Health Care: Eyes on Focus

The Eyes is a very important part of the body that is frequently neglected and abused by most people. The eyes like any part of the body need nourishment, correct use, and proper care.

Can we imagine of not being gifted to see day by day things in life normally? Have we even tried to understand what it is like being short-sighted, farsighted, or worst being blind? Vision is a very great gift that enables us to enjoy all of nature’s beauty, to be able to see our loved ones, to watch our favorite TV shows and movies, and in short the capability to enjoy visual satisfaction in daily life.

It is now very clear how important the eyes are; so it is now a matter of how to care for our eyes.

Eye care is critical to maintaining our eyes’ health. Eye care deals with the knowledge and practice of proper eye usage, correct nutrition for good eye sight, and prevention of eye diseases, slowing of eye deterioration and aging, and awareness.

The first thing to be aware of are the harmful substances, practices, and diseases that have an impact on our eyes’ health. Here are some of the most common eye dangers.

• Ultraviolet (UV) rays – the most common eye irritant, overexposure to the sun is the most common reason.
• Smoking – cigarette smoke contains oxidants that cause Macular Degeneration of the eyes’ retina.
• Dust and Pollution – dust and other pollutants entering your eyes causes eye corrosion and damage to the cornea, the most expose part of the eyes.
• Steroids and other medications – some medications like steroids cause the developments of glaucoma and cataracts over the long term use.
• Obesity – catalyzes development of cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye diseases.
• Diabetes – hampers the circulatory system of the retina and causes Diabetic Retinopathy.
• Poor Nutrition – lack of essential vitamins for the eyes in the diet causes poor eye-sight and weak eye immunity from diseases.
• Over exposure to computers – causes stress to the eyes, and difficulty in focusing the eyes.
• Eye make-up – contains chemical substances that may be harmful to and causes irritation of the eyes.
• Lack of sleep – causes undue stress on the eyes.

Eye irritants and harmful substances may cause irreversible damage to the eyes when neglected. It is very important to detect changes in the eyes for early medication and corrective treatments to cure or slow down the progression of eye diseases. Here are several signs to watch out for.

• Trouble in keeping eye focus.
• Blurry vision.
• Double vision.
• Swollen, red eyes.
• Itchy, burning, and dry eyes.
• Headaches.
• After-images.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Noticeable decrease in eye performance.
• Uncontrolled and involuntary eyelid movements.

“Prevention is always superior to cure”, this is the underlying principle in eye care. Aside from it being cheaper than undergoing treatment, prevention comprises of very simple tips that you can do and make a good habit from. Here are some tips for caring of the eyes.

• Blink often, lubrication is very important for the eyes, it prevents dry and irritated eyes.
• Sleep at least six (6) hours a day. It will give needed rest for the eyes.
• Eat the proper diet. Eye diet mostly comprises of green leafy vegetables and vegetables rich in Carotene.
• Wear sunglasses when you are out under the sun. It gives protection from harmful Ultraviolet rays from the sun.
• Gives at least 20-26 inches of distance between your eyes and your computer.
• Don’t focus on a particular object for a long time.
• Always use eye protection like goggles in dangerous environments to avoid contraction of eye irritants like chemical vapors and smokes.
• Stop smoking. It is not only bad for your eyes but on overall health.
• Take supplements for the eyes like Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Lutein and Carotene.
• Use safe and proven eye-drops to help cleanse and refresh the eyes.

Aside from these useful tips for eye care, it is highly recommended to always see your eye specialist for any eye concern. Ask for their advice, they know far better than we do.