Visual Hallucinations

 

Image: www.researchgate.net

When you’re sure you’ve seen something, then realize it’s not actually there, it can jolt you. It’s called a visual hallucination, and it can seem like your mind is playing tricks on you.

The word “hallucination” is a Latin word meaning “to wonder mentally”. Hallucinations are defined as the “perception of a nonexistent object or event” and “sensory experiences that are not caused by stimulation of the relevant sensory organs”.

Visual hallucinations are the second most common type of hallucination and span several different fields including psychiatric, neurologic, and ophthalmic. No single cause has explained all types of visual hallucinations. There are several theories that exist and are associated with many diseases and conditions. Some of these conditions include but are not limited to:

• A disturbance of brain structure
• A disturbance of neurotransmitters
• Delirium and emergence of unconscious into the consciousness
• Seizure activity of Cortical centers
• Lesions the cause of the affirmation of the visual system
• Simple loss of normal visual input
• Certain sleep disorders
• Dementia with Leah bodies (DLB)
• Common in older people with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer’s or dementia
• Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA)- refers to gradual and progressive degeneration of the outer layer of the brain (the cortex) in the part of the brain located in the back of the head (posterior).  
• Migraines
• Drug & alcohol effects
• Tumors
• Epilepsy
• Anton Syndrome-Those who have it are totally or partially blind caused by damage to the brain's occipital cortex but the eye looks normal. Will affirm, often quite adamantly and in the face of clear evidence of their blindness, that they are capable of seeing.

Visual Hallucinations are treated after many tests to determine the exact cause of the hallucinations. The needed treatment depends on finding the condition that’s triggering your hallucinations. In many cases, if you can treat that, you’ll stop seeing things.

Key areas for future research include the development of valid and reliable assessment tools for use in physical process studies and clinical trials, studies of shared and distinct traits and when and how to treat visual hallucinations.

#eyegotcha

#PittsburghEyeCare

#PittsburghOptometrist

Sources:

www.verywellmind.com

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

www.webmd.com

www.alz.org

Bloodshot Eyes

 

Eye redness known as blood shot eyes, is from irritated or inflamed blood vessels on the surface of the white part of the eye (the sclera). Red eye usually is a symptom of other eye conditions that can range from benign to serious, not just from over indulging in your favorite adult beverage.

The most common causes of bloodshot eyes:

1. Irritants such as:

• Dry air
• Smoke exposure
• Air pollution
• Fumes
• Exposure to the sun
• Dust
• Allergy
• Colds
• Coughing or vomiting
• Rubbing the eyes
• Sleep deprivation
• Prolonged screen time
• Pool Chlorine

2. Eye infections

• Blepharitis
• Conjunctivitis or pink eye
• Corneal Ulcers
• Uveitis

3. Other causes

• Recent eye surgery
• Trauma or injury to the eye
• A rapid increase in eye pressure
• Corneal scratches
• Scleritis – inflammation of the white of the eye
• Eyelid styes
• Bleeding issues
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Cigarettes, drug and Alcohol use
• Wearing contact lenses

Most causes of bloodshot eyes aren’t severe, however you should seek medical help if:

• Your symptoms persist more than a week
• You experience changes in vision
• You have pain in your eye(s)
• You have a discharge from one or both eyes
• You take blood thinning medication
• Your eye(s) is red after trauma
• You have a headache or blurry vision
• You see white rings or “halos” around lights
• You experience nausea and vomiting

Don’t use “red eye remover” eye drops. These drops contain vasoconstrictors that shrink blood vessels. You may experience red eye more often over a period of time. The best wat to get rid of bloodshot eyes is to see your doctor to determine the cause and extent of bloodshot eyes.

#eyegotcha

#PittsburghEyeCare

#PittsburghOptometrist



Sources:

www.healthline.com

www.mayoclinic.org

www.allaboutvision.com

Image:
www.menshealth.com

Anatomy of Eyeglasses

 

Weather in the market for new eyeglasses or just in need of repair. Here are a few terms you may want to be familiar with when speaking with an optician-this is the general name for a person who makes or sells eyeglasses.

1. Rims: Are the part of the eyeglasses that give your glasses their character. Their function is to hold the lenses in place.
2. End pieces: These are the small parts on the front frame that extends outward to connect the front frame to the hinges.
3. Bridge: The bridge is the center of the frame that rests on your nose and joins the two rims together. Most metal frames have joining points from the eye wire to the bridge. Plastic frames are one piece molded nose Bridge and wire.
4. Hinges: Sit between the end pieces and the temples. This allows you to close your glasses by folding the temples inward.
5. Lenses: Are the clear pieces of glass, plastic or other materials held in place by the rims. The lenses are crafted and shaped with your unique prescription to help you to see clearly.
6. Screws: Are exactly what you think. Tiny screws typically made of metal or plastic that are inserted into the hinge to connect the temples to the end pieces.
7. Nose pads: The rounded plastic pieces under the bridge that sit on your nose. They give a more comfortable and secure fit.
8. Nose pad arms: Used mostly for metal eyeglass frames. Nose pad arms are the mounting mechanism used to attach the nose pads to the frame.
9. Temples: The name for the arms of the glasses that extends from the hinges to the ear.
10. Temple tips: The end pieces of the temples that wrists directly on the ear. Sometimes called the earpieces

#eyegotcha

#PittsburghEyeCare

#PittsburghOptometrist

Sources:

www.heffingtons.com

www.fixmyglasses.com

www.aao.org