A Cataract is a cloudiness of the eye's natural lens, which lies between the front and back areas of the eye. This makes it difficult for light to pass through it causing poor cloudy vision.

All surgery involves some risk. However, cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed type of surgery. Magrabi cataract surgeons have performed thousands of cataracts. Choosing a surgeon with this much experience will reduce the risk of something going wrong.

Cataracts usually start as very small and practically unnoticeable but grow gradually larger and cloudier. Your doctor is probably waiting until the cataract interferes significantly with your vision and your lifestyle. You need to continue to visit your eye doctor regularly so the cataract's progress is monitored. Some cataracts never really reach the stage where they should be removed. If your cataract is interfering with your vision to the point where it is unsafe to drive, or doing everyday tasks is difficult, then it's time to discuss surgery with your doctor..

About half of the population has a cataract by age 65, and nearly everyone over 75 has at least one. But in rare cases, infants can have congenital cataracts at birth. These are usually related to the mother having German measles, chickenpox, or another infectious disease during pregnancy, but sometimes they are inherited.

Nowadays, cataract patients who have intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted during surgery may need only reading glasses for close vision, but that's about it. People who don't receive IOLs wear contact lenses for distance vision, with reading glasses for close up. Or they may wear multifocal contact lenses for all distances. Rarely does anyone have to wear thick eyeglasses now.

As with any surgery, pain, infection, swelling, and bleeding are possible, but very few patients experience serious problems. Your surgeon may prescribe medications for these effects. Retinal detachment also occurs in a few people. Be on the lookout for excessive pain, vision loss, or nausea, and report these symptoms to your eye surgeon immediately.

Glaucoma isn't one disease. Instead, it's a group of diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve. In most cases, this damage is the result of increased pressure within your eye. As the optic nerve deteriorates, the patient gradually loses the ability to see to the side (peripheral vision). with time your central vision may begin to decrease as well. If Glaucoma isn't treated, it eventually may lead to total blindness. In fact, Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness. That's because Glaucoma often gives no warning sign until permanent damage has already occurred. In most cases the onset is so gradual you're not aware you've lost some of your peripheral vision.

for 60 percent to 70 percent of all Glaucoma cases. About 10 percent of people with Glaucoma have angle-closure glaucoma, which occurs suddenly and often causes dramatic symptoms. This type of Glaucoma is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment. A much smaller number of people have congenital glaucoma, which is present at birth, or secondary glaucoma, which results from trauma, chronic steroid use or disease. Still, the news about Glaucoma is encouraging. When it's detected and treated early, Glaucoma need not cause blindness or even severe vision loss for most people.

The signs and symptoms of Glaucoma vary, depending on the type of Glaucoma. Primary open-angle glaucoma Primary open-angle glaucoma often goes undetected for years. Pressure within the eye increases gradually, with no early warning signs. But eventually, you lose more and more of your side vision until only a narrow section of your visual field remains clear. This type of Glaucoma tends to affect both eyes, although you may have symptoms in just one eye first. In addition to reduced peripheral vision, the signs and symptoms of primary open angle glaucoma may include: • Sensitivity to glare. • Trouble differentiating between varying shades of light and dark. Angle-closure glaucoma Attacks of angle-closure glaucoma often develop suddenly, but you also may have preliminary warnings weeks or even months ahead of a severe attack. Glaucoma attacks usually occur in the evening when the light is dim and your pupils are dilated. The pain may be very severe and cause vomiting. Other signs and symptoms of acute glaucoma may include: • Blurred vision, usually in just the eye involved. • Halos appearing around lights. • Reddening of your affected eye. Congenital glaucoma This type of Glaucoma is usually present at birth, but signs and symptoms — such as eyes that seem cloudy, are often watery or teary or are sensitive to light — may not appear until an infant is a few months old. Secondary glaucoma The symptoms of secondary Glaucoma will vary, depending on the cause.

You may not need any treatment if your eye pressure is only slightly elevated and there's no damage to your optic nerve. Instead, your doctor may choose to monitor your condition with regular eye exams. But if you have signs of optic nerve damage, treatment can help slow its progression. Unfortunately, it's not currently possible to reverse damage that has already occurred. Most people have good results with Glaucoma medication, but some may need surgery instead. Medications for glaucoma Most Glaucoma medications are applied directly to your eyes in the form of drops, although a few may be taken orally. Because a portion of the drops may be absorbed into your bloodstream, you sometimes may have side effects unrelated to your eyes. In addition, some medications may lose their effectiveness over time. In that case, you may need to change or add medications or have surgery to control your Glaucoma. It's not always easy to use Glaucoma medication as directed. Drops usually need to be applied several times each day, and if you're using more than one medication, you need to wait at least 5 to 10 minutes between applications. This rigorous schedule can sometimes seem time-consuming and confusing. Furthermore, because Glaucoma rarely causes symptoms in its early stages, you may not notice any change in your vision when you start using medication. Still, it's extremely important to follow your treatment plan exactly as your doctor prescribes. Skipping even a few doses of medication can cause your glaucoma to become worse. If you have trouble with your treatment plan, tell your doctor. Surgery for Glaucoma When medications aren't effective or well tolerated, surgery may be an option. Keep in mind that surgery doesn't cure Glaucoma. As a result, you may need to keep using antiglaucoma medications even after surgery. In some cases, you may need a second operation. Laser surgery (trabeculoplasty) In this procedure, your doctor uses a beam of high energy light to shrink part of the meshwork of your eye's drainage angle. This causes other areas of the meshwork to stretch, which helps aqueous fluid drain more easily. Laser surgery, which usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes, will likely be performed in your doctor's office under local anesthesia. Following surgery you should have almost no discomfort, but you'll need to continue taking eye-drops, at least for a time, and you may need more surgery within 5 years. In some cases intraocular pressure actually may increase following laser surgery. In most cases this is temporary, but sometimes the rise in pressure may be permanent, leading to further vision loss. Trabeculectomy In this procedure a surgeon creates a new drainage pathway for fluid in the white part of your eye (sclera) using traditional surgical techniques. Many people who have had this type of surgery no longer need eye-drops. But there are also risks. In some cases, scars may form that close the drainage channels. This is a particular problem in young people, blacks and people who have had cataract surgery. Drainage implants This may be an option for adults when other treatments have failed as well as for infants and children. In this procedure a small silicon tube is inserted in your eye to help drain aqueous fluid. Possible complications include the clouding of the lens of your eye (cataracts) and implant failure. Medications and surgery for acute glaucoma Doctors may administer several different medications during an attack of acute glaucoma in an effort to reduce eye pressure as quickly as possible. Once your eye pressure is brought under control, you may have an emergency operation known as an iridotomy to create a drainage hole in your iris. This surgery is now almost exclusively performed with lasers, which allow specialists to form an opening without making an incision in your eye. Laser iridotomy is an outpatient procedure that avoids many of the risks of traditional surgery. After treatment you can usually resume your normal activities right away.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition in which high blood sugar causes retinal blood vessels to swell and leak blood and this may affect vision seriously.

Fluctuating blood sugar levels lead to an increased risk of this disease, as does long-term diabetes. Most people don't develop diabetic retinopathy until they've had diabetes for at least 10 years.

Keeping your blood sugar at an even level can help prevent diabetic retinopathy. If you have high blood pressure, keeping that under control is helpful as well. Even controlled diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy, so you should have your eyes examined once a year; that way, your doctor can begin treating any retinal damage as soon as possible.

In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, you might have no symptoms at all, or you might have blurred vision. In the later stages, you develop cloudy vision, blind spots or floaters.

Diabetic retinopathy is classified as either nonproliferative (background) or proliferative. Nonproliferative retinopathy is the early stage, where small retinal blood vessels break and leak. In proliferative retinopathy, new blood vessels grow abnormally within the retina. This new growth can cause scarring or retinal detachment, which can lead to vision loss. The new blood vessels may also grow or bleed into the vitreous humor, the transparent gel filling the eyeball in front of the retina. Proliferative retinopathy is much more serious than the nonproliferative form and can lead to total blindness.

No. Early treatment can slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, but is unlikely to reverse any vision loss.

The best treatment is to keep your diabetes under control; blood pressure control is also helpful. Your doctor may decide on laser photocoagulation to seal leaking blood vessels and destroy new blood vessel growth. If blood gets into the vitreous humor, your doctor might want to perform a procedure called a vitrectomy.

YMacular degeneration is a condition in which the eye's macula breaks down, causing a gradual or sudden loss of central vision.

Macular degeneration is usually age-related, affecting people over 65, so the terms are often used interchangeably. However, certain drugs can cause macular degeneration, and some cases are inherited as well.

Yes and the reasons for this are: more ultraviolet light in our environment due to a thinning ozone layer, people living longer, environmental pollutants, smoking, poor diet, obesity, etc...

If you're over age 65, a smoker or have a family member with macular degeneration, you have an increased risk for macular degeneration. Also some medications can cause the disease.

Doctors aren't sure how to prevent macular degeneration. Research suggests that ultraviolet light (and possibly blue light) factors into the problem, so sunglasses could be very beneficial. What you eat also affects your macula. Researchers think that antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E), zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and essential fatty acids all can aid in preventing macular degeneration. Exercising and quitting smoking might also be helpful.

Early signs include: straight lines appearing wavy, fuzzy vision, and shadowy areas in your central vision. Your eye doctor may find indicators before you have any symptoms, so regular eye exams can mean an early diagnosis.

Macular degeneration is classified as either dry or wet. The dry form is more common than the wet (about 90% of patients). It may result from the aging and thinning of macular tissues, depositing of pigment in the macula or a combination of the two. In the wet form, new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes retinal cells to die and creates blind spots in central vision.

No, but treatment can slow or even stop the progression of the wet form, so the earlier you're diagnosed, the better.

You may sometimes see small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision. They are called floaters. You can often see them when looking at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky. Floaters are actually tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous, the clear jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eye. Floaters may look like specks, strands, webs or other shapes. Actually, what you are seeing are the shadows of floaters cast on the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye.

If a spot or shadowy shape passes in front of your field of vision or to the side, you are seeing a floater. Because they are inside your eye, they move with your eyes when you try to see them. You may also see flashes of light. These flashes occur more often in older people as the vitreous humor thickens and tugs on the light-sensitive retina. They may be a warning sign of a detached retina. Flashes also occur after a blow to the head, often called "seeing stars." Some people experience flashes of light that appear as jagged lines or "heat waves" in both eyes, often lasting 10-20 minutes. These types of flashes are usually caused by a spasm of blood vessels in the brain, which is called a migraine. If a headache follows the flashes, it is called a migraine headache. However, jagged lines or "heat waves" can occur without a headache. In this case, the light flashes are called an ophthalmic migraine, or a migraine without a headache.

For most people, floaters occur as they grow older. The vitreous humor thickens and clumps as we age, and floaters result from the clumped vitreous gel. Sometimes pregnant women see spots caused by little bits of protein trapped within the eye. Eye injury or breakdown of the vitreous humor may also cause spots and floaters. When people reach middle age, the vitreous gel may start to thicken or shrink, forming clumps or strands inside the eye. The vitreous gel pulls away from the back wall of the eye, causing a posterior vitreous detachment. It is a common cause of floaters, and it is more common for people who: are nearsighted; have undergone cataract operations; have had YAG laser surgery of the eye; have had inflammation inside the eye.

Most spots and eye floaters are merely annoying but harmless when they temporarily enter the field of vision, and many fade over time. People sometimes are interested in surgery to remove floaters, but doctors are willing to perform such surgery only in rare instances. If you suddenly see new floaters, or eye floaters accompanied by flashes of light or peripheral vision loss, it could indicate serious conditions such as diabetic retinopathy; vascular abnormalities such as retinal hemorrhages or carotid artery disease, or the beginning of a retinal detachment. The retina can tear if the shrinking vitreous gel pulls away from the wall of the eye. This sometimes causes a small amount of bleeding in the eye that may appear as new floaters. You should see your eye doctor immediately.

Amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye," is a vision problem that affects just two to three percent of the population, but if left uncorrected, it can have a very big impact on their lives. Central vision does not develop properly, usually in one eye, which is called amblyopic. A related condition, strabismus, sometimes causes Amblyopia.

Untreated Amblyopia may lead to functional blindness in the affected eye. Although the amblyopic eye has the capability to see, the brain "turns off" this eye because vision is very blurred. The brain elects to see only with the stronger eye.

Amblyopia generally develops in young children, before age six. Its symptoms often are noted by parents or health-care professionals. If a child squints or completely closes one eye to see, he or she may have amblyopia. Other signs include overall poor visual acuity, eyestrain and headaches.

Trauma to the eye at any age can cause Amblyopia, as well as a strong uncorrected refractive error (nearsightedness or farsightedness) or strabismus. It's important to correct Amblyopia as early as possible, before the brain learns to entirely ignore vision in the affected eye.

Amblyopic children can be treated with vision therapy (which often includes patching one eye), atropine eye-drops, the correct prescription for nearsightedness or farsightedness, or surgery. Vision therapy exercises the eyes and helps both eyes work as a team. Vision therapy for someone with amblyopia forces the brain to see through the amblyopic eye, thus restoring vision. Sometimes the eye doctor or vision therapist will place a patch over the stronger eye to force the weaker eye to learn to see. Patching may be required for several hours each day or even all day long, and may continue for weeks or months. In some children, atropine eye-drops have been used to treat Amblyopia instead of patching. One drop is placed in the child's good eye each day (the parent can do this). Atropine blurs vision in the good eye, which forces the child to use the eye with Amblyopia more, to strengthen it. One advantage is that it doesn't require constant vigilance on the part of the parent to make sure the child wears the patch. Amblyopia will not go away on its own, and untreated Amblyopia can lead to permanent visual problems and poor depth perception. If later in life the child's stronger eye develops disease or is injured, he or she will be dependent on the poor vision of the amblyopic eye, so it is best to treat Amblyopia early on.

Strabismus is a condition where your eyes don't look toward the same object together. One eye moves normally, while the other points in (esotropia or "crossed eyes"), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia). Strabismus can lead to Amblyopia. Strabismus is the physical disorder, and Amblyopia is the visual consequence.

Strabismus is a condition where your eyes don't look toward the same object together. One eye moves normally, while the other points in (esotropia or "crossed eyes"), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia). Strabismus can lead to Amblyopia. Strabismus is the physical disorder, and Amblyopia is the visual consequence.

Strabismus may be caused by unequal pulling of muscles on one side of the eye or a paralysis of the ocular muscles. Occasionally, when a farsighted child tries to focus to compensate for the farsightedness, he or she will develop accommodative strabismus. This condition usually appears before two years of age, and can occur as late as six.

Treatment for strabismus is similar to Amblyopia treatment: vision therapy including patching or visual exercises, glasses with the correct prescription or bifocal or prism correction to aid in proper focusing, eye-drops to help focus, or surgery. Surgery will correct the misaligned eyes but cannot resolve Amblyopia caused by strabismus. Before scheduling a child for surgery, the doctor might inject the ocular muscles with Botox (botulinum), which temporarily relaxes the muscles. In some cases, strabismus is permanently corrected in this way.

Sometimes infants appear to have crossed eyes, yet the eyes are truly straight. The cause for pseudostrabismus is presence of a wide nasal bridge or extra folds of skin between the nose and the inside of the eye that make the child have a cross-eyed appearance. Most children outgrow this problem, but you should contact your doctor for an examination. Your pediatrician can tell whether a child has misaligned eyes or just pseudostrabismus, but in some instances, a visit to an ophthalmologist is necessary for further tests.

- Premature birth. - Personal or family history of eye disease. - Dark skin individuals. - Previous serious eye injury. - Use of certain medications (check with your Eye M.D). - Some diseases that affect the whole body (such as diabetes or HIV infection).

If the white of your child's eye and the inside of his lower lid become red, he probably has a condition called conjunctivitis. Also known as "pink eye" or "red eye," this inflammation usually signals an infection but may be due to other causes, such as an irritation, an allergic reaction or (rarely) a more serious illness. It's often accompanied by tearing and discharge, which is the body's way of trying to heal or remedy the situation.

If your child has a red eye, he needs to see the pediatrician as soon as possible. The doctor will make the diagnosis, prescribe the necessary medication, and show you how to cleanse the eyelids. Never put previously opened medication or someone else's eye medication into your child's eye. It could cause serious damage. In the newborn baby, serious eye infections may result from exposure to bacteria during passage through the birth canal, which is why all infants are treated with antibiotic eye ointment or drops in the delivery room. Such infections must be treated early to prevent serious complications. Eye infections that occur after the newborn period may be unsightly, because of the redness of the eye and the yellow discharge that usually accompanies them, and they may make your child uncomfortable, but they are rarely serious. Several different viruses, or occasionally bacteria, may cause them, and topical antibiotics (eye-drops prescribed by your pediatrician) are the usual treatment. Eye infections typically last up to one week and may be contagious. Except to administer drops or ointment, you should avoid direct contact with your child's eyes or drainage from them until the medication has been used for several days and there is evidence of clearing of the redness. Carefully wash your hands before and after touching the area around the infected eye. If your child is in a day-care or nursery-school program, you should keep him home until the eyes are no longer red.

You can treat many minor eye irritations by flushing the eye, but more serious injuries require medical attention. Injuries to the eye are the most common preventable cause of blindness; so when in doubt, err on the side of caution and call for help. Routine Irritations (sand, dirt, and other "foreign bodies" on the eye surface) - Do not try to remove any "foreign body" except by flushing. - Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the eyelids to examine or flush the eye. - Do not touch, press, or rub the eye, and do whatever you can to keep the child from touching it (a baby can be swaddled as a preventive measure). - Tilt the child's head over a basin with the affected eye down and gently pull down the lower lid, encouraging the child to open her eyes as wide as possible. For an infant or small child, it is helpful to have a second person hold the child's eyes open while you flush. - Gently pour a steady stream of lukewarm water from a pitcher across the eye. Sterile saline solution can also be used. - Flush for up to fifteen minutes, checking the eye every five minutes to see if the foreign body has been flushed out. - Since a particle can scratch the cornea and cause an infection, the eye should be examined by a doctor if there continues to be any irritation afterwards. - If a foreign body is not dislodged by flushing, it will probably be necessary for a trained medical practitioner to flush the eye. What if something penetrated my child's eye? - Call for emergency medical help. - Cover both eyes (the unaffected eye must be covered to prevent movement of the affected eye). If the object is small, use eye patches or sterile dressing for both. If the object is large, cover the injured eye with a small cup taped in place and the other eye with an eye patch or sterile dressing. The point is to keep all pressure off the globe of the eye. - Keep your child (and yourself) as calm and comfortable as possible until help arrives. What if a chemical entered my child's eyes? - Many chemicals, even those found around the house, can damage an eye. If your child gets a chemical in the eye and you know what it is, look on the product's container for an emergency number to call for instructions. - Flush the eye (see above) with lukewarm water for 15 to 30 minutes. If both eyes are affected, do it in the shower. - Call for emergency medical help. - Call your local poison control center for specific instructions. Be prepared to give the exact name of the chemical (if you have it). - Cover both eyes with sterile dressings, and keep them covered until help arrives. What to do if my child gets a black eye? A black eye is often a minor injury, but it can also appear when there is significant eye injury or head trauma. A visit to your doctor or an eye specialist may be required to rule out serious injury, particularly if you're not certain of the cause of the black eye. For a "simple" black eye: - Apply cold compresses intermittently: five minutes to 10 minutes on, 10 minutes to 15 minutes off. If you are not at home when the injury occurs and there is no ice available, a cold soda will do to start. If you use ice, make sure it is covered with a towel or sock to protect the delicate skin on the eyelid. - Use cold compresses for 24 to 48 hours, then switch to applying warm compresses intermittently. This will help the body reabsorb the leakage of blood and may help reduce discoloration. - If the child is in pain, give acetaminophen, not aspirin or ibuprofen, which can increase bleeding. - Prop the child's head with an extra pillow at night, and encourage him/her to sleep on the uninjured side of his/her face (pressure can increase swelling). - Call your doctor, who may recommend an in-depth evaluation to rule out damage to the eye. Call immediately if any of the following symptoms appear: * increased redness * drainage from the eye * persistent eye pain * distorted vision * any visible abnormality of the eyeball If the injury occurred during one of your child's routine activities such as a sport, follow up by investing in an ounce of prevention - protective goggles or unbreakable glasses are vitally important. What if my child needs to wear glasses? Shortly after birth, your baby's eyes should be examined for vision problems and signs of disease. An infant's eyes can be checked by an ophthalmologist through a dilated pupil even though the tiny patient is too young to give verbal responses to testing. Remember, the earlier any potential problem is detected, the earlier it can be corrected. If your child needs glasses, there are several factors to consider when purchasing them. Get the Best Lenses For most children, the ideal lens is made of polycarbonate. It's strong, lightweight and shatterproof, safety factors for active toddlers and budding athletes. Polycarbonate does scratch easily, so a scratch-resistant coating is usually a good idea. Find the Right Frames and a Good Fit The lens prescription will frequently influence what sort of frame you should choose for your child's glasses; certain kinds of frames work poorly with certain kinds of lenses. Your Eye M.D. will explain the options. When possible, purchase glasses from a pediatric ophthalmologist, and be sure to investigate the various devices available to ensure a proper fit: - Silicone nose pads with non-skid surfaces will prevent frames from slipping. - Comfort cables secure children's glasses by wrapping around their ears. Comfort cable temples are available for frame sizes worn by infants one to four years old. - Flexible hinges bend outward, useful for a child who pulls the temples away from their head when removing their glasses. - Straps may be needed to replace ear pieces in babies. Infants wearing straps are able to roll or lay on their side without discomfort or dislodging the glasses. - Shop for your child the way you would for yourself. Try to match the frame style to the child's facial shape and features. The more a kid likes their glasses, the more care they may take with them. Selling Your Child on Glasses If the child is old enough, let him or her choose the frames. Say nice things about your child's new glasses, and talk to siblings beforehand to keep teasing to a minimum. Some infants will simply refuse to wear the glasses and pull them off. Don't fight it, just be persistent. Put the glasses on the baby and then stage some sort of distraction. If the baby pulls them off again, set them aside and wait awhile before trying again. If you have questions about the fit of the glasses, take your child back to the Eye doctor If your child continues to remove the glasses, talk to your doctor for further help.

Infants and children are more susceptible to UV damage because the lenses in their eyes are clearer. Please take the following steps when taking your children outdoors: - Keep children younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Choose the shade, an umbrella, or a baby stroller when outside with a very young child or infant. Make sure the stroller has a shade for the sun. - To help ensure your children wear their sunglasses, allow them to select a style they like. Many manufacturers make frames with cartoon characters or multi-colored frames. - Make sure your child wears a wide-brimmed hat or a baseball cap, which provides some UV protection, if he/she will not tolerate sunglasses. - Try to keep children out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The sun's rays are the strongest at these hours. - Be sure to wear sunglasses or a hat outside yourself. Children often follow the example of their parents. - Remind children to wear their sunglasses or a hat even on cloudy days. Most of the sun's rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day. - Teach your children to never look directly or stare at the sun.

A stye (also spelled "sty") develops when a gland at the edge of the eyelid becomes infected. Resembling a pimple on the eyelid, a stye can grow on the inside or outside of the lid. Styes are not harmful to vision, and they can occur at any age.

A stye initially brings pain, redness, tenderness and swelling in the area, then a small pimple appears. Sometimes just the immediate area is swollen; other times the entire eyelid swells. You may notice frequent watering in the affected eye, a feeling like something is in the eye or increased light sensitivity.

Styes are caused by staphylococcal bacteria. This bacterium is often found in the nose, and it's easily transferred to the eye by rubbing first your nose, then your eye.

Never "pop" a stye like a pimple; allow it to rupture on its own. If you have frequent styes, your eye doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment to prevent a recurrence. Styes formed inside the eyelid either disappear completely or (rarely) rupture on their own, and they can be more serious. These styes may need to be opened and drained by your eye-care practitioner

The conjunctiva is the thin, clear membrane over the white part of the eye; it also lines the eyelids. Inflammation of this membrane is called pink eye or conjunctivitis

The most obvious symptom of pink eye is, of course, a pink eye. The pink or red color is due to inflammation. Your eye may also hurt or itch. How can you tell what type of pink eye you have? The way your eyes feel will give some clues: Viral conjunctivitis usually affects only one eye and causes excessive eye watering and a light discharge. Bacterial conjunctivitis affects both eyes and causes a heavy discharge, sometimes greenish. Allergic conjunctivitis affects both eyes and causes itching and redness in the eyes and sometimes the nose, as well as excessive tearing. Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) usually affects both eyes and causes contact lens intolerance, itching, a heavy discharge, tearing and red bumps on the underside of the eyelids. To pinpoint the cause and then choose an appropriate treatment, your doctor will ask some questions, examine your eyes, and possibly collect a sample on a swab to send out for analysis. Give a careful account of the episode, because oftentimes your answers alone with reveal the diagnosis.

Tears bathe the eye, washing out dust and debris and keeping the eye moist. They also contain enzymes that neutralize the microorganisms that colonize the eye. Tears are essential for good eye health. In dry eye syndrome, the eye doesn't produce enough tears, or the tears have a chemical composition that causes them to evaporate too quickly. Eyes are lubricated from three different glands around the eyes. See animation. Punctal plugs are often very effective in relieving dry eyes. See animation. Dry eye syndrome has several causes. It occurs as a part of the natural aging process, especially during menopause; as a side effect of many medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, certain blood pressure medicines, Parkinson's medications, and birth control pills; or because you live in a dry, dusty or windy climate. If your home or office has air conditioning or a dry heating system, that too can dry out your eyes. Another cause is insufficient blinking, such as when you're staring at a computer screen all day. Dry eyes are also a symptom of systemic diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, rosacea or Sjogren's syndrome (a triad of dry eyes, dry mouth, and rheumatoid arthritis or lupus). Long-term contact lens wear is another cause; in fact, dry eyes are the most common complaint among contact lens wearers. Recent research indicates that contact lens wear and dry eyes can be a vicious cycle. Dry eye syndrome makes contact lenses feel uncomfortable, and the rubbing of the lenses against the conjunctiva seems to be a cause of dry eyes. Incomplete closure of the eyelids, eyelid disease and a deficiency of the tear-producing glands are other causes. Tears are composed of three layers: the outer, oily, lipid layer; the middle, watery, lacrimal layer; and the inner, mucous or mucin layer. Each layer is produced by a different part of the eye (the lacrimal gland produces the lacrimal layer, for example), so a problem with any of those sources can result in dry eyes. Dry eye syndrome is more common in women, possibly due to hormone fluctuations. Recent research suggests that smoking and taking multivitamins can increase your risk of dry eye syndrome, and that eating a lot of omega-3 fatty acids (found in cold-water fish) may decrease your risk.

Conjunctivitis may be triggered by a virus, bacteria, an allergic reaction (to dust, pollen, smoke, fumes or chemicals) or, in the case of giant papillary conjunctivitis, a foreign body on the eye, typically a contact lens. Bacterial and viral systemic infections also may induce conjunctivitis.

Dry eye syndrome is a chronic lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture in the eye. Its consequences range from subtle but constant irritation to ocular inflammation of the anterior (front) tissues of the eye.

Persistent dryness, scratching and burning in your eyes are signs of dry eye syndrome. These symptoms alone may be enough for your eye doctor to diagnose dry eye syndrome. Sometimes he or she may want to measure the amount of tears in your eyes. A thin strip of filter paper placed at the edge of the eye, called a Schirmer test, is one way of measuring this.

Some people also experience a "foreign body sensation," the feeling like there's something in the eye. And, it may seem odd, but sometimes watery eyes can result from dry eye syndrome, because the excessive dryness works to overstimulate the watery component of your eye's tears.

Avoidance. Your first line of defense is to avoid the cause of conjunctivitis. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis spread easily to others. Here are some tips to avoid spreading the conditions or re-infecting yourself: 1. Wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. 2. Don't share washcloths, towels or pillowcases with anyone else, and wash these items after each use. 3. Don't share eye-drops or cosmetics such as eyeliner, eye shadow or mascara. Replace them after you're healed, to avoid re-infection. 4. Your eye-care practitioner may recommend that you discontinue contact lens wear during this time or replace your contact lenses after you're healed. Warm compresses may help soothe your eyes if you have viral or bacterial conjunctivitis. To avoid allergic conjunctivitis, keep windows and doors closed on days when the pollen is heavy. Dust and vacuum frequently to alleviate potential allergens in the home. Stay in well-ventilated areas if you're exposed to smoke, chemicals or fumes. Cold compresses can be very soothing. If you've developed giant papillary conjunctivitis, odds are you're a contact lens wearer. You'll need to stop wearing your contact lenses, at least for a little while. Your eye doctor may also recommend that you switch to a different type of contact lens, to prevent the conjunctivitis from recurring. For example, you might need to go from soft contacts to gas permeable ones, or vice versa, or you might need to switch to a type of lens that you replace more frequently, such as from conventional contact lenses to daily disposable ones. GPC can also result from prosthetics, stitches and more. Your eye doctor will decide if removal is appropriate. Medication. Doctors don't normally prescribe medication for viral conjunctivitis because it usually clears up on its own within a few days. Antibiotic eye-drops will alleviate bacterial conjunctivitis, whereas antihistamine allergy pills or eye-drops will help control allergic conjunctivitis symptoms. For giant papillary conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe eye-drops to reduce inflammation and itching. Usually, conjunctivitis is a minor eye infection, but sometimes it can develop into a more serious condition. See your eye doctor for a diagnosis before using any eye-drops in your medicine cabinet from previous infections or eye problems.

Dry eye syndrome is an ongoing condition that may not be cured (depends on the cause), but the accompanying dryness, scratching and burning can be managed. Your eye-care practitioner may prescribe artificial tears, which are lubricating eye-drops that may alleviate the dry, scratching feeling. Restasis eye-drops (cyclosporine in a castor oil base) go one step further. They help your eyes to increase tear production. Restasis treatment is the first of its kind. If the problem is environmental, you should always wear sunglasses when outdoors, to reduce exposure to sun, wind, and dust. Indoors, an air cleaner can filter out dust and other particles from the air, while a humidifier adds moisture to air that's too dry because of air conditioning or heating. Temporary or permanent silicone plugs in the lacrimal (tear) ducts keep tears in your eye from draining away as quickly. Called lacrimal plugs or punctal plugs, they can be inserted painlessly while you're in the eye doctor's office and are normally not felt once inserted. A new type of punctal plug made of acrylic is a small rod that becomes a soft gel when exposed to your body heat after insertion. It is designed to accommodate to the size of any punctum canal. Advantages of this type of plug are that one size fits all so measurement is unnecessary, and nothing protrudes from the tear duct that could potentially cause irritation. Sometimes, however, the tear ducts need to be closed surgically. Doctors sometimes recommend special nutritional supplements for dry eyes. Studies have found that supplements containing certain essential fatty acids (linoleic and gamma-linolenic) can decrease dry eye symptoms. If medications are the cause of dry eyes, discontinuing the drug generally resolves the problem. But in this case, the benefits of the drug must be weighed against the side effect of dry eyes. Sometimes switching to a different type of medication alleviates the dry eye symptoms while keeping the needed treatment. In any case, never switch or discontinue your medications without consulting with your doctor first! Treating any underlying eyelid disease, such as blepharitis, helps as well. This may call for antibiotic or steroid drops plus frequent eyelid scrubs with an antibacterial shampoo. Quite a few products are in testing for possible dry eye treatment. For example, trehalose (a carbohydrate) improved dry eye symptoms in small studies, but further testing is needed. If contact lens wear is the cause of your dry eyes, your eye-care practitioner may want to switch you to a different lens or have you wear your lenses for fewer hours each day. In a few cases, it is recommended that contact lens wear be discontinued altogether until the dry eye problem is cleared up. If you are considering LASIK, be aware that dry eyes may disqualify you for the surgery, at least until the problem is resolved. Dry eyes increase your risk for poor healing after LASIK, so most surgeons will want to treat the dry eyes first, to ensure a good LASIK outcome. This goes for other types of vision correction surgery, as well.