Day: November 24, 2023

Many people associate older age with poorer vision. It’s true that there are many eye conditions which are more common in older age. However, there are many things you can do to help maintain good vision for life. Read on to learn more. How do my eyes change as I get older? As with other parts of your body, your eyes go through normal changes as you age. Presbyopia is a vision problem where you may notice it is more difficult to read things that are close by. You need to hold things further away to see them clearly. Almost all people will

What is eye strain? Eye strain is common. It happens when you use your eyes to concentrate on something for a long time. Lots of things can cause eye strain, but there are actions you can take to prevent it too. What are the symptoms of eye strain? When people get eye strain, they generally get tired, sore or itchy eyes, or notice that their eyes are watery or dry. Eye strain can also cause: a burning sensation in your eyes blurred eyesight, or double vision difficulty concentrating sensitivity to light headache sore neck, shoulders or back due to muscle

Eye infections can be caused by either viruses or bacteria, or occasionally by a fungus. Conditions such as conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, blepharitis (infection of the eye lid) and corneal ulcers cause red, puffy, swollen, watery and painful eyes. Treatment often involves eye drops and sometimes antibiotics. Other eye diseases such as glaucoma can mimic the symptoms of eye infections, so you should see your doctor or an optometrist if your symptoms don’t rapidly improve by themselves. If you experience any loss of vision, you should immediately seek medical assistance.

What are eye floaters? Eye floaters are small specks or strands or clouds that move across your vision. They can drift across your field of vision and stand out more when you look at something bright. They usually don’t affect your vision. Though, if they are large, they may appear to cast a shadow over your vision in some types of light. Eye floaters become more common as we age. They don’t normally go away, but they don’t usually need treatment. Over time, your brain adapts, and you don’t notice them as much. What symptoms are related to eye floaters?

There are simple steps you can take to care for your eyes, and to protect them with essential eye care habits every day. Here are some things you can do to care for and help protect your eyes. How can I protect my eyes at work and at home? If you work in an environment where there’s a risk of getting something in your eyes (such as dust, wood chips, metal fragments or chemicals), protect your eyes by wearing a face visor or a pair of wrap-around goggles. You may also want to ask your employer to provide protective clothing. It’s also

Objects or chemicals in the eye What is an object or chemical in the eye? An object in the eye is something small such as dirt, metal or sawdust that gets into the eye. Most objects in your eye can be found under your eyelid or on the surface of your eye. Something can get in your eyes when you’re cleaning, gardening or at work. It can also happen when something is carried by the wind and gets in the eye. If you get something in your eye during activities such as drilling, cutting or grinding, you may have a

What is an external cardioversion? An external cardioversion is a procedure to treat an abnormal heart rhythm. It involves connecting you to a defibrillator machine that gives a controlled electric shock to make your heart beat normally again. Your heart is a muscle that pumps oxygen-rich blood from your lungs around your body and oxygen-poor blood from your body to your lungs. The pumping (heartbeat) is controlled by electric impulses from a group of cells on your heart called the sinus node. When your heart beats normally, the electric impulses cause the upper collecting chambers (atria) and lower pumping chambers

Expressing and storing breast milk What is expressing? Expressing is a way to get milk from your breasts when your baby is not breastfeeding. You can express milk by hand or with a pump. There are manual pumps and electric pumps available. Not everyone will need to express breast milk. Why would I need to express? Being able to express breast milk is useful in several situations. Such as if your baby has been born prematurely is unwell and is not able to breastfeed can’t attach and suck effectively is refusing the breast your breasts are very full and uncomfortable needs to be fed

Out-of-date medicines What is an out-of-date medicine? All medications have an expiry date. The expiry date is the point in time when the medication will no longer be as effective as it should be. Medicines should not be used past their expiry date. This includes prescribed as well as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Expiry dates can vary widely between different medicines and different forms of medicine. For example, dry tablets are likely to have a later expiry date than liquids. It doesn’t matter what form your medicine is in, all medicines expire, including patches, creams, lotions, ointments, liquids, injections and tablets. The

What are the physical health benefits of exercise? Exercise has many benefits for your physical health. Physical activity helps reduce your risk of illnesses, such as: heart disease high blood pressure diabetes obesity cancer Exercise can help people with illnesses and conditions such as: stroke Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson’s disease dementia Physical activity can also help you maintain a healthy weight and improve your overall health. Different exercises can help you: lose weight if you need to build muscle mass and strength Exercise can also boost your self-esteem. What are the mental health benefits of exercise? If you exercise regularly, it can help: reduce

Physical activity guidelines for older people Why should older people stay active? Whatever your age, you can enjoy the benefits of physical activity. There’s a host of health reasons to stay active and it doesn’t have to be ‘serious business’ — being active can be fun, especially if you can socialise at the same time. Exercise also helps keep your mind active and improves your quality of life. Even a small increase in daily physical activity can reduce your risk of health conditions such as: high blood pressure high cholesterol type 2 diabetes heart disease bone problems, including osteoporosis obesity some

What is a ganglion? A ganglion is a lump under your skin that contains fluid. Ganglions usually form near joints. 3 in 4 ganglions form near the wrist. They are also found on your ankle and foot. The fluid in the ganglion comes from a joint or tendon through a narrow channel. What are the benefits of surgery? The lump and any discomfort from it should settle. Surgery gives the best chance of preventing the ganglion from coming back. A ganglion on a wrist. Are there any alternatives to surgery? A ganglion will often disappear or become less painful after

What is an excision biopsy of a breast lump? An excision biopsy of a breast lump involves removing a lump through a small cut. What are the benefits of surgery? An excision biopsy is usually performed for the following reasons: You may want to have the lump removed. You may have cosmetic reasons or the lump may be causing you pain. Your surgeon may be concerned about the lump. The tissue will be examined under a microscope to find out if you have cancer. An excision biopsy. Are there any alternatives to an excision biopsy? If the lump is probably benign