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Optic Nerve Damage

Papilloedemais a condition whereby there is a swelling of the optic nerve (transmits messages from the eye to the brain) due to elevation of the pressure of the fluid, inside the skull. Visual symptoms may include transient bouts of visual blurring, along with double vision followed by complete recovery. It is possible to have papilloedema without experiencing any symptoms. In cases of chronic papilloedema, there may be permanent visual loss and disturbance in visual fields (the extent to which a person is able to see around his environment whilst looking straight ahead). There may be associated headaches which may improve with lying down but worsen with coughing and sneezing. In the later stages, this may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The most common causes of papilloedema include:

• tumours inside the skull
• haemorrhages (bleeding inside the skull)
• brain oedema (swelling)
• hydrocephalus ('water on the brain')
• pseudotumour cerebri and
• malignant hypertension (high blood pressure).

Eye Problems may contribute to Headaches and Migraines, so it is important to have them professionally addressed. It is also important to investigate for other potential causes, as many cases of Headaches and Migraines have more than one ingredient.

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Glaucoma

The eye has an internal fluid (aqueous) which maintains a pressure inside the eye, referred to as the intraocular pressure. If drainage of this fluid is disrupted, the pressure within the eye rises and may result in glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease process that occurs when the nerves that transmit information from the eyes to the brain become damaged. Although glaucoma is not preventable, early detection is the key to maintaining a good visual outcome.

There are two main types of glaucoma:

1. Open angle glaucoma where there is a gradual increase in the intraocular pressure and usually no associated symptoms and
2. Angle closure glaucoma where a sudden rise in pressure causes vision to become blurred. When an angle closure attack occurs, the intraocular pressure increases due to blockage of the aqueous outflow. This build-up of pressure within the eyeball may result in acute onset of severe pain, blurry vision, redness of the eye and colored haloes around lights. The pain is usually quite severe and often not localized but may involve the whole head. This may be accompanied by tearing , nausea and vomiting.

An angle closure glaucoma attack is an ocular emergency requiring immediate medical attention.

Eye Problems may contribute to Headaches and Migraines, so it is important to have them professionally addressed. It is also important to investigate for other potential causes, as many cases of Headaches and Migraines have more than one ingredient.

See Treatments Section

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Eye Strain

For a person to obtain clear vision, the focusing power of the eye's cornea (front of eye) and lens (eye's focusing mechanism) must result in the image of an object falling on the retina (back of eye). When this does not occur, the eye is said to be ametropic.

There are three different classes of ametropia (refractive errors):

• hyperopia (long sightedness)
• myopia (short sightedness),
• astigmatism (poorly shaped cornea).

In the cases of uncorrected hyperopia and astigmatism, the eye's muscles are having to work harder in order to keep the image in focus. Consequently, a person may experience tired or aching eyes, poor concentration, headaches and blurring of vision particularly with close work.

Schematic section of the human eye.

Hyperopia (long sightedness) is where the light is focused behind the retina and consequently the image is blurred close up. Hyperopia is corrected by spectacles or contact lenses.

Resting long sighted eye: image is blurred.

With spectacles or contact lenses the image is focused by bending light rays.

Astigmatism is another type of visual defect and can accompany myopia or hyperopia. Astigmatism is when the cornea is not a perfect spherical shape so that images will be more blurred in some particular directions. Astigmatism may cause a blurring of objects at all distances and even a tendency for the person to squint in order to improve vision. Astigmatism is also correctable with spectacles and contact lenses.

Presbyopia is another type of eye condition and frequently occurs with the ageing process. As a person ages, the lens (inside the eye) starts to change it's structure as well as lose the flexibility necessary for focusing on near objects ( focusing on near objects is called accomodation- and requires the lens to change shape). This loss in the elasticity of the lens makes it difficult for a person to focus on near objects, and tasks such as reading and sewing become difficult. This blurring up close, may be worse in dim lighting or more noticeable when the person is tired.

Other symptoms may include tired & sore eyes, slow adjustment in changing focus from one distance to another, headaches, and even a disinterest in reading.

Onset of Presbyopia is usually around the age range of 40-60 years of age, and there is no known cure. However, Presbyopia can be easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses, which may need to be periodically adjusted up to the age of 60 years.

Eye Problems may contribute to Headaches and Migraines, so it is important to have them professionally addressed. It is also important to investigate for other potential causes, as many cases of Headaches and Migraines have more than one ingredient.

See Treatments Section

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