5 Tips to Prevent Itchy Eyes at Night, So you sleep more soundly

Experiencing itchy eyes at night can make sleep disturbed and not restful. If left unchecked, this condition can reduce your productivity because of the drowsiness that interfere with lack of sleep . If you often feel itching in the eyes at night, consider the following ways to prevent it.

Prevents itchy eyes at night

1. Clean the eye area before going to sleep

Dust, chemicals, and makeup still clinging around the eyes can trigger itching. Therefore, make time to clean your eyes before going to bed even though you are very sleepy. If you use eye makeup, make sure to clean it thoroughly so that nothing is left.
After cleaning the eye area, you can also compress it with warm or cold water to make it more relaxed.

2. Apply the 20-20-20 rule

Eyes that are too tired due to too long in front of the computer can trigger itching at night. Therefore, you need to prevent this condition by following the 20-20-20 rule to reduce the risk of eye fatigue.

The 20-20-20 rule means that every 20 minutes staring at a computer or screen, you must look away from the screen and see other objects that are 20 feet (6 meters) long for 20 seconds. This method will make the eyes become much more relaxed.

3. Avoid allergy triggers

If the cause of itching in the eye is because you have allergies, avoid the trigger. For example if you are allergic to pollen, be sure to sleep with the window closed to prevent it from being carried into the room.

In addition, you also have to regularly change the sheets to prevent mites from nesting in the mattress. Not only that, do not be lazy to clean the room if you have a dust allergy. Sweep and mop the room every day to keep it clean so you can sleep comfortably.

4. Use a humidifier

Dry eyes can trigger itching at night. To prevent dry eyes , use a humidifier or air humidifier. In addition to moisturizing the air, a humidifier is also effective to ward off viruses and dust that can cause allergies. But if you don't have a humidifier, use eye drops to keep your eyes moist throughout the night.

5. Don't use contact lenses all day long

In fact, contact lenses used all day can make itchy eyes at night. This can be caused by a dirty lens, dry eyes, or irritation. Therefore, do not use contact lenses all day.

For more safety, choose disposable contact lenses. Although more expensive and wasteful, this type of contact lens can prevent eye irritation. However, do not use contact lenses first if every time you wear it during the day, at night the eyes feel itchy.

When the eye is itchy, the most important thing to remember is don't rub it. Rubbed eyes stimulates the body to produce more histamine so that the itching will get worse. In addition, rubbing the eyes can also encourage bacteria to enter and cause infection.

Causes of Chocolate Spots (Freckles) in the Eyes, Plus the Signs

The appearance of brown spots aka freckles on the face is fairly common. However, it turns out freckles can also appear in the eyeball. I wonder what is the cause and how to recognize the symptoms?

What are eye freckles ?

Freckles are basically spots similar to moles. This condition occurs when melanocytes (coloring pigments on the skin) come together.
In the eye, freckles are also called nevus. However, this condition can also have different names depending on its location, such as:

• Conjunctival nevus, located on the surface of the eye (the whites of the eye)
• Nevus iris, is in the colored eye
• Choroidal nevus, under the retina or back of the eye

The appearance of freckles in the eye is generally not dangerous. However, this condition can also develop into eye cancer. Therefore, this condition needs to be monitored regularly by a doctor.

Causes of freckles in the eyes

The cause of freckles on the surface of the eyeball is not known with certainty. But clearly nevus consists of melanocyte cells. These cells produce pigments that give color to the hair, skin, and eyes.

Usually melanocytes are spread evenly throughout the body's tissues. But sometimes, these cells can also clot and form nevi or nevus.

Although the cause of its appearance is unknown, there are several factors that are strongly suspected to trigger the appearance of freckles in the eye, such as:

Race
Choroidal nevus in particular, usually appears far more often in white people compared to black people. However, it is not certain why race can influence this condition.

Exposure to sunlight
Sunlight is thought to increase one's chances of being affected by this one eye condition. Reporting from research published in  Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science , there are about 6 out of 10 people who have this condition. That is, this condition is quite common and not a rare condition.

Research also links that sun exposure can bring out new iris spots on a person. However, further research is needed to prove this.

Signs and symptoms of freckles in the eye according to the type

Conjunctival nevus
Freckle freckles usually appear on the white part of the eye without any other symptoms. The color ranges from yellow to brown.

The shape and color tend to be stable, meaning that it does not change over time. But color changes sometimes occur during a person is in puberty and pregnancy.

Nevus iris
Freckles on the iris are sometimes quite difficult to see with the naked eye, especially in people with dark irises. Therefore, the doctor will see this condition through an eye test.

However, compared to people with dark irises, freckles of this type are more common in blue or bright eyed people . Usually iris nevus is marked by the appearance of dark brown or black spots appearing on the colored eyes.

Choroidal nevus
This condition appears on the inside of the eye , just below the retina in a layer of tissue called a choroid. Choroidal nevus can only be seen when the eyes are examined. Usually freckles in this section tend to be gray, yellow, brown, or many other colors.

These freckles generally do not cause other symptoms. But if you have a problem, fluid usually comes from the retina accompanied by abnormal blood vessel growth. In fact, there are some cases where choroidal nevus causes a person to experience blindness.

5 Causes of the formation of eye bags

Who has problems with panda eyes? The term panda eye is intended for people who have bags under their eyes. For women, having eye bags can be a problem because eye bags are seen to interfere with appearance. Not infrequently, women who have more costs are usually willing to spend large pockets for eyelid surgery , even to foreign countries.

Eye bags can be triggered by fat moving to the eyelids, this fat then accumulates resulting in swelling. Fluid that is in the eye tissue can be a trigger for swelling in the eye bags. This is what then also causes the skin in the eye area to relax and black circles to form around the eyes.

What causes eye bags to form?

The main cause of eye bags is age. Older age causes the skin to begin to relax, the tissue structure and muscles that support the blindfold begin to weaken. There are other factors that make eye bags form, such as:

1. Fluid Storage . What affects the storage of fluids in the eye is weather changes. In addition, the level of hormones produced also affects the storage of fluids. In fact, salty foods can also trigger an increased amount of fluid.
2. Lack of sleep . Lack of sleep is the most common cause of eye bag problems. Even in young people, sometimes eye bags appear after someone has stayed up all night without sleeping.
3. To sleep . You need to know that enlarged eye bags in the morning when you just wake up is normal. This happens because the fluid increases when sleeping. The circulatory system when you sleep moves slowly, so it is only natural that the fluid increases.
4. Allergy . The formation of eye bags can also be caused by allergies in the eye. It is characterized by swollen and reddened eyes. If this happens, consult a doctor immediately.
5. Descendants . The latter factor is indeed difficult to overcome. If many of your family members have eye bags, that possibility will also decrease for you.

How to deal with eye bags?

If you don't think it's a bother, you can cover it up with concealer when you apply makeup. Concealer can cover the dark circles on the eyes and make you look fresher. For those of you who don't like make-up , you can do the following ways:

• Compress with cold water. When you are lacking sleep, and in the morning you find your eye bags enlarged, the easiest solution is cold compresses.
• Sleep with the head higher than the body. The position of the head raised higher can prevent fluid from collecting in the eye area. You can give extra pillows. A higher head position can also prevent neck pain.
• Enough sleep. Sleeping eight hours a day will reduce the risk of enlarged eye bags while making you avoid stress.
• Reduce foods that contain salt.
• Overcome your allergies. If you are allergic to soap or other cosmetic products and this affects the eye bags, you should immediately consult a doctor.
• Remove make-up before going to bed.
• Use sunblock . Sunlight can make your skin sagging. Sunblock will be very influential to ward off sunlight from your skin. In addition, also use sunglasses every time you move under the sweltering heat.
• Therapy or treatment. There are therapies that can be tried like laser resurfacing , peels,  and fillers with chemicals. This therapy is able to change the surface of your facial skin.
• Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty . This operation can be used as an alternative to removing eye bags. The result is faster than the choices above, but the price is more expensive and the process is invasive because it involves surgery. In the process, the doctor will remove fat and sagging skin under the eyes. There are always risks posed, it helps you consult a doctor about the benefits and risks of this procedure. Possible side effects can be in the form of infections in the eyes, dry eyes, to vision problems.

8 Eye Disorders That Can Become Symptoms of Serious Disease

There are several diseases that can be seen symptoms and signs in the eye. For example, blurred vision, eye color change, and drooping eyelids can be an early symptom of chronic disease. What are the symptoms and disorders of the eye that need to be aware of?

1. Vision blurred suddenly

Vision that suddenly becomes blurred can indicate a problem with blood flow to the eye or brain. If this happens often, then you need to see a doctor, because this could be a symptom of a stroke or other chronic illness.

2. Eyes bulging

Glaring eyes are a sign of graves disease. Graves' disease is a disorder of the immune system in the body that causes the thyroid gland to not function properly. In patients with graves' disease, the thyroid gland becomes aggressive and releases too much hormone, which can cause several health problems such as diarrhea, weight loss, and tremors in the hands. Hyperthyroidism that arises due to this disease can be overcome by carrying out several treatment options such as, hormone drugs, radioactive iodine, and surgery. However, performing surgery or using radioactivity can worsen the symptoms in the eye arising from this graves disease. If you experience these symptoms, it's better to do further tests and consult a doctor.

3. Vision often feels blurred

Often feeling blurred on vision can be one sign of diabetes mellitus. Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes melabete are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy , which is damage to the eye tissue due to rupture of the blood vessels of the eye. High blood sugar levels cause blocked blood vessels and blood flow to the eye does not flow properly, so the pressure around the eye blood vessels increases and then ruptures. Usually, doctors will overcome these complications by using a laser to cover the 'leakage' of broken blood vessels.

4. Circle around the cornea

Corneal arcus , or gray circle around the cornea, is a gray circle that appears and is a pile of fat. If you are over 40 years old, this is only natural. But if you are under 40 years old, these symptoms can be a sign that you have high cholesterol in the body. High cholesterol levels can cause various chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease , stroke , diabetes mellitus, and heart failure .

5. Eyelid drops

A drooping eyelid usually occurs naturally in the elderly group, which is a natural sign of aging. Tendons in the eye function to open, close, or lift the eyelid. When entering old age, the tendon stretches and results in decreased eyelid. However, if children already have decreased eyelids, then it is possible that the child has amblyopia or lazy eye, which is an eye disorder from birth.

Not only that, drooping eyelids that occur before entering old age may indicate that there is damage to the nerves or eye tissue. This can lead to several chronic diseases such as, stroke, brain tumor, nerve cancer or muscle cancer. Myasthenia gravis is a nerve disorder that can also cause damage to the eye muscles that cause symptoms of decreased eyelid.

6. Yellow eyes

Yellow eyes and skin are a sign that there is a problem with liver function. Yellow of the eye or skin appears due to bilirubin that enters the blood vessels. Bilirubin is a coloring agent for urine produced by the liver. This can indicate that the liver has inflammation, infection, or even cancer.

7. Eye twitching

This symptom is the most common symptom in many people and is not very dangerous. Eye twitching is usually associated with fatigue, consumption of caffeine or alcohol, and smoking. In rare cases, eye twitching can also be a sign of a nervous system disorder, such as multiple sclerosis . But if these symptoms are symptoms and signs of multiple sclerosis or nervous system disorders, it will be accompanied by the appearance of various other signs and symptoms, such as difficulty walking and talking.

8. Night blindness

If you have difficulty seeing at night, or when your night vision deteriorates, you may experience cataracts . This symptom is also common with age. Night blindness arises due to lack of vitamin A intake, therefore these symptoms can be overcome by high intake of vitamin A, such as sweet potatoes, spinach, beef liver, pumpkin, and carrots.

7 Safe Rules for Using Contact Lenses for those of you who have dry eyes

7 Safe Rules for Using Contact Lenses for those of you who have dry eyes

Many people with dry eyes avoid contact lenses (contact lenses). It feels awry, if you don't wear contact lenses then vision will blur, but if you wear contact lenses worry about pain, itching, until redness of the eyes will get worse. So, is there an appropriate solution if you want to keep using contact lenses for dry eyes?

A safe guide to using contact lenses for dry eyes
Dry eyes occur when the production of tears, which are supposed to work to moisturize all parts of the eye, instead do not function optimally. For those of you who have this condition, you might feel doubt when you want to wear contact lenses.

Indeed, improper way of using and maintaining contact lenses can actually make dry eyes worse. In fact, it can increase the risk of infection, making you uncomfortable.

However, Alisha Fleming, OD, an eye specialist at Penn Medicine in the United States, said that you can still use contact lenses for dry eyes. Provided, want to apply the safe rules, including:

1. Make sure your hands are clean before using contact lenses

Make sure your hands are clean before using contact lenses

This rule must actually be applied by all contact lens users. Because, directly holding and wearing contact lenses without washing your hands first can risk moving pathogens that cause infection from the fingers to contact lenses, then end up in your eyes.

The key, make it a habit to always wash your hands with soap then rinse with running water until clean. Then dry the whole hand before you use contact lenses.

2. Remove contact lenses before going to bed

Remove contact lenses before going to bed

Sleeping habits still wearing contact lenses can damage the production of natural tears that should lubricate all parts of the eye. As a result, your dry eyes will feel worse.

Not only that, Nicky Lai, OD, an eye health specialist at The Ohio State University, explains that often forgetting to remove contact lenses when going to sleep can harm the cornea which is the outermost protective layer.

The reason is because the amount of oxygen that enters the eye during sleep is not as much compared to when the eyes are open.

3. Use disposable contact lenses

Use disposable contact lenses

There are two common types of contact lenses on the market, which can be used for several months and disposable contact lenses. Well, contact lenses for dry eyes are most recommended are those that should not be used for a long time. It would be better if you choose disposable contact lenses.

Why? Because contact lenses have been used for a long time there is a lot of dirt that has accumulated in it, making it difficult for tears to spread evenly to all areas of your eyes, revealed by Vivian Shibayama, OD, an ophthalmologist at UCLA Health, California.

4. Clean the contact lens container each time you use it

Clean the contact lens container each time you use it

It's not only the contact lenses that you have to keep clean, but also the contact lens storage container. Do this regularly every time you use contact lenses, or even every day to ensure cleanliness.

The rule is that after contacting the contact lens to the eye, the contact lens container must be rinsed using a soft contact solution or liquid. Then let it dry or wipe with clean tissue. All of these steps can reduce the possibility of inflammation and infection causing eye problems.

5. Use eye drops as often as possible

Use eye drops as often as possible

Eye drops are one of the things that must be owned by people with dry eyes. The production of tears that are not able to lubricate the eyes properly, can be further helped by the presence of artificial tears from eye drops.

Tears have an important role as a protective eye from germs while maintaining overall eye health. That is why, an insufficient amount of tears in patients with dry eyes not only create discomfort, but will also increase the risk of infection.

6. Avoid wearing contact lenses for a long time

Avoid wearing contact lenses for a long time

Contact lenses are not designed to be used for a long time, especially for a full day. Ideally, normal eyes can use contact lenses for a maximum of 10 hours a day. But if you have dry eyes, then automatically the contact lens wear time will be shorter.

Dr. Shibayama also added this, according to him, it is better to give room for the eyes to breathe freely for several hours a day. That is, set aside some of your time in a day without using contact lenses. The goal is to allow the eye to get enough oxygen and nutrients from the water that is produced naturally by the eye, without having to be blocked by contact lenses.

7. Routinely see an eye doctor

7. Routinely see an eye doctor

Adhere to the eye doctor's schedule, even if your dry eye symptoms have started to improve. Especially for you contact lens wearers, doctors will usually check the entire eye as well as prescribe new eye drops according to eye conditions. You can also consult about complaints that may have been experienced during the use of contact lenses for dry eyes.

What Happens Before, During and After Cataract Surgery?

What Happens Before, During and After Cataract Surgery?

It's hard to deny that age is one of the causes of all health problems. One problem that often arises with age is cataracts. Unfortunately, cataracts do not work just by taking medication. Like it or not, surgery must be taken to restore the condition of the eye back to normal. So, what is the order of cataract surgery procedures?

Stages of cataract surgery procedure

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that does not take long to do. It would be nice if you understood clearly the sequence of cataract surgery procedures before carrying out it.

Before cataract surgery

There are several types of methods in performing cataract surgery procedures, the doctor will determine the best type by taking into account your health. Then you should talk with your doctor about medical problems that you have or are experiencing.

Before surgery, your doctor will also examine your eyes, to determine the type of intraocular lens implant that is most suitable according to the needs and conditions of the eye. You are not recommended to wear eye makeup when the D-day surgery arrives.

During cataract surgery

Initially, the doctor will give an anesthetic injection to relieve pain during the cataract operation. Eye drops will also be given so that the pupils will become wider. Not to forget, the skin around the eyes and eyelids was also cleaned to be more sterile during the surgery process.

Next, the surgery begins by making a small incision in the cornea of ​​the eye so that the opaque lens from the cataract will open. The doctor then inserts an ultrasound probe into the eye, with the aim of removing the cataract lens.

The probe that delivers ultrasound waves will destroy the cataract lens while taking the remaining parts. The new lens implant is then inserted into the eye through the small incision.

In most cases, the incision is able to close by itself so that no stitches are needed on the cornea. Finally, your eyes will be closed using a bandage that the operation is complete.

After cataract surgery

You may feel itching in the eyes for one to two days after a cataract surgery. In fact, vision usually looks blurry because it is in a period of adjustment during the healing process.

All of these conditions are normal and normal. You can submit all complaints related to postoperative problems at a doctor's visit which is usually scheduled a few days after the operation. Here, the doctor will also monitor the condition of your eyes and the quality of your vision.

In addition, you will be prescribed eye drops to prevent infection, reduce inflammation, while controlling eye pressure. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes for a while.

Choose Treatment for Irritating Yellow Eyes

Normally, apart from the cornea which is usually black or brown, the rest of the eye will be white. However, if your eyes suddenly turn yellow, you should be suspicious. This could be a sign of a certain health problem. Then what makes the eyes turn yellow? How to cure yellow eyes?

Causes of yellow eyes

There are many causes that can make a person's eyes turn yellow. Most are related to problems in the gallbladder , liver, or pancreas. Problems in these organs can make the body become excess substances called bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is the remaining substance from the breakdown of red blood cells which are yellow.

Well, because of this pile of bilirubin, the color of the eyes can turn yellow, just as the color of the skin turns yellow. Usually, yellow skin or eyes are considered a symptom of hyperbilirubin or excessive bilirubin in the blood

People who experience this condition should immediately consult a doctor to prevent ongoing complications.

How to treat yellow eyes?

The best way to overcome this eye color change is by curing the root cause. Mostly, this condition is caused by infections such as hepatitis C or malaria. Well, if it's because of an infection then you need antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals.

While yellow eyes can also be caused by genetic disorders, namely crescent anemia which must be treated by routine blood transfusions.

In addition, lifestyles such as drinking too much alcohol and using illegal drugs can damage the liver to cause symptoms of yellow eyes. If this is indeed the result, then what must be done is to stop and overcome the addiction.

If the liver damage is severe, the doctor will recommend a liver transplant.

Yellow eyes can also be caused by pancreatitis , if this is the case then hospitalization is needed in the hospital. This treatment is done to treat a swollen and inflamed pancreas so that the condition of a sick stomach, and yellow eyes and skin can be white again.

In addition, yellow eyes can also be caused by leptospirosis, a rare infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. People who experience this condition will experience coughing, sore throat, muscle aches, swollen lymph, including the condition of a yellowing eye. An effective treatment for dealing with bacterial infections is to use antibiotics.

Yellow eyes can also be found in newborns. Infants who experience this need intensive medical care at the hospital and multiply breastfeeding sessions as much as 8-12 times a day. That way the healing process will be faster.

Home care for yellow eyes

To support treatment, the symptoms of yellow eyes can heal and disappear, you must change your lifestyle.

Here are some tips you can do at home:

• Keep your body hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses per day.
• Eat foods that are high in fiber in whole fruit (not juice), vegetables, nuts, and seeds
• Eat very low-fat protein sources, such as fish meat, tofu, skinless chicken breast, tempeh, beans.
• Avoid foods that are rich in saturated fats and trans fats
• Avoid packaged foods
• Avoid simple carbohydrates found in cakes, candy, cookies
• Avoid drinking alcohol
• Stop smoking or using tobacco products
• Exercise regularly
• Abusing prescription drugs

In addition to lifestyle changes, there are several natural remedies that can help deal with jaundice or jaundice. But indeed the effectiveness of these ingredients is still relatively weak based on research.

4 Advanced Tips for Maintaining Eye Health for Millennials (Ages 20-30s)

All bodily functions will generally weaken with age, including the function of the sense of sight. Generally, the eyes will begin to be less alert when we reach the age of mid 20 years to 30s. However, no need to worry! You actually can, really, while maintaining eye health at this age.

Tips for maintaining eye health in their 20s and 30s
The eye is one of the organs of the body that you must maintain its function properly. Therefore, there is no need to wait until entering old age to start maintaining eye health. The sooner you start to maintain your vision function, the sooner the benefits you get.

Here are some things that you can apply from now on for awake eyesight until old age.

1. Eat foods that are healthy for the eyes

The easiest way to maintain your eye health is to eat healthy foods. Fill your dinner plate every day with food sources high in omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, to carotenoids.

Carotenoids belong to the family of antioxidants that are not only good for the eyes, but are also able to help boost the immune system and protect the body from disease.

You can meet all of these nutritional intake from foods that are healthy for the eyes , such as carrots, oranges , green leafy vegetables (spinach, mustard greens, broccoli, turnip greens), beans, eggs, fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines), and etcetera.

2. Wear sunglass when outdoors activities

It's not only skin that you need to look after while you're in an open room, your eyes are too. But of course in a different way.

When the weather is blazing or even a little cloudy though, you should wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun's UV exposure.

In the long run, excessive radiation from the sun can risk causing cataracts, thickening of tissue in the outer layer of the eye (pinguecula), as well as other eye problems.

3. Avoid cigarettes

During this time smoking is often associated with problems in the heart and lungs. In fact, smoking also has a bad impact on your eyesight.

Active smokers are at higher risk for macular degeneration, cataracts, uveitis , and even blindness . Therefore, stop smoking as soon as possible to maintain eye health since you are young.

If you are not a smoker, you still need to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke . Being a secondhand smoker can be as dangerous as an active smoker.

4. Routinely check with an eye doctor

Actually you are recommended to regularly check the eyes at any age. However, this habit becomes important especially for millennials from the age of 20 years and over.

Your doctor will conduct a series of tests to check how well your vision is able to detect eye problems early. Even if you don't have any symptoms or complaints at this time.

Regular eye checks can also tell you whether your current prescription eyeglasses are inaccurate and need to be updated.

Getting to know glaucoma implants, the latest treatment for glaucoma

Glaucoma is a visual impairment that can cause blindness. To prevent blindness, there are several treatment methods that can be done, one of which is glaucoma implants. So, how is this procedure done?

Glaucoma implants, alternatives to overcome difficult cases of glaucoma
Based on data compiled by the Ministry of Health Riskesdas (KEMENKES RI) in 2007, the number of patients with glaucoma reached up to 4.6 per 1,000 population.

The disease that attacks vision is caused by an increase in pressure on the eyeball. This happens because of the accumulation of fluid in the eye, which leads to nerve damage to the eye.

This damage is permanent, so glaucoma can not be cured completely and ends in blindness.

Although glaucoma cannot be cured, the cause of this condition can be controlled so that it can  reduce the risk of blindness . Glaucoma can generally be overcome only by using drugs if the condition is not severe.

However, if various types of glaucoma treatment fail to improve the patient's condition, the doctor will recommend surgery. One operation that can be done is glaucoma implant surgery.

Glaucoma implants, also called glaucoma drainage devices, are used to block or even stop the progression of glaucoma. This effort was made so that the patient's condition did not lead to blindness.

Glaucoma implants are considered as the last treatment option if various other types of treatment fail to reduce intraocular pressure, which is the main cause of glaucoma.

Important facts regarding the use of glaucoma implants

When met by the Hello Sehat team during the Virna Glaucoma Implant product launch event at the FKUI IMERI Hall (26/6), Dr. dr. Virna Dwi Oktariana, Sp.M (K) reveals facts about the use of glaucoma implants.

He stated that although the vision of patients with glaucoma will not recover 100%, at least the condition of the patient can return up to 80%.

"Implants can be placed on the eyes of patients who have lost vision completely, but not to restore vision. The purpose of implant placement is only to reduce pressure on the eyeball, "said Dr. Virna

In addition to using implants, patients who are already blind can also reduce eye pressure using a laser.

Furthermore, Dr. Virna also revealed that after glaucoma patients' eyes were implanted, it did not mean that the patient was free from using drugs to treat this disease . All remains dependent on the patient's condition.

There are some cases that require additional treatment. However, if eye pressure has been resolved only with the use of an implant, the patient does not need to take medication or perform other companion treatments.

Who needs glaucoma implants?

The doctor, who also serves as the Head of the Glaucoma Division of the Eye Department of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), said that the implants were not used to handle glaucoma cases which were still mild.

This implant is intended for patients with difficult cases. For example, patients experience failure of trabeculectomy surgery or drugs are not able to help optimally.

In addition, the condition of glaucoma due to high blood pressure, diabetes, and operations in certain parts of the eye, such as the retina and cornea, also include cases that can be treated with implants.

Other cases where the patient is suspected to have failed surgery from the beginning, is another difficult case that can only be treated with glaucoma implants. Generally, glaucoma that occurs due to trauma after an accident is a case that will experience a failure of surgery.

What should be considered for the installation of glaucoma implants?

Before deciding whether a patient needs glaucoma implants or not, there are a number of things a doctor must do, including:

Look at the patient's condition
Not all patients need implants, that's why a doctor will determine whether a patient needs glaucoma implants or not.

For example, congenital glaucoma patients may require this procedure. The doctor will first suggest other treatments before deciding to use the implant method.

Clinical trial
Doctors must perform this step to increase the percentage of implant surgery success. One of the things that must be considered is the patient's conjunctival condition, whether it is possible to insert the implant.

"If the patient's conjunctiva is damaged, implant placement cannot be done," explained Dr. Virna

Selection of glaucoma implants
The material used for implants can differ from one another. Generally, certain ingredients tend to be cheaper than other ingredients.

In addition, the size and shape of glaucoma implants can also vary. The doctor must be able to determine the size and shape of the implant that suits the patient's condition.

How glaucoma implants work
Glaucoma implants work by removing fluid from the eyeball. Thus, the pressure on the eyeball can be reduced.

This implant will be placed or inserted in the outer layer of the eye. Precisely under the conjunctiva or a thin layer of tissue that covers all parts, the eye other than the cornea.

After that, a small tube will be inserted into the eyeball through this implant so that the fluid that has accumulated in the eyeball will come out.

Eyeball fluid will be flowed through a small tube into the eye area behind the implant. This liquid is then reabsorbed by the body thereby reducing pressure on the eyeball due to fluid buildup. 

Theboegis : What Needs to Be Done After Glaucoma Implant Installation?

Glaucoma implants are an alternative treatment for glaucoma patients in the chronic phase or commonly referred to as refractory glaucoma / difficult cases of glaucoma. When deciding to use the implant, what are the treatments that need to be taken so that the glaucoma implant remains good?

Reasons to choose implants, one method of glaucoma treatment
Before knowing how to treat after implant placement, it helps you know the reasons for using implants compared to other glaucoma treatments.

Based on the Mayo Clinic page  , the method of treating glaucoma patients actually consists of various types. These methods include drugs, lasers, trabeculectomy operations, to implant placement.

Among them, implants should be chosen as the ultimate solution when other methods fail to treat glaucoma patients.

Dr. dr. Virna Dwi Oktariana, SpM (K) who was met in an exclusive interview at the launch of the Virna Glaucoma Implant product in the Salemba area, Central Jakarta (26/6) explained the purpose of installing glaucoma implants.

Primarily, implant placement is expected to reduce eye pressure in glaucoma sufferers .

This installation can also have an impact on other treatments performed by glaucoma patients. For example, patients who have previously used drugs, say as many as 5 types of drugs, can reduce their consumption of the drug or even get rid of it altogether.

That is why, implants are the right alternative to overcome difficult cases of glaucoma.

Treatment is carried out after glaucoma implant placement

Glaucoma implants can indeed handle glaucoma cases very well. However, that does not mean then you do not need to treat it.

Glaucoma implants are permanent and lifetime attached to the patient's eyeball. P asien was no need to replace with a new implant or remove it at any time.

Therefore, glaucoma implant treatment must be done routinely to maintain the condition of the implant and the patient's eye health.

Doctor Virna explained that one of the glaucoma implant treatments that can be done by patients is to carry out routine control to the doctor. Control at least every three to four months.

You may not benefit immediately after the implant is inserted. It takes time until you really feel the effects.

"Depending on the condition of the patient's eyes, there is one month that has improved, there is a change after six months, the changes," said Dr. Virna

He also added that there were no specific recommendations and precautions to be taken as treatment for glaucoma implants. Patients can still undergo activities as usual.

Although there are no specific guidelines regarding the treatment of glaucoma implants, there are restrictions that should be avoided in the early stages of recovery after surgery.

Abstinence after glaucoma implant surgery

There are some restrictions for patients who have recently undergone implantation for glaucoma.

Generally, abstinence is similar to abstinence after cataract surgery . Things that should be avoided in the early stages of postoperative recovery, namely:

• Don't do strenuous activities for a while. 
• It would be safer if the patient did not drive the vehicle after implant surgery. 
• Take the medication regularly as directed by your doctor, even if you have implanted.   
• Avoid areas that are full of dust.
• If you have to clean the house, clean the dust with a vacuum cleaner . 
• Don't rub your eyes . Even when patients are not undergoing treatment or surgery, rubbing their eyes is not a good idea because it can cause infection. 
• Don't swim, avoid contact with water in the early stages of the postoperative recovery period. 
• Avoid using eye makeup. 

Although there are some restrictions, the installation of glaucoma implants is relatively safe. You also do not need to do glaucoma implant treatment specifically, other than checking regularly to the doctor.

Side effects of using glaucoma implants

Although somewhat safe and does not require special treatment, it does not mean the installation of glaucoma implants do not bring side effects.

The term implant indicates that a foreign body entered the body. This method can cause mild side effects in some patients.

The risk of these side effects will increase if the patient has an allergic reaction to the basic ingredients of glaucoma implants.

However, there is no need to worry. According to Dr. Virna, in practice, fewer patients experience side effects than those who do not experience it at all.

Installation of glaucoma implants can indeed improve vision very well. However, keep in mind that not everyone can do this procedure.

The condition of the conjunctiva or thin film that will later coat the implant needs to be checked whether it meets the criteria or not. Consult with your doctor to find out whether you can do this procedure or not.

7 Myths of Red-Eye Due to Conjunctivitis that Need to be Straightened

There are many myths when someone experiences problems with red eyes. Red eye is actually a medical condition called conjunctivitis. Reporting from the National Eye Institute,  this condition occurs when the conjunctiva is inflamed. To correct various myths related to red eye due to conjunctivitis, consider the following review.

Myths about red eye due to conjunctivitis

Here are some myths about conjunctivitis or pink eye that need to be clarified:

1. Conjunctivitis is definitely contagious

Many people believe that everyone who experiences red eyes because of conjunctivitis is sure to transmit the condition. In fact, this is just a myth. The reason is, not all people who experience conjunctivitis can transmit the disease to other people.

If redness of the eye is caused by a virus or bacteria, this can indeed be contagious. However, if the redness is caused by certain chemicals or allergens , there is no need to be afraid because this condition is not contagious.

2. Only children can experience conjunctivitis

If you hear that conjunctivitis only attacks children, the sign is misinformation. Red eye due to conjunctivitis is most common in children. This usually happens because children tend to rub their eyes without washing their dirty hands. However, this condition can also be experienced by adults when doing these habits.

3. Red eye must always be conjunctivitis

There are so many conditions that make a person's eyes turn red. Starting from allergies to dry eye syndrome. In fact, there are three serious conditions that make the eye reddish, namely glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve), scleritis (inflammation of the white membranes around the eye), and uveitis (inflammation and swelling in the middle layer of the eyeball).

4. There is no cure for conjunctivitis

Treatment of conjunctivitis depends on the cause. Conjunctivitis caused by a virus can indeed heal itself, helped by cold compresses and artificial eye drops to calm the eyes.

Another case if caused by bacteria, appropriate treatment is with antibiotic eye drops. In addition, allergy medications can also help relieve conjunctivitis if caused by allergens. For that, if your complaint does not improve, consult your doctor to find out the causes and appropriate treatment of your conjunctivitis symptoms.

5. Will not appear if you do not rub your eyes with dirty hands

Touching eyes with dirty hands is only one of many causes of conjunctivitis. You can also experience this condition when exposed to contaminated substances such as dirty contact lenses, makeup , pollution, and pet dander. In addition, viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can also be contracted from other people.

6. Can only attack once

In fact, red eye due to conjunctivitis can appear more than once. This condition will easily be repeated if you are exposed to things that trigger it. Therefore, you need to be careful and maintain eye health especially if you have allergies to certain ingredients.

7. Babies cannot get conjunctivitis

Newborns can develop neonatal conjunctivitis. This condition is caused due to blocked tear ducts, irritation, or infection. Usually, these bacteria or viruses are transmitted from mother to baby during childbirth.

Generally, this condition occurs when the mother has venereal diseases such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. In addition to the eyes, babies born with conjunctivitis due to venereal disease can experience serious infections in the lungs and spinal cord.

Is it dangerous if there is a blockage in the baby's tear ducts?

In medical language, obstruction of the tear duct is called nasolacrimal duct obstruction. This condition is indeed often experienced by newborn babies, whether in one or both eyes. So, what causes blocked tear ducts in infants and how to care?

Why can tear ducts in babies get blocked?
Normally, tears play an important role in supporting a person's vision. This clear liquid will keep the eye moist, supply oxygen to the eye, remove substances that are at risk of irritating the eye, to coat the surface of the eye.

Tears produced by the tear glands, will be flowed into the tear ducts. Unfortunately, sometimes the tissue layer (membrane) in the tear duct actually closes so that it prevents the flow of tears about to enter.

As a result, the tear ducts are blocked in the baby, which then makes the tears remain welled on the surface of the eye. The most common reason why the tear ducts in the baby can get blocked, namely because the hole in the eyelid (punta) in the baby has not fully developed.


That is why, some tear ducts actually close so as to create a barrier for the entry of tears.

On the other hand, blocked tear ducts in infants can also be caused by:

• The upper or lower eyelid ducts are closed
• Eye infection
• The nose bone is bent , blocking the tear ducts into the nasal cavity
• The tear duct is too narrow
• Nasal polyps
• The presence of cysts or tumors
• Injury to the tear ducts

What are the symptoms when a blocked tear duct in a baby?
If your child has a blocked tear duct , the following signs will usually appear:

• Tears come out continuously from one or both eyes
• The eyelids are swollen and reddish, but the eyes are not red
• The eyelids look sticky and stick together
• Sometimes greenish-colored dirt or pus appears
• Actually, the dirt that comes out is a combination of tears and bacteria. At first glance it does look like an infected eye, but this is not necessarily a sign of infection. Because everyone, including babies, has bacteria that live in the eyelids.

Therefore, when the tear duct is blocked the bacteria cannot flow anywhere, and will remain in the eyelid. This is what sometimes triggers an infection when the baby's tear ducts are blocked, especially if the bacteria that has accumulated in the eyelid is too much.

Even so, you do not need to worry because the blockage of tear ducts in babies is actually not dangerous. But if there is an infection, see your ophthalmologist immediately.

How to treat a blocked tear duct baby?
There are 2 choices of ways to recover blocked tear ducts in infants, namely:

Conservative method
Most cases of tear duct obstruction in infants will usually heal on their own without special treatment. This depends on the severity of the tear block experienced by your child.

Your doctor may advise you to regularly massage your baby's tear bags slowly, to help smooth the blockage. If the baby is less than 1 year old and has an infection in the tear ducts, antibiotic eye drops and ointments may be an option.

Invasive method
Treatment that does not work with conservative methods, can be continued with invasive methods. In this case, the doctor will perform surgery by inserting a medical instrument ( probe ) into the tear duct.

The goal is of course to launch a blockage that blocks the flow of tears. Not only that, doctors can recommend stenting to keep the channel open. Or by using a balloon catheter to widen the baby's tear ducts.