Q: Is wearing contacts better for sports activity?
A: Yes, wearing contacts provide a wider field of view, which can up your game and prevent avoidable injuries. Prescription sports goggles work well but, depending on the activity, they may fog up and slip around from sweat, so many of my physically active patients prefer contacts.
Q: How does high blood pressure affect vision?
A: High blood pressure alone does not usually affect vision directly, however hypertension is a known risk factor in the onset and/or progression of other eye disease, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration, as well as blocked veins and arteries in the retina or nerves of the eye that can severely affect vision. In malignant hypertension, very high blood pressure can damage organs, and may cause swelling of the macula and acute loss of vision.
Q: How do allergies directly affect the eyes?
A: Chronic allergies may lead to permanent damage to the tissue of your eye and eyelids. If left untreated, it may even cause scarring of the conjunctiva, the membrane covering the inner eyelid that extends to the whites of the eyes. Ocular allergies can make contact lens wear almost impossible and are among the many causes of contact lens drop-out. Most common allergy medications will tend to dry out the eyes, and relying on nasal sprays containing corticosteroids can increase the pressure inside your eyes, causing other complications such as glaucoma.
Q: Is it harmful to rub my eyes?
A: Yes. It might seem harmless, but rubbing and touching your eyes are not a good thing. It can cause eye infections or allergies to worsen. Our hands are not always the cleanest and you can possibly scratch your eyes. Rubbing your eyes a lot can even induce astigmatism because you're changing the shape of your eyes.