cones are primarily for central vision, and do not work well at night, so the onus is on the rods to receive light in the dark. The rods are also responsible for peripheral vision. Eye illnesses, such as retinitis pigmentosa reduce the amount of rods within the retinas, narrowing the peripheral and circumference vision of the eye, causing tunnel vision.

In perspective, a loss of night vision impedes your quality of life. It can render you solely confined to daily activities, because of a lack of sight and confidence. We want to boost your confidence with these three daily eye-strengthening practices: periphery exercise, palming, and healthy nutrition.

Periphery Practice

The photoreceptor rods focus on movement in the periphery, and they have low light sensitivity. To strengthen the amount of light these rods let in, first strengthen the rods. A great way to do this is to focus your rods on peripheral vision. The following exercise is a unique and proven way to strengthen your peripheral vision.

1. First, block your central vision with one hand, or with a piece of parchment. It is preferable that you tape a piece of paper to your nose, so that both arms are free to move.
2. Next, focus on the objects on either side of you.
3. After you discern the objects, point your arms out on the sides of your body. Repeatedly extend them to their limits and pull them back toward the sides of your face. As you do this, focus your periphery vision on your hands.

This exercise will get your eyes familiar with the objects around its periphery, and activate the rods that were previously unused. Consider the exercise the equivalent of pointing out the fly on the black painted wall. Now that you see it, you will notice it more distinctly because your eyes are used to it. The more you allow your eyes to notice the objects in its periphery, the stronger your rods will become, and your night vision will improve.

Palming Practice

The second practice in this artillery is palming. Palming is a simple eye exercise with huge results. The optic nerve transmits images and electric impulses from the retina to the brain. Often the work of the optic nerve can be strained from overwork. Palming relaxes the optic nerve to release the strain. The steps for palming are below:

1. Clear your face, and make sure there is nothing obstructing your eyes such as glasses or contacts.
2. Warm your hands with something; preferably warm water.
3. Make sure the area you are in is extremely dark.
4. Position your elbows, perpendicular from your chest, straight out, onto a table, or on an elevated surface that allows you to rest your arms in a complete right angle toward your face.
5. Cup your four fingers (pinky to index) together on each hand, and bring the two hands together, with one over the other. Cross the hands (from pinky to index) with the inside of the hands facing you. Your two thumbs should be pointing outwards. After you do this, rest your palms on the orbits of your eyes, with your fingers rested on your forehead and thumbs on your temple.
6. Only rest your palms on your eyes to relax them, but do not apply pressure, or squeeze your eyes by any means.
7. Hold this position for a few minutes until you are satisfied with the relaxation of your optic nerve.

Now you have successfully stimulated your retina, and relaxed your optic nerve. The next practice will maintain your vision, while increasing its strength.

Nutrition Practice

It is common knowledge that Vitamin A rich foods have a heavy dose of carotenoids, specifically beta-carotene. Carotenoids are phytochemicals that give plant-based fruits and vegetables their color and composition. This is where the vibrant red, orange and yellow colors of carrots, pink grapefruit, and oranges come from. The human body converts beta-carotene into Vitamin A, also known as retinol, which produces the pigment in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A maintains good vision, especially in low light.

Eyesight is heavily dependent on Vitamin A. In several case studies, individuals with partial and full blindness have admitted to having a regular diet devoid of Vitamin A. When dealing with defects in night vision, it is imperative that your diet includes Vitamin A for eye strength, especially at night.

If practiced gradually over time, these practices will increase your night vision, and boost your overall confidence.