Our eyes are the windows to our soul. Out of the five senses, vision is one of the most valuable ones. It is through eyes that we see the world around us. And if our eyes become weak the vision becomes blurred.
Like all other body organs, eyes need care for better health and sight. So, spare a little time to take care of your eyes.
Regular eye-care is a must. For instance, eye examinations every two years are important for keeping prescription lenses correct and for early diagnosis of any developing eye disorders.
It is best to clean your eyes with clean water in the morning. Also, avoid touching or rubbing your eyes with dirty hands. Wash your hands.
Wash your glasses, if you wear one, at least once every week so that all the dirt and bacteria collected gets cleaned out.
If you wear contact lenses, it is very important to wash and rinse hands thoroughly before handling the lenses. Eyes should be free of make-up when inserting the lens to avoid particles of mascara etc. from being trapped underneath the lens and causing irritation or even infection. Always use cleaning solutions as directed and do not allow them to expire. These solutions are vital for removing the build-up of protein from the lens.
Eye-make-up should be removed daily to allow the skin to breathe. Use a gentle removal solution and dab the eye, do not rub it. Never share make-up or the brushes/sponges with others as this significantly increases the risk of cross infection.
Get a good night sleep to avoid sore and puffy eyes. Tired eyes can be rejuvenated by placing slices of cucumber or cold tea bags over the eye area for 10 minutes, providing a refreshing pick-me up.
Eat lots of spinach, leeks, blueberries (and fish) because all contain properties known to keep eyes healthy.
Don’t smoke. Smoking makes eyes feel sore and dehydrated. More seriously, smoking can cause irritation to the delicate vessels behind the eyes leading to premature development of macular degeneration which can lead to loss of vision.
Wear eye protection. Wear goggles if you are in classes where debris or chemicals could go flying, such as in carpentry, laboratories, metal workshops and stone works. It is safe to wear suitable eye protection for some games such as hockey that could injure the eyes.
Wear sunglasses if you are out in the sun a lot. Too much sunlight can cause vision problems later, such as cataract. Always wear suitable sunglasses or goggles that have a recognised UV filter to protect eyes from UV rays from the sun and from glare.
Short-sight (myopia) and long-sight (hypermetropia) are common problems, both caused by the cornea and lens not focusing properly on the retina. Short-sight is where the eyeball is elongated or the lens is too thick, causing the image to focus in front of the retina. Long-sight is where the eyeball is too short or the lens too thin, causing the image to focus behind the retina. Both long and short sightedness can be overcome by wearing glasses.
There are other sight-threatening conditions which are not so easily corrected or overcome. Cataract, trachoma, glaucoma and river blindness, for example, will cause complete blindness if left untreated.
A lot of people experience eye pain, eye redness, excess watering, headache and tiredness for working long hours in front of the computer. Its caused by constant gazing at computer screen kept at a near distance, and decreased blinking.
Remember it’s not because of the harmful radiations from the computer (computer does not emit harmful rays or radiations) but because of wrong work habits.
Follow the tips given below:
Place the computer screen about 2 to 3 feet away from the eyes.
Stop looking at the screen continuously. Take the eyes off the screen every 5 to 10 minutes. Every half-an-hour take a break for 1 or 2 minutes. Every hour take a 5 minute break by walking around or doing some other work.
Make a conscious effort to blink more frequently.
If necessary, use eye drops 3 to 4 times a day to lubricate the eye; however, it is best to consult your ophthalmologist before putting any medicine on the eye.
Eyes often get tired due to working on the computers, heavy reading or writing. Regular exercise helps in the blood circulation which than relaxes the eye.
Sit upright on a chair and look at a far off small object.
Then hold a pen at level with your eyes and at an arm's length and look at its tip.
Gradually bring the pen close to your eyes to a point where you feel a mild strain on your eyes. The tip of the pen should remain clear and single in appearance. Hold the pen in this position for about half a minute and then again gradually take it back to an arms length. Hold it here again for about half a minute, and then again bring the pen close to your eyes.
Repeat all the above three steps 10 times.
In the beginning this exercise should be done for 5 to 10 minutes just once a day in the morning at a time when you are fresh and rested. After one week it should be increased to twice daily and after two weeks thrice a day. Avoid the exercise when you are tired or are having eye pain or headache. In the initial period when you begin exercising the pain in the eyes and headache may increase, but this should not discourage you. As you continue the exercise you will gradually feel relief from the symptoms over 2-3 weeks. Continue the exercise routine for 2 months to build good eye muscle strength.
Myth: Failure to use proper glasses will hurt your eyes.
Fact: There is some truth in this for a small number of people. Some children have eye problems that can be corrected, and it is important that they wear their glasses. While corrective glasses or contact lenses are needed to improve eyesight, using your eyes with or without glasses will not damage them further.
Myth: Reading in dim light can damage your eyes.
Fact: Reading in dim light can cause eye fatigue resulting in pain or headache, but it will not damage your eyes.
Myth: Eating carrots will improve your vision.
Fact: While it is true that carrots are high in Vitamin A, which is an essential vitamin for sight, only a small amount is necessary for good vision.
Myth: There's nothing you can do about preventing sight loss.
Fact: Regular eye examinations and proper safety eyewear can save your sight.
Myth: An eye exam is only necessary if you're having problems.
Fact: A regular eye health regime is necessary for every one. It includes regular eye check-up and exercise.
Human eyes are not very adept at seeing well in poor light. We see best when the light is bright as in daytime. That is why players do not play in dim light and children do not study in poor light
Often because of inadequate light or power-cuts we are forced to work or study in poor lighting condition using candles or oil lamps. A prolonged period of working or reading in such bad light can lead to eye strain, discomfort, tiredness and headaches.
For continuous studying over a long period it is best to have a study lamp.
The colour of the light should be natural white (much like daylight) so that you can see true colours.
The light should not cast shadows so keep the study light to the left (if you are a right handed person) or to the right if you are a leftie.
A study light should be flicker-free such as a LED light or incandescent bulb. Further, the light should not radiate ultra-violet or infra-red rays which can be harmful to eyes.
Study lamp should spread light uniformly. This is because if your eyes move frequently from a well lit space to a dark area they get strained unnecessarily. Also, the light should not fall directly on to your eyes which again can hurt.
The study lamp should not radiate heat as this leads to discomfort, particularly in summer time. Incandescent bulbs are not very good at keeping things cool as 80% of the energy consumed by it is wasted as heat; only the remaining 20% is converted to light energy.
