Ophthalmologist Dr. Debra Bartholomew is part of the National Eye Survey team. You can read more about her here. Here are a few of her tips for optimal eye care.
Use safety eyewear
Employers are required to provide a safe work environment. Wear the appropriate safety equipment at all times, and encourage your coworkers to do the same.
Avoid the urge to rub
Chronic eye rubbing is associated with keratoconus, a degenerative disorder that results when the cornea becomes thinner and resembles a cone rather than a curved shape, distorting one’s vision.
Don’t abuse contacts
Wearing contact lenses can trap bacteria behind the eye, doing irreparable damage over time.
Even if your conact lenses are designed for long-term wear, it is best to rest your eyes in between each pair.
Do not ‘over-clean’ the eye
Allergen-reducing eye drops work by constricting the blood flow to the cornea, thereby depriving it of oxygen. Generally we do not need to ‘wash’ the eye, as tears perform this function.
…But flush if needed!
When something gets into your eye, flush immediately with water. However, if lye gets into your eye, seek medical help immediately. Lye breaks down proteins rapidly, and can cause blindness if not treated immediately.
Eat a balanced diet
Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. A lack of Vitamin A can also cause night blindness.
Test a child’s eyesight early
Vision problems can present in learning difficulties or behavioural problems — i.e. if the child literally finds it hard to focus, it will be even more difficult to learn.
Look out for warning signs, and carry your child for an eye test to ensure that his/her vision is not impaired.
Some eye conditions such as ‘cross-eyed’ or ‘cokey-eye’/ ‘lazy eye’ (heterotropia and amblyopia) can be corrected through eye exercises, patching the stronger eye, special glasses or even surgery — but only up to the age of eight years old.
So make sure to act early!