Good eye care is essential since the sense of sight produces up to 85% of all sensory input that the brain receives, whereas the rest of the senses (smell, hearing, touch and taste) amount only to a combined 15%. Accordingly, the eyes are located on the outside of the face so as to maximize vision under different circumstances. However, this disposition also makes them sensitive to all sorts of external particles and agents. They are also susceptible to a wide variety of diseases and medical conditions such as open angle glaucoma. This disorder, the most common type of glaucoma, is a major cause of blindness that occurs mostly in patients 50 years of age and older with a family history of glaucoma, elevated intraocular pressure, and myopia, among other risk factors. In this illness, the channels that drain fluid from the eyes become blocked leading to pressure build-up. Open angle glaucoma can be treated with eye care drops known as Alphagan, made with Brimonidine. Latanoprost, or Xalatan, can also be used to reduce pressure caused by glaucoma.
Another condition that frequently affects the eyes is Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, commonly known simply as dry eye syndrome, which is caused by a decrease in the production of tears that leaves them without a means of lubrication. Symptoms include stinging or burning, eye irritation or scratchiness, excess tearing (especially when reading, driving, or watching television), stringy mucus in or around the eyes and difficulty wearing contact lenses. These symptoms may worsen in the presence of wind, dust and smoke. The usage of eye care medicine like Cyclosporine, used to make Restasis, can alleviate the discomforts brought about by dry eye syndrome.
Damage to the eye can be indirectly provoked by a seemingly unrelated condition. Chlamydia, for example, can lead to conjunctivitis. So, by treating this infection with an antibiotic such as Erythromycin, chlamydial conjunctivitis can be avoided. Furthermore, diabetes can lead to different eye problems, including cataract (a clouding if the eye lens that diminishes vision) and diabetic retinopathy (a leading cause of blindness produced alterations in the blood vessels of the retina. In such a case, diabetes medications like Actos, Metformin or Starlix may prove to be quite useful in providing good eye care.
