Common eye questions

Why do we need to worry about the health of our eyes?

 Can you imagine not being able to see the text of the newspaper or not being able to see clearly to drive or simply to cross the road? In comparison to our 5 sensory organs the eye is considered to be the most important one.We use our eyes for all of our daily activities.

 

 

What measures should we take to keep eyes in tip-top condition? 

 Eye diseases, like glaucoma, will slowly and irreversibly steal your sight away if it is not detected early. Children with visual deficit that is not properly diagnosed and managed may display avoidance, or even behavioural problems, before the teachers or the parents recognise the problem as visually

 Do contact lenses cause many problems, and can they be
prevented?
Contact lens wearers should not overwear their contact lenses and they should allow at least one day's rest from wearing contact lenses each week. Certainly, you can be sure that eyecare professionals are vigilant about stressing the need for better patient education and follow-up care.

What are the common eye problems?

Some examples are eye coordination problems with complaint of intermittent blur, eye strain and, in some cases, double vision. The good news is that most of these problems can be identified and remedied through professional optometric care or eye exercises.

How damaging to your eyes are long hours in front of the computer?

Staring at the computer continually can lead to "Computer Vision Syndrome". Symptoms may include eye irritation, fatigue, pain in the eye, dryness, excessive tearing or blinking.

 

We can't stop using computers, so what measures can we take to ease the Computer Vision Syndrome? 

The most common problem is dry eye. Blink rate tends to be reduced while working on the Pc. Using eyedrops several times a day could help. In addition, try doing some simple eye focusing exercises a few times a day. Simply hold up and look at a pencil tip or text placed at reading distance for a few seconds, making sure that it's clear. Then shift your attention to a distant object such as the clock. Repeat procedure for about 20 times. Subsequently, if you're still struggling to see comfortably while working on the computer, you may need prescription eyeglasses designed specifically for working on the PC.

Are there any dietary ways to keep our eyes healthy? 

Six nutrients have a promising role in maintaining eye health. They are the antioxidant vitamins C and E, the carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene and the mineral, zinc. In other words, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially dark leafy ones.

Do any health supplements help in any way? 

Recent studies have shown that high-dose nutritional supplementation with previously mentioned contents can slow the progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, so maintaining eye health through supplementation is a good practice. Omega-3 supplementation is helpful for those with dry eyes.

How frequently should we have eye examinations? 

The American Optometric Association's Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend that adults between ages 40 and 60 receive a comprehensive eye examination every two years, and adults over 60 receive an annual exam. School-aged children need to have an examination annually. As a guide, your eyes should be checked at least once every two years or as recommended by your eyecare professional.