Eye Issues and Eye Drops
Some eye concerns occur with paralysis. Stroke or brain injury can lead to eye movement issues, hemianopsia (vision loss in half or parts of the visual field,) amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (imbalance in coordination of the eyes), or an inability to completely close eyelids. Horner syndrome occurs with a disruption in sympathetic nerves of the face and can be an issue with higher spinal cord injury, stroke, or tumor. This syndrome results in a drooping eyelid, enlarged pupil, and decreased sweating on the same side of the face where the eye is affected. In addition, no one is exempt from eye issues such as diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, among other eye issues.
Protecting your eyes is imperative for saving your sight, especially in older age as eye diagnoses become more prevalent. Wear sunglasses when outdoors in all seasons can help protect your eyes. Be sure to purchase sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection. This cost a bit more but is well worth the benefit. A hat with a brim will add to your eye protection. The fall is a perfect time to purchase eyewear because sunglasses are on sale.
When you wear sunglasses, eyeglasses, or safety glasses be sure to monitor pressure points, especially on the side of your nose where the nose pieces can add pressure to your skin, and on the top of your ears where the weight of the glasses can add pressure on your skin. Every pair of new glasses will have different pressure points applied as the balance and weight of the glasses vary. Protective pads can be placed on these critical pressure points of the glasses to avoid pressure injury. Some individuals will elect to use wrap-around glasses for additional protection. Straps can be used to help hold glasses in place, again checking for pressure on the nose, and ears as well as on the side and back of the head.
Other ways to protect your eyes include keeping up with eye health exams so issues can be treated early. Monitor your health to control blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, all of which affect your eyes.
Practice excellent hand hygiene to avoid eye contamination and infections. This is especially important if contact lenses are worn. If you do develop an infection in one eye, do not touch your other eye to avoid spreading it. Wash your eyes with separate cloths if infection is present.
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Macular degeneration is treated with a group of vitamins called AREDS2. There is also AREDS. Be sure you are using the correct medication to treat your specific eye issues. At the University of California, Santa Barbara, a chip is being created that when placed in the eye, improves vision with macular degeneration. This is still under experimentation so stay tuned for future progress.
Rest your eyes to avoid strain especially when using the computer or if your eyes feel tired. Wear protective eyewear when doing jobs that involve flying chips or during sports activities. Do not smoke and eat a healthy diet.
Treatment of eye conditions often involves eye drops. Many individuals have an extremely difficult time instilling eye drops. There are some techniques that make this a less complicated procedure. Here is a video here.
Pediatric Consideration:
Conjunctivitis or pink eye can be found in adults but is particularly an issue with children. It is caused by viruses, bacteria, or allergies. If your child can be more susceptible if they have immune system issues due to paralysis. If there is an outbreak of conjunctivitis, be extra cautious with hygiene and cleaning surfaces to avoid spreading to the child’s other eye or to family members. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after using treatment eyedrops.