Astigmatism is a disease that causes the image to become distorted and blurred. A person with such a congenital or acquired pathology is not able to focus his gaze on one object.
Severe eye strain can provoke increased fatigue, tearing and a feeling of pain. In the modern world, the pathology is quite common not only among adults, but also in childhood.
The most important thing is to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and stop its development, because its further progression can provoke a lot of unpleasant consequences.
Often farsightedness, myopia, strabismus, decreased quality of vision, the appearance of severe headaches, etc. may be negative consequences of astigmatism.
Why you can’t treat astigmatism yourself
Correction of the disorder should begin as soon as possible after a full examination and diagnosis. This is especially important in childhood. It is best if the disorder is eliminated at an early stage, when the quality of vision begins to decline, but there are still no anatomical changes in the structure of the eyes. In this case, there is no reason for such deterioration.
It is extremely important at this stage to choose the right treatment methods. Therefore, self-medication and choosing therapy methods is strictly prohibited, since there is a risk of worsening your own condition. The consequences can be varied, which means you need to seek qualified help. It is most effective to initially choose conservative methods for treatment.
List of the best drops
When astigmatism is advanced, special drops are prescribed that help stop the development of pathology and help restore lost functions. Drops have the following effects important for the eyes:
- help improve blood circulation in the tissues of the cornea, nourish cells with vitamins and essential minerals;
- reduce eye tension, eliminate pain and fatigue;
- promote hydration of mucous membranes, eliminate the feeling of dryness;
- create a protective layer that reduces the impact of environmental factors on the eyes.
Only a specialist can determine the correct medications. It is also important to listen to advice on how to use them, which is equally important.
Albucid
The drops are antimicrobial. Albucid is used to combat various infections and pathogens of inflammatory processes. In the process of treating astigmatism, the remedy is an essential part of the therapy.
Visine Pure Tear
Visine is one of the most effective drugs among the group of artificial tears. It is used to moisturize the conjunctiva. The drops help reduce fatigue and create a protective layer on the cornea from the environment.
Emoxipin
A drug for strengthening the walls of the eye vessels. After regular use of Emoxipin, an increase in the elasticity and strength of blood vessels is noted. The penetration of oxygen into the eye tissues increases significantly. All this improves vascular permeability due to its antioxidant properties.
Quinax
Drops that accelerate normal blood circulation in the eyes and metabolism. Thanks to Quinax, the lens becomes transparent.
Midroom
The main active ingredient of Midrum is tropicamide, which helps relieve severe muscle fatigue and spasmodic contractions.
Taurine
Eye product with a high content of amino acids. Thanks to Taurine, eye tissues are saturated with oxygen and dryness is eliminated. Taufon eye drops are also endowed with similar properties. They contain taurine, which helps moisturize the mucous membranes.
Ujala
A natural herbal preparation that helps reduce eye fatigue. Drops reduce muscle tension, cleanse blood vessels and tear ducts. Ujala is a vitamin stimulator of eye health. The product contains a natural analgesic and antimicrobial agent.
Drops for children
Eye drops are used for childhood astigmatism to stabilize internal blood flow and restore normal metabolic processes. Also, special drops relieve the feeling of dryness and inflammation that occurs during the disease.
We recommend reading: How to put drops in a child’s eyes
Most often used to treat astigmatism in children:
- Emoxipin;
- Midroom;
- Sulfacyl sodium;
- Taufon;
- Ujala.
Most are drugs for the treatment of adults, but their use in therapy in children is also practiced. The main thing is to use the correct dosage. In this case, the duration of the course of treatment and a single dose are determined by the ophthalmologist individually for each patient.
Description of the disease
This is a fairly common eye disease, and as people age, more and more people become susceptible to it. Already from the age of 40-45, almost 75% of men and 60% of women suffer from it, and from the age of 60, almost everyone has it.
The disease is often congenital, but very weak - up to 0.5 diopters. This does not cause any inconvenience, as it remains almost invisible. This astigmatism does not require correction.
According to the degree of severity, there are 3 degrees
- weak - up to 3 D;
- medium - more 3D;
- high - above 6 D
For diagnosis, experts suggest looking at a special table with radial lines, and based on the degree of “blurring” they determine the patient’s level of astigmatism. The higher it is, the stronger it is.
List of the best vitamins
For astigmatism, it is important to use not only medicinal drops, but also vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain and improve visual functions. Most often, such components are combined with or included in eye drops.
As a rule, vitamin complexes are used as preventive measures that help improve and restore the functioning of the visual organs. Vitamins are needed not only for patients with astigmatism, but also for the following categories:
- people with myopia, farsightedness, corneal depletion, age-related presbyopia, regardless of age;
- those who work a lot at the computer, usually more than 5 hours;
- with advanced glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.
Next, we will consider the most effective eye solutions with vitamins and minerals that help reduce fatigue and eliminate dry mucous membranes.
Riboflavin
A solution that helps normalize the patency of nerve impulses. Under the influence of Riboflavin, the load on the visual organs is reduced and inflammation is eliminated.
Vitamin A (Vita-Pos)
Designed specifically to protect the cornea. The drops help moisturize the eyes and prevent dryness when used regularly. The drug relieves inflammation and prevents thinning of the protective layer of the cornea.
Vita-iodurol
Vita-iodurol contains a large amount of vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants. All this helps speed up the metabolic process and prevent the natural aging of the lens. Vitafacol, Katahrom, Quinax and Taufon drops have similar properties.
Vitamins for children
In childhood, vitamins are needed not only for astigmatism, but also for the body as a whole. To treat astigmatism, eye drops are combined with vitamin complexes in tablets and capsules. Vitamin prophylaxis in children and adults should be carried out twice a year - in spring and autumn.
Popular vitamin preparations for childhood astigmatism are:
- Vitrum Vision;
- Lutein Complex for children;
- Strix Kids.
Surgery
Such operations, which are currently carried out using a laser, make it possible to completely get rid of astigmatism. Today, most operations for adults are performed using the laser keratomileusis method, which is recognized as the most effective. The method is based on complex Wavefront technology, which allows for maximum improvement of the patient's vision. In addition, thanks to special nutrition of the eye tissue, the postoperative period is significantly reduced.
After a successful operation, you should avoid heavy visual loads for 30-40 days. Alcohol, hot baths and sports are also not advisable.
You can learn more about the above methods in the article “Methods and features of correcting astigmatism.”
Nutrition and diet for astigmatism
Proper nutrition can be a salvation for astigmatism. The patient should consume more natural antioxidants to restore the retina. Healthy to eat:
- red and orange products;
- sour milk;
- various nuts and seeds;
- all types of cereals;
- cabbage, peas;
- greenery;
- berries and fruits, especially grapes and blueberries;
- seafood.
It is beneficial to consume unrefined vegetable oils. Whole milk should be excluded. It is not recommended to drink strong coffee and tea. It is useful to drink fruit juice and herbal teas. Fried, fatty, salty and smoked foods should be excluded. You also need to give up bad habits and adhere to the treatment and recommendations of the ophthalmologist.
Groups of useful vitamins for astigmatism
Treatment for astigmatism should consist of a combination of medications, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Specific antioxidants that are beneficial for the eyes are:
- Lutein – prevents lens clouding. By nature it is a kind of light filter that reduces age-related changes in the structure of the retina.
- Lycopene – stops the processes of peroxide in the body of the lens.
- Zeaxatin is a kind of protective filter for retinal neurons, preventing a decrease in the quality of vision.
Do not forget about the benefits of vitamin complexes for children and adults suffering from astigmatism. The body requires an increased content of vitamins and minerals during heavy visual load.
It is also important to create gentle light conditions, which will help reduce eye strain.
You need to figure out what vitamins are needed for eyes with astigmatism and in general.
Vitamin A
Activates the performance of the photosensitive pigment – rhodopsin. With a lack of this vitamin, severe dryness of the mucous membranes is felt, and night blindness occurs. However, you should not use it in its pure form, as it can harm the body.
Vitamin B2
A substance that helps create a protective layer for the retina, preventing the negative effects of ultraviolet rays. The vitamin is necessary to restore the natural acuity of the visual organs.
Vitamin C
Considered a natural antioxidant. Vitamin C deficiency creates ideal conditions for the development of cataracts and glaucoma.
Vitamin E
A kind of protection for cell membranes. With a deficiency of this vitamin, oxidative stress of the retina develops.
About the disease
Astigmatism is a congenital or acquired eye pathology characterized by an irregular shape of the cornea, as a result of which light rays are not projected onto the retina and do not allow a clear picture to be seen.
Normally, light rays should pass through the retina and focus on one point. But this does not happen with astigmatism. The rays of light are projected at several points, as a result of which the image that a person sees becomes blurry.
In most cases, astigmatism is congenital. It rarely appears in childhood. As a rule, its first symptoms appear closer to 30-40 years of age.
To a mild degree, the pathology does not in any way affect the sharpness and clarity of vision. But when the curvature of the cornea or lens reaches 1 diopter, a person begins to see worse. In this case, glasses or contact lenses are used to correct vision.
Astigmatism is often accompanied by nearsightedness or farsightedness. Lack of therapy entails a sharp decrease in vision (up to complete blindness), severe headaches, strabismus, etc. Treatment of the disease is always selected individually, depending on the severity of its progression. In the final stages, the only method of vision correction is surgery.
