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Eye Injuries in Sports
Which sports cause the most eye injuries?
Sports cause more than 40,000 eye injuries each year. More than 90 percent of these injuries can be prevented. Overall, basketball and baseball cause the most eye injuries, followed by water sports and racquet sports.

When it comes to eye injuries, sports can be classified as low risk, high risk and very high risk. Low-risk sports do not use a ball, puck, stick, bat or racquet, and they don’t involve body contact. Some low-risk sports are track and field, swimming, gymnastics, and cycling.

High-risk sports use a ball, puck, bat, stick or racquet, or they involve body contact. Some high-risk sports are baseball, basketball, hockey, football, lacrosse, tennis and other racquet sports, fencing and water polo.

Very-high-risk sports involve body contact and do not use eye protectors. Some very-high-risk sports are boxing, wrestling and contact martial arts.
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What are the most common types of sports-related eye injuries?
Common types of eye injuries are blunt trauma, penetrating injuries and radiation injury from sunlight.

Blunt trauma occurs when something hits you in the eye. Blunt trauma causes most sports-related eye injuries. Some serious examples are an orbital blowout fracture (a broken bone under the eyeball), a ruptured globe (broken eyeball) and a detached retina (the part of the eye that is sensitive to light and helps you see). Bruising of the eye and eyelid (a “black eye”) looks bad but usually is a less serious injury.

Penetrating injuries occur when something cuts into your eye. These injuries are not very common. You can get a penetrating injury if your eyeglasses break while you are wearing them, if another person’s finger scratches you in the eye, or if a fishing hook gets caught in your eye. Penetrating eye injuries range from mild to deep cuts.

Radiation injuries are caused by exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. These injuries are most common in sports such as snow skiing, water skiing and other water sports.

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What should I consider before playing sports?
Your family doctor should examine you before you play any sport. Tell your doctor if you have any eye problems or if you have a family history of retinal problems. If so, you should be checked by an eye doctor before playing any high-risk or very-high-risk sports to avoid any serious injury.
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How can I protect myself from eye injuries?
Your eye doctor can tell you how to protect your eyes. Wearing eye protection can reduce the number and severity of eye injuries. Only 3-mm polycarbonate lenses should be used in protective sports eyewear. These lenses are available in plain and prescription forms. Polycarbonate lenses are impact resistant. They also are the thinnest and lightest lenses available.

Never wear protective devices without lenses. Contact lenses and sunglasses will not protect your eyes from blunt or penetrating injuries. Wearing a helmet or faceguard cannot protect your eyes, because your eyes are still exposed to an opponent’s fingers or other sports equipment. The helmet also can be knocked off, leaving your eyes vulnerable to injury. Your eye doctor can help you choose eye protection for your specific sport.

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When can an athlete with an eye injury return to play?
Athletes with a serious eye injury should be examined by an ophthalmologist and return to play only if the doctor says it is safe. The injured eye should feel comfortable and have adequate vision. The athlete should wear eye protection.

For a less serious injury, the team physician can usually decide if the athlete can return to play based on the type of injury and how the athlete feels. Athletes should never use topical anesthetics (pain medicines) so they can keep playing.

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Vision Loss
What causes vision loss?
Vision changes, such as trouble focusing on close objects, are a normal part of aging. The main causes of vision loss in people older than 40 years of age are:
•Macular degeneration (say: mak-yoo-ler dee-jen-ur-ay-shun). This is caused by changes in the macula. The macula is the part of the eye that gives you clear, sharp vision.
•Glaucoma (say: glaw-koh-mah). This is usually caused by high pressure from the fluid inside the eye.
•Cataracts (say: cat-uh-racts). This is caused by a clouding of the lens inside the eye.
•Diabetic retinopathy (say: die-uh-bet-ick ret-in-ahh-path-ee). This affects people who have diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the eyes.
Other common causes of vision loss include injury, infections and vision changes associated with certain illnesses.
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How can I tell if I’m losing my vision?
You might have vision problems if you have trouble with normal activities, such as reading mail, watching television, signing your name, paying bills or walking up and down stairs. You might also have trouble recognizing people. You may notice that you squint a lot in order to see things clearly.

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How can my doctor help me if my vision is changing?
Visit your doctor if vision problems keep you from doing your normal activities. He or she can recommend the right treatment for you, depending on what is causing your vision loss.

Your doctor can also help you find specialists to treat your vision problems. For many patients, a team approach is the best way to treat vision loss. Some of the specialists your doctor may recommend include:

•An ophthalmologist to treat the eye disease causing the vision problems.
•An optometrist to manage the vision problems.
•A doctor specializing in low vision to prescribe optical aids, such as special magnifiers and telescopes.
•A physical therapist to help you with balance and walking problems, and to teach you how to use a cane if you need one.
•An occupational therapist to help you with normal daily activities and to teach you how to use optical aids.
•A social worker or therapist to help you cope with the emotional issues of vision loss.

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Gentle Treatments to Soothe Weary Eyes

By Kate M.

To many, eyes are otherwise known as the �windows to the soul.� Nothing stops one�s heart like gazing into another�s eyes – connecting on such an intense, intimate level � that the world stops spinning for a moment and it seems everything is as it should be. Your eyes meet and your two alone are the only people in the room, whether you really are or not… Eyes are precious!

Wearing makeup seems pointless if your eyes are bloodshot, swollen or just plain weary. By keeping your eyes in great condition, you make them look wonderful not just by putting makeup on, but also by allowing them to exude their natural energy.

Staring at a computer for hours on end can cause much strain to eyes. For this dilemma, you can invest in a polarized monitor filter for your computer that will lessen the stress put upon your eyes by reducing reflections. Excessive reading or straining to see something without your glasses or contact lenses also causes stress to the eyes.

To keep your eyes healthy, try to avoid excessive smoke, chemicals and other irritants. Take the time as needed to relax your eyes. When you have downtime, close them while you are awake and just rest for a moment. To relieve your eyes from irritation caused by a foreign particle or eyelash, apply one or two eye drops.

Especially during allergy season, a cool or cold compress may be necessary to soothe eyes and restore their vitality. Sometimes something as simple as a soft washcloth soaked in cool water, gently squeezed out, can renew tired, swollen and itchy eyes. Turn on some music, recline comfortably and place the cool cloth over your eyes for a relaxing respite from a long day.

Follow these tips to keep your peepers in the best possible condition:

Avoid going to sleep until you�ve removed your makeup. Tiny flecks of mascara can irritate your eyes while you sleep and once you wake up from your slumber. Prevent these problems by removing your makeup each night before you go to sleep.
Apply a cool compress if ever you have a difficult time focusing on things. When you experience a degree of discomfort that prevents you from doing your work or handling a task, it is best to take a break and soothe the problem before proceeding.

Invest in an eye mask that you can place in the refrigerator. Keep this item cold in the fridge for only a few moments as directed, as they can eventually leak if left too long.

If you wear contacts, be vigilant with the directions. Remember to remove them at night if you are supposed to take them out. If you�ve got the disposable ones, use them as long as directed and begin the new set once that time has passed.

Visit your eye doctor as recommended.

Avoid putting your fingers in or near your eyes. Many illnesses, viruses and bacteria transmit with minimal contact to the eyes. Especially contagious, pink eye wreaks havoc on your eyes until it�s run its course.

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Why does the eye itch?

The eye can itch due to many different reason. Most are because something is in the eye that shouldn’t be. You may have gotten dust or other forgien matter into your eye, flushing your eye with cool water is the quickest way to see if this is the case, if you do get relief then more than likely, that was the cause. If the itching continues, or becomes painful and, you think you have something in your eye, you need to see your Dr. You shouldn’t scratch your eye if you think you have something in it, you can do serious damage to your eye.

Another thing that can make your eye itch terribly and even in extreme cases needs surgery is eye lashes growing the wrong way. An eye lash can grow inverted, turning itself into the eye from the hair folical. This can be painful and cause the eye to water, itch, and swell.

You can get a sty that can cause your eye to itch, swell usually near the edge of the lid and become red, or dark red, especially if the sty becomes infected. If that happens, you need to see your Dr., they can determine if you need medication for your eye and if you have a fever, anything you need or should do for that.

There is of course the ever popular, allergies. This can cover almost anything from, pet dander to plant pollen. The best way you can tell if an allergy is the cause, have your Dr. test you, and find out what you allergies are. Then, no more guessing. But if you aren’t going to do that, trail and error. Test it out yourself, and see if something makes your eyes itch. But, be prepared to wash your hands with soap and water first, then rinse your eyes with cool water. Make sure you flush them well, and pat them dry with a clean towel, if you discover your allergry.

You could also have Pink Eye. But I think the other symptoms of that will show themselves early enough that it will not remain a mystrey for long. If you think back also, you will probably remember having been exposed to Pink Eye, usually a young child is the one already suffering. You have been unfortunate to have come into contact during to wrong period. You will need to give your Dr. a call and see how they want you to deal with this one.

Then there are all the things that can be happening, or changing in your eyes. If your are experiencing anything unusual with you sight and the itching conitnues or worsens, you need to see your Dr. They will test for all the things that could or might possibly cause the changes you have had. You should have your eyes checked every two years if you wear glasses anyway, and you should have the test for glaucoma and the pressure test preformed as well.

Eye burning – itching and discharge

Eye burning with discharge is burning, itching, or drainage from the eye of any substance other than tears.

Considerations
Sometimes burning and itching eyes are due to environmental pollutants. If secondhand cigarette smoke is annoying, say so. If an industrial plant in the area is polluting, contact the EPA for solutions.

Causes
Allergies, including seasonal allergies or hayfever
Bacterial infections
Chemical irritants (such as chlorine in a swimming pool or makeup)
Conjunctivitis or pink eye
Dry eyes
Irritants in the air (cigarette smoke or smog)
Home Care
Apply cool compresses to soothe itching.

If the eyelids have crusts, gently soften them with warm compresses. Gently washing the eyelids with baby shampoo on a cotton applicator can help remove crusts.

Artificial tears used 4 – 6 times a day can also relieve symptoms. Avoid over-the-counter eye drops other than artificial tears because they will eventually make symptoms worse.

Itching and burning due to allergy or chemicals can be very uncomfortable. Attempt to determine the cause of the allergy, such as a pet, seasonal pollen, or irritating cosmetics.

Refrigerated artificial tears can be very soothing. Antihistamine drops, available from your health care provider, can be helpful.

Pink eye or viral conjunctivitis causes a red or bloodshot eye and excessive tearing. If you suspect pink eye, remember to wash your hands often, and avoid touching the unaffected eye. The infection will run its course in about 10 days.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is not common, but if you have eye discharge that is white, yellow, or greenish, contact your health care provider.

When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your health care provider if:

The discharge is thick, greenish, or resembles pus
You have excessive eye pain or sensitivity to light
Your vision is decreased
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Your health care provider will get a medical history and will perform a physical examination.

Medical history questions may include:

What does the eye drainage look like?
Is it thick?
Is it yellow?
Does it look like pus?
Is it green?
Is it bloody?
Is it clear?
Other questions
What other symptoms do you have?
Do you have decreased vision?
Do you have eye pain?
Do you have light sensitivity (photophobia)?
The physical examination may include a check of your:

Eyelids
Eye motion
Reaction of your pupils to light
Vision
Treatment:

Your health care provider may prescribe antihistamines in the form of eye drops or ointments. Bacterial conjunctivitis will be treated with antibiotic eye drops. Cortisone-like eye ointments are usually avoided, because they can cause long-term problems.

After seeing your health care provider:

If your symptoms do not improve or they worsen in 1-2 weeks, contact your health care professional. You might need additional treatments.

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Eyestrain

Eyestrain, ocular tiredness. These phenomena are in full boom as the computers become elements increasingly impossible to circumvent of the modern world. How to fight against this disorder? All solutions with our experts!

Said stop to the eyestrain!

Headaches, tinglings of the eyes.
The eyestrain is the daily batch of many workers on screen. To face there, an ophthalmologic treatment and some modifications of the work place make it possible to keep good foot, good eye!
Eyestrain: new evil of the century

Game consoles, screens of computers, television. our eyes are requested more and more. Result: the eyestrain became one of the principal reasons for consultation in the ophthalmologists. The point on this phenomenon with Monique Nguyen, ophthalmologist.

Risks of work on screen

Within the framework of work or leisures, the cathode screens were essential in our daily newspaper. However, they have very often bad reputation, shown to cause eye trouble, an ocular or worse dryness. Which are really the risks?

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Strabism
Strabism translates a defect of convergence of the visual axes. These loucheries make impossible obtaining an image single of an object. This defect can be convergent or divergent. More frequent in the child, it must be dealt with early to avoid sometimes serious consequences.

Strabism: urgency
Strabism can have serious consequences if it isn’t t treated as of the first years. The assumption of responsibility is long, but when the anomaly is corrected precociously, the forecast is excellent.

Orthoptics in questions
Professionals ignored in France, the orthoptists are true the ” kinés” our eyes. Are the children the only concerned ones? Which type of problem can they solve? When to consult them? … The point with Doctissimo.

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Myopia

Myopia is an anomaly of the vision described for the first time by Aristote (384-322 av. J.C.) A myope sees fuzzy by far, and beside the visual defect, somme myopias accompany of more or less serious anomalies of the retina.

Definition
We speaks about myopia if image of the distant objects is formed in front of the retina. The importance of myopia is variable according to the eyes. In vision of near, there exists a distance to which a myope sees Net and without making effort. If myopia is important, this distance is reduced. This is why somme very short-sighted people read with a few centimetres of the text.

Various causes of myopia are known

- That is to say the eye is ” too much long” (an eye known as ” normal” a length of 23mm has). This is the case in the congenital glaucome. This rare disease can reach the children as of the birth. Because of increase in the ocular tension, the eye grows too quickly and weakens. Without treatment, evolution is done towards blindness. The diagnosis thus should be made as soon as possible.
- That is to say the optical system of eye (formed by the cornea and the crystalline lens) is too powerful.
- Lastly, certain cataracts make short-sighted.

Evolution
Myopia often appears around the childhood and can increase until at approximately 20 years. We cannot predict at which rate/rhythm nor until with when it increases, because each eye is different. Myopias ” strong ” appear in theory earlier and can further increase well after 20 years age.

Ocular consequences
Without glasses, a myope doesn’t have a good vision by far. We express in tenth. If the eye is in good state, the glasses enable him to see 10/10, or even more. The short-sighted ones have a risk more important to make a detachment of retina or a glaucome. To detect them, of the regular consultations at ophthalmologist are recommended.
Some myopias known as ” strong ” are responsible of anomalies of the retina which worsen it during time and threaten the vision. The doctor can supervise their progression by examining the bottom of eye. Certain children make too visual efforts: they ” adapt ” too much. This can result in a ” distort myopie”. To recognize it and find the cause of it, we instills into the eyes an eye lotion which blocks temporarily; accommodation and we re-examines child.

Optical correction

Glasses of short-sighted were used as of the 15th century. Myopia is corrected by divergent glass. It replaces on the retina, image of the objects moved away, which are thus seen Nets. It is necessary to avoid correcting a myopia too much, which could involve eyestrain and headaches. Some under-are voluntarily corrected to improve comfort of the subject, even with depend of a moderate visual blur.
Various types of corrective lenses and materials exist. The optician can guide the choice of them.

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Presbyopia
This chapter is only one small summary. For more details to refer to the chapter “Presbyopia; general information, associations, surgery principles & technical”.

Definition
impossibility of making the development: the sight of close is turbid ? if we makes the comparison with a camera, this one wouldn’t manage any more to make the development in order to take clear photographs in vision of near

Which are the surgical possibilities of improvement of the sight of near?

Several options exist, the choice being done according to a beam of arguments (results of the ophthalmologic examination, other associated visual defects, age, community activities…
LASIK

If presbyopia joins myopia, it is possible to completely eliminate myopia from the directing eye (to allow a good sight by far) and to leave a low myopia on the dominated eye (this allowing the vision of near). This option is easy has to test in consultation using contact lenses of adapted power
- If presbyopia joins the hypermetropie, the correction of the latter allows a good vision by far, and an improvement of near

Change of the crystalline lens
- Presbyopia is due to the loss of flexibility of the crystalline lens, which cannot make the development any more. It is possible to replace it by a lens which allows a good vision by far and of near ?
- Technically, this surgery is identical to the surgery of the cataract, but its goal is not the same one

- The results of this intervention are excellent, and allow very a good sight as well by far as of close, with the two eyes. ?
Frequency of presbyopia: 100% after the 45 years age ?

Is presbyopia pathological? Not, it is natural; the eyes “aren’t degraded”

Which is the cause of presbyopia?

The crystalline lens becomes rigid and cannot adapt (the crystalline lens any more is a transparent lens located behind the pupil. Before 45 years it is elastic and, while changing form, it allows the vision of near. From the 45 years age it becomes rigid: it is presbyopia. Later, it is opacified: it is the cataract)

Measure:

In dioptres, from +1 to +3. The evolution is done between 45 and 60 years, in a similar way for everyone

Consequence: Bad vision of near

Can presbyopia join other optical defects?
- Yes, with all: myopia, the hypermetropie, astigmatism. Thus, one becomes short-sighted and presbyope, hypermetrope and presbyope, astigmate and presbyope ?

Does presbyopia change the other optical defects?

- No. It has any influence neither on myopia, neither on the hypermetropie, nor on the astigmatism. It can, on the other hand, reveal an unperceived last hypermetropie until there.

- In addition, the short-sighted presbyopes can see closely, provided that their myopia is corrected (neither by glasses, neither by lenses, nor by the surgery). Indeed a short-sighted eye increases the images in vision of close (as a magnifying glass can do it); but, once presbyope, it does not make any more the development.

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Problems with the eyes – Glaucome
The diseases of the eyes not-treated can go until even permanent temporary blindness. It is important to admit the symptoms of a disease of the eyes in order to receive a fast treatment to preserve your sight. The glaucome is a well-known disease of the eyes but not included/understood always well.
What the glaucome?
The glaucome is the name given to the disease of the eyes during which a dangerous increase in the pressure occurs on the internal eye, it is called the pressure intraoculaire (PIO). This pressure is dangerous because it can damage the optical nerve of the eye. Once the optical nerve cannot communicate the visual informations with the brain any more, one cannot see any more.
There exist two principal types of glaucome. The primary glaucome with open angle (CAM), which reduces the peripheral vision gradually. And the glaucome with closed angle which arrives with a sudden series of symptoms with each time part of your field of view is destroyed.
The symptoms are pains on the level of the eyes, light “halots”, nauseas and headaches. Whereas the glaucome with closed angle can be devastator, the primary glaucome with open angle is more insidious. With the primary glaucome with opened angle, the majority of the peripheral vision can disappear without one realizing some.
There are other types of glaucome which are less common. The glaucome with normal pressure which causes damage on the level of the optical nerve whereas the IOP remains on a normal level. The congenital glaucome occurs when children are born with a defect with the eye-level which leads to the glaucome. The pigmentary glaucome occurs when pigments are blocked in the angles of drainage. The secondary glaucome is a chronic glaucome which is the result of one wound to the eye.

Which is the treatment of the glaucome?
Eye drops can control the pressure on the eye-level and help to prevent the damage on the long run. Unfortunately, the glaucome is not always accompanied by symptoms usual and easy to identify. Many are those which do not pay great attention to their treatment, which will have consequences for the eyes.
The surgery of the glaucome can also be a possibility. A type of surgery of the glaucome is the selective trabéculoplastie with the laser (TSL), which consists in creating small holes in the angle of filtration of the eye. Another possibility is the trabeculectomy, which consists in creating an artificial zone of drainage in the eye.
It is important to have regular examinations of the eyes and to measure the pressure of your eyes. If your ophthalmologist discovers a glaucome, you must have a discussion detailed with him, concerning the options available and the risks and the advantages of the various types of treatments.

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The cataract is characterized by a opacification of the crystalline lens involving a fall of sight.
Of evolution generally slowly progressive, it is the cause of a fall of increasingly awkward vision. At the beginning, the subject is obstructed by an abnormal sensitivity to the light (photophobia), especially marked under strong light (dazzling with the sun or at the time of the control of night) being able to accompany by whimpering reflex.
Gradually, the fall of vision becomes increasingly painful and blocks the most current gestures of the life, which involves indication of an surgical operation.

There exist several types of cataract:
- Cataract of the old subject, most frequent, due to the ageing of the crystalline lens.
- Congenital Cataract, family affection, whose early discovery at the whole young child will make carry indication of a according to importance of opacity of the crystalline lens.
- Traumatic Cataract, generally fast of evolution.
- Secondary Cataract with serious affections of eye (uvéites old, old detachment of retina, neglected diabetes).

The recourse to surgical operation is the only possible treatment.
The crystalline lens is made up of a core containing transparent proteins, surrounded by an also transparent envelope, the capsule.
Intervention consists in removing the core of the crystalline lens opacified either by simple extraction (without fragmentation of the core), or by phako-emulsification (the core is fragmented under action of a suction probe vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency introduced into eye); the advantage of this last technique isn’t to practise that a very limited opening of the ocular sphere and to obtain a faster visual recovery.
Abssence of crystalline lens (aphaquie), involving appearance of an optical defect (hypermetropie very strong), is corrected while introducing into eye in end of intervention of cataract a small optical lens (implant) whose power is calculated according to certain parameters. We can thus correct strong ametropies (myopia or hypermetropie) by this process.
Whenever where implant couldn’t be set up in eye (medical or surgical counter-indications), correction of phaquie will be done by the port of a contact lens or by glasses.
Intervention of the cataract lasts approximately between 20 and 25 minutes and is generally held under local anaesthesia, which makes it possible to the patient to even return at his place the evening or the following day
The operational continuations are generally simple grace to a local treatment, but the precautions impose it : absence of violent effort, not of shock on the ocular sphere. The vision is quickly good, but it takes approximately two months to recover a final vision.
Although the surgery of the cataract is with current hour a gesture of current surgery (+ of 300.000 people have recourse there each year), it isn’t free from complications; in 1 to 5% of the cases, it can exist inflammatory, infectious or hemorrhagic complications.