Fovea Capitis: An Important Part of Your Hip
The fovea is a small area at the back of your eye (the retina) where light cannot reach. This region helps us see in low light conditions, such as night time or when you are sleeping. It is located behind the iris and above the pupil.
It is responsible for vision in dim lighting conditions, such as darkness, and it helps us distinguish objects from each other. When the eyes do not have enough light to function properly, they produce less tears which causes dryness of the eyes. If this condition persists long term, it may lead to blindness.
In addition to its role in vision, the fovea plays a vital role in our circadian rhythm. During the day, it helps us sleep better because it allows the brain to rest. At night, it helps us fall asleep faster so that we wake up refreshed.
When there is too much light during the day and too little at night, the fovea becomes active and darkens parts of our visual field. This results in reduced ability to focus on objects in front of you. You become unable to recognize faces clearly and you may even lose track of time!
How to Take Care of Your Eyes During the Day and Night
Do not wear eye shades in the day or at night. Use an eye cream that has light reflecting pigments instead.
Do not use your cell phone or watch TV on full brightness all the time. Dim these devices when you use them for long periods of time.
Do wear protective eyewear to shield your eyes from glaring lights. Do not wear them at night.
Do wear glasses or contact lenses that protect your eyes from UV rays when outside.
Do not look directly at the sun or lights. It is better to look at a light source through your eyelids so that you do not damage the cells in your eyes.
These instructions will help you take care of your eyes so you are able to continue seeing clearly, even when sleeping!
Remember that most of us do not get enough sleep. It is better to get an hour of sleep that is refreshing than 6 hours of sleep that leave you groggy in the morning. If you have any concerns about your eyes, ask your ophthalmologist about treatment and prevention today!
Why Should You See an Eye Doctor?
If you ever have any concerns about your eyes or vision, make sure that you see an eye doctor right away. Common eye exams can help you spot many health problems early on, which is vital to your health and well-being. Your ophthalmologist can examine the inside and outside of your eyes and check for any health issues relating to your vision.
You may have some common vision problems that can be corrected with prescription eye glasses or contact lenses. Other problems, such as glaucoma or cataracts, may require surgery if they are not treated early on. If you do not see a doctor, you may lose vision in that eye or even go blind.
Make an appointment today by calling (504) 989-2229.
Common Eye Problems
There are several common eye problems that many people suffer from at some point in their lives. Most of these issues can be cured or at least treated if caught early on. As we age, our bodies tend to develop more health issues and the eyes are no exception. Vision problems tend to get worse if left untreated and may cause other complications.
Many of these issues can be diagnosed during a routine eye exam. During an eye exam, your ophthalmologist or optometrist can check the health of your eyes and treat any problems that may exist. You should have a complete eye exam at least once every year, but some problems may require more frequent visits.
Cataracts
As we age, many of us start to develop a film over our eyes, known as a cataract. A cataract will cloud your vision and it may become harder to perform daily tasks. A cataract usually does not cause pain, but it can prevent you from seeing certain things clearly or at all. It may also be a warning sign of other medical problems such as diabetes.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerves and can lead to blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma usually has no symptoms and many people do not realize that they have it until they start having vision problems. In some cases, you may notice halos or blurry vision. You may also experience headaches or pain in your eyes.
If any of these symptoms occur, seek immediate medical attention from an eye doctor as soon as possible. The sooner glaucoma is detected, the greater chance treatment will work.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetes may cause blood vessels in your retina to grow twisted and haphazard. This can lead to a loss of vision and in some cases, blindness. In order to prevent the spread of this disease, it is important that you keep your blood sugar under control through diet and exercise or other medical treatments as directed by your physician.
Other Eye Conditions
Glasses
If you do not have vision problems, but need glasses to see things clearly, it is important to get new prescription lenses at least once every two years. Also, if you start noticing a halo or blurriness around lights, be sure to get your eyes checked right away. This can be a sign of a serious problem that will only get worse without treatment.
If your lenses start to get cloudy, you may be able to get a new prescription for them. However, if they are badly damaged or the prescription is far too strong for your eyes, you may have to get a new pair of glasses.
There are several different kinds of frames to choose from when getting new glasses. It is best to choose a frame style that suits your face and your personal style.
Contacts
If you have vision problems severe enough to require a strong prescription, it is best to speak with your eye care professional about whether contacts are a good option for you. Your eye doctor can help you choose the right kind of contacts and teach you how to insert and remove them properly. It is important that you replace your contact lenses on a regular basis, as directed by your eye care professional.
If you have a torn or scratched cornea, get medical attention immediately. The same is true if you experience eye pain or an unusual discharge from your eye.
Get Help Today
At EyeQ Vision we have highly experienced and knowledgeable staff to help you with all of your vision needs. We offer complete eye exams for both glasses and contacts and we will make sure that you always have the right prescription.
Don’t suffer another day with blurry vision or glasses that are too strong or not strong enough. With EyeQ Vision you will always have crystal clear vision.
Call EyeQ Vision today to schedule your eye exam.
Sources & references used in this article:
The morphology and morphometry of the fovea capitis femoris by V Perumal, SJ Woodley, HD Nicholson – Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2017 – Springer
The position and morphometry of the fovea capitis femoris in computed tomography of the hip by M Ceynowa, M Rocławski, R Pankowski… – Surgical and Radiologic …, 2019 – Springer
Fovea alta on MR images: is it a marker of hip dysplasia in young adults? by LS Beltran, JD Mayo, ZS Rosenberg… – American Journal of …, 2012 – Am Roentgen Ray Soc