THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITH SIGHT LOSS IN THE UK
> sighted say that sight loss has stopped them reaching their full potential at work.
Common eye conditions Some of the most common eye conditions include:
• Dry eyes: This is a common condition caused by a lack of tears or poor-quality tears. Symptoms can include dryness, irritation, burning, and stinging in the eyes. Treatments can include lubricating eye drops or prescription eye drops such as cyclosporine and lifitegrast.
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye): This is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the front of the white part of the eye. It can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or allergy. Symptoms can contain redness, swelling, itching, discharge, and a burning sensation in the eyes. Treatments can include lubricants, antibiotics, or antihistamine.
• Blepharitis: This is an inflammation of the eyelids. It can be caused by a bacterial infection, dandruff, or seborrheic dermatitis.
Symptoms can include redness, itching, swelling, and crusting of the eyelids.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): This is a common eye disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. AMD is the leading cause of sight loss in people over 50 and affects 488,000 people in the UK. Symptoms can include blurred vision, difficulty seeing in low light, and problems with reading and driving.
• Glaucoma: This is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, the nerve that carries signals from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma is often associated with high intraocular pressure (IOP), the fluid pressure inside the eye. However, not everyone with high IOP develops glaucoma. Symptoms can include blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, and tunnel vision.
Treatment and medications - glaucoma While glaucoma is typically not curable, it can be effectively managed through medications,
surgical procedures, or a combination of both. Pharmacists often play a crucial role in helping patients understand their glaucoma medications and ensure they use them correctly. Several types of eye drops are prescribed to lower IOP, including Prostaglandin Analogues which increase the outflow of aqueous humour, reducing IOP. Examples include latanoprost and bimatoprost; Beta-blockers like timolol eye drops, Alpha Agonists such as brimonidine and apraclonidine, and Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors such as Dorzolamide and brinzolamide reduce fluid production.
Preventative measures There are a number of steps we can take to protect our eyes and reduce the risk of developing eye problems. These include: having regular eye tests; wearing sunglasses to protect our eyes from harmful UV rays (Choose sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays.); Taking breaks from computer / smartphone screens every 20-30 minutes to give our eyes a rest; Eating a healthy diet as certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E, can help protect our eyes from damage and inflammation; Quitting smoking - smoking is a major risk factor for developing eye problems, such as cataracts and AMD; Using safety eyewear – many eye injuries occur due to accidents and safety goggles can protect against risks when handling chemicals, tools or machinery.
The role of pharmacists Pharmacists are essential advocates of eye health and can raise awareness about good eye health through in-store displays, brochures, and educational workshops; recommend products to alleviate symptoms, or eye vitamins for overall eye health; and advise patients in managing medication side-effects on eye-health.
SMOKING IS A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR DEVELOPING EYE PROBLEMS
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