How to remove contact lenses?

Removing contact lenses can be a daunting prospect for first-time wearers.

Even long-time wearers can find adapting to something new a bit pesky.

What can you do?

Relax!
Everything gets easier once you've had some practice at it—and that includes removing contacts.
Don't fret if you're having a little trouble at first. That's entirely normal.

To help out, here are some tips for removing your contact lenses that will make the process (and your routines for sleep) go a little smoother.

Before you remove contact lenses

One of the most important things you can remember about removing your contacts is to always wash your hands with soap and water first. Wipe your hands dry to minimize the amount of water that gets on your lenses.

Another important tip for removing (and inserting) contact lenses is to start with the same eye every time. This reduces the chances of an accidental switcheroo. (Remember, your contact lenses, like your shoes, have a right and a left side.)

How to remove contact lenses 

1. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror, especially in the beginning.

2. Look upwards.

3. Take your non-dominant hand and use your index finger to raise your upper eyelid away from your eye.

4. With your dominant hand, use your middle finger pull down your lower eyelid.

5. With the pads of your index finger and thumb, gently squeeze the lens to pull it down and away from your eye. Don’t fold or pinch with more force than necessary.

6. Place the lens into the palm of your other hand.

You’re done! It really is easy to do.

Cleaning contact lenses 
Improper handling and cleaning of contacts is a major cause of eye infections and other problems. If you don’t wear daily disposable contact lenses, one of the best things you can do to protect your eyes and vision is to make cleaning a part of your daily removal routine.

Cleaning contact lenses quick and simple. All you need to do is:

Once your lens is in your palm, squeeze fresh cleaner onto its surface.
Rub the lens with the pads of your fingers for 30 seconds.
Repeat for the other side of the lens.
Put the lens into your case, cover it with fresh solution, and then cap.

Having trouble removing contact lenses?

Here are some things to consider:

Rewetting drops or lubricants can make it easier to lift the lens from your eye. Dry eyes let the lens stick a little more closely.
There can be an adjustment period when you’re starting or switching contact lenses. Give yourself enough time to remove your lenses calmly without rushing.
Slide the lens to the white of your eye, especially if you’re worried about discomfort. Pulling the lens toward your lower lid can also help lift it off the surface of your eye.
If edges of your lens stick together, add a drop of fresh cleaning solution and gently rub until they separate.
If you continue having trouble removing your contacts, talk to your eye doctor. He or she may recommend contact lens removal tools that can help make the process easier. These are usually small suction tools or soft-tipped tweezers that help lift the lens.

Remember, all contact lenses are ultimately delicate, and they’re also medical devices. Following the care instructions provided by your eye doctor and your contact lens and cleaning solution manufacturers is critical to protecting the health of your eyes and vision. Never start or switch contact lenses without consulting your eye doctor.

Nothing in this article is to be construed as medical advice, nor is it intended to replace the recommendations of a medical professional. For specific questions, please see your eye care practitioner.

I see flash lights, what is the cause of it?

The first condition that needs to be considered is a retinal tear. Although this is an uncommon cause of flashing lights, it is the most worrisome.

The retina is the delicate layer of tissue that lines the back of the inside of the eye. A retinal tear can lead to a retinal detachment, which means the retina actually separates from the tissue layer below it. Retinal detachment can lead to significant vision loss.

Retinal tears almost never occur in both eyes at the same time. Cover one eye and then the other. If you see flashing, flickering, or streaking lights in only one eye, then you should arrange for an urgent eye exam. In addition to retinal tears and detachment, flashing lights in one eye can be caused by other diseases affecting the retina or the jelly-like fluid called the vitreous in front of the retina.

A more common cause of flashing lights is migraine. Before the headache of a migraine attack settles in, many people experience visual disturbances. It may be flashing lights, sparkling or shimmering lights, or zigzag bright lines. These will be seen in both eyes because the images originate in the brain, not the eye.

After a blow to the head, a person may see flashing lights. If the lights occur in just one eye, then the blow may have caused a retinal tear. More likely, both eyes will see the flashing lights (commonly referred to as "seeing stars"), especially if the blow is to the back of the head. Visual images are processed in the back part of the brain, called the occipital lobe. In theory, the trauma can stimulate the occipital lobe to create the flashing lights.

What are the symptoms of blocked tear duct?

When you have a blocked tear duct, your tears can't drain normally, leaving you with a watery, irritated eye. Blocked tear ducts are caused by a partial or complete obstruction in the tear drainage system.
Blocked tear ducts are common in newborns, but they usually get better without any treatment during the first year of life. In adults, a blocked tear duct may be due to an injury, infection or a tumor.
A blocked tear duct almost always is correctable. Treatment depends on the cause of the blockage and your age.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms may be caused by the blocked tear duct or from an infection that develops because of the blockage. Look for:

Excessive tearing
Recurrent eye inflammation (conjunctivitis)
Recurrent eye infections
Painful swelling near the inside corner of the eye
Mucus or  pus discharge  from the lids and surface of the eye
Blurred vision
When to see a doctor

If your eye has been watery and leaking or is continually irritated or infected, make an appointment to see your doctor. Some blocked tear ducts are caused by tumors pressing on the tear drainage system, and quick identification of the tumor can give you more treatment options.

Causes

The lacrimal glands produce most of your tears. These glands are located inside the upper lids above each eye. Normally, tears flow from the lacrimal glands over the surface of your eye. Tears drain into tiny holes (puncta) located in the corners of your upper and lower eyelids.

Your eyelids have small canals (canaliculi) that move tears to a sac where the lids are attached to the side of the nose (lacrimal sac). From there, tears travel down a duct (the nasolacrimal duct) draining into your nose. Once in the nose, tears are reabsorbed.

A blockage can occur at any point in the tear drainage system, from the puncta to your nose. When that happens, your tears don't drain properly, giving you watery eyes and increasing your risk of eye infections and inflammation.

Blocked tear ducts can happen at any age. They may even be present at birth (congenital). Causes include:

Congenital blockage. Many infants are born with a blocked tear duct. The tear drainage system may not be fully developed or there may be a duct abnormality. A thin tissue membrane often remains over the opening that empties into the nose (nasolacrimal duct) in congenitally blocked tear ducts. This usually opens spontaneously during the first or second month of life.
Age-related changes. As you age, the punctal openings may get narrower, causing partial blockage that slows the flow of tears into the nose, resulting in tearing. Total blockage of the punctal openings also may occur.
Eye infections or inflammation. Chronic infections and inflammation of your eyes, tear drainage system or nose can cause your tear ducts to become blocked.
Facial injuries or trauma. An injury to your face can cause bone damage near the drainage system, disrupting the normal flow of tears through the ducts.
Tumors. Nasal, sinus or lacrimal sac tumors can occur along the tear drainage system, blocking it as they grow larger.
Topical medications. Rarely, long-term use of certain topical medications, such as some of those that treat glaucoma, can cause a blocked tear duct.
Cancer treatments. A blocked tear duct is a possible side effect of chemotherapy medication and radiation treatment for cancer.
Risk factors

Certain factors increase your risk of developing a blocked tear duct:

Age and sex. Older women are at highest risk of developing blocked tear ducts due to age-related changes.
Chronic eye inflammation. If your eyes are continually irritated, red and inflamed (conjunctivitis), you're at higher risk of developing a blocked tear duct.
Previous surgery. Previous eye, eyelid, nasal or sinus surgery may have caused some scarring of the duct system, possibly resulting in a blocked tear duct later.
Glaucoma. Anti-glaucoma medications are often used topically on the eye. If you've used these or other topical eye medications, you're at higher risk of developing a blocked tear duct.
Previous cancer treatment. If you've had radiation or chemotherapy to treat cancer, particularly if the radiation was focused on your face or head, you're at higher risk of developing a blocked tear duct.

Complications

Because your tears aren't draining the way they should, the tears that remain in the drainage system become stagnant, promoting growth of bacteria, viruses and fungi. These organisms can lead to recurrent eye infections and inflammation. Any part of the tear drainage system, including the clear membrane over your eye surface (conjunctiva), can become infected or inflamed because of a blocked tear duct.

What is the difference between hyperopia and presbyopia?

In common cases, people are confused with presbyopia and hyperopia and assume that they are the same. The patients of presbyopia and hyperopia both have obstacles to reading and fine work, and both need to wear corrective glasses. Presbyopia and hyperopia actually two different eye problems.

1. Different purposes of wearing glasses

Presbyopia patients wear the glasses for the purpose of correcting the lag and lack of myopia adjustment. It means that when doing reading, writing or fine work at near distances, people need to wear suitable eyeglasses to help improve the adjustment abilities that work needs.

In comparison, the correction of hyperopia is the purpose of wearing glasses and the glasses need to be worn in everyday life.

2. Differences in causes

Presbyopia is the declining of near eyesight caused by loss of elasticity due to the hardening of the lens, gradually weakened ciliary muscle contraction and thus regulation failure and decreased ability for adjustment. It is a special physiological state of refractive errors that may happen to everyone; thus it cannot be considered as pathological problems or refractive errors.



On contrast, hyperopia is a kind of refractive error that is caused by a variety of reasons, featuring too small eye refractive power or too short eye axis distance. It is a pathological phenomenon that requires regulatory function whether looking far or near.

3. Differences in Clinical Symptoms

Presbyopia is a disease that only those people over 40 have exclusively. The main symptoms are that the eyes switch from near to distance when doing reading or fine work, which also cannot be sustained. As age increases, the symptoms get worse gradually but the hyperopia eyesight remains normal or has no significant effects.

What are the most common eye diseases in elderly people?

PRESBYOPIA: Presbyopia usually occurs beginning at around age 40, when people experience blurred near vision when reading, sewing or working at the computer.
You can't escape presbyopia, even if you've never had a vision problem before. Even people who are nearsighted will notice that their near vision blurs when they wear their usual eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct distance vision.
Presbyopia is widespread in the United States. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, over 135 million Americans were age 40 and older in 2008, and the country is growing older: The median age reached 36.8 in 2008, up 1.5 years since 2000. This growing number of older citizens generates a huge demand for eyewear, contact lenses and surgery that can help presbyopes deal with their failing near vision.
More than a billion people in the world were presbyopic as of 2005, according to the World Health Organization, and 517 million of these did not have adequate correction with eyeglasses. In developing countries, glasses are available in urban areas, but in rural regions they are unavailable or expensive. This is unfortunate, because good near vision is important for literacy and for performing closeup work.

MAKULA DEGENERANCE (Yellow Spot Disease): Age-related deterioration of the visual center causes fogginess in the visual center. Reason of fogginess is the degeneration of macula which is a small region behind the eye. Macula helps you to see the small details of the focus point of your eyes.
Macular degeneration makes it difficult to do things that require sharp central vision like reading, driving and recognizing faces. It does not affect side vision therefore does not cause a complete blindness.
for details: YELLOW SPOT DISEASE

GLOKOM: Glocom is an illness which occurs by damage in visual nerves because of rising inner eye pressure. During initial period of the disease, patient does not have any complaint for a long time but meanwhile optic nerve is worn out and when the patient notices the situation, it may have come to a irreparable level.
for details: OCULAR PRESSURE

CATARACT: The structure and operation of the eye is very similar to an electronic camera. Cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. Visual loss occurs because of the opacification of the lens.
for details:  CATARACT