As World Glaucoma Week comes to an end it is perhaps time to
take a more general look at how we should be treating our eyes. It is very easy
to take your eyes for granted and to perhaps not look after them as well as you
should do. There are a great number of factors that can affect your eyes, some
of which are relatively obvious, while others are less so. However the most
important thing you can do for your eyes is to be aware of them and how to look
after them properly.
Myths
There are various myths about eyes and eyesight that are
worth debunking. Firstly, the place where you are most likely to sustain an eye
injury is in and around the home carrying out normal everyday tasks, such as
cleaning, gardening and DIY. Eye protection may not be the trendiest of looks,
but it could save your eyes from the discomfort and damage that may be caused
by cleaning fluids or dust and grit.
The second myth to debunk is that reading in dim light and
watching too much television will damage your eyesight. There is no doubt that
it puts a strain on your eyes, but it will not cause damage to the eye itself.
The Key to Healthy
Eyes
There are various things that you can do in order to ensure
that your eyes are healthy and that they stay that way. There are three main
elements to good eye care.
1.
Eating for healthy eyes: Just like the rest of
the body, the eye needs certain amounts and types of nutrient in order to stay
healthy. Eating vegetables that contain vitamin A, such as carrots, will help
to protect your eyes from becoming dry and will also help to prevent macular
degeneration and cataract formation. Dark green leafy vegetables are also great
for healthy eyes.
2.
Eye care: It is important to make sure that your
eyes are kept clean. The tears that are naturally produced by the eye will do
most of the hard work for you but for anyone who wears contacts lenses or
make-up regularly there are additional factors to take into consideration.
a.
Water – is not a good choice for cleaning,
rinsing or storing contact lenses, particularly in areas with flood water as
there is often an increase in the number of pathogens found in even a treated
water supply.
b.
Saliva – is often seen as a handy solution to
provide a contact lens with a ‘quick clean’. Unfortunately saliva contains a
lot of bacteria that can be a possible source of infection.
c.
Make-up application and removal – old make-up
can harbour bacteria so it is important to regularly update your eye make-up. When
removing eye make-up use a specific eye make-up remover as general removers can
cause irritation and dryness.
3.
Professional Check-up: You should have an eye
test at least once every two years so that you not only have the quality of
your vision checked, but also the health of your eye. If disease or
degeneration are detected early it is far more likely that you will maintain
normal sight for longer. These check-ups are particularly important for people
with diabetes, who are more susceptible to glaucoma, and also for anyone with a
history of eye disease within their family.
If you are due an eye examination, please call us today on
0141 554 8886 to arrange an appointment.
Eye exams are free of charge to anyone living in Scotland. Specsdirect2u are an Independent Opticians
with 4 Optical Practices in Glasgow.
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