"The front of the eye, and the cornea in particular, has more nerve endings per millimetre square than anywhere else in the body, says Dr Dilani Siriwardena, a consultant NHS ophthalmologist at Moorfields eye hospital in London and vice-president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. So it can be very sensitive. The tiniest scratch or piece of grit in your eye can feel like a brick."
"While you should take any changes to eye health seriously, says Siriwardena, it is important not to rush to hospital unnecessarily. Around 40% of eye casualty attendances are due to issues with the front of the eye that could be managed either by the patient themselves or with advice from a pharmacy or an optician. It is about judging for yourself the severity."
Lifestyle choices such as screen time and smoking can affect vision. The front of the eye, especially the cornea, has an extremely high density of nerve endings and is very sensitive; the tiniest scratch or piece of grit can feel like a brick. About 40% of eye casualty attendances are due to front-of-eye issues that patients, pharmacies, or opticians can manage. Pharmacies can advise on conjunctivitis, styes, or dry eye. Opticians can check pressure, the retina and optic nerve, provide drops, or refer to hospital for changes in vision, flashes, floaters, or headaches. Sudden vision loss or serious injuries require immediate A&E. If a chemical enters the eye, wash immediately and go to hospital.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]