| Tips on Eye Care |
Eyes are our windows to the outside world. Proper eye care can prevent many of the niggling problems we commonly face. Some common tips on daily eye care are listed here:-
Wash your eyes with cold water 2-3 times daily. Dip your eyes in your palm full of water and blink in the water several times to remove debris and secretions from the lower conjunctival sac.
Always wear sunglasses (UV absorbent) while moving around in bright sunlight to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
Maintain local hygiene in and around your eyes. Those prone to excessive oily secretions on the face should wash their face with mild soap 2-3 times a day, and those prone to dandruff must shampoo their hair very often.
Maintain a healthy nutritious diet, with special attention to antioxidant vitamins.
Avoid regular use of eye-liners and kajal to the eyelashes as long term use of these products can be harmful to the eyes.
Persons working on Video Display Units (Computer monitors) should take certain precautions to prevent long term damage to the eyes. Avoid working for more than an hour continuously on the computer. Blink purposely every 15-20 minutes 5-10 times before resuming work.
Always read in good illumination. Ensure that the light falls on the paper that you are reading and not on your eyes. As far as possible, the light source should be behind you and should illuminate the paper you are reading.
Eye care for the young:-
A pre-school checkup is recommended.
Squinting does not always regress with age. Consult an ophthalmologist.
If your child wears glasses, yearly checkup is mandatory to monitor the status of refraction till the age of 20.
Eye care for those above 40:-
Yearly checkup is a must to rule-out insidious diseases like glaucoma, which are common after the age of 40.
If you have problems in reading, passing thread through a needle or any other near work, consult your ophthalmologist. You may require the aid of glasses to see near objects.
Patients having diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol values, family history of glaucoma need to consult an ophthalmologist to rule-out any eye involvement. Diabetes affects the retina of the eye and can cause irreversible blindness.