vision Archives - Live Clean n Prosper

Todays’ post is about dizziness and Vertigo.
My inspiration for this post comes from experiencing this condition myself last month.

It put me on the lounge for 2 days and continued to affect me for several more days. It was a genuinely horrible sensation, which on a few occasions caused me to feel close to losing consciousness.
I went to see my doctor, who diagnosed Vertigo caused by a virus. I thought I would share what I have found out about the condition.

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo or dizziness is caused by an imbalance in the vestibular system. The vestibular system is the sensory system that collects information from the eyes, inner ear and muscles to help us keep our balance and posture.

The vestibular nerve carries information from the inner ear about head movement. When one of the two vestibular nerves is infected, there is an imbalance between the two sides, and vertigo occurs.

What causes it?

The most common cause of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV occurs when tiny crystals of calcium carbonate (also referred to as “otoliths” or “canaliths”) clump together in the part of the inner ear that helps control our balance. This affects the messages sent from the inner ear to the brain.
Other inner ear problems that involve swelling or infection of the inner ear, such as vestibular neuronitis and labyrinthitis, can cause vertigo.

Other causes include; Meniere’s disease, where there is associated tinnitus and hearing loss, head injuries, circulation problems or a tiny stroke of the vestibular nerve.
Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis are disorders that result in inflammation of the inner ear and/or the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain. Generally caused by a viral infection such as a cold or influenza (‘the flu’), these conditions cause vertigo.

In this situation, most people feel better within a few days or weeks. Rarely is vertigo caused by serious problems such as a brain tumour or a stroke.

What are the symptoms?

A sudden onset of a constant, intense spinning sensation that is usually disabling and requires bed rest. It is often associated with nausea, vomiting, unsteadiness, imbalance, difficulty with vision and the inability to concentrate.

How is vertigo treated?

Treatment depends on the cause. In most cases vertigo goes away without treatment. Stress can increase symptoms of dizziness and nausea; therefore reducing stress can help reduce the symptoms.

Your doctor will conduct several tests and then may recommend one of several treatments.

* Medication — usually used for motion sickness, can be used to relieve some of the symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

* Canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) — this is useful if the cause is BPPV. The treatment moves calcium deposits out of the canal so they can be absorbed by the body. This stops the false signals and the debilitating symptoms they can cause.

*Vestibular rehabilitation or balance training – this is a type of physical therapy that strengthens the vestibular (balance) system.

If your symptoms don’t go away, a specialist physiotherapist can help retrain the brain to interpret balance messages from the inner ear.

My doctor prescribed anti-nausea medication, which I found to be very helpful.
I hope you don’t get to experience this condition.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

Sources – The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital,
The New York Times, Health Direct

[Today’s post is about an eye condition called Dry Eyes.

Recently I was talking to a work colleague about this condition. It is a condition that I have also experienced.

For me it presented as really watery eyes in the morning, so much so that it looked like I was crying. When I spoke to the Optometrist I thought it really weird that the condition was called “Dry Eyes” because they were far from dry.

At the time I did a little research to learn more about the condition. It wasn’t until recently that I thought that others would also be interested in what I learned.

So, as most of us are aware, the tears provide moisture and lubrication to help you see and to keep the eyes comfortable.

What’s in a tear?

Tears are a mix of water, oils, mucus and 1500 different special proteins and antibodies that protect the eyes and keep infection at bay. All these ingredients come from special glands around the eye.

So, what is the condition ‘Dry Eyes’?

The condition ‘Dry eyes’ occurs when your tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Tears can be inadequate for many reasons.

What Causes it?

Sometimes, there’s a lack of balance in your tear-flow system. Items such as your air conditioner, heater, or other things around you could dry out your tear film. Other common causes include:

Certain medical conditions that affect your ability to make tears, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders and vitamin A deficiency
Side effects of certain medications including antihistamines and decongestants.
The natural ageing process, especially menopause
Laser eye surgery, though symptoms of dry eyes related to this procedure are usually temporary
Tear gland damage from inflammation
Or increased tear evaporation, which may be caused by; Wind, smoke or dry air, Blinking less often, for example, while reading, driving or watching a screen, or an imbalance in tear composition

There are several different symptoms.

For some it creates a scratchy sensation or the feeling that something is in the eye.

Sometimes, dry eyes create too many tears. This confusing condition is called reflex tearing. It happens because the lack of moisture irritates your eye. It sends a distress signal through your nervous system for more lubrication. Your body sends a flood of tears to try to make up for the dryness.

Other symptoms include stinging or burning, discharge, pain, and redness in the eye. People with dry eye may also feel as if their eyelids are heavy and may experience blurred vision.

How Are Dry Eyes Treated?

There are a number of options. Mild dry eye symptoms may be treated with over-the-counter medications such as artificial tears, gels, and ointments. Many types of drops are available over the counter. No one product works for everyone, so you might have to try a few to figure out the one that’s right for you.

There are also environmental and lifestyle changes you can make. Changes like reducing screen time and taking periodic eye breaks may help. Closing the eyes for a few minutes, or blinking repeatedly for a few seconds, may help to replenish tears and spread them more evenly across the eyes.

(Sources – www.nei.nih.gov, www.webmd.com, www.mayoclinic.org)

I hope that you also found this information helpful. If you find you have ‘dry eye’ symptoms, it’s best to ask your eye care professional what to do. My own condition improved after just a couple of weeks using an over-the-counter eye drops.