What causes watery and blurry vision. How to treat watery eyes and blurred vision. When to see a doctor for eye problems. What are the common symptoms of eye conditions causing watery vision. How to prevent eye irritation and excessive tearing.

Common Causes of Watery and Blurry Vision

Experiencing watery, blurry vision can be uncomfortable and concerning. There are several potential causes for this issue, ranging from minor irritations to more serious eye conditions. Understanding the underlying reasons can help you seek appropriate treatment and find relief.

Allergies and Eye Irritation

One of the most common causes of watery, blurry eyes is allergies. Exposure to allergens like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and certain fumes can trigger an allergic response in the eyes. This often results in redness, itchiness, and excessive tearing, which can lead to blurred vision.

How can you manage allergy-related eye symptoms? Over-the-counter eye drops and antihistamines are often effective for mild cases. If these don’t provide sufficient relief, consult an allergist or ophthalmologist for prescription-strength medications or allergy shots.

Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva – the thin, clear tissue that covers the white part of the eye. This condition can cause watery eyes, blurred vision, and a characteristic pink or red appearance of the eye.

What are the signs of pinkeye? Besides watery and blurry vision, you may experience:

• Redness in the white of the eye
• Swollen inner eyelids
• Discharge of pus or mucus
• A gritty feeling in the eye

If you suspect you have pinkeye, it’s crucial to see a doctor promptly. Treatment varies depending on whether the cause is bacterial, viral, or allergic. To prevent spreading the infection, avoid touching your eyes and wash your hands frequently.

Blocked Tear Ducts and Their Impact on Vision

The eye’s natural drainage system can sometimes become obstructed, leading to watery eyes and potentially blurred vision. This condition, known as blocked tear ducts, occurs when the small channels that normally drain tears are narrowed or closed off.

Symptoms of Blocked Tear Ducts

How do you know if you have blocked tear ducts? Common signs include:

1. Excessive tearing
2. Irritation and redness
3. Recurrent eye infections
4. Blurred vision
5. Crusting around the eyelashes
6. Mucus or pus in the eye

What treatment options are available for blocked tear ducts? In some cases, your doctor may attempt to flush the duct with saline solution. For more persistent blockages, minimally invasive procedures involving tiny balloons or tubes might be necessary to open the ducts. In severe cases, surgery may be required to create a new drainage pathway.

The Paradox of Dry Eyes Causing Watery Vision

Ironically, dry eye syndrome can lead to excessively watery eyes. When the eyes don’t produce enough quality tears to keep the eye surface lubricated, it can result in irritation. The body’s response to this irritation is often to produce an abundance of low-quality tears, leading to watery eyes.

Recognizing Dry Eye Symptoms

What are the telltale signs of dry eye syndrome? Look out for:

• A stinging or burning sensation in the eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Redness
• A feeling of grittiness or something in the eye
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Paradoxically watery eyes

How is dry eye syndrome treated? For mild cases, over-the-counter artificial tears can provide relief. More severe cases may require prescription medications to reduce inflammation or stimulate tear production. In some instances, your doctor might recommend procedures to block tear ducts temporarily to keep tears on the eye surface longer.

Eyelid Problems and Their Effect on Vision

The position and health of your eyelids play a crucial role in maintaining clear vision and proper tear drainage. Various eyelid issues can lead to watery, blurry eyes.

Ectropion and Entropion

Ectropion occurs when the lower eyelid turns outward, while entropion is a condition where the eyelid turns inward. Both can disrupt the normal flow of tears and cause irritation.

How do these conditions affect vision? Ectropion can prevent tears from draining properly, leading to excessive tearing and potential blurring. Entropion causes the eyelashes to rub against the eye surface, resulting in irritation, tearing, and potential damage to the cornea.

What treatments are available for eyelid problems? While artificial tears and ointments may provide temporary relief, most cases of ectropion and entropion require surgical correction to restore proper eyelid position and function.

Corneal Issues and Their Impact on Eye Health

The cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, is crucial for focusing light and protecting the eye. Damage or disease affecting the cornea can lead to watery, blurry vision and other symptoms.

Corneal Abrasions and Ulcers

Corneal abrasions are scratches on the surface of the cornea, while corneal ulcers are more severe, open sores. Both can cause significant discomfort and vision problems.

What are the symptoms of corneal issues? Look out for:

• Excessive tearing
• Pain or a gritty feeling in the eye
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Redness
• Blurred or decreased vision

How are corneal problems treated? Minor abrasions may heal on their own with proper care, including rinsing the eye and avoiding rubbing. However, more severe abrasions and ulcers require prompt medical attention. Treatment often involves antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection and may include other medications to manage pain and inflammation.

Styes and Chalazia: Common Eyelid Bumps

Styes and chalazia are bumps that can form on the eyelid, potentially affecting tear production and causing discomfort.

Differentiating Between Styes and Chalazia

How can you tell the difference between a stye and a chalazion? Styes are usually painful, red bumps that develop quickly, often at the edge of the eyelid. Chalazia, on the other hand, are typically painless, slower-growing bumps that form further back on the eyelid.

What’s the best way to treat these eyelid bumps? For both conditions, applying warm compresses to the affected area for 10-15 minutes, 3-5 times a day, can help. This promotes drainage and healing. If the bump persists or affects your vision, consult an eye doctor. They may prescribe antibiotics or, in some cases, recommend draining the bump.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Eye Problems

While some causes of watery, blurry vision can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention.

Red Flag Symptoms

When should you see a doctor for eye problems? Seek medical care if you experience:

• Sudden vision changes or loss
• Severe eye pain
• Signs of eye infection (redness, discharge, fever)
• Eye injuries
• Persistent blurred vision
• Flashes of light or new floaters in your vision

How quickly should you seek care? For sudden, severe symptoms or eye injuries, seek emergency care immediately. For less urgent but persistent issues, schedule an appointment with an eye care professional as soon as possible.

Preventing Eye Irritation and Excessive Tearing

While not all causes of watery, blurry vision can be prevented, there are steps you can take to maintain good eye health and reduce the risk of eye irritation.

Eye Care Best Practices

What can you do to keep your eyes healthy? Consider these tips:

1. Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your eyes
2. Protect your eyes: Wear sunglasses outdoors and safety goggles when necessary
3. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to support tear production
4. Take screen breaks: Follow the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
5. Manage allergies: Use air purifiers and keep windows closed during high pollen days
6. Get regular eye exams: Early detection of eye problems can prevent complications

How often should you have your eyes checked? For adults with no known eye problems, an eye exam every 1-2 years is generally recommended. However, if you have risk factors for eye disease or notice any changes in your vision, more frequent check-ups may be necessary.

Why Are My Eyes Watery? 14 Things That Can Make Your Eyes Water

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Allergies
• Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)
• Blocked Tear Ducts
• Dry Eyes
• Eyelid Problems
• Bumps on the Eyelids
• Ingrown Eyelashes
• Problems With Your Cornea
• More

If you have watery eyes, there are several possible reasons. They range from allergies to infections, blocked tear ducts, and funny looking eyelids. So grab a box of tissue, dab your eyes, and find out why your tears runneth over.

Millions of people have allergies, but many ignore how this affects their eyes. Exposure to pollen, pet dander, mites, and fumes can cause your eyes to turn red, itchy, and watery.

For relief, try over-the-counter medications like eye drops and antihistamines. If they don’t help, you may want to visit a doctor for prescription-strength medicines or allergy shots.

If your eyes look pink or red along with all those extra tears, you may have pinkeye, a kind of inflammation. Other signs are blurry vision, pus or mucus in the eye, and red inner eyelids.

If you think you might have it, see a doctor right away. Your treatment will depend on whether the cause is bacteria, a virus, or allergies. Also, be sure to keep your hands away from your eyes, and wash them with lid scrubs or warm soapy water before and after you apply medicine. Don’t share towels, washcloths, or anything else that touches your eyes.

Your eye has a miniature plumbing system that makes tears, then washes them across your eye and down a duct into your nose. When the duct gets narrow or blocked, the tears back up and your eyes get watery and irritated or infected. Signs include mucus, crusty eyelashes, blurred vision, and pus or blood in your tears.

If your eyes are watery, leaky, and always irritated or infected, see a doctor. The doctor may flush the duct with saline, then insert tiny balloons or tubes to open up the blockages. You might need surgery to build a new drain.

They get irritated. Your immune system can respond by making too many tears. You may also have stinging, burning, redness, and vision problems. If the symptoms don’t go away, it’s time to talk to your doctor.

If you have a mild case, artificial tears often help. You can also take prescription drugs to relieve inflammation or help create tears. Other options include inserts that act like artificial tear glands or a combination of light therapy and eye massage.

Eyelids are part of your eyes’ drainage system. If one of yours sags or turns outward, tears won’t drain the way they should and your eyes can get watery. If it grows inward, it rubs against your eye and irritates it. Other problems may include redness, mucus, dryness, and sensitivity to light.

If your lids sag or droop, or if your eyes are always watery or irritated, your doctor can help. They might prescribe artificial tears and ointments, but most people need surgery to fix the problem.

Doctors have more nonsurgical options for ingrown eyelids, like soft contacts that protect your eye. Botox and skin tape can also prevent your eye from turning in.

If you notice a large bump on your eyelid, you may have a stye or a chalazion. Styes are usually painful and bigger. Chalazions rarely hurt.

To treat an eyelid bump, soak a clean washcloth in hot water and hold it to your eyelid for 10-15 minutes. Do this 3 to 5 times a day. You may also gently massage around a chalazion with a clean finger.

If that doesn’t help, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics or a steroid shot to ease the swelling of a chalazion. If the bump won’t go away, or if it affects your vision, the doctor may drain it. Don’t ever try to pop one yourself; it can turn into an infection and you’ll probably just make things worse.

When your eyelashes grow inward, they rub against your eye. This irritates it and causes extra tears. Your doctor might pull out an ingrown lash or suggest surgery to remove the lash permanently. If you don’t get treatment, you could get more serious problems like cornea scratches and ulcers.

They can range from minor scratches to open sores called ulcers. Corneas can also get inflamed, a condition called keratitis. Each of these can cause your tears to work overtime.

If your cornea is scratched, you’ll know. Your eye will be extra watery, painful, and highly sensitive to light. When you close it, it might feel like there’s something in it. To treat it, rinse your eye with saline solution, blink several times, or pull your upper eyelid over your lower eyelid. Any of these steps may wash out the object that’s causing you problems. But see a doctor to avoid an infection.

For ulcers and keratitis, see a doctor right away. Delays may damage your eyesight or cause blindness. Your doctor will likely begin treatment with antibacterial, antiviral, or antifungal eye drops followed by anti-inflammatory drops. If your eye is hard to treat, you may need a corneal transplant to save your vision.

If you use extended-wear contact lenses or don’t take them out at night, you have a higher chance of getting keratitis. The best way to prevent this is to properly disinfect the lenses and make sure not to wear them for too long.

Less common causes of watery eyes include:

• Bell’s palsy, a nerve condition that weakens your face muscles
• Eye injuries
• Exposure to chemicals and fumes
• Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Facial surgery
• Certain medications

While there could be many reasons why your eyes are watery, they all share similar symptoms. That makes getting the right diagnosis so important. Visiting a doctor will help you figure out what’s causing your excess tears and the best ways to treat them.

Top Picks

Why Are My Eyes Watery? 14 Things That Can Make Your Eyes Water

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Allergies
• Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)
• Blocked Tear Ducts
• Dry Eyes
• Eyelid Problems
• Bumps on the Eyelids
• Ingrown Eyelashes
• Problems With Your Cornea
• More

If you have watery eyes, there are several possible reasons. They range from allergies to infections, blocked tear ducts, and funny looking eyelids. So grab a box of tissue, dab your eyes, and find out why your tears runneth over.

Millions of people have allergies, but many ignore how this affects their eyes. Exposure to pollen, pet dander, mites, and fumes can cause your eyes to turn red, itchy, and watery.

For relief, try over-the-counter medications like eye drops and antihistamines. If they don’t help, you may want to visit a doctor for prescription-strength medicines or allergy shots.

If your eyes look pink or red along with all those extra tears, you may have pinkeye, a kind of inflammation. Other signs are blurry vision, pus or mucus in the eye, and red inner eyelids.

If you think you might have it, see a doctor right away. Your treatment will depend on whether the cause is bacteria, a virus, or allergies. Also, be sure to keep your hands away from your eyes, and wash them with lid scrubs or warm soapy water before and after you apply medicine. Don’t share towels, washcloths, or anything else that touches your eyes.

Your eye has a miniature plumbing system that makes tears, then washes them across your eye and down a duct into your nose. When the duct gets narrow or blocked, the tears back up and your eyes get watery and irritated or infected. Signs include mucus, crusty eyelashes, blurred vision, and pus or blood in your tears.

If your eyes are watery, leaky, and always irritated or infected, see a doctor. The doctor may flush the duct with saline, then insert tiny balloons or tubes to open up the blockages. You might need surgery to build a new drain.

They get irritated. Your immune system can respond by making too many tears. You may also have stinging, burning, redness, and vision problems. If the symptoms don’t go away, it’s time to talk to your doctor.

If you have a mild case, artificial tears often help. You can also take prescription drugs to relieve inflammation or help create tears. Other options include inserts that act like artificial tear glands or a combination of light therapy and eye massage.

Eyelids are part of your eyes’ drainage system. If one of yours sags or turns outward, tears won’t drain the way they should and your eyes can get watery. If it grows inward, it rubs against your eye and irritates it. Other problems may include redness, mucus, dryness, and sensitivity to light.

If your lids sag or droop, or if your eyes are always watery or irritated, your doctor can help. They might prescribe artificial tears and ointments, but most people need surgery to fix the problem.

Doctors have more nonsurgical options for ingrown eyelids, like soft contacts that protect your eye. Botox and skin tape can also prevent your eye from turning in.

If you notice a large bump on your eyelid, you may have a stye or a chalazion. Styes are usually painful and bigger. Chalazions rarely hurt.

To treat an eyelid bump, soak a clean washcloth in hot water and hold it to your eyelid for 10-15 minutes. Do this 3 to 5 times a day. You may also gently massage around a chalazion with a clean finger.

If that doesn’t help, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics or a steroid shot to ease the swelling of a chalazion. If the bump won’t go away, or if it affects your vision, the doctor may drain it. Don’t ever try to pop one yourself; it can turn into an infection and you’ll probably just make things worse.

When your eyelashes grow inward, they rub against your eye. This irritates it and causes extra tears. Your doctor might pull out an ingrown lash or suggest surgery to remove the lash permanently. If you don’t get treatment, you could get more serious problems like cornea scratches and ulcers.

They can range from minor scratches to open sores called ulcers. Corneas can also get inflamed, a condition called keratitis. Each of these can cause your tears to work overtime.

If your cornea is scratched, you’ll know. Your eye will be extra watery, painful, and highly sensitive to light. When you close it, it might feel like there’s something in it. To treat it, rinse your eye with saline solution, blink several times, or pull your upper eyelid over your lower eyelid. Any of these steps may wash out the object that’s causing you problems. But see a doctor to avoid an infection.

For ulcers and keratitis, see a doctor right away. Delays may damage your eyesight or cause blindness. Your doctor will likely begin treatment with antibacterial, antiviral, or antifungal eye drops followed by anti-inflammatory drops. If your eye is hard to treat, you may need a corneal transplant to save your vision.

If you use extended-wear contact lenses or don’t take them out at night, you have a higher chance of getting keratitis. The best way to prevent this is to properly disinfect the lenses and make sure not to wear them for too long.

Less common causes of watery eyes include:

• Bell’s palsy, a nerve condition that weakens your face muscles
• Eye injuries
• Exposure to chemicals and fumes
• Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Facial surgery
• Certain medications

While there could be many reasons why your eyes are watery, they all share similar symptoms. That makes getting the right diagnosis so important. Visiting a doctor will help you figure out what’s causing your excess tears and the best ways to treat them.

Top Picks

Diseases of the outer shell of the eye. Scleritis and episcleritis. Diagnosis and treatment

Do you know that our eye has a protective layer of tissue that protects our eye from various microbes and foreign bodies? Nerve fibers and muscles are attached to this protective sheath. The outer, densest layer of tissue is the conjunctiva, followed by the thin and transparent episclera and the inner, less dense part, the sclera (or the white of the eye).

If the choroid of our eye is affected by tuberculoma, granuloma and other similar infections, diseases of the upper layers of the sclera are possible.

Scleritis and episcleritis – inflammation of the superficial layers of the outer shell of the eye.

1

Structure of the eye and eyeball

2

Episcleritis

3

Treatment of scleritis

Episcleritis

900 02 In episcleritis inflammation occurs on the episclera membrane, accompanied by the appearance of a red vascular network with a purple tint, and also pain in the eye.

Externally, episcleritis may resemble conjunctivitis, which is well known to many people. However, with inflammation of the episclera, there is no purulent and watery discharge that occurs with conjunctivitis.

Episcleritis usually does not last long and in most cases resolves on its own without any treatment within 7-14 days. This pathology is most often found in the elderly, and, as a rule, 70% of cases are women.

Despite the apparent harmlessness of the disease, episcleritis can lead to complications in the form of inflammation of the cornea and choroid.

Symptoms of episcleritis

In order not to confuse this disease with another pathology of the eye, try to remember the following signs of episcleritis:

• blurred vision;
• lacrimation from an inflamed eye;
• hypersensitivity to light;
• pain in the eye, worse with eye movements;
• Convex purple or red spots, slightly raised above the white of the eye.

Types of episcleritis

Simple episcleritis most common. It is characterized by slight inflammation, redness and soreness in the eye area. The disease completely disappears within 2 weeks.

Nodular episcleritis . Noticeable vascular nodules appear on the sclera around the entire perimeter of the eye, which resolve within a month. After the nodule disappears, a bluish spot remains. With a relapse of the disease, new nodules appear already in other places. Nodular episcleritis does not cause lacrimation and fear of light.

Migrant episcleritis – sudden appearance of edematous red or purple foci on the whites of the eyes, which disappear after a few days or hours. The disease is accompanied by severe swelling of the eyelids and headache. For migratory episcleritis, periods of attenuation and new bursts of the disease are characteristic.

Rosacea episcleritis manifests itself with symptoms such as vascular nodules, inflammation of the cornea of ​​​​the eye and the appearance of rosacea (rosacea) on the skin of the face.

1

Diagnosis and treatment of scleritis

2

Diagnosis and treatment of scleritis

3

Treatment of scleritis

Scleritis 9002 9

Some people believe that episcleritis and scleritis are the same disease. In fact, these are different diseases that have similar symptoms in the early stages.

Scleritis is less common than episcleritis and much more severe. Usually associated with an underlying autoimmune or systemic disease. Most often, this pathology affects people aged 30-60 years.

Scleritis can lead to serious consequences such as loss of vision. If treatment is not carried out, inflammation of the anterior choroid in some cases can provoke the appearance of complicated cataracts and secondary glaucoma.

Symptoms of scleritis

Inflammation begins in the upper layer of the sclera (as in episcleritis), then affects deep structures.

The following general symptoms of scleritis can be distinguished:

• lacrimation and photophobia;
• sudden shooting pain radiating to the head;
• very painful red-purple inflammation in the form of a tubercle on the sclera.

Types of scleritis

Superficial scleritis is characterized by extensive damage to the sclera near the limbus. Often inflammation covers both eyes at once. Edema and hyperemia are observed on the surface of the sclera and conjunctiva, as well as pain in the region of the eyeball. There is almost no tearing. The disease is chronic, lasting with periods of remission for several years. Vision is not reduced.

Deep scleritis may be purulent and granulomatous .

With granulomatous scleritis infiltrates are created in the deep layers of the sclera. Patients develop photophobia, eye pain, and lacrimation. Often becomes chronic. When inflammation of the iris, ciliary body, cornea and sclera occurs keratoscleroveitis .

Purulent scleritis is characterized by an acute course of the disease. With this pathology, a painful focus is formed at the site of passage of the anterior and posterior ciliary arteries. The focus of inflammation is dark red with a yellowish tint, which after a while becomes soft and opens. Then a scar can form in this place, which in some cases resolves on its own.

Causes of episcleritis and scleritis

The exact cause of these two diseases is unknown. However, scientists suggest that the appearance of scleritis and episcleritis is associated with systemic diseases (scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus).

In addition, suspected causes include viral diseases, toxic-allergic reactions of the body to insect bites, chemical injuries, and inflammatory diseases of the eyes.

1

Diseases of the outer shell of the eye. Scleritis and episcleritis. Diagnosis and treatment

2

Diseases of the outer shell of the eye. Scleritis and episcleritis. Diagnosis and treatment

3

Diseases of the outer shell of the eye. Scleritis and episcleritis. Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis of scleritis and episcleritis

Diseases are detected by ophthalmological examination, using ophthalmoscopy, biomicroscopy of the eye and side illumination method.

For the diagnosis of deep forms of scleritis, a cytological and virological study of a scraping of the conjunctiva at the site of the infiltrate is performed.

To study the toxic-allergic nature of the disease, an immunological method of focal tests is used, which allows analyzing the body’s reaction to the introduction of various allergens.

Treatment of episcleritis and scleritis

Treatment of episcleritis is prescribed by an ophthalmologist based on an examination.

Treatment of scleritis depends on the causes of the disease. Perhaps the doctor will prescribe the patient treatment with antibiotics, salicylates, corticosteroids, sulfonamides, cytostatics, antihistamines, immunomodulators, etc.

If the scleritis is due to a metabolic disorder, these disorders are corrected first.

With a purulent form of scleritis, an abscess can be opened.

If necrosis of the sclera occurs, scleroplasty is possible.

The use of physiotherapeutic treatment (UHF, magnetotherapy, etc. ) is considered effective.

The material was prepared with the participation of a specialist:

• Nikulina Olga Vasilievna

  Ophthalmologist

State Healthcare Institution “IGKB No. 9” – Eye Health

9000 8 Patient leaflet:

What you need to do to keep your eyes healthy

Facts about eyes and vision:

• More than 90% of all information about the world around a person perceives through organs vision, the normal functioning of many systems depends on visual perception in organism.
• In Russia, 15.5 million Russians suffer from various eye diseases. In addition, almost every second inhabitant of the Russian Federation has vision problems.

Vision is one of the most complex and amazing properties of the human body, created by nature to perceive the environment.

What You Need to Know

The eye is a peripheral receptor in the nervous system that picks up reflected light from objects, converts it into nerve impulses, and sends it to the brain for recognition.

But how can the eye recognize large and small objects equally well?

Eye is a complex optical device consisting of lenses and transparent media: cornea, aqueous humor of the anterior and posterior chambers, lens and vitreous body, which are called the light-conducting media of the eye.

• The eye is an oblong ball, consisting of connective tissue, in front this tissue forms a transparent bulge with which light contacts – is the cornea – the strongest refractive, that is, image-reducing medium of the eye. Thanks to her, the eye can see far.
• However, to see “under one’s nose” this is not enough. To translate the view to a closer distance there is a lens. Lens – an elastic biconvex lens that is located inside the eye, behind the iris. Due to the work of a special muscle, the lens can become more convex, allowing you to see closer objects. Thanks to the pupil , a hole in the iris, the light entering the lens is dosed. On a summer day, the pupil constricts to protect the delicate light-sensitive cells of the retina from sunburn, and at night it dilates to capture the maximum amount of reflected light.
• Between the cornea and the lens is a space filled with aqueous humor .
• Behind the lens is the vitreous body . It fills most of the eyeball and is a transparent gel, neither the vitreous body nor aqueous humor practically affect the refraction of light.

In violation of the function of the cornea and lens, the ability of the eye to refract light is affected, ophthalmologists call this refractive error.

What is the retina?

On the entire posterior inner surface of the eye there is a “screen” onto which a reduced image is projected. This screen consists of cells: rods and cones. Cones are located in the center of the retina and perceive color, rods allow you to distinguish the location of objects. In other words, the rods answer the question “Where?”, And the cones – “What?”. From cones and rods, the encoded image is transmitted along the optic nerve to the brain, and the brain already recognizes what it sees.

In a healthy eye, all structures work without disturbance:

• Eyelids and lacrimal glands should be healthy. Without this, the eye may dry out, its cornea may turn from transparent to whitish, vision may deteriorate, pain may appear, a feeling of a foreign body.
• Healthy should be the muscles that move the eye – oculomotor. Violation of their function leads to strabismus.
• Healthy should be the entire visual tract. That is, nerve cells that transmit a signal from the eye to the cerebral cortex.
• In a normal eye, the lenses, the cornea and the lens, focus the reduced image strictly on the retina, the screen, and not in front of it or behind it (Fig. b).

The most common pathology of the eye and its causes:

In case of myopia (myopia), the eye is elongated, the cornea becomes more convex than necessary, and the image appears in front of the retina, so the person sees well only near (Fig. a).

Hyperopia (hypermetropia) is an age-related or congenital visual impairment. With hereditary farsightedness, the eye of a newborn is too small and does not have time to grow enough by the age of twenty. The eye looks flattened, and the image does not have time to focus on the retina, but is formed behind it. Therefore, a person does not see well either near or far (Fig. c).

But things are not so bad. There may be complications (strabismus, blurred vision in one of the eyes, glaucoma), but their likelihood is not so high. In many cases, a person with farsightedness lives a long time with good visual acuity, due to the work of the muscle that compresses the lens. But unlike a healthy eye, the lens muscle has to do double work, both when looking near and far. Therefore, people with farsightedness quickly get tired eyes.

Age-related farsightedness (presbyopia) develops more often. Appears in the vast majority of the world’s population after forty years. It is not associated with a change in the eyeball itself, but with a decrease in the elasticity of the lens with age. When this lens of the eye stops working, it becomes more difficult for a person to see objects near, but distance vision is preserved.

Astigmatism occurs when the curvature of the cornea is not uniform, but more convex in one direction than in the other. Part of the image in this case will fall on the retina, and part before or after it. As a result of this, a person loses the ability to see clearly, objects seem blurry and distorted, the eyes quickly get tired during work, and a headache appears.

Amblyopia is the habit of not seeing. Due to uncorrected farsightedness, astigmatism or nearsightedness, a poorly focused image falls on the retina, fuzzy, blurry, smeared. The brain chooses the best eye and works only with it and with its image. And the worst eye becomes more and more “lazy” and gradually deviates to the side.

Cataract is one of the most common eye diseases among the elderly. With a cataract, the lens becomes partially or completely clouded, its transparency is lost, and only a small part of the light rays enter the eye, so vision is reduced, and the person sees fuzzy and blurry.

With glaucoma – a disease leading to the development of blindness, for various reasons, the outflow of intraocular fluid is difficult, and the pressure inside the eye increases. This leads to a violation of the movement of blood through the intraocular vessels, a deterioration in the nutrition of the nerve cells of the retina, the optic nerve and blindness.

What can you do to keep your eyes healthy!

1. We spend a significant part of our time at work, so it is important to properly organize your workplace:

• Visual exercises should only be performed in good light, using an overhead light or a 60-100 W desk lamp. The use of fluorescent lamps is not recommended.
• If you work with a computer:
• Your monitor screen must be evenly lit.
• The screen refresh rate must be at least 85 Hz on the beam monitor and 75 Hz on the LCD.
• For lighting, it is better to install an ordinary incandescent lamp on the ceiling.
• Do not place the only source of light, such as a table lamp behind the monitor.
• The monitor itself does not need to be attached to a window.
• Adjust lighting. The eyes must not be exposed to direct or reflected light from the screen. The light source should be at a 90 degree angle.
• The top edge of the monitor should be slightly below eye level.
• Wipe the screen regularly with a damp cloth (never use detergents, they will erase the special protective coating).
• Glare is one of the most dangerous enemies of vision, if it is impossible to change the lighting, it is better to buy an expensive anti-glare screen.
• It would be optimal to place the monitor on the side of the window so that the light falls to the left of the line of sight.
• The distance from the eyes to the monitor must be at least 50 cm – be guided by the length of the outstretched arm. With good eyesight, it will be good to look at the screen from 70 cm.

2. It is very important to regularly rest your eyes and change the type of visual load:

• Blink more often. With a simple blink, the eyes are moistened and rested.
• Take a 15-minute break every two hours while working. This will provide the brain with a little rest and will save resources for further work.
• When taking a break, walk around the table, jump, squat, drink a glass of juice. Any activity is beneficial.
• During the break, you need to do gymnastics for the eyes. You can use one of the following sets of exercises to relax the eye muscles:

3. Regular, balanced, rational nutrition is important:

• A “vitamin” diet is very important for the prevention of vision problems:
• Of all the vitamins, the most important for vision is vitamin A . It is involved in the process of light perception, that is, in its absence, the eyes lose their ability to adapt to low light and distinguish between blue and yellow colors worse. Carrots, tomatoes, leafy vegetables or fish oil are the main sources of vitamin A.
• Vitamins of group B are in second place in ensuring vigilance. They affect not so much the eye itself, but the centers of the brain responsible for the perception of visual sensations, and the cells of the retina. Nuts, most fruits, grains, as well as liver, kidneys and fish of various varieties are rich in B vitamins.
• Pay special attention to vitamin C, the well-known “ascorbic acid”. With its lack, the muscles that control eye movements, as well as the muscles that change the state of the lens, suffer. It is the deficiency of vitamin C that explains the majority of cases of senile vision loss. Vitamin C is found in rose hips, citrus fruits, onions, tomatoes, spinach and apples.