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9 Simple Tips To Keep Your Eyes Healthy!

Your eyes are irreplaceable. They are your windows to the world. But they are fragile and you need to take meticulous care of them. There are many reasons your eyesight could deteriorate- age, pollution, stress, unhealthy diet etc. While you can’t really stop the ageing of your eyes, you can slow it down. But many of the other issues could be avoided if you adopt a few measures.

9 Tips To Keep Your Eyes Healthy –

1. Regular Check-up for your Eyes

You need to visit an ophthalmologist/optometrist at least once a year. They will administer several tests to determine how strong your vision is or how healthy your eyes are. Based on the tests, you will be given a new pair of lenses for your glasses or medicines if needed.  

Myopia has been becoming an epidemic, especially in kids. Scheduling regular eye check-up exams are the best way to ensure safety from myopia. Regular checkups can also ward off cataracts, retinal detachment and glaucoma, all very sight-threatening eye conditions.

Contrary to popular opinion, mobile phones are doing more harm to the eyes than television ever did. It is because, bigger the screen and greater the distance, lesser is the strain on the eyes. So, a laptop screen is always better than a mobile phone screen. For school kids with online classes, it is a very good option to project the phone on television set and the child sitting at a comfortable distance from the screen.

Dr. Gitanjali Sharma Bose MBBS, MS Ophthalmology

2.   A Healthy Diet to the Rescue

This is an age-old and sure-shot means of keeping your eyes healthy. There are certain foods that boost your eyesight and reverse the effects of ageing. Make sure your diet includes –

A healthy diet also reduces your chances of becoming obese or contracting diabetes or hypertension, which are leading causes of eye problems.  

Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that certain nutrients like copper, zinc, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and beta carotene can reduce the risk of age-related decline in eye health.

3. Diabetes and Eye Health  

Obesity and diabetes are closely tied to potential eye problems. Obesity is linked with type II diabetes and diabetes is linked to a higher risk of glaucoma and retinopathy. Exercising, diet control and maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol can help with weight loss and diabetes management. This can help you to avoid the risks of eye conditions and also save you the trouble of expensive glaucoma treatment surgery.

Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

4. Give up Smoking

Smoking is not only destructive to your lungs but it can also give you cataracts. It may damage your optic nerve and cause macular degeneration. If you are a chain smoker and quitting seems impossible to you, talk to a therapist.

Read More: How to Quit Smoking?

  Smoking also increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye syndrome.

Smoking also leads to Uveitis which is inflammation of the eye’s middle layer. Studies have shown that smokers are 2.2 times more at risk of deterioration of the eye than non-smokers.

Also Read: 7 Health Hazards of Smoking

5. Wear Sunglasses

Shades are imperative when you go out into the sun. The UV rays of the sun can harm your eyes. They can bring about macular degeneration, cataracts and can even cause temporary blindness. Shades can protect you from the worst of UV rays.

If your work requires you to stare at a computer screen for 8 hours at a stretch, you will need to adopt a few extra precautions.

As a rule of thumb, foods with colours of traffic signal lights – red, yellow and green, are excellent sources of Vitamin A and antioxidants for the eyes. If you are a vegetarian, have any seasonal fruit and a fistful of nuts everyday. For fussy children, simply make a paste of leafy greens and mix it with chapati flour/ dal. It is an effective method of ensuring good eye nutrition.

Dr. Gitanjali Sharma Bose MBBS, MS Ophthalmology

  6. Your Eyes Need a Break

Once every 30 minutes, look away from the screen and keep your eyes closed for 15 seconds. Then open them and blink rapidly, this will coat your eyes with a layer of moisture.  

Constantly working in front of a screen and not peeling your eyes for a long time may result in Computer vision syndrome. It causes eye strain, blurry vision, and discomfort.

7. Eye exercise

At regular intervals, put your eyes through a simple exercise. Stare at a distant object for 15 seconds, switch your gaze over to a nearer object, and keep staring at it for another 15 seconds. Repeat this cycle 4-5 times.  

Make it a habit to do this consistently to guard your eyes against unnecessary strain and discomfort.

Annual check ups are usually recommended especially in people above 45 years and who suffer from diseases of the eye or diabetes, uncontrolled and chronic diabetes usually affects the retina and maybe a cause of irreversible blindness.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

8. Protective gear

Computer screens emit a harmful rays called blue light. To mitigate the effect of blue light, you can attach an anti-glare cover to the screen of your computer or wear a pair of anti-glare glasses.  

Use safety glasses or eye shields when outside. Wear goggles when and where necessary. Along with eyewear, eyewashes are also important to keep your eye safe.

9. Adjust the Lighting

Make sure that the lights in your office room are not too harsh. Turn a few off, if possible. Don’t sit with your back to an open window because your computer screen will reflect the light coming in through the window. You can also adjust the brightness of your computer so that it complements the lighting of the room.

Don’t take your eyes for granted. They are priceless. Get a good night’s sleep as it is monumental in promoting good eye health. The rest is very important for your eyes. Keep your hands clean if you have a habit of touching your eyes often. With a few simple tips, you can keep them healthy.

Important to note – Eye health is also connected to age, the older you get the more you should be aware of eye disorders that are common with ageing. Your doctor may advise you to get frequent checkups and also inform you what symptoms to watch for (such as poor vision and blurry sight). Another important factor to keep in mind regardless of age is for people who use contact lenses and prescription glasses. Be sure to use clean hands whenever you are putting your contacts on and maintain proper hygiene whenever you’re dealing with your eyes.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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How To Take Care Of Your Eyes?

Eyes, although one of the essential organs in the body, is often neglected in the human body. Unfortunately, we have no beauty enhancement treatment or spas to rejuvenate or improve our eyesight. Therefore, it is purely up to us to maintain good eye health.

Ironical, isn’t it that eyes are very important, yet we abuse our privilege of vision?

Here are Seven Effective Ways of Taking Care of Your Eyes:

1) Take Frequent Breaks From the Screens

Thanks to the technological era that we live in, people spend endless hours in front of monitors, TVs and cell phones. The constant exposure to screens, be it the laptop, smartphones, tabs or television, etc., leads to unnecessary strain on our eyes. It is best to take frequent breaks when reading or working on a computer screen. One must look away and focus on objects in the distance for good eye health.

2) Use Eye drops

Staring at screens for too long results it strained dry eyes. The best way to overcome this problem is to use a hydrating eye drop to cool, hydrate and nourish the eyes. Just as one shoe doesn’t fit all, one eye drop isn’t useful for everyone, so consult your ophthalmologist before you squirt anything in your eyes in the hope that it’s doing you good. Also, always check the expiry date of products before using them.

3) Get Regular Eye Check-ups

It is advised that you get an eye check-up at least once in six months. Eye strain, dry eyes, and other similar disorders can lead to severe ailments if they aren’t cured on time.   Consult your doctor once in six months or if any of the following symptoms persist:

– irritation of the eye/eyes

– foreign body sensation in the eye

– stringy discharge

– eye fatigue

– heavy eyelids

– red eyes

– discomfort on wearing contact lenses

– shorter bearable spans of reading, working on computers, etc

Also Read: Misdiagnosed Eye Conditions: Is it Pink Eye or Something Else?

4) Proper Care of Contact Lenses

People who wear contact lenses have to take extra care of their eyes. Precaution needs to be taken while wearing and removing contact lenses, while applying or removing make-up, spraying deodorants, to name a few. Try not wearing the lenses for too long and avoid any contact with dust and foreign particles as it may lead to infection.

Cataract, glaucoma and refractive errors are very common eye health problems which are a cause of vision impairment and a frequent cause of visit to an ophthalmologist. No symptoms of eye disease should be neglected.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

5) Use of Anti-glare Glasses

The UV rays of the sun cause considerable damage to eyesight. Also, the bright harsh light entering the eye for prolonged lengths of time can harm the cornea. Sunglasses also protect the eyes from dry air and dust particles. Plus, it adds to your coolness quotient, so why not?

6) Consumption of a Balanced Diet

Our eyes need to be cared for both externally as well as internally. Intake of a diet containing all the essential nutrients in proper quantities is important for maintaining optimum optic health. While eye problems associated with old age such as cataracts and glaucoma cannot be eliminated completely, taking adequate quantities of nutrients such as zinc, Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C and vitamin E help reduce the chances of old age-related vision problems. Green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale and sources of protein such as chicken and soybean are superfoods that maintain healthy eyesight. A balanced diet also ensures a healthy body weight which is essential for keeping obesity at bay. Obesity is a common cause of Type 2 diabetes which is often responsible for rendering patients blind.  

Digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome is very common nowadays due to increased screen time. 20-20-20 rule, every 20 minutes, an individual should take the eye off from the screen for about 20 seconds and look at a distant object (situated at 20 feet away) should always be followed with good ergonomics.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

7) Give Up Smoking

Smoking cigarettes is a leading cause of eyesight problems such as Macular Degeneration and Cataracts. The toxins inhaled while smoking are extremely detrimental to optic health. To let the optic nerves function efficiently, it is absolutely essential to give up smoking as it causes damage to it.

Must Read: 10 Best Foods For Eye Health  

Disclaimer:  The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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Importance of Eyes & Why We Should Take Care Of It

There has been a drastic rise in the number of people suffering from vision impairments and eye problems due to digitalisation and extreme working hours. This number is not restricted to the adult population but many kids and teenagers are also increasingly getting issues pertaining to vision.

In this health blog, we would understand all about eye care and health from Dr Leena Doshi, a leading ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract and LASIK. She is among the panel of doctors in ONGC and is also a medical officer for class I and II eye examinations for pilots. Dr Leena Doshi is an active participant in various live TV shows and eye health forums. She is also a part of the telemedicine team in Nanavati Super-speciality Hospital.

There has been an increasing awareness about eye health and healthy vision in recent times. We have become more health-conscious and don’t want to feel crippled by spectacles and eye impairments.

”Majority of the concerns I deal with are pertaining to symptoms related to digital eye strain that has gone up in recent times.”

Digital Eye Strain and Computer Vision Syndrome

In today’s active work life, digitalisation has become inevitable and so has the stress on the eyes and vision. We are constantly exposed to digital gadgets and laptops on a daily basis. With even education going digital, your kids are now prone to eye impairments and vision disabilities. Thus, there has been a growth in the number of kids requiring optical assistance for their eyes as well. In order to prevent such complications at such an early stage, you need to ensure that your kids are regularly taken to an eye doctor and their eye health is constantly monitored.

”Taking a child to the eye doctor doesn’t necessarily mean he/she will get glasses. This is something all parents must clearly understand”.

The growing stress to the eyes due to excessive and prolonged exposure to laptop, tablets, mobile and computer screens leads to a condition called digital eye strain and it further complicates the computer vision syndrome. The vision syndrome occurs due to repeated back and forth movement of your retina on the screen which requires constant focusing and refocusing. Your eyes tend to become hypersensitive to changing images and fonts that tend to exhaust your eye muscles.

”The number of hours people are putting into looking at screens has drastically gone up in the recent times”.
Incidence of Vision Impairments and Doctor Visits

While anyone who is exposed to digital devices is prone to vision-related issues and must keep a regular check on their eye health, if you have a history of glaucoma, diabetes  and high blood pressure, you need to have a constant check on your overall eye health. This is especially true if you or anyone in your family has a history of diabetes. Diabetes tends to pose an array of serious eye-related complications like diabetes retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Inform your doctor if you have any history of allergy to medicines (if experienced in the past).

”If vision impairment runs in the family, it could mean an early onset for you and hence you need to be regularly checked.”
General Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy-

To keep the eyes healthy, it is advised to follow the following tips:

Eat at least 5 servings daily of fruits and vegetables, don’t smoke, take regular breaks while doing computer work and other tasks that mostly involve your eyes, wear your glasses, wear sunglasses when outdoors that protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Read more on Eye Health Tips

Healthy Nutrition for Healthy Vision

Your eyes demand strong nutrition as well and correct oral health is rudiment to maintain a healthy vision.

”Just because some diet worked for someone doesn’t mean it will work for you.”

Tips for eating right for your eyes:

Age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy are very commonly diagnosed conditions in patients visiting an Ophthalmologist, identifying and reporting the symptoms like vision changes, painful eyes, and redness of the eyes is important for an early diagnosis.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Also Read: 10  Best Foods For Eye Health

”Overall nutrition something which is really important for everyone”

In Conclusion

Vision has both quantitative and qualitative parameters. While reading a chart is the quantitative part and reading it fully with ease is qualitative and defines how good your vision is. Visiting an eye doctor, visiting an optician and getting your vision checked are two different things. One must not confine to just checking the vision and must get a full report of the overall eye health.

Also Read: Misdiagnosed Eye Conditions: Is it Pink Eye or Something Else?

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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9 Tips For Healthy Eyes

Whatever we enjoy be it food, places or things, we first enjoy them with our eyes. To have a healthy vision is a blessing that cannot be taken lightly. Just shut your eyes for a minute and you will realise just how much of our living we do with our eyes. We take such great care of the rest of our body all with exercises and asanas but somehow we ignore our eyes. These, too need a conscious effort from our end to protect and maintain them. Here are a few tips for healthy eyes:

PharmEasy-Eye-Tips-Prevention-Of-Blindness-Week-eye-health-blog
  1. Eat Healthy Food

Can this be stressed enough? Eat your green leafy vegetables and add more fruit to your diet. What’s natural is what is good for your eyes. So add the spinach to your salad and have that apple instead of a bag of chips. Fish is especially beneficial for the eyes. Have it twice a week for best results.

  1. Beauty Sleep

Surprised? Yes, beauty sleep does feature tips for healthy eyes! Apart from doing wonders for your skin and hair, adequate sleep will work like a charm for your eyes. The night owls should take note of this. Resting your eyes at night will ensure their vitality for longer.

  1. Regular Eye-checkups

Here is another reason not to shirk that visit to the doctor. Regular checkups ensure that you will catch the problem in its infancy. Every six months get your eyes tested without fail. Also, do not self-medicate but rather seek medical help as and when needed. This is an important tip for healthy eyes.

Clean your hands and your contact lenses properly. To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
  1. Avoid Alcohol and Smoking

Smoking and drinking dry out the ocular tissues. They tend to damage the eye muscles making you susceptible to an earlier onset of cataract, glaucoma and other eye problems.

  1. Style and Substance

Sunglasses, apart from increasing your style quotient protect your eyes from sunlight and UV rays. Avoid venturing out if the light is too strong. If you are into swimming, ensure that you jump in the pool only after wearing your swimming goggles.

Digital eye strain is most common cause of eye strain nowadays. Spending long periods looking at a screen can strain the eyes. Using the 20-20-20 rule can help to prevent this problem. For every 20 minutes a person looks at a screen, they should look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
  1. Exercise

When you exercise regularly, the heart pumps blood to all organs, including the eyes. More oxygen and a higher volume of blood to them makes them healthy and fit.

  1. Rest While You Work

Everything is done digitally these days. Take regular gaps between working and rest your eyes by shutting them for some time. The glare from the computer and phone screens is particularly tiresome and can cause severe eye fatigue.

  1. Dry Air, Goodbye

Aim the air conditioner vents in your car and in your room away from your eyes. Dry air is really harmful to your eyes and can even cause your cornea to tear. While the eyes have the ability to repair these tears over a period of time but continually exposing your peepers to dry air could even lead to blindness.

  1. Clean Your Eyes

Before you crash out for the night, don’t forget to clean out eye makeup, even your kohl. Minute pieces of makeup can prove to be a nuisance for your eyes and can even cause abrasions. Wash them with cold water before you retire to bed.

Also Read: Misdiagnosed Eye Conditions: Is it Pink Eye or Something Else?

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

Know How A Cataract Surgery Is Performed!

The clouding of the eye lens is known as a cataract, and this condition leads to blurred or impaired vision. The cataract is slow to develop and will affect both eyes in most cases. The only way to get rid of the cataract is to go for cataract surgery. In India, it is said that three out of four Indians aged 60+ suffer from this eye condition.

According to the World Health Organization, Cataract surgery is the surgical removal of the clouding of the lens in the eyes which impedes the passage of light. Most cataract cases are old-age related, however, at times, some children are also born with this eye condition. In some cases, people may develop a cataract after an eye injury, some eye disease or inflammation.

Unlike earlier days, cataract surgery is a common phenomenon and not dangerous.

What exactly is cataract surgery? Let us see!

When the light rays pass through the eye lens, it forms an image on the retina, and the impulses are then carried to the brain where the signals are processed. Over the years, the lens of the eyes may start clouding, and this poses as an obstruction that prevents the rays of light from entering the eyes. This causes the vision to become blurred, dimmed and even blotted.

cataract surgery nearly painless with a quick recovery process, but it also has a very high success rate — 97-98% according to recent studies. This is because it is a common surgery that involves very few (if any) possible complications.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

What is the process of cataract surgery?

Unbeknownst to many, the cataract surgery is one of the easiest, efficient and the safest eye surgery possible. In the cataract surgery, the process involves the breaking of the original lens, removing it and replacing it with an artificial one.

There are three methods to solve the cataract problem:

  1. ECCE or the Extra Capsular Cataract Extraction
  2. Phaco or Phacoemulsification
  3. SICS or the small incision cataract surgery

Don’t be daunted with the medical jargon as simply put they explain the different ways of breaking down the lens in the eyes. This can be done via ultrasound method or by using laser beams. The Phaco technique is by far the most used technique in cataract surgery. However, it is now being replaced by the laser beams technique as it has more accuracy.

To understand the process of cataract surgery in detail, consult your doctor today.

Also Read: Chymoral Forte Uses

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.