Night Blindness (Nyctalopia)

Actually this is a misnomer. It is not really blindness but a deficiency and really means a prolonged time is taken to get accustomed to darkness.

The commonest cause is vitamin A deficiency which may be due to dietary deficiency or chronic liver disease or may follow pregrancy.

In cases of glaucoma, sometimes night blindness may be the only reason why the patient visits the doctor.

Retinal disorders, pigmentary disturbances and choroidal disturbances may also lead to night blindness.

In essence, if the night vision was normal previously, and has become affected, it usually indicates some pathological changes have occurred, and a visit to the doctor is essential for sometimes it may be the only symptom in some problematical diseases.

Plastic or Cosmetic Lid Surgery

After a certain age, the skin of the face and eyelids starts drooping. Face-lifts are useful to tighten (or tauten) the skin, the scars being concealed behind the ear or hairline at the neck.

Eye-lifts are along the same lines. Baggy pouches above and below the eye can be easily corrected by cosmetic surgery, giving a youthful look. In some people the eyelids get tired carrying the weight of the extra skin and droop on top, causing visual problems and strain.

The operation is comparatively simple. Hospital stay is usually for a day. The cosmetic results in the hands of an expert are extraordinarily good. Surprisingly an eye-lift makes the entire face look far younger. The scars are buried in the normal folds and even careful examination after 3 months will reveal no sign of any surgery at all.

Chalazion (Tarsal Cyst)

A chalazion is a painless cyst in the upper or lower lid, 4-6 mm in size, though often larger. It starts as a slightly painful swelling which rapidly resolves leaving a hard cyst behind. A fair number of these cysts, which may be multiple, go away with simple massage over the cysts daily. However, some do not and may need minor surgery.

The surgery is done from the inside of the lid, leaves no scars, and properly done, is almost painless.