EYE CARE

"The eyes indicate the antiquity of the soul"…..Ralph Emerson.

"The eyes are a jewel to the body"……Henry David Thoreau.

"The eyes like sentinels occupy the highest place in the body"……Marcus Tillius Cicero.

"My eyes are an ocean in which my dreams are reflected"……Anna M. Uhlich.

 

Good day everyone, Today we will be talking about eye care. A lot have been said about the eyes and this is because the eyes are essential organs in human beings. They are made up of complex parts that work together to give us the joy of sight. But our eyes are also delicate and which Is why we should take good care of them.

Here are some tips for maintaining healthy eyes-

 DON'T'S: 

• Don't stare at the sun and other bright objects: This is a very important tip.  Looking directly at bright lights and laser pointers can be harmful to your eyes. You can try to dimming TV screens and computer monitors too( I put mine at 65%, it is still bright enough). You don’t have to watch that movie at 100% brightness. 

• Don't work in poor light: Reading in poor light can strain your eyes. Use a soft white light that doesn’t produce glare and reflect directly on your eyes. So reading by candle light or yellow light isn't that good for eyes.

• Don't work long hours at the computer or TV: Try the 20-20-20 rule; Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain, especially if you work in front of the computer a lot. Blinking is also beneficial as it lubricates the eyes. Sometimes being too engrossed in your work makes you forget to blink and rest your eyes.

• Don't start smoking or quit and avoid second-hand smoke: Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for your health. Studies have linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage. These conditions can lead to blindness. Avoiding second hand smoke also means that you shouldn't stay too close to your favorite suya vendor when they are making it.

• Don't stay in dusty areas: Haven’t you noticed your eyes turning red after being exposed to dust? This usually happens when sweeping or riding in buses in dusty areas or mostly the conductor hanging on the bus.  Dust and other particles gets into the eyes and may cause harm.

• Don’t put liquids/gels/solids in your eye except prescribed by the medical doctor or pharmacist: it is to prevent any eye infection or any caustic solutions which may damage some parts of the eye or may even lead to blindness.If you have any itchiness, dryness, excessive tears or redness in the eye, contact your doctor immediately.

DOS':

• Know your family’s eye health history: Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, since many are hereditary. This information will help to determine if you’re at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition

• Wash your hands: To avoid troublesome eye infections like conjunctivitis (apollo), wash your hands several times a day. Don’t go rubbing your fingers on your eyes after shaking hands with someone. That’s a sure way to get conjunctivitis. If you wear contact lenses, make sure your hands are clean before putting them in or taking them out. Follow disinfection procedures with your contact lenses.

• Eat eye-friendly foods:  You’ve probably heard that carrots and vitamin A are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale and broccoli. The yellow variety of watermelon  contains lutein, which is good for the eyes. Research has also shown that eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids is helpful, too e.g. salmon, tuna or you can take omega-3 fatty acid supplements e.g. cod liver oil capsules.

• Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy) or glaucoma. If you’re having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

• Exercise: Did you know that 30 minutes of exercise can reduce your eye pressure by 20 percent? Deep slow breathing can also reduce eye pressure by increasing the drainage of eye fluid (called the lymphatic system). Thus, both exercise and deep breathing may help patients with glaucoma, a condition where one experiences a headache and an increase in eye pressure which are just a few of the symptoms.

• Be cool and wear your shades: Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. Sunglasses that  are actually protecting your eyes are polarized. To know if your shades are polarized, it should have a 'P' label on the frame which means its polarized. Or a way to check is wear your shades and look at your computer screen, does the brightness decrease and increase when you tilt your head right and left if it does then its polarized.

• Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam: You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don’t realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration, often have no warning signs.A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages. A yearly exam is necessary for everyone especially for those who are diabetic or hypertensive as they are at a higher risk of retinopathy (diabetic or hypertensive).
  
  

• • Wear protective eye wear: Wear protective eye wear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eye wear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for the activity in which you’re engaged. Most protective eye wear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics. Many eye care providers sell protective eye wear, as do some sporting goods store.  

• Rest your eyes: If you’re talking over the phone and you don’t really need to use your eyes, just close it while talking to your friend. Your eyes will feel rested and fresh. 

• Sleep eight hours: Getting enough sleep will help your eyes recover from a long day’s work. Seven to eight hours of sleep is great. Make sure to wash your eyes with clean water every night and every morning when you wake up. This will help keep them from getting infected.

• To help improve vision, consider the Bates Method of eye exercises: To rest your eyes, cup them with your hands for a few minutes. Do the Bates eye exercise: Hold one finger around eight inches in front of you and another finger at arm’s length. Then focus your eyes alternately on the near finger and then the far finger. Do this for 20 times to exercise the eye muscles

IN CONCLUSION, we owe it to ourselves to take care of our eyes, for they are delicate and wonderful. Get your eyes checked today if you haven't done so and if you have been getting eye checkups, keep on doing it.

Thank you for educating yourself and have a pleasant week ahead.

Information gotten from:

CDC( Center for Disease control),

Huff post and

The Philippine star