Common & easy to practice eye care tips by Dr Somdutt Prasad

Good eye care is not just about visiting an eye doctor. A lot of it depends on our daily habits and actions. Noted ophthalmologist and retinal specialist Dr Somdutt Prasad discusses some common and easy to practice eye care tips.

Eat healthy food

The first step that you can take to protect your vision is to eat healthy foods. Have a diet rich containing Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and lutein. These nutrients will help prevent diseases such as macular degeneration and cataract. Eat a lot of green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, nuts, beans, etc.

Avoid fiddling too much with digital gadgets

Digital gadgets such as smartphones, pads, tablets, etc. emit blue-violet rays that are extremely harmful to our eyes. Continuous use of these gadgets puts excessive pressure on our eyes and resulting in strain and fatigue.  Hence, one must avoid fiddling too much with these gadgets.

Take frequent breaks while working in front of computers

Today, most of us work for long hours in front of computers. Staring at long hours can cause eyestrain, blurry vision, dryness, etc. Hence, it is vital to take frequent breaks and follow the 20-20 rule to protect vision. When you do these, you blink more often and this brings tears to the corneal surface keeping them moist.

In case you face any difficulty in your vision, you must visit an eye specialist at the earliest.

UV Radiation and Eyes by Dr Somdutt Prasad

The eyes are the sole organs that allow penetration of light into the human body. However, too much exposure to ultra-violet rays raises risks of several eye diseases. In this article, Dr Somdutt Prasad talks about the harmful effect of UV radiation on eyes.

Diseases due to UV exposure

Too much exposure to UV rays increases the risks of diseases such as cataracts, eye cancer and growths such as pterygium. Though cataracts and eye cancer can take years to develop, yet each time we expose our eyes to the sun without taking adequate protection the risks for these disorders increase. People of all age groups, especially children, should take adequate protection while going outdoors.

Protection against UV rays

To protect eyes from the harmful effects of UV rays, you must wear sunglasses that block 100% of these rays and absorb the high-energy visible (HEV) radiation. It is important to choose fitting wraparound-style frames as they limit stray sunlight reaching the eyes.

UV levels are high at higher altitudes and near the equator. The levels are also high particularly from 10 am to 2 pm. Hence, it is even more important take care of the eyes at that time. Children are more vulnerable to retinal damage from UV rays as the lens inside a child’s eye is clearer than adults. Thus, more UV rays penetrate the eyes of children than adults. Therefore, it is important for children to wear hats and good quality sunglasses.

Wear the right eye gear and move freely in the sun.

Food for healthy eyes

Nutrients are important to keep our eyes healthy. Many pieces of research have shown that antioxidants and other vital nutrients reduce the risk of macular degeneration, cataracts and several other eye diseases. In this article, Dr Somdutt Prasad talks about the foods required for keeping our eyes healthy.

Green leafy vegetables

Dark green leafy vegetables should be an important part of our diet as they help protect against diseases such as macular degeneration. Vegetables such as spinach, kale and lettuce contain zeaxanthin and lutein. These two important nutrients help prevent cell damage and have antioxidant functions.

Fatty and oily fish

Oily fishes such as tuna, sardines and salmon contain omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3-fatty acids help protect against dry eye syndrome and age-related macular degeneration. Omega-3 fatty acids help modulate inflammation which can result in dry eyes.

Wheat Germ

Wheat Germ is a rich source of Vitamin E, another vital antioxidant. Vitamin E protects eyes from free-radical damages and decreases progression of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. These germs can be easily sprinkled on salads, yogurt and oatmeal.

Beans

Beans and legumes are rich sources of zinc that help release Vitamin A from the liver. Deficiency of zinc deteriorates the macula. Pumpkin seeds, poultry and oysters are also rich sources of zinc.

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are rich sources of Vitamin C. Vitamin C help reduce risks of cataracts and macular degeneration.

It is vital to have all the essential nutrients through a healthy diet that includes a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Basic Eye Safety by Dr Somdutt Prasad

An eye injury can dramatically change our lives. Hence, it is our duty to protect them from any sort of injury. Be it at work or home, we must ensure proper safety of our eyes. In this article, Dr Somdutt Prasad presents a few basic eye safety tips.

Eye safety tips at work

The most common agents for eye injury at work include:

• Flying objects
• Chemicals
• Harmful radiation
• Tools
• Particles such as dust, sand, wood, etc.

Workers experience an injury at work because often they do not wear the right protective eye gears. It is important to conduct an eye hazard assessment and remove it at the earliest.

Protective eye gears at work

Some of the protective eye gears at work include:

• Goggles: They provide protection against chemical splashes and dust.
• Face shields: Face shields protect eyes from heat and chemicals.
• Safety glasses: The lenses and frames of safety glasses are stronger than regular glasses and protect eyes from flying particles.
• Helmets with special filters: These protect eyes from radiation.

Eye injury at home

Chemicals, household cleaners and toys are the common items through which our eyes can get injured at home. Cleaning yard, garden or garage can also injure our eyes. Debris from yard or garden can enter eyes at high-speed injuring them.

However, the injuries can be prevented by wearing protective eyewear. While spraying fertilizers, pesticides or other chemicals, it is important to wear protective goggles. Tools must be used with proper care and must be kept at a distance from eyes.

Even after taking precautionary measures if an injury occurs, consult an eye doctor immediately. Your doctor will diagnose the nature of the injury and treat accordingly.

Tips for maintaining healthy eyesight

Eyes are one of the most important organs of our body. They help us perceive the world and hence, it is our duty to take proper care of them. In this article, famous ophthalmologist and retinal specialist, Dr Somdutt Prasad presents certain tips for maintaining healthy eyesight.

Eat healthy

You need to have a healthy diet to protect your eyesight. Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, lutein, vitamin C & E are some of the essential nutrients required to keep a healthy eyesight and guard against diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Your diet must include:

• Green leafy vegetables
• Oily, tuna or salmon fish
• Eggs, beans and other sources of proteins
• Citrus fruits

When you eat a balanced diet, you maintain a healthy weight that protects you against obesity-related eye diseases.

Stare away from computer screen

Most of us work in front of computers for long hours. Staring at the screen for too long can lead to:

• Blurry vision
• Dry eyes
• Headaches
• Eye strain
• Neck and back pain

It is essential to take breaks at regular intervals and stare away from screens. Wear anti-glare glasses and blink regularly. Splash cold water at regular intervals and choose a comfortable chair.

Get rid of smoking

Smoking makes one vulnerable to diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. The sooner you quit this habit, the better it is for you.

 

Use sunglasses

Sunglasses protect your eyes from the harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays of the sun. Exposure to UV rays makes you more vulnerable to diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Choose good quality glasses that block almost 100% of UV rays. If you wear contact lenses, choose lenses that offer protection against UV rays.

Get your eyes examined regularly

You must get your eyes examined regularly. A comprehensive eye examination helps detect diseases such glaucoma. When you feel even the slightest difficulty in vision, consult an ophthalmologist immediately.

Dry Eyes – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment by Dr Somdutt Prasad

Dry eye is a common eye problem. In this infographic, Dr Somdutt Prasad explains the causes, symptoms and treatment of the condition.
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