Due to changes in lifestyle and increased pollution, the rate of eye problems is increasing drastically. This demands proper general eye care including health checkups, wearing sunglasses, giving rest to eyes, having a balanced diet etc. Therefore it is important to take care of your eyes and if needed get treated by the best eye specialists for providing your eyes with holistic support and care.
Significant ways to take care of your eyes
- Get comprehensive eye check-ups- The majority of eye diseases have no warning signs and symptoms, especially at the earliest stages. One might think that his/her eyes are healthy. Thus, a scheduled comprehensive eye check-up is very essential to evaluate your eye health to prevent a severe medical emergency.
- Keep yourself informed about your family's eye health history- Several eye diseases are hereditary such as age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma. Therefore it is important to know whether any of your family members have been diagnosed with eye disease in the past. This may help you to know your risk factors and take the necessary steps to lower the chances of getting affected.
- Wear protective glasses- Wear adequate protective glasses or goggles which are specially designed to protect your eyes and also prevent eye injuries during activities like playing sports, working in a factory, construction works etc.
- Don't strain your eyes- Forcing your eyes to work hard can take a toll on the functioning of the eye. This can lead to eye fatigue, headaches and similar other symptoms. Looking at a computer or any digital device for a very long time can tire out your eyes. Give Rest to your eyes by taking a break after nearly 20 minutes.
- Maintain a healthy diet- Your diet should consist of plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially dark, leafy greens such as spinach, Kale and collard greens. Eating fish that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, Salmon, tuna, and halibut are very good for the health of your eyes.
- Wear sunglasses- Sunglasses are an outstanding fashion statement, but most importantly it protects your eyes from the harmful ultraviolet rays from the Sun. Exposure to Sun Rays can damage your eyes and increase the risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. It is essential to wear proper sunglasses to protect your eyes from the UV rays even on cloudy days.
- Exercise regularly- Regular exercises help to control diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol which in turn reduces the risk factors and helps to prevent several vision problems such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.
- Avoid smoking- Smoking is not just bad for your lungs but can also be very harmful to your eyes. Smoking increases the risk of developing several eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
- If you wear contact lenses, take the necessary steps to prevent eye infections- Always wash your hands properly before putting in or taking out contact lenses. Clean the lenses properly and also disinfect them. Make sure to replace them regularly. These easy steps will help you to prevent eye infections.
Know your risk factors
- Getting older increases the risk of developing several age-related eye diseases.
- You might also have a higher risk of eye problems if you are obese or overweight.
- Several eye diseases run through the family. Thus if you have a family history of eye disease, you may be at a greater risk of developing an eye disease.
- Several other health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure can also increase risks of eye disease such as diabetic retinopathy.
In case you are worried about the risk of developing an eye disease because of the stated risk factors, consult the top eye specialists in Kolkata to take the necessary steps to lower your risk.
Pay attention to symptoms
An important thing about our body is that it usually gives us certain indicators when something goes wrong. Therefore it is important to pay attention to early symptoms in order to prevent serious eye diseases.
Here are certain symptoms related to particular eye disease-- Macular degeneration- In the case of macular degeneration, no definite symptoms are observed in its early stages rather than changes in the quality of vision. Although some symptoms in the later stages may include-
- Blurry vision
- Partial loss of vision.
- Facing problems seeing in dim light
- Objects appearing smaller than their real size.
Take these symptoms as the warning signs and consult the best ophthalmologists to take care of your eye.
- Cataracts- Cataracts are one of the most widely existing eye diseases. It is the formation of cloudy areas in the lens of the eye which in turn leads to unclear vision. Certain symptoms of cataracts are-
- Clouded vision
- Facing problem seeing at night
- Seeing halos around light
- Viewing colours to be faded
If you are facing these symptoms, it is always advised to get your eyes examined and treated by the top cataract specialists for effective treatment.
- Glaucoma- Glaucoma is a very common eye disease in which the optic nerve of the eye gets damaged which leads to intraocular pressure which can result in permanent vision loss.
Some very common warning signs are-- Vision loss
- Redness in the eye
- Eye pain
- Seeing halos around lights
A Good glaucoma specialist would recommend eye drops or pills, surgery or even a combination of them both as an appropriate treatment to prevent vision loss due to glaucoma.
- Diabetic retinopathy- Diabetic retinopathy is usually a diabetes complication which in turn affects the eyes by damaging the blood vessels. Diabetic retinopathy might not have noticeable warning signs in the early stages, but eventually, the following symptoms may develop-
- Blurred vision
- Vision fluctuation
- Development of dark spots (floaters)
- Impaired colour distinction
Photocoagulation is an effective method to prevent vision loss in the later stages. Although vitrectomy is an option to treat diabetic retinopathy in its early stages. If you are suffering from diabetes and at a risk to develop diabetic retinopathy, consider getting your eyes examined by the best retina specialists in Kolkata.
- Astigmatism- When the vision gets out of focus due to abnormally curved cornea, it is known as astigmatism. The common symptoms of astigmatism are-
- Distorted vision
- Eyestrain
- Headache
- Irritation in the eye
- Difficulty in seeing at night
Astigmatism can be corrected with the help of contact lenses, eyeglasses, laser surgery or several other refractive surgeries. LASIK and PRK are also used to cure astigmatism.
- Uveitis- Uveitis is a collective name for a group of eye diseases that causes inflammation in the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. Uveitis results in the destruction of the eye tissues. Certain signs and symptoms are-
- Blurry vision
- Eye pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Redness in the eye
In treating Uveitis the primary objective of the Uveitis specialists is to reduce the inflammation in the eye. The doctor may prescribe medications or even consider surgical procedures.
Starting from comprehensive eye exams to diagnosis and treatment of the problems, the goal of the best ophthalmologists is to protect your vision. But you too can play a very essential role in helping the doctors to reach their goal. You don't have to be an eye doctor to understand the importance of protecting your eyes and keeping them healthy. In addition to taking care of your eyes, make sure to pay attention to the signs and symptoms that can lead to eye diseases. Consult an ophthalmologist and get professional treatment for your precious eyes.
