Eagleview Eye Clinic

Archives June 2025

DIETING AND THE EYES

Dieting is the practice of regulating food intake with the goal of weight loss, improving physical  condition or managing specific health conditions.

What you eat, how you eat? And when you eat have a major role in your eye health and your health in general.

There are specific vitamins and minerals our eyes require for optimum function, and there are regular food that contains such healthy nutrients.

Today we will be talking extensively on some common food sources and how they impact our eyes. We will place less emphasis on the specific vitamins and minerals inorder for this topic to sink in easily.

What are the common food sources that are required for healthy visual function?

1. EGGS: eggs are very rich in lots of minerals and vitamins. Consistent intake of eggs helps prevent conditions like age related macular degeneration, choroidal degeneration

2. ORANGES AND GRAPES: These  sources of food are highly rich in antioxidants. Consuming these regularly helps in preventing cell death and reducing Glaucoma.

3. BEANS AND GBEGIRI: These food sources have high zinc content, hence they help in mental alertness, brain function and they also boost cornea health.

4. CARROT: carrots are very rich in vitamin A which is good for night vision, and also help reducing damages from the condition called retinitis pigmentosa.

5. FISH AND SEAFOOD: fishes and seafood are very rich in zinc and for this they help in brain function and ensuring a healthy cornea for the consumer. Fishes and seafood are also rich in vitamin A, leutin and zeanthin, so consuming fishes and seafood will go a long way for your visual health.

Other food sources that are necessary for healthy eyes are vegetables,  palm oil, broccoli, kale, et.c

ARGYLL ROBERTSON PUPIL

Argyll Robertson Pupil

Argyll Robertson pupil is a rare condition characterized by:

  • Bilateral small pupils that constrict when focusing on a near object (accommodation) but do not react to light
  • Often associated with neurosyphilis or other neurological conditions

Symptoms

  1. Pupil reaction: Lack of reaction to light, but normal reaction to accommodation
  2. Vision problems: None directly related to the pupil reaction

Causes

  1. Neurosyphilis: Tertiary syphilis infection affecting the nervous system
  2. Other neurological conditions: Such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or CNS damage

Diagnosis

  1. Pupil examination: Observing pupil reaction to light and accommodation
  2. Medical history: Evaluating for underlying conditions

Treatment

  1. Address underlying condition: Treating the underlying cause, such as syphilis
  2. Monitoring: Regular eye exams to track pupil reaction and overall eye health

If you suspect an Argyll Robertson pupil, consult an eye care professional or a neurologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

POLYCORIA

Irritant Conjunctivitis

Irritant conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the thin membrane covering the white part of the eye and inside of the eyelids) caused by:

  • Exposure to irritants like chemicals, smoke, or dust
  • Allergens or foreign substances

Symptoms

  1. Redness: Pink or red eyes
  2. Itching or burning: Discomfort in the eyes
  3. Discharge: Watery or sticky discharge
  4. Sensitivity to light: Photophobia

Treatment

  1. Avoid irritants: Remove or minimize exposure
  2. Flush eyes: With water or saline solution
  3. Artificial tears: To lubricate and soothe
  4. Cool compresses: To reduce discomfort

If symptoms persist or worsen, consult an eye care professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

IRRITANT CONJUNCTIVITIS

Irritant Conjunctivitis

Irritant conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the thin membrane covering the white part of the eye and inside of the eyelids) caused by:

  • Exposure to irritants like chemicals, smoke, or dust
  • Allergens or foreign substances

Symptoms

  1. Redness: Pink or red eyes
  2. Itching or burning: Discomfort in the eyes
  3. Discharge: Watery or sticky discharge
  4. Sensitivity to light: Photophobia

Treatment

  1. Avoid irritants: Remove or minimize exposure
  2. Flush eyes: With water or saline solution
  3. Artificial tears: To lubricate and soothe
  4. Cool compresses: To reduce discomfort

If symptoms persist or worsen, consult an eye care professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)

Meibomian gland dysfunction is a common condition where:

  • The meibomian glands in the eyelids become blocked or inflamed
  • This disrupts the production of healthy tears

Symptoms

  1. Dry eye: Irritation, grittiness, or burning sensation
  2. Blurred vision: Temporary vision disturbances
  3. Redness: Inflammation of the eyelids

Treatment

  1. Warm compresses: To loosen blockages
  2. Eyelid hygiene: Regular cleaning
  3. Artificial tears: To lubricate the eyes
  4. Medications: Antibiotics or anti-inflammatory agents

If you have MGD, consult an eye care professional for personalized advice and treatment to alleviate symptoms and improve eye health.

LIFESTYLE PRACTICES AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE EYES

Lifestyle practices are daily life actions that we engage in daily.

Some lifestyle practices are good  and are beneficial to the eyes and the reverse of these good practices poses serious threat to the eyes.

The following are some lifestyle practices and how they affect the eyes:

1. WEARING PROTECTIVE GOGGLES WHILE AT WORK: If you work in a production factory or a chemical laboratory/factory, wearing protective goggles will help protect your eyes from workspace accidents like flying objects getting into the eyes, chemicals and fumes entering the eyes and causing issues for your eyes.

If you are an outdoor worker, that spends Time outside under the sun, a pair of photo AR will go a long way in preventing issues like cataract, pterygium and Age related macular degeneration

If you spend time working on your computer, getting a pair of bluecut glasses will go a long way in protecting your eyes from blue light from your devices.

2. EXERCISING: By Exercising regularly, your body will be able to fight against diseases like diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

Once you are able to fight against these conditions your chances of coming down diseases like diabetic retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy.

These conditions have been known to cause blindness.

3. SMOKING: smoking regularly can actually put you at a risk of cataracts and macula degeneration. Instead of smoking yourself to blindness and then start looking for help all around, why don’t you just  avoid smoking altogether? Think about it.

4. SELF – MEDICATION: By using medications (eyedrops and tablets) without doctor’s recommendation, you will actually be putting your eyes and life at risk. The damages self – medication can cause are enormous and most times irreversible.

5. NOT CHECKING YOUR EYES REGULARLY:  Not checking your eyes regularly or avoiding visiting the hospital altogether when you are have eye issues is a lifestyle practice that have caused so many their eyes eventually.

By not checking your eyes regularly, you tend to Miss certain conditions that could have been treated in their early stage until it’s impossible to treat.

This is not an exhaustive list though

ORBITAL SARCOMA

Orbital Sarcoma

Orbital sarcoma is a rare, malignant tumor originating in the soft tissues of the orbit (eye socket). Types include:

  • Rhabdomyosarcoma (most common in children)
  • Other types: osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and more

Symptoms

  1. Proptosis: Bulging of the eye
  2. Vision changes: Double vision, blurred vision
  3. Pain: Orbital pain or discomfort
  4. Swelling: Around the eye

Diagnosis

  1. Imaging tests: MRI, CT scans
  2. Biopsy: Tissue sample analysis

Treatment

  1. Chemotherapy: To shrink tumors
  2. Radiation therapy: To treat tumors
  3. Surgery: To remove tumors

If you suspect orbital sarcoma, consult an eye care professional or oncologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Early detection is crucial for effective management.

DISTICHIASIS

Distichiasis

Distichiasis is a rare condition where:

  • Extra eyelashes grow from the meibomian glands or other abnormal locations
  • These extra lashes can rub against the cornea, causing discomfort and vision problems

Symptoms

  1. Eye irritation: Redness, itching, and discomfort
  2. Corneal damage: Scratching or ulcers
  3. Vision problems: Blurred vision or discomfort

Treatment

  1. Epilation: Removing the extra lashes
  2. Electrolysis: Permanent removal of extra lashes
  3. Cryotherapy: Freezing the hair follicles to prevent regrowth

If you have distichiasis, consult an eye care professional for proper diagnosis and treatment to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications.

LACRIMAL GLAND OBSTRUCTION

Lacrimal Gland Obstruction

Lacrimal gland obstruction can cause:

  • Dry eye
  • Excessive tearing (if the obstruction causes a backup)
  • Swelling or pain in the outer corner of the eye

Causes

  1. Ductal stenosis: Narrowing of the tear ducts
  2. Inflammation: Dacryoadenitis (inflammation of the lacrimal gland)
  3. Tumors: Benign or malignant growths

Symptoms

  1. Dry eye: Insufficient tear production
  2. Pain or swelling: In the outer corner of the eye
  3. Excessive tearing: If the obstruction causes a backup

Treatment

  1. Warm compresses: To relieve symptoms
  2. Antibiotics: If infection is present
  3. Surgery: To relieve obstruction or remove tumors

If you suspect a lacrimal gland obstruction, consult an eye care professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

CILIARY BODY HYPOPLASIA

Ciliary Body Hypoplasia

Ciliary body hypoplasia is a rare congenital condition characterized by:

  • Underdevelopment of the ciliary body
  • Reduced ciliary body function
  • Potential for vision problems

Symptoms

  1. Vision loss: Blurred or distorted vision
  2. Glaucoma: Increased intraocular pressure
  3. Lens instability: Dislocation or subluxation of the lens

Associated Conditions

  1. Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome: A genetic disorder affecting eye development
  2. Other anterior segment dysgenesis: Abnormal development of the front part of the eye

Management

  1. Regular eye exams: Monitoring eye health and vision
  2. Glaucoma management: Medications or surgery to control intraocular pressure
  3. Lens management: Surgery or other interventions for lens instability

If you have ciliary body hypoplasia, work closely with an eye care professional to manage the condition and preserve vision.