Doctor, Eye Have a Problem! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Myopia

Myopia, otherwise known as nearsightedness, is one of the most common eyesight issues. It affects about twenty five percent of people in the US and is characterized by having trouble seeing objects that are far away (usually objects far away appear blurry).

A simple eye test can detect this and it is easily remedied by wearing glasses or contact lenses that correct the vision deficiency.

Answer: Pink eye

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis is an irritating but usually not serious issue that can affect one or both eyes. It can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection or an allergic reaction and can be contagious. You know you have pink eye if your eyes are itchy and red and you have a discharge from the eyes causing your eyelashes to feel sticky when you wake up. Pink eye is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid. Usually the symptoms go away after a couple of days. Good hygiene and washing of bedding and towels help stop the spread.

Answer: Corneal infection, ectasia and/or halos

There are different types of laser eye surgery but all involve removing some amount of tissue in order to re-shape the cornea and correct vision. The amount of time to heal varies from one to two weeks and involves sensitivity to light, hazy vision and eye soreness during that time.

There are several risks in having any of the laser procedures, including having some dryness in the eyes, infection, ectasia (inflammation), poor night vision caused by halos or glares, vision regression or even cornea flap dislocation (particularly if you play sports).

The benefits are improved vision for a number of years (usually until eye issues occur due to aging) without the use of corrective lenses but it is important to keep in mind that there is no guarantee.

Answer: Red painful bump on the eyelid

A sty, also spelled as stye, is another quite common and not too serious eye issue. A sty is caused by an infection of oil glands in the eyelid but is quite harmless and generally doesn't cause any vision issues. It's characterized by a red bump that looks like a pimple that forms on the lid, either on the outer lid or inside the lid. Sties can be quite painful but easily treated without any medical intervention by using warm compresses on the impacted area and gently massaging the sty. You can prevent them with good hygiene, not using old makeup and not leaving makeup on overnight.

The skin condition rosacea (facial redness) is also a risk factor for developing sties.

Answer: Cataracts

Cataracts are characterized by cloudiness of the vision that worsens over time. It is usually gradual and some of the symptoms to look out for are difficulty seeing at night, double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light and seeing halos. Cataract surgery to correct this issue is quite common and involves removing the eye lens and replacing with a new one.

The surgery is typically done on an outpatient basis so there's no need to stay in the hospital to do it and recovery includes wearing a protective shield over the eye after, including when sleeping.

The blurry vision goes away over a few short days after the surgery and vision is successfully restored.

Answer: Sixties

Due to the aging process, most cataract procedures are performed on people who are over sixty years old. However, procedures are sometimes necessary on people who are younger than that. Cataracts are generally age-related but other risk factors include diabetes, family history of cataracts at a young age, prolonged exposure to the sun, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and past eye injury.

Answer: Retinal detachment

A retinal detachment is an emergency situation in which a layer of the retina at the back of the eye peels away from its normal position. It is an extremely serious condition which, if not treated quickly, can result in permanent vision loss. Symptoms include the sudden appearance of floaters in the vision, loss of peripheral vision, flashes of light and/or reduced vision that seems like a curtain is being drawn over the area of vision. Risk factors include aging, previous retinal detachment, family history of retinal detachment, previous eye surgery (such as cataract surgery), eye disease, eye injury or a blow to the head and myopia.

Answer: Air or gas

A pneumatic retinopexy involves injecting a bubble of gas or air into the eye to hold the retina back in place. The surgeon can then perform the laser procedures to weld the retina back permanently. When the gas bubble is injected into the eye, the patient is sent home where it is vital to stay extremely still and in a certain position, depending on where the tear has taken place.

For example, some people must remain lying on their front for weeks at a time, only moving for absolute necessities such as eating, using the bathroom or bathing. During this time, it's necessary to get help for any household or family duties and the patient cannot work. Adhering to this is crucial to the healing process.

Answer: Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a good old fashioned condition caused by aging. It is the inability to not be able to see up close and it can happen quite suddenly. It typically begins around the age of forty and gets worse as you age. Books, your phone, newspapers, food labels - all the things you could read with ease become blurry but this condition can be easily corrected with reading glasses or contact lenses.

It can be a source of embarrassment depending on when this starts but it is a natural age-related condition that almost everyone will experience in one way or another.

Answer: Every twenty minutes, look twenty feet away for twenty seconds

There are many easy to follow tips to help maintain healthy eyes and a big one is limiting screen time to help reduce eye strain. Other tips include wearing sunglasses outside. Exposing eyes to sunlight puts you at risk for macular degeneration which is degeneration of the part of the retina that is responsible for central vision.

Other eye health tips include frequent hand washing, frequent eye checkups, not smoking and eating a balanced diet.