Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear! Cotton swabs are for cleaning bellybuttons, not ears. You have probably heard these admonitions from relatives and doctors since childhood…read on to find out what they meant. The Outer Ear and Canal The outer ear is the funnel-like part of the ear you can see…
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Have you ever wondered why your ears pop when you fly on an airplane? Or why, when they fail to pop, you get an earache? Have you ever wondered why the babies on an airplane fuss and cry so much during descent? Ear problems are the most common medical complaint of airplane travelers, and while…
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What Is Otitis Media? Otitis media means inflammation of the middle ear. The inflammation occurs as a result of a middle ear infection. It can occur in one or both ears. Otitis media is the most frequent diagnosis recorded for children who visit physicians for illness. It is also the most common cause of hearing…
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A cochlear implant is an electronic device that restores partial hearing to the deaf. It is surgically implanted in the inner ear and activated by a device worn outside the ear. Unlike a hearing aid, it does not make sound louder or clearer. Instead, the device bypasses damaged parts of the auditory system and directly…
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What Is a Cholesteatoma? A cholesteatoma is a skin growth that occurs in an abnormal location, the middle ear behind the eardrum. It is usually due to repeated infection, which causes an ingrowth of the skin of the eardrum. Cholesteatomas often take the form of a cyst or pouch that sheds layers of old skin…
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Each year more than two million people visit a doctor for dizziness, and an untold number suffer from motion sickness, which is the most common medical problem associated with travel… What Is Dizziness? Some people describe a balance problem by saying they feel dizzy, lightheaded, unsteady, or giddy. This feeling of imbalance or disequilibrium, without…
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Strabismus is a visual defect in which the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. One eye may look straight ahead, while the other eye turns inward, outward, upward or downward. You may always notice the misalignment, or it may come and go. The turned eye may straighten at times and the straight eye…
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Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. It is sometimes called “lazy eye.” When one eye develops good vision while the other does not, the eye with poorer vision is called amblyopic. Usually, only one eye is affected by Amblyopia. The condition is common, affecting approximately…
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You can treat many minor eye irritations by flushing the eye, but more serious injuries require medical attention. Injuries to the eye are the most common preventable cause of blindness; so when in doubt, err on the side of caution and call for help. Routine Irritations (sand, dirt, and other “foreign bodies” on the eye…
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If the white of your child’s eye and the inside of his lower lid become red, he probably has a condition called conjunctivitis. Also known as “pink eye” or “red eye,” this inflammation usually signals an infection but may be due to other causes, such as an irritation, an allergic reaction or (rarely) a more…
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The human eye is remarkable. It accommodates to changing lighting conditions and focuses light rays originating from various distances from the eye. When all of the components of the eye function properly, light is converted to impulses and conveyed to the brain where an image is perceived. Light rays enter the eye through a transparent…
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Diabetes affects your body from head to toe. That includes your eyes. The most common and most serious eye complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, which may result in poor vision or even blindness. Retinopathy is the medical term for damage to the many tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the retina, the area at…
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Floaters Floaters appear as gray or black specks, lines, or “cobwebs” in front of the eyes. As the eyes move, the floaters move too. They do not follow your eye movements precisely, as they usually drift when the eyes start or stop moving. Floaters are caused by clumps or bits of material suspended in the…
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What is a Keratoconus? The normal cornea usually has a spherical curvature. A disease called keratoconus causes the cornea to undergo progressive thinning and thus protrude outward, forming a cone-like curvature, which leads to distortion and decreased vision. The disease is thought to be inherited and begins to manifest itself sometime in the late-teen through…
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The eyes are some of the most sensitive and vulnerable organs in the body. Airborne allergens and other particles can land directly on the surface of the eye, causing irritation and redness. Although tears constantly wash the eyes, they can’t always keep out allergens like pollen or pet dander. Because of this, allergies that flare up…
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Hyperopia or Farsightedness Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a common vision problem, affecting about a fourth of the population. People with Hyperopia can see distant objects very well, but have difficulty seeing objects that are up close. Hyperopia Symptoms and Signs Farsighted people sometimes have headaches or eyestrain, and may squint or feel fatigued when performing…
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Myopia or Nearsightedness Nearsightedness, or Myopia, is a vision problem experienced by up to about one-third of the population. Nearsighted people have difficulty reading highway signs and seeing other objects at a distance, but can see for up-close tasks such as reading or sewing. Myopia Symptoms and Signs Myopic people often have headaches or…
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