General Eye Care
Taking care of your eyes is an important part of maintaining your health. So you need to take care of your eyes which are a mirror of your soul!
When to visit your Eye specialist?
By age 4 |
All children should have their eyes checked by age four. If there is family history of childhood vision problems, or if the child has a wandering, crossed, or other eye problem, his or her eyes should be checked earlier. |
Before |
As recommended by a paediatrician or other doctor. |
Between |
Every 2 years, unless you experience any problems such as visual changes, pain, flashes of light, new floaters or tearing, or if you have an eye injury. |
Between |
Yearly once . if diabetic or hypertensive 6 monthly once |
Eye care for Computer users:
Exercise your eyes
Take short breaks between regular long work hours. "First, blink your eyes several times. While you keep your eyes closed, roll your eyeballs both clockwise and anticlockwise and take a deep breath. Gradually open your eyes while releasing your breath. This exercise lasts for a minute and one can repeat it three times before getting back to work”. It serves as a good workout for the eyes.
Look away
While working for long hours, look at distant objects either in your office or outside. Looking at a distant object and then returning to your task helps your eyes focus better. Try taking such visual breaks for about five minutes every hour.
Drink water
Drink plenty of water. It helps reduce puffiness. When a person is dehydrated, especially in an air-conditioned office, the body starts storing water as a defence mechanism. This adds to puffiness around the eyes.
Eat healthy
Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products. Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits and munch in-between meals at the office.
Know your contact lenses
Ideally, a person who uses lenses should wear it for not more than 10-12 hours a day and occasionally for 14 hours a day.
Important Tips:
Wear antiglare glasses while at work
Antiglare glasses are mainly used for focused light, such as full beam car headlights and serve well for night driving. These can also be used while working on the computer, using a pair of antiglare glasses while working on a computer can reduce the strain on the eyes to a certain extent. If you wear contact lenses, wear a pair of zero powered antiglare glasses for the same purpose.
Use lubricating eye drops
An office environment that is predominantly air-conditioned, coupled with a computer intensive job, this is the perfect combination for dry eyes. If the problem persists, visit your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
General Eye care tips:
Never rub your eyes
If dirt enters your eyes, do not rub as this may cause the dirt to stick inside. "Blink several times to start your tears flowing; this will help flush out the dirt. If you rub your eyes, the dirt particle will scratch the cornea and will keep disturbing your vision and irritate your eyes. In such cases, seek your eye doctor’s help immediately. All eye drops should be discarded within a month after opening their seals. Why? Once opened, the medicinal properties tend to deteriorate due to exposure to the external atmosphere, making it unsuitable for your eyes. Never wear your contact lenses while swimming. The pool water houses various micro-organisms. In addition, the chlorine in the water can damage your contact lenses.
Precaution while buying eye care products
Before buying an eye-care product such as eye drops, always check the expiry date and don't forget to check the prescription. It is always advisable to visit your eye doctor prior to visiting your optician. Remember, your ophthalmologist is trained to detect several other eye related diseases, apart from checking your spectacles.
Protective Eye care
While driving, wear protective eye gear - Especially if you are wearing contact lenses (for night driving) or sunglasses with UV protection (for day driving). Make sure the gear covers the sides of your eyes as well. Eye coolers are available in the market which can be refrigerated and used to keep on eyes for soothing effect before sleeping. Being healthy is a personal choice and one has to work hard at it. A balanced diet, regular sleep habits, and a balance between work rest, and exercises all play a vital role in restoring our health and helping us maintain good eyesight
Eye care tips for children
Many eye care tips for children are concerned with lighting and eye strain. Make sure that there is an adequate amount of light so your child can see well, without shadows interfering or the need to strain. Make sure that a break is taken from the computer every thirty to sixty minutes, so your children allow their eyes to rest frequently. In case of injury to your child’s eye, just cover the eye with a clean handkerchief or sun glasses and visit an Ophthalmologist immediately, even if the injury is minor one.
Some useful eye care tips for you
o Give a break to your eyes every 20 minutes to improve your productivity.
o While writing with the right hand, ensure light is on the left side so that the shadow does not fall on the writing material.
o Keep away from lamps that produce heat.
o Use an umbrella or sunglasses to avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight.