Health tips for regular spectacle-wearers

Here are some expert tips on keeping your eyes healthy.

By: Pavitra Sampath | | Updated: March 5, 2016 8:52 pm

Your eyes are the windows to your soul, but when it comes to your health, your eyes can speak a million words. Playing an important part in making your daily life simpler, your eyes are responsible for transmitting 80% of the information around you to your brain. Considering this fact, protecting your eyes become one of the most essential aspects to your well being. In this post, Shiv Kumar , CEO Essilor India shares essential eye care tips that should be followed religiously to keep our eyes safe and healthy. Also Read - Prevent cognitive decline: Go for routine eye scans if you have type 1 diabetes

Tips to maintain your glasses: Also Read - Best exercises to alleviate eye strain caused by too much screen time

Keep your spectacle lenses clean at all times: Your spectacle lenses should be absolutely clean and clear, so that you have unrestricted vision. Always carry a lens cleaner in your bag and use a soft cloth to clean any smudges or dust. Also Read - Retinal diseases often lead to blindness, but a new treatment shows promise

Always wear your glasses: Some people are careless about wearing spectacles or feel irritated by it, and therefore avoid wearing it. This careless approach can weaken your eyes further. So make sure you wear your glasses as prescribed by your doctor. If they are irritating do get the frames checked. Your optometrist will be able to change the setting of the frame so it fits you snugly. Read more about 10 tips to pick the right glasses for your eyes.

Always use impact resistant (polycarbonate) lenses for children: Since children spectacles are more prone to breaking and scratches, impact resistant lenses work better for them as they do not get damaged as easily as any other type of lenses.

Never wear uncomfortable eye wear: If you spectacles are heavy, loose or unsteady, they can worsen your vision. therefore make sure you wear glasses that are light and fit you well.

Use spectacle lenses with UV protection: Every year three million people go blind from prolonged UV exposure. But, while we all believe in wearing sunscreen for the skin, there is little concern about sun protection for the eyes. Lenses like Crizal UV Forte come with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) for the eyes.

Apart from getting that regular eye check up, there a few bad habits we all indulge in that can ruin your eye sight. Here are few things you should avoid:

Make sure you have a good light source when you are working: Never read in a dark room. Having enough light directed at the material you are working on is essential to maintaining the health of your eyes. This practice also ensures that your eyes do not get excessively strained.

Sit at a healthy distance from your television screen: Doctors suggest that while watching TV, you sit at least three meters away from the screen. This distance helps reduce the amount of strain your eyes experience. Apart from that the glare from the TV is also greatly cut down.

Avoid reading in a moving vehicle: Many of us have a habit of reading while on the go. However, it’s not advisable to read in a moving train or bus as the movement tends to strain your eyes.

Do not lie down and read: Always sit erect and read, ensuring that the book is a good distance away from your eyes. Another common practice that is very harmful for your eyes is to lie down and read. This makes your eyes turn in an awkward angle, straining them.

Get enough rest: Lack of sleep can make the eyes looks swollen and puffy and in the long run cause dark circles. Get sufficient sleep to relax your body and mind.

Give your eyes regular breaks: In order to reduce eye strain, take short breaks every hour. This is especially true when you are using a laptops, desktops, a tablet or smart phone for the larger part of your day.

If you have diabetes or hypertension, get your eyes tested regularly: If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, make sure you go for periodic eye checks ups because these conditions make one susceptible to eye ailments like diabetic retinopathy.

Eat a eye healthy diet: Foods containing vitamin C (like oranges, guavas and papaya) and vitamin A (like carrots, dark leafy greens) are great for your eye health. Include them in your daily diet to ensure your eyes stay healthy.

Avoid self-medication for ailments related to the eye and visit a qualified ophthalmologist: Never try to self medicate when suffering from eye irritation or allergy. Eyes are too sensitive to be treated without a proper prescription. So take the effort and visit a doctor.

In case of any eye infection don’t share towels, soaps: If you have an eye infection, keep your things separate from others. Do not share towels, soaps or even clothes with your friends as this can spread the infection to them.

Avoid rubbing your eyes: Your hands are very potent sources of bacteria and viruses that can lead to an eye infection. Therefore it is essential that you do not rum your eyes with your hands.

Do not ignore allergies: If there has been an allergic reaction in your eyes, do not take it lightly. Visit a doctor if it doesn’t subside in 2-3 days.

Unlike adults, a child’s eyes still growing and therefore more prone to damage, here are a few tips to ensure your child’s eyes are healthy:

Get your child’s eyes checked before they join school: It is absolutely essential to check if your child needs vision correction before he/she steps into a new world of education and learning. This will help them prepare better for school and will reduce the amount of strain their eyes are likely to suffer.

Get your eyes checked regularly: Eye checks for a child should be conducted when a child turns one year old, three years old and five years old respectively. Apart from that, squint in children should not be neglected, medical advice should immediately be taken. Even in case of adults who were spectacles, eye checks should be done every year to make sure if there has been a change in power.

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Published : July 9, 2014 4:21 pm | Updated:March 5, 2016 8:52 pm

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