How to Preserve the Health of Your Eyes
Your eyes are your windows to the world and
key bodily components for interacting with it. As you age, you might
experience some problems with them, just as many people do. Many eye
conditions sound scary, however advancements in eye treatment have come a
long way. Here is a list of the most common eye concerns, explained
simply. I’ve also gathered some tips on how to improve your eye health
in your day-to-day life, which you can see by scrolling down to the end.
Presbyopia - The loss of the ability to see
close objects or small print. This is a natural process that happens to
everyone. It’s only noticeable after the age of 40, and is fairly easy
to correct with reading glasses. Prescriptions for them are not needed
in most instances, and they can be bought over the counter at a
pharmacy.
Floaters - These are the tiny spots that often float in your line of
vision. They don’t usually cause any harm and are fairly normal. If they
are accompanied by flashes, this indicates a more serious problem and
you should go to an ophthalmologist.
Dry eyes - This is when your tear glands
are not producing quality tears, causing uncomfortable itching and
burning. This condition can be caused by medication, contacts, weather
conditions or hormonal changes. A doctor might recommend using a
humidifier or artificial tears, having plugs placed in the tear ducts to
lessen tear drainage, or Lipiflow, a new procedure using heat and
pressure.
Tearing -The opposite of dry eyes, you might experience an excess of
tears. Often light sensitivity, wind, and temperature changes affect the
eyes. Sometimes tearing can be prevented by wearing sunglasses. It
might also indicate a more serious condition like a blocked tear duct or
an infection. In both cases, a doctor can help treat this problem.
Eyelid problems - The eyelid's job is to protect the eye, distribute
tears and control the amount of light entering it. Sometimes they droop,
have blinking spasms, develop sties, or the outer edges near the
eyelashes become inflamed. Eyelids might experience pain, itching,
tearing and sensitivity to light. These problems can be treated with
medication, proper cleaning or surgery.
Cataracts - One of the most common eye problems associated with aging.
Proteins in the eye can cluster and form a cloud over the lens. These
formations cause no pain and usually do not alter vision. If they grow
large or thick, they can block light from entering the eye. They can be
removed with surgery.
Glaucoma - A disease associated with increased eye pressure, which can
damage the optic nerve and cause loss of vision. Glaucoma can be treated
with prescription eye drops or surgery. Because there are no symptoms
or initial pain, it's important to have your eyes regularly checked by
an eye doctor, despite it being a less common eye condition.
Corneal diseases - The cornea is the
dome-shaped front of the eye, which helps transmit and focus light. The
cornea can become damaged by disease, infection, injury and exposure to
toxic agents. The eye will become red, watery, and experience pain. One
might also have reduced vision and experience the halo effect. Corneal
disease can be treated with medicated eye drops, prescription glasses or
by surgery.
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) - This is when the tissue lining the eyelids
and covering the cornea becomes inflamed. The eye becomes red, itches,
burns, tears and has discharge. Sometimes it feels as if something is in
the eye. Conjunctivitis is caused by infection, exposure to chemicals
or irritants and allergies. It can be treated with medicated drops, warm
compresses or lubricating drops to make the eye more comfortable.
Retinal disorders - The retina is the layer
of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes visual images into
to nerve signals, which are sent to the brain. Diseases of the retina
disrupt nerve signal transfer and can cause vision impairment. It’s
important to have your eyes tested regularly to catch any problem early,
receive treatment and prevent vision loss.
Macular degeneration: loss of sharp central vision often associated with
aging.
Retinal detachment: the retina becomes separated from its supporting
layers.
Diabetic retinopathy: diabetes damages the blood vessels in the retina.
Eye Care Tips
1. Visit the eye doctor, even if you have good vision
Part of good eye health is going to the eye
doctor regularly. People who have good eyesight often neglect visiting
the eye doctor. It’s important to regularly have your eyes inspected by
an ophthalmologist so they can detect even slight changes in your eyes
health. The health of your eyes connects to other systematic health
issues.
2. Eat for good vision
The old saying that carrots are good for the eyes has some truth in it.
Choosing foods high in antioxidants and nutrients lowers the risk for
eye diseases. Choose foods rich in lutein, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin C
and E. The recommended foods are leafy greens, cold water fish, nuts,
beans, eggs, soy, and fruit with dark skin (i.e. berries, cherries,
grapes). Citrus fruits, avocado, broccoli, and tea are also healthy
choices.
3. Protective eye wear
Your eyes can easily be damaged by the sun and hazardous materials.
Wearing sunglasses and protective goggles are a good start. If you wear
glasses, you should get your lenses coated with an anti-reflective layer
to minimize glare. UV rays also reflect off water, sand and snow, so
it’s important to wear sunglasses if you're faced with these instances.
Make sure your sunglasses protect against both UVA and UBV rays, and are
ranked as category 2 at least.
4. Take your contacts out
Your eyes need exposure to oxygen. If you wear contacts during the day,
make sure it is for no more than 19 hours. Wearing them longer can cause
eye irritation and dryness.
5. Good rules for computer (and other) screen time
If you spend a lot of your day looking at a computer screen, employ the
20-20-20 rule. Rest your eyes every 20 minutes, looking 20 feet (6
meters) in front of you for 20 seconds. It’s also a good idea to make
sure your eyes are level with the screen, and that you are blinking
often. People blink less when they are staring at a computer screen.
6. Remove eye makeup
Wearing mascara, eye liner and eye shadow can clog up the pores around
your eyes. This can cause eye irritation and sties. A good idea is to
keep makeup wipes next to your bed so that you don’t forget to wipe off
your makeup before bed.
7. Control the air environment
Many offices and homes have dry air and this can irritate the eye and
cause dryness. Installing a humidifier can solve this problem. A more
organic way to release moisture into the air is by placing bowls of
water around a room.
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