IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

PRESBYOPIA

11th September, 2024 Health

PRESBYOPIA

Source: PLANETLASIK

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

  • Entod Pharmaceuticals has announced that the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) has approved its new eye drop, which can reduce dependency on reading glasses for individuals affected by presbyopia.
  • The eye drop PresVu is the first of its kind in India, and the company has applied for a patent in this regard.

Read about DGCI: https://www.iasgyan.in/sansad-tv-air-summaries/perspectivecommon-drug-standards

Details

About Presbyopia

  • It is an age-related eye condition (around 40) where the eyes gradually lose the ability to focus on close objects.
  • It affects nearly everyone to some degree as they age.

Causes

  • It is caused by the gradual hardening of the eye’s lens (becomes less flexible over time).
  • The lens changes shape to focus light on the retina.
  • As the lens stiffens with age, its ability to change shape diminishes, making it difficult to focus on nearby objects.

Treatment

  • Simple, non-prescription glasses that correct near vision problems by refracting light.
  • Bifocals: Correct both near and far vision, with a dividing line between the two lens areas.
  • Prescription eye drops (like pilocarpine hydrochloride) reduce pupil size, helping the eyes focus on close objects.
  • Laser surgery corrects one eye for near vision and the other for distance vision.
  • Corneal Inlays: Small devices implanted in the cornea to improve near vision.

Human eye

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Eye-related disorders

Disorder

Description

Treatment

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Difficulty seeing distant objects clearly.

Eyeglasses, contact lenses, refractive surgery (LASIK).

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

Difficulty seeing close objects clearly.

Eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery.

Astigmatism

Irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, causing blurred vision.

Corrective lenses, LASIK surgery.

Cataracts

Clouding of the eye’s lens, leading to vision impairment.

Cataract surgery (replacement of the cloudy lens with an artificial one).

Glaucoma

Damage to the optic nerve, often caused by high intraocular pressure.

Eye drops, laser treatment, surgery.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Deterioration of the macula, affecting central vision.

Medications, laser therapy, lifestyle changes.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Damage to the retina due to diabetes, leading to vision loss.

Laser surgery, medications, blood sugar control.

Retinal Detachment

Separation of the retina from the back of the eye, a medical emergency.

Immediate surgery to reattach the retina.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Inflammation of the conjunctiva, often caused by infection or allergies.

Antibiotics (if bacterial), antihistamines, self-care.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Insufficient tear production or poor-quality tears.

Artificial tears, prescription drops, lifestyle changes.

Strabismus

Misalignment of the eyes, leading to double vision or crossed eyes.

Glasses, eye exercises, surgery.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Reduced vision in one eye, typically from early childhood.

Eye patch, corrective lenses, vision therapy.

Keratoconus

Thinning of the cornea, causing it to bulge into a cone shape.

Contact lenses, corneal cross-linking, surgery.

Sources:

FinancialExpress

 

PRACTICE QUESTION

 Q: Consider the following statements about eye related disorders:

1.Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long for the refractive power of the cornea and lens.

2.Hyperopia occurs in some people when the eyeball is too short for the refractive power of the cornea and lens.

3.Astigmatism is an imperfectly shaped cornea or lens.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) None

 

Answer: d

Explanation:

1st statement is correct: Nearsightedness (myopia) occurs when the eyeball is too long for the refractive power of the cornea and lens. Because of the corneal curvature and relatively long size, light is focused in front of (rather than directly on) the retina, and the person has trouble clearly seeing distant objects.

2nd statement is correct: Farsightedness (hyperopia) occurs in some people when the eyeball is too short for the refractive power of the cornea and lens. Because of the relatively short size, light is focused behind the retina. Children and young adults who are mildly farsighted may be able to see clearly if their lens is flexible enough to properly refocus light on the retina. However, with aging, the lens stiffens. Thus, as farsighted adults age, seeing near objects clearly becomes more difficult and seeing distant objects also becomes more difficult.

3rd statement is correct: There are two types of astigmatism: corneal, in which the shape of the cornea is irregular, and lenticular, in which the lens is imperfectly shaped. Corneal astigmatism is more common. Either type of astigmatism can occur in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness.