Eye diseases have become a disease of civilization in recent times. Constantly working at the computer, watching TV or staying too long in artificial lighting cause our eyesight to deteriorate at an alarming rate.
The trend of worsening eyesight
The problem of eye diseases, which used to affect mainly the elderly, is increasingly prevalent at a young age. Recent reports indicate that 20 percent of children aged 0-14 have vision problems, and about 60 percent experience vision deterioration after age 16. In addition, many of us neglect our vision problems, are reluctant to use corrective measures, and do not go regularly to check-ups with our eye doctor. That's why prevention is so important to significantly reduce eye disorders later in life.
Doctors do not have good news. They forecast that one in thirty people in Europe will lose their eyesight during their lifetime. In most cases - at their own request. This is worth preventing by taking proper care of eye health. Eye diseases don't hurt. It is necessary to keep this in mind and bet on prevention.
How to take care of eyesight during pregnancy?
In order to take the earliest and most effective preventive measures, a woman already pregnant should take care of her health to protect her child from threatening eye diseases. Having rubella or toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can cause serious eye diseases and even blindness. It also happens that it is a genetic disease that causes damage to the child's eyesight, but this is unfortunately no longer under our control.
The most important thing during pregnancy is to take it easy, eat healthy (especially eat carrots in raw form or in juices) and follow the tests and recommendations of your pregnancy doctor. Certain eye conditions in the mother are an indication for more frequent examinations, or for delivery by cesarean section. Your doctor decides whether to take such measures, so you must not conceal your visual defect from him.
How to take care of a child's eyes during the developmental period?
In children of developmental age, diet is very important. It affects the proper development of the entire body, including the organ of vision. Foods that are rich in vitamin A (carrots) should be consumed, and the diet should be varied.
It is also worth paying attention to proper eye hygiene. Parents should teach their children not to rub their eyes with their hands, they should wash their face with clean water and wipe it with their own towel. One important tip is the need to wash your hands thoroughly after coming home.
Parents should also monitor the conditions under which the child does homework, draws or reads. The correct lighting of the workstation, the direction from which it falls, the position of the desk and table in relation to the window is important. The best conditions are when the child learns by natural light. Experts point out that learning in a bright room improves performance by 26%. Therefore, it is best to place the desk by the window. Desk lighting should be even, diffuse and not disturbed by shadows. Do not place the light source at the back of the person at the desk. Right-handed children should have the lamp on the left, and left-handed on the right. The distance of the lamp from the desk should be no less than 35cm.
The amount of time a child spends in front of a computer monitor, TV screen or computer game screen is also extremely important.
Are we taking proper care of our eyes?
Unfortunately, surveys show that almost one in four people diagnosed with an eye defect do not intend to correct it, or even plan to visit a doctor in the near future. Lack of eye care can cause many complications that sometimes can no longer be corrected with lenses and surgery.
Can diet support eyesight
In order to maintain visual acuity, it is worth taking care of a healthy diet first and foremost. Most beneficial is the cardiovascular support menu, which helps not only the heart, but also the eyes. Remember to eat foods containing large deposits of zinc, which prevents light damage. Carotenoids, which mainly include lutein, are particularly beneficial to the structures of the eye. The diet for healthy eyes should not lack citrus, beans, peas, carrots, green leafy vegetables, oysters, nuts, poultry and red meat.
Exercises to support vision
It is very useful to exercise for a few minutes a day. More important than the time spent during the day is their regularity and regularity.
Among the simplest exercises is to make slow movements of the eyeballs in all directions with the head immobilized, then only our eyes move.
Another exercise is to look out the window for the farthest points that are still visible and strain your eyes to focus them as much as possible. We then move our gaze to a point close by, only to look away again after a while.
A light massage of the eyeball with the eyelids closed in a circular motion improves the exchange of intraocular fluid flow by which the eyes relax, as the eye muscles relax and our pupils dilate in the dark - this gives a sense of significant relief and allows us to continue working with our eyes after a short break. Remember, of course, to massage the eyeballs with clean hands.
Which sunglasses are best for the eyes?
In hot weather, it is mandatory to wear sunglasses. The most important criterion in choosing the right model of them is not the appearance, but the light transmission - good glasses will stop approx. 99-100% of UVA and UVB radiation. This is extremely important, given that the sun's rays can have an adverse effect not only on the skin, but also on the eyes.
Exposing your eyes to the sun for too long can cause you to develop cataracts, corneal degeneration or, in the worst case, eyelid cancer.
We advise against buying the cheapest sunglasses. Also, we do not recommend sourcing eyeglasses from market stalls and stands. A good optical store has an assortment of high-quality eyeglasses with specific specifications. Opticians will not only advise what glasses will do the best job, but will also select them based on the physical characteristics of the head shape. Sunglasses can also incorporate correction.
Eye-healthy makeup
A good tip for women is to check the expiration date of the eye cosmetics they use. Preparations that have already been opened should not be kept for too long, and expired products should be discarded immediately, as they can contain a host of bacteria dangerous to the eyes.
Safety glasses
People who are surrounded by harmful substances and engage in eye-threatening activities or occupations are particularly vulnerable to eye diseases. Protective eyewear should be an integral part of the equipment of people doing work classified as high risk of visual safety, but also of people actively engaged in sports in which eye injuries occur most often, such as playing basketball.
How to take care of your eyesight at the computer?
Tremendous importance should be attached to the health of the eyes by those who work at a computer every day. Staring at a monitor for long periods of time can lead to eye fatigue and dry eyes. A sign of visual fatigue is blinking more often than normal. To keep your eyes from drying out excessively, it's a good idea to step away from the monitor every approx. 20 minutes for 20 seconds. Additional corneal hydration is also important.
We relax our eyes by looking into the distance - by constantly looking at a monitor located close by, we increase the risk of developing myopia. While taking a break for the eyes, let's also not forget to gaze at the soothing greenery.
Regular eye examinations
Prevention of eye diseases includes regular eye examinations. This rule does not apply only to glasses or contact lens wearers, although those with nearsightedness and farsightedness should perform examinations more frequently. People between the ages of 21 and 40 are advised to have an eye exam every two years, while older people and those burdened with visual impairment should visit an ophthalmologist every year.
It is especially important to monitor visual acuity in toddlers. The parent may notice the strabismus himself, or the child's limited field of vision. In this case, you should go with your child to an ophthalmologist. If, on the other hand, the parent is not concerned about the toddler's vision, it is still a good idea to have a basic check-up with an ophthalmologist after the age of two.