AT Home with Lorraine Kelly - April 2011 - (Page 128)

A sight of 65 have cataracts in one or both eyes. High alcohol intake, smoking and long-term use of steroids are all factors that boost your susceptibility to cataracts. Diabetes, sustaining eye injuries and other problems with vision also increase the risk, as does family history. SYMPTOMS Spots in your vision, unusual glare from sunlight and washed-out colours are all signs of cataracts. If the world is always masked in fog, it’s time to get your eyes checked. PREVENTION Sadly, cataracts are an inevitable part of growing old. And, even worse, no medicine or diet has been found to slow down cataract development or to clear cloudy lenses. While glasses can initially improve vision, they are only a temporary solution to an inevitably declining eye health. TREATMENT Cataract surgery is the most common elective surgical procedure in the UK. Once your cataract is considered to be serious, your GP will refer you to an ophthalmologist. Tests are carried out to determine the power of the implant required to replace your own cloudy lens and help you see clearly again. WHAT IS IT? Glaucoma is caused by an increase in WHAT ARE THEY? About a third of people over the age MANY EYE CONDITIONS ARE AGE RELATED. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY ARE TREATABLE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE CAUGHT EARLY CATARACTS reverse any existing optic nerve damage, the chance of any future sight loss is greatly reduced. WHAT IS IT? Infections and allergic reactions are often to behold CONJUNCTIVITIS GLAUCOMA pressure within your eye, a weakness in the optic nerve, or both. Ageing is a key factor, and ﬁve in 100 people over 70 will develop some type of glaucoma. African or black Caribbean ancestry, diabetes, family history and short-sightedness all increase your risk. SYMPTOMS Chronic or secondary glaucoma is difﬁcult to spot, as it’s the peripheral vision that is affected ﬁrst. Central vision, used to focus on an object, is not affected until much later on in the disease, so concern may not be raised until your sight has deteriorated considerably. Acute glaucoma, however, is a swift mover. Loss of sight, severe pain, sickness, red eyes and blurred vision are all indicators that will arise more suddenly. PREVENTION Once over the age of 40, it’s important to have regular eye tests to check for the early signs of glaucoma. If you have a family history of glaucoma, it’s important to be tested regularly from the age of 35. TREATMENT Pressure inside the eye can be lowered with eye drops, laser treatment or surgery. Though these can’t 128 | MAY 2012 caused by eye drops, cosmetics or foreign bodies in the eye such as grit, eyelashes, chemicals from chlorine or dirt trapped on contact lenses. SYMPTOMS Warning signs of ‘pink eye’ include eye A CHANCE soreness, which is often described as a gritty or OF FOG MOST PEOPLE burning sensation, redness of the whites of your OVER THE AGE OF eye, blurred vision, excess watering or discharge 50 HAVE SOME from your eye and a slight sensitivity to light – HAZINESS OVER natural or artiﬁcial. THE LENS OF THE EYE PREVENTION See your GP if your eyes are persistently watery, red or itchy. Replace eye cosmetics, such as mascara, on a regular basis. (We’ve all seen the gammy residue lurking at the bottom of make-up bags.) TREATMENT Antihistamines, antibiotic eye drops such as Optrex Infected Eyes Eye Drops, £5.20, or lubricant such as Lubristil from Moorﬁelds, £8.25, can clear up bacterial infections. If eye tearing becomes too much to handle, lacrimal surgery can be performed to create a new passageway for your waterworks. Once the tear drainage system is back on track, you’ll have a twinkle, instead of a tear, back in your eye in no time. WHAT ARE THEY? The swelling on the eyelid is normally WORDS: Alice Newbold and Holly Quayle | PHOTOGRAPH: Getty Images STYES caused by an infection of one or more of the eyelash follicles (the root of the eyelash) in the eyelid. SYMPTOMS A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a small abscess (a painful collection of pus) on the eyelid or at the base of the lashes. It appears as a sensitive lump on the outside or inside of the eyelid. PREVENTION Good eye hygiene is essential to prevent styes occurring. Try to keep skin on the eyelids and lashes clear of crusting or stickiness. TREATMENT Most styes go away by themselves within a few days or weeks, so treatment isn’t always necessary. Try holding a hot compress against the eyelid for ﬁve to 10 minutes to warm the ﬂuids trapped inside the stye – it’s a simple, free way to encourage the ﬂuids to drain away. If the infection spreads or is severe, then go to your GP who may prescribe a course of antibiotics to combat it.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AT Home with Lorraine Kelly - April 2011

EDITOR’S LETTER
HELLO FROM LORRAINE
NOTEBOOK NEWS
ONE FOR THE DIARY
LITTLE BLACK BOOK
GOING STRONG
WIN BIG!
LORRAINE UNCUT
TOP HONOURS
FIT FOR A QUEEN
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON
SEX LIVES
CAREER CORNER
MOTOR SKILLS
DRIVING MISS DAISY
RETIRE HAPPY
CURTAIN CALL
ON TREND TRAPPINGS
IT'S A WRAP
BAGS OF STYLE
STEP AHEAD
WEDDING BELLES
FROCK FRENZY
WHAT YOUR CLOTHES SAY
JEWELLERY BOX BOUNTY
WOMANLY WOES
A BUMP IN THE ROAD
LOVELY BONES
FANCY FOOTWORK
PROTECT YOUR PEEPERS
VITAMIN VITALS
LOOK TO THE STARS
BE WELL
A RACE AGAINST TIME
MANAGE YOUR MAN’S HEALTH
EXPERT OPINION
MEZZE MADE EASY
DIG IN!
METABOLISM EXPLAINED
HEALTHY HYDRATION
READY, STEADY, RUN
THE GYM-FREE WORKOUT
MIRACLE WORKERS
NAKED AMBITION
WHEN LESS IS MORE
HAIR HEROES
FOXY LOCKS FOR OVER 40S
ASK THE ADULTS
TRAVELLING TOTS
KIDS ON THE CATWALK
A HELPING HAND
WHY I BECAME A FOSTER PARENT
FUN HOUSE
PAMPER TIME
LIFE AT THE RSPCA
WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
MINI MENAGERIE
ANIMAL INSURANCE
MUM'S THE WORD
EASY ON THE EYE
WEDDING BLISS
CREATE YOUR OWN
ONE MORE THING
COMING SOON
STOCKISTS
STYLISH LIVING SUPPLEMENT
SPRING HOME STYLE
GOT TO HAVE IT
HEART OF THE HOME
BEDROOM BLISS
LIVING IT UP
BOLD BATHROOM
SMALL CHANGE
DON'T SLIP UP
IMPROVE, DON'T MOVE
LET ME IN
WINDOW DRESSING
AL FRESCO DINING
DECK IT OUT
CLEVER CONSERVATORIES
GLAZE OVER
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
TRAVEL SUPPLEMENT
HELLO FROM LORRAINE
TRAVEL NEWS AND VIEWS
WILD AND FREE
BRILLIANT BLIGHTY
ONE FINE DAY
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
ISLAND HOPPING
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
PARK LIFE
BEFORE YOU JET OFF
GLOBE TROTTER
JUST THE JOB SUPPLEMENT
LORRAINE'S WELCOME
YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL
GO GIRL
FIRST-CLASS EMPLOYER
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT
A RIGHT BALANCE
A WOMAN'S WORLD
BUILDING BEAUTIES
GET SWOTTING
BACK TO WORK
COUNT ON BANKING
BRIGHT SPARK
PLAYING HOUSE
PLACE YOUR BETS
SHOP AROUND

AT Home with Lorraine Kelly - April 2011