Good habits for healthy eyes

This is the state of many blind people around us today. Some were born blind while some became so as a result of ailment or poor eye habits. Just as general health can be preserved by doing physical exercises, ocular (eye) health can be maintained by certain good habits too. Having good ocular health means […]

This is the state of many blind people around us today. Some were born blind while some became so as a result of ailment or poor eye habits. Just as general health can be preserved by doing physical exercises, ocular (eye) health can be maintained by certain good habits too.

Having good ocular health means the vision is at least 20/20 or better with or without correction and the eyes are disease-free. There are simple corrective and preventive measures to maintain good vision and enjoy lifelong ocular health.

Visit your doctor for regular check-ups and for any eye problems you experience.

Optometrists are trained specifically to determine and improve visual acuity with the prescription of eyeglasses, contact lenses, and eye exercises. Ophthalmologists can provide total eye care, from examinations and vision correction to the diagnosis and treatment of disease through medication and surgery.

Dr (Mrs) Yoloye Mosekunola Chief Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Asokoro General Hospital says “a normal person should see his or her ophthalmologist once in a year but if you have a family history of eye problems then you should see the ophthalmologist more often. When they come in, we do a comprehensive eye examination.”

With epidemic kerato conjuctivities popularly called  appollo in the season right now, Dr Yoloye Mosekunola warned that “patients should not deposit sugar solution or urine into the eye as it is popularly suggested. These will introduce secondary infection into the eyes.”

According to Dr .Ajani Magdalene a Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist, State House Medical Centre, Aso- Rock “appollo is a viral disease and self limiting. So whether you treat it or not, it will run its cause and it will stop. But a patient who has a viral infection just needs to build his immunity. Replace your fluids and eat well and the body will be able to curtail it and it will go off normally.

She added that when patients come in with appollo “what we give are antibiotic eye drops. And it’s meant to sooth the eye. When you put the eye drop, you are diluting the amount of toxins that are produced by this virus in the eye and reducing the effect of the toxin on the eye but it is not like you are killing anything.”

Practice disease prevention.

Disease of the eye is the number one cause of blindness. Most diseases that cause blindness, like glaucoma and diabetes, can be treated or their progression slowed down with the proper diagnosis and management. While there is no cure for some eye disorders, there have been major medical advances for age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. By getting regular exams and discussing your family history, you and your doctor will be able to anticipate, better prevent, and treat eye disease.

Wear the correct prescription lenses, or consider corrective surgery.

Not wearing your prescribed eyeglasses or contacts will not cause disease of the eye, but it can cause discomfort by eyestrain, headaches, or possibly even injury brought on by the lack of safe vision. If wearing prescriptive lenses is uncomfortable, ask your doctor about alternatives, like switching from eyeglasses to contact lenses or exploring corrective surgery.

Protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of light and is a portion of the invisible part of the spectrum. Sources of this damaging light include sunlight, a welder’s flash, fluorescent lighting e.t.c

Health experts say constant exposure to ultraviolet rays can result in photochemical eye damage. This UV exposure increases pigmentation in the eye, causing a discolouration known as “brown” or “sunshine” cataracts. Eye diseases such as macular degeneration, solar retinitis, and corneal dystrophies have all been linked to UV exposure.

Wear protective gear and eye wear during work and sporting events.

Wearing safety glasses and protective goggles while playing sports or working with hazardous and airborne materials lowers your risk for eye injury, damage to vision, and complete loss of sight.

Being actively involved in your eye health and working with your optometrist and ophthalmologist increases your chances for maintaining good eye health and eyesight.