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| HOW OFTEN SHOULD AN INDIVIDUAL
BE EXAMINED TO DETECDT GLAUCOMA ? |
| BETWEEN Ages 40 and 60 : At least once every two years |
| OLDER THAN 60 : Once a year |
| HIGH RISK PATIENTS : Once each year after age of 40 |
| What are flashes ? |
| Flashes of light is a subjective sensation . It is
an illusion seen when the vitreous (jelly inside the eye) rubs or
pulls on the retina. This could be part of normal aging process. When
a person ages, the vitreous gel in the eye liquefies and separates
from the retina. This separation can cause flashes. Flashes could
also be a sign of a retinal problem. It could be due to a posterior
vitreous detachment or a retinal tear. |
| What does one do ? |
| A detailed ophthalmic examination is mandatory when
you see flashes of light to rule out retinal tears or a retinal detachment. |
| What are floaters ? |
| The vitreous gel degenerates as a person grows older
forming small clumps or strands which appear as floaters. Floaters
can be in the form of rings, cobwebs or a sudden shower of minute
red colored or dark spots. The latter usually indicates a vitreous
haemorrhage due to tearing of a peripheral retinal blood vessel. Floaters
could be a normal phenomena in short sighted people. |
| What can be done ? |
| Floaters can be disturbing. If there is a definite
cause for the floaters, it can be treated. Otherwise there is no treatment
for floaters. They usually diminish over a period of time. Moving
the eye back and forth or up and down creates currents within the
vitreous, which are capable of moving the floaters out of your direct
line of vision. |
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