The Eye

THE EYE

The eye is a sense organ used for seeing. It is the most delicate of all the sense organs, thus it should be treated with care; like most other parts of the body, it is irreplaceable.

HEALTHY TIPS FOR YOUR EYES

EAT FOR GOOD VISION AND PROTECTION

Heaving a balanced meal that contains nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, carotenes, lutein, zinc and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degenerated and cataracts, such foods are: Carrots, Green, Leafy Vegetables such as Spinach, Kale and Collards, Salmon, Tuna, and other oily fish, Eggs, Nuts, Beans, and other non-meat protein sources: Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices.

QUIT SMOKING

Smoking makes you more likely to get cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration. Stop smoking. The more times you try to stop smoking, the more likely you are to succeed.

BE COOL AND WEAR YOUR SUNGLASSES

Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolent rays. Too much UV exposure makes you more likely to get cataracts and macular degeneration. Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare when driving.

If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection. It’s still a good idea to wear sunglasses for more protection though.

USE SAFETY EYEWEAR

Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home or hazardous office environments. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity. Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics.

MANAGING DAILY COMPUTER USE

Staring at computer screen for long can cause:

• Eyestrain
• Blurry vision
• Trouble focusing at a distance
• Dry eyes
• Headaches
• Neck, back and shoulder pain

Taking the following steps to protect your eyes:

• Make sure your glasses or contact lens prescription is up to date and adequate for computer use.
• Some people may need glasses to help with contrast, glare, and eye strain when using a computer
• Position your computer so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This allows you to look slightly down at the screen.
• Try to avoid glare on your computer from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if needed.
• Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor.
• Long staring at the computer can cause dry eyes: blink more or use lubricating eye drops.
• Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds. (20-20-20-rule). At least every 2 hours, get up and take a 15-minutes break.

VISIT YOUR EYE DOCTOR REGUARLY

Everyone, even young children, should get their eyes examined regularly. You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don’t realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration often have no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages.