Eye Care For every age

All You Need To Know About Eyes and Eye Care -- The Right to Sight!

The eyes may be the mirrors of the soul but they're also one of the most misunderstood parts of the body.

There are some common conditions in the eye which are called 'refractive errors' or simply put the errors which require the use of glasses or spectacles. The most common one amongst them is 'Myopia'.

Myopia: When the person needs to use glasses for seeing clearly for far vision and the errors are minus numbers on the prescription card eg. -2.00 D [Dioptres]

Hypermetropia: When the person needs to use glasses for seeing clearly for far vision but the spectacle errors are plus numbers eg. + 2.00 D.

Presbyopia: When the person needs glasses for near reading, such as reading books, etc. These are also plus numbers but different from the plus numbers of hypermetropia as these plus numbers come after the age of forty and are only necessary for near vision.

Astigmatism: When errors occur in a certain axis. These will read as numbers such as -0.75D @ 180 ? .They are also termed 'cylindrical errors'.

A person having myopia or hypermetropia before the age of 40 years will also get presbyopia after 40 years as this is an age related process which is inevitable.

Besides the above conditions which are mainly spectacle errors there are many conditions in the eye which need to be addressed depending on the age group

School Going Children
Two to four percent of India's children develop a squint [cross-eyed] and/or amblyopia [lazy eye]. Early detection and treatment of these disorders during childhood is essential for preventing permanent vision loss".

In many cases the child doesn't see well out of one eye, as there may be a refractive error [spectacle number] in just that one eye. Here the eyes do not work as a team to see. If your child's brain doesn't receive visual images from that eye, eventually the brain will "shut off" that eye and vision could be permanently impaired. This condition is often undetected because the child has learnt to read from the good eye. During an eye examination, where each eye is separately checked, one can diagnose this condition.

Examination of vision among pre-school and primary school-going children is very rarely practiced in India unless an obvious problem is noted. Often the problem is dealt with too late. It is possible to check the vision in children who cannot read alphabets. All children attending kindergarten must be checked at admission.

What to do to detect these common eye problems:

1. Basic eye examination for every newborn by the pediatrician.

2. First detailed eye examination for all children age of 6 months. Again at 2 years, and then annually. Screenings at school are designed to alert parents to the possibility of a visual problem, but not take the place of a visit to an eye doctor. One study found that 11.3 percent of children who passed a vision screening were found to have a vision problem in need of correction.

3. Detailed eye examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist in the presence of visual impairment.

4. Follow-up annual examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist is recommended to stay on top of your child's visual needs, as well as ensure that your child's prescription for eyeglasses is still correct. The visual system is developing along with your child, so annual prescription changes are common.

A higher risk of eye problems at an early age in today's times

"Many pediatric eye doctors believe that heavy computer use among children puts them at risk for early myopia [short sightedness]" The average child now spends one to three hours per day on the computer doing homework, talking online with friends, and playing games. Parents encourage children as young as two or three years old to use the computer. Several recent studies have evidence that computers can have a negative impact on a child's vision. They have found that 25% to 30% of computer-using children need corrective eyewear to work comfortably and safely at the computer at home or in school. See below in tips how to prevent Computer Vision Syndrome in children.

Tips on daily eye care for children:

1. Diet:

   A healthy diet with emphasis on green leafy vegetables, drumstick, carrots, beetroot, fresh fruits including mango and papaya are particularly rich in Vitamin A.

2. Lighting:

   Light source should be positioned behind your child while reading. Avoid direct glare by using shielded light. Reading material should ideally be placed 12- 14 inches away.

3. VDU's or Visual display

   units include TVs and computer screens. Headaches, eyestrain, burning, watering, blurring of vision, double vision and nausea can all be caused by prolong work on the VDUs.

4. Avoid watching TV

   in a dark room. A well-lit room with white light [tubelight] is ideal. Preferred viewing distance for watching TV is 4 metres or more.

5. Place the computer screen at eye level

   or slightly lower and in such a way to minimize reflection and glare. The recommended distance between the monitor and the eye for children is 18-28 inches. By viewing the computer screen closer than 18 inches, children risk straining their eyes. Parents and teachers should be aware of any behaviour that indicates potential problems, such as eye redness, frequent rubbing of the eyes, head turns and other unusual postures, or complaints of blurriness or eye fatigue. Avoidance of the computer may also be an indication of discomfort. Do not let the child sit for more than 40 minutes continuously in front of a computer monitor.

6. Swimming:

   Water tight swimming goggles prevents irritation due to chlorine and reduces the chances of infection.

7. Sports:

   If your child is involved in ball games and /or contact sports protective eye wear made of polycarbonate is recommended.

8. UV light:

   Exposure to sunlight is healthy in moderation and helps in the making if Vitamin D by the body. Too much exposure to bright sunlight is harmful and can cause damage. Wide brimmed hats and UV filtering sunglasses provide adequate protection.

9. Application of 'kajal'

   to newborns, washing the eyes with normal water, rose water etc is an absolute NO-NO. The normal circulation of tears is enough to adequately cleanse the eye of any extraneous material.

The gift of vision is very precious. Give your child the best start in life by visiting your eye doctor today.

Common Myths in Kids

1. Myth:

   Squint in a child should wait till they grow up.
   Generally speaking squints in children should be corrected before age 9 years. This is because later though a cosmetic treatment may be possible, the child after 9 years of age will continue to have a poorly developed vision from lazy eyes due to squint.

2. Myth:

   'Children do not need eye examinations until they are in school'
   False: It is recommended that every child's eyes be examined regularly starting at birth. Some eye problems such as crossed eyes or amblyopia (lazy eye) can result in permanent loss of sight in the affected eye if not detected and treated before the child is five or six years old.

Saturday, July 4, 2009 | posted in Eye And Vision | 1 comments [ Read More... ]

Care Of Eyes During Examinations

FOR STUDENTS

The most important reason why most students come to us is headaches and eye strain. This could be because of a probable spectacle number. But most of the times these symptoms are aggravated during school or college examinations.

Care of Eyes during Examinations
If your eyes water, eyelids twitch, and part of your forehead around your eyebrows seems to ache, you may be suffering from eyestrain. It's a common affliction that can occur after the eyes are taxed for a prolonged period - for example, after hours of close work. But you can reduce eyestrain by taking simple precautions.

Good lighting
Hold the reading material about 30 to 40 centimetres away from your eyes. Ensure you have adequate soft light coming from a source behind or beside your left shoulder [to avoid a shadow] -use a lamp with a 60-watt bulb. Good lighting does make reading easier and prevents eye fatigue. Use a tubelight if it's for general room lighting and a bulb for a table lamp.

Periods of rest
Take a break every half an hour or so by looking at distant objects for three or four minutes. Rest usually alleviates eyestrain.

Proper posture
Do not read while lying down, as it will strain the muscles of your eyes, neck and back. While sitting and reading don't slouch and make sure that you sit in a comfortable chair with good low back support. Headaches, neck aches, backaches and muscle spasms result from holding the body in awkward positions in trying to maintain a desirable angle between eyes and the book.

Good nutrition and hydration

Eat a healthy diet with emphasis on fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, beans, seeds, and nuts. The nutrients that they provide are important for overall as well as eye health. For non-vegetarians, add eggs and fish. Avoid addictive sweets, sodas, cookies and junk food, which is a prescription for disaster not just for eyesight but overall health. Staying with a mostly vegetarian diet of unprocessed, natural foods will help preserve the circulation to the retina, the rods and cones, and the lens.

Wear the correct spectacle number and do not read for long time with contact lenses.
If you have a refractive error or need spectacles, then wearing the correct prescription reduces eyestrain, which would have otherwise impeded your work. Contact lenses are meant to float on the tear film of your eyes. When we do near focus work such as on the computer, we tend to blink less than normal and this dries up our tear film. The contact lens then sticks on the eye and also causes contact-lens-induced allergies. If we wear contact lenses and read for a long time, then we are only worsening the situation. Try and avoid contact lenses while studying, spectacles are a better option.

| posted in Eye And Vision | 1 comments [ Read More... ]

Common Eye Problems Amongst Older College Students

Common Eye Problems Amongst Older College Students
Also seen in those professions requiring long hours of computer use

Dry Eye A collection of symptoms that make up an eye condition due to imbalance in the quantity or quality of tears. What you may feel is gritty eyes, pricking or burning sensation, irritation or a feeling of a foreign body in the eyes. What you need to do is avoid contact lens wear, use a lubricating eye drop and reduce the time of work on computers. Draught from a fan or air conditioner directed on the face could worsen the symptoms.

Computer Vision Syndrome

It is common for computer users to have dry eyes. This is because we don't blink much and we keep our eyes wide open when working at the computer, resulting in drying up of the tear film. Many reasons can result in this condition.

• Poor position in relation to the computer.
• Lighting that produces glare or reflections, fuzzy images or images that are too dim or too bright;
• Failure to blink often enough to moisten the surface of the eyes;
• Use of glasses that are inappropriate for the user's position and distance from the screen;
• Minor visual defects such as astigmatism that might go unnoticed unless intense computer use exaggerates them.

The following steps can help alleviate your symptoms:

• Lower your computer screen so that the center of the screen is 4-8 inches below your eye level and at a viewing distance of 20-28 inches.
• Use artificial tears as recommended by your doctor to re-wet and lubricate your eyes.
• If you are seated in a draught or near an air vent, try to change your seating or position and direct the draught away from your eyes.
• Low humidity or fumes aggravate a dry eye condition.
• Concentrate on blinking whenever you begin to sense symptoms of dry or irritated eyes.
• Take frequent breaks. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. This simply means every 20 minutes, look away beyond 20 feet and blink 20 times.

Red Eye - Typically caused by:

• Fatigue and eye strain- reading in poor light, lack of sleep
• Poor Contact Lens Hygiene/ Contact lens allergies
• Infections- conjunctivitis- bacterial (infections) or allergic (eg. Dust).

If you suffer prolonged discomfort or notice a marked change in your vision, you should immediately have an eye examination.

| posted in Eye And Vision | 1 comments [ Read More... ]

Computer Vision Syndrome

Computer Vision Syndrome

Many Hours at Your Computer Will Worsen Your Vision - - Unless You Know These Secrets

Computers are now a way of life, something that you cannot do without. As the number of people working on computers continues to grow each year, the number of people encountering temporary vision problems due to computer use also increases. Computers do not harm your eyes, but often cause temporary problems.

Human eyes were meant for hunting and farming and even I we have moved far ahead with technology, our bodies still have to catch up on the metamorphosis from far work to fixed close work. When you look in the distance, your eyes are relatively relaxed and at rest. But while doing near work, such as reading your computer screen, muscles in your eyes have to work harder to keep a clean near focus. These muscles get tired after extended use, resulting in eyestrain, neck pain, blurry near vision, headaches or difficulty changing focus. Dry eyes can also occur because we tend to blink less as we concentrate on our computer screen and keep our eyes wide open when working at the computer, resulting in drying up of the tear film.

Squinting while looking at a computer screen is not only uncomfortable, it can lead to dry eye. This is because squinting causes people to blink less often, and the less you blinked, the more you experience aches, burning and sensations of dryness, irritation and tearing in your eyes.

In fact, squinting even cuts your blink rates in half -- from 15 blinks a minute to 7.5 blinks a minute. Only four blinks per minute.

Many reasons can result in this condition:

• Poor position in relation to the computer.
• Lighting that produces glare or reflections, fuzzy images or images that are too dim or too bright;
• Failure to blink often enough to moisten the surface of the eyes;
• Use of glasses that are inappropriate for the user's position and distance from the screen;
• Minor visual defects such as astigmatism that might go unnoticed unless intense computer use exaggerates them.

The following steps can help alleviate your symptoms:

• Lower your computer screen so that the centre of the screen is 4-8 inches below your eye level and at a viewing distance of 20-28 inches.
• Use a document holder placed next to your computer screen. It should be close enough so you don't have to swing your head back and forth or constantly change your eye focus.
• Change your lighting to lower glare and harsh reflections. Glare filters over your computer screen can also help.
• If you are seated in a draught or near an air vent, try to change your seating or position and direct the draught away from your eyes.
• Low humidity or fumes aggravate a dry eye condition.
• Concentrate on blinking whenever you begin to sense symptoms of dry or irritated eyes.
• Take frequent breaks. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. This simply means every 20 minutes, look away beyond 20 feet and blink 20 times.
• Use artificial tears as recommended by your doctor to re-wet and lubricate your eyes.

While complaints of eye fatigue and discomfort are common among computer users, these symptoms are not caused by the computer screen itself. Computer screens give off little or no harmful radiation (such as x-rays or UV rays). All levels of radiation from computer screens are below levels that can cause eye damage such as cataracts. Fatigue, dry eyes, bad lighting, or how you sit in front of the computer can cause eyestrain. Symptoms of eyestrain include sore or irritated eyes and difficulty focusing. You may also have symptoms of eyestrain if you need glasses or a change in your glasses.

Talk to your ophthalmologist if you suffer from any of these symptoms as you may benefit from a simple prescription.

| posted in Eye And Vision | 1 comments [ Read More... ]

Conjunctivitis & Summer

Summer Woes: The Red Eye
Don't let those dark glasses fool you?read on to learn more

Summer is India's hottest season. This season starts in March with daytime's temperatures exceeding 30?C. When things begin to heat up many suffer from itching, burning, and watering of the eyes. This 'red eye' can either be due to allergens, called 'allergic conjunctivitis', or due to infections- 'infectious conjunctivitis'.

Conjunctivitis - is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. A clear, thin membrane called the conjunctiva covers your eyeball and the inside of your eyelids. If something irritates this covering, your eyes may become red and swollen. Your eyes also may itch or even hurt, and they may water.

Causes
Some common allergens include pollen from trees and grass, weed pollens and moulds; animal skin, fur and secretions such as saliva; perfumes and cosmetics and eye make up; skin medicines; air pollution and smoke. Grass pollens tend to cause symptoms in early summer. Various other pollens and moulds may cause symptoms later in the summer. In our city construction dust is a major cause of allergic conjunctivitis. The perennial form persists throughout the year and is usually triggered by dust mites. In some cases, use of mosquito-repellant liquids used in a closed room throughout the night can cause allergies and puffy eyelids.

Other causes of conjunctivitis are viral and bacterial infections.

Another form of conjunctivitis is Giant papillary conjunctivitis.
It occurs in some people who have a 'foreign body' on the eye - most commonly a contact lens. The exact cause of the inflammation is not known - it is possibly an allergic reaction to 'debris' on a contact lens or to poor lens hygiene. About 1 in 100 contact lens wearers develop this type of conjunctivitis.

What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis?

• The eyes are usually itchy, and the whites of the eyes look red or pink.
• A burning feeling may occur and it may be painful.
• The eyelids tend to swell.
• The eyes can water as in allergic conjunctivitis or become 'gluey' as in infective conjunctivitis.
• Vision is not usually affected.
• In severe cases the conjunctiva under the upper eyelids may swell and look lumpy.

Will conjunctivitis damage my eyesight?

Allergic conjunctivitis is irritating and uncomfortable, but it will not hurt your eyesight unless very severe. Infectious conjunctivitis however needs urgent attention as the symptoms can worsen and become difficult to treat.

Can I wear my contact lenses?
It's not a good idea to wear contacts while you have conjunctivitis. Instead, wear your glasses until your eyes feel better.

What can I do to avoid getting the above symptoms?

• It is a myth if you think that by staring into a red eye you will get one yourself!
• It is also a myth that a person wearing dark glasses when he/she has a red eye is enough protection from spreading the condition!
• When one person rubs the eyes, the germs get on the hands. From there, they spread to someone else's hands while sharing things such as doorknobs, towels etc. Hence the most important precaution whenever you are outdoors is never to rub your eyes since your hands have been all over the place! Wash your hands frequently, even a hand sanitizer will do.

Try to identify and avoid the allergens that cause your symptoms. For example, if you are allergic to pollen or mould, stay indoors when pollen and mould levels are high. Close windows, wear 'wrap around' sunglasses when out and use an air conditioner during the summer months.

What you can do when you have conjunctivitis to prevent spreading it?

• Conjunctivitis can also spread from one eye to the other, especially when you rub your eyes.
• Hence good hygiene of hands and face is important.
• There should be no sharing of face towels, especially if someone has conjunctivitis. People who suffer from conjunctivitis should have a special towel that only they use.
• Pus and crust should be removed by bathing the eye with lukewarm salt water that can also lessen the symptoms.
• Use disposable tissues when you dry the eyes and throw them away after use. This will limit the contamination.
• Dispose of any antibiotic eye drops after the treatment is over.

The person suffering from infective conjunctivitis must refrain from rubbing the eyes. If the urge to itch is strong, first the hands must be washed, then the eyes cleaned and the hands washed again with soap. It is important not to share soaps, towels etc.

Treatment

• Bathing the eyes with a cloth soaked in cold water soothes the eyes.
• Depending on the type of conjunctivitis, eye drops that reduce inflammation and treat infection [antibiotic] are prescribed by your eye doctor.
• Steroid eye drops are rarely needed or used. Steroids are good at reducing inflammation. However, they should only be used under the supervision of an eye specialist as infection and other causes of conjunctivitis need to be definitely ruled out. Steroids can make some other eye conditions worse.
• Antihistamine tablets. You can take these in addition to the eye drops to ease the general symptoms of allergies.
• In general, do not wear contact lenses until symptoms have gone, and for 24 hours after the last dose of any eye drop or ointment.
• Lubricating eye drops (called artificial tears) may also make your eyes feel better. You can buy these drops without a prescription.

| posted in Eye And Vision | 1 comments [ Read More... ]

Contact Lens Use And Misuse

Contact Lens -- Use and Misuse

The disposable contact lens has joined other commodities as a personal care item with a very short life. But don't think disposable contact lenses (or any other type) are free of troubles and maintenance just because they're so convenient. Any lens can become contaminated and cause severe infections and damage delicate areas.

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts with contact lenses.

Do not sleep with contact lenses in.
Even if you have contact lenses that are labelled ‘extended wear’ it doesn't mean you should leave them on through the night. The reason: Continuously worn contacts rub away the cornea (the covering of the eyeball). This causes tiny abrasions that invite infection and may lead to vision loss. Also, covering the cornea for extended period blocks out oxygen which provide an ideal breeding ground for harmful bacteria.

Do clean the contact lenses with every use.
Whenever you take out your lenses, they must be cleaned well as per the instructions. If you wear the disposable kind, be sure to throw them away at the time prescribed and not stretch it out to cut costs.

Do clean the lens case, too.
Scrub the case with hot water with a toothbrush that's used only for that purpose.

Do not use homemade saline solutions.
Use a fresh solution each day, and use only commercial contact lens preparations. That's because homemade salt solutions might harbour bacteria that can scar the cornea and cause partial or complete blindness. And since tap water and mineral water are not sterile, they may harbour infection-causing impurities.

Do one lens-care regimen.

A disinfecting/cleaning regimen is always specified for your lens type and that shouldn't be changed. Whatever the recommended procedure, be sure to stick with it and not cut corners!

Do not wet your lenses with saliva even in emergencies.
Saliva is teeming with bacteria. If you give your lenses a spit bath, you might as well rub your lenses on the floor!!

Do remove the makeup first, lenses second.
Use water-based, not oil-based, cosmetics, and apply makeup and hair spray before you put in your lenses. Around the eyes, use water-resistant mascara and apply to lash tips only.

Do not wear your lenses while swimming.
The risk of wearing hard lenses in a pool or tub is that they may float out if your eyes get wet. With soft lenses, impurities in the water might be absorbed, which could cause infection, so if you need to see underwater, get goggles.

Do remove your contacts if your eyes turn red.
Do not take your eyes for granted and abuse them! If your eyes become irritated, remove your contacts. If the irritation doesn't go away after two to three hours, contact your eye doctor.

Tears, discharge, redness around the eyes and a change in vision are all indications of eye allergy or infection.

| posted in Eye And Vision | 1 comments [ Read More... ]

Dry Eye : Non Invasive Machine To Diagnose Dry Eyes

When your eyes are red and scratchy, it could be, they’re dry. The right treatment is important.

While most dry eyes are not severe, some can be. Any eye irritation is a warning sign that something has changed in the normal functioning of your eye, and it needs proper attention. Not all eye drops are the same. Make sure you contact your ophthalmologist if discomfort persists.

What is dry eye?

Dry eye is a condition when your eyes either produce too few tears, or produce tears that are weak in the ingredients that lubricate and protect the surface of your eye.

Why are tears important?

Tears are one of the body’s natural defense mechanisms. They are produced by glands around the eye, and released to coat, protect and nourish the surface of the eye.

What cause dry eye?

Age: The most common reason for dry eye is aging because both the tear flow rate and effectiveness of your tear film decrease with age. By age 40, you have about half the tear production you had at age 10. Lastly, these days most common reason is Lasik or i lasik , refractive surgeries to remove glasses

Environment: Many factors in your surroundings can also lead to Dry Eye such as:

1.Staring at computer terminals or television screens
2.Air conditioning or heat in homes and offices.
3.Air pollution.
4.Driving over long distances.
5.Extremes in humidity.

Contact lenses: Dry eye symptoms are experienced by many contact lens wearers around about 25-32%. This is mainly because soft contact lenses are “hydrophilic”, i.e. they attract fluids and float on top of the tear film. If not enough tear film is produced; irritation and redness may result from the contact lenses rubbing against the surface of the eyes.

Other factors: Certain medications taken for eye disorders or other conditions can cause Dry Eye if they affect the glands (lacrimation glands) around the eye.

Dry eyes often occur in patients suffering from arthritis. Dry eyes are common with women, especially during menopause or pregnancy.

Lastly, these days most common reason is Lasik or i lasik , refractive surgeries to remove glasses

What are typical symptoms?

Dry eye symptoms include one or more of the following :

• Dryness Burning
• Grittiness
• Scratchiness
• Watery Eyes Tiredness
• Feeling of "something's in eye"
• Sensitivity to light.

Is there a cure for Dry Eyes?

If you are suffering from dry eyes or other eye discomforts, you should obtain a complete eye examination from your ophthalmologist. If left untreated Dry eye can lead to other more serious conditions including corneal ulcers, infections and conjunctivitis. There is no cure for this condition. If Dry Eye is cause by environmental or occupational factors, i.e. staring at computers computer vision syndrome or being exposed to hot air, you could help your Dry Eye condition by simply reducing or eliminating the cause. In most cases, i.e. age or disease related, the condition is chronic and must be constantly treated. It is therefore important in all cases to follow your practitioner’s recommendation.

How Do Tear Substitutes Help?

The first line of treatment and relief for Dry Eye is the use of Tear Substitutes solutions. These solutions supplement natural human tears and provide a substitute coating to protect and nourish the surface of the eye. Ointments are also effective, but are usually applied only at bedtime due to blurring of vision. Tear as frequently as needed.

Latest machine (NON INVASIVE) for DRY EYES [First time in Asia]

Special non-invasive diagnostic instrument available only at G.G.S.I.EYE RESEARCH & CURE CENTRE which can detect the dry eyes in 5 secs which is never picked up other dry eye tests, it is very useful in early treating & diagnosing dry eye.

| posted in Eye And Vision | 1 comments [ Read More... ]