Dr. Avinash Gurbaxani , Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon in Uveitis, Medical Retinal Diseases and Cataract, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, answers queries of Y&E readers
I have been advised to get operated for cataract. I wanted to know, will this operation affect my vision. Also, are there some precautions which I can take to increase the speed of the recovery process?
A cataract can make vision cloudy or blurry and cause glare. Modern small incision cataract surgery is highly successful for most patients and an operation will surely improve your sight. Generally, the post surgery recovery period lasts for one week for most patients, but in some patients recovery can take up to one month. Religiously adhering to the medications and precautions mentioned by the doctor will help in accelerating the recovery process.
Can you suggest some precautionary measures to deal with computer related eye strain?
Today, many working people spend long hours sitting in front of a computer screen, mobile screen, etc. and tend to strain their eyes. The key to managing such tired and strained eyes is to take regular breaks from the screen, using lubricating eye drops, and ensuring that the screen is positioned at a height and distance, to optimise the comfort of the user. Additionally, regular eye checkups are also important to detect the early symptoms of problems, if any.
Is pink eye contagious? Also, what are the symptoms that indicate the presence of this disease in the eye.
Pink Eye – or viral conjunctivitis – is an infection or inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eyeball, turning it red. It is contagious but there are steps that can be taken to help prevent its spread. The symptoms for patients include red eyes with watery discharge, sensitivity to light, pain and discomfort. Practicing basic hygiene like regular hand washing, not sharing items like towels, bed pillows, etc. can prevent its spread.
When I stare at blank, plain or reflective surfaces, my field of vision is often interrupted by the presence of black dots. Though I don’t experience any pain or discomfort, I want to know will this problem affect my vision?
This problem is known as eye floaters. Floaters are shapes that people can see drifting across their vision. Floaters are very common and represent the natural degeneration of the gel that fills the eye but do not affect the eye or vision. The floaters may appear as small dots or irregularly shaped strands. Generally people should not be concerned about seeing one or two floaters in their vision, particularly if they have been there for some time. A sudden onset of floaters, flashing lights, or anything affecting the vision warrants a visit to the ophthalmologist to rule out the presence of any major problems.
