John splashed some water on his face and stared at his reflection in the mirror above the sink. He was exhausted and his eyes were aching. He could feel the strain with each blink. He had spent the last 48 hours staring at his computer, trying to get all his work done. His eyes were red and he was having a serious headache. Sighing, he made his way back to his table.
“See you tomorrow.” Tunde, his colleague called as he made his way to the door. “John, your eyes are red. Are you ok?” He asked with concern.
“I’ll be alright.”
“Take a break. Your eyes need some rest. Don’t cause more harm to yourself. I’ll help you with whatever work is left tomorrow morning.”
“Thanks, Tunde.”
The eye is a very important organ. It is responsible for one of the five senses. We are visual beings and we need our eyes to go about our business daily. We are constantly using our eyes hence the need to take adequate care of them. Our eyes are a crucial part of our health and some eye problems can lead to vision loss. The following are some tips to help take optimal care of your eyes.
Eye Care Tips
Healthy Diet
Ensure your diet includes a good portion of fruits and vegetables. Carrots are good for the eyes. Also include fish like salmon and tuna in your diet. Being overweight increases the risk of diabetes, which puts you at risk of glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.
Wear Sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses is not just a fashion statement. It will actually do you a lot of good. Protect your eyes from excessive sunlight with the use of sunglasses. Also, protect your eyes in windy weather. Strong winds can blow sand or other particles that are harmful to your eyes. Excessive sun exposure puts one at risk of cataracts and can cause damage to the eyes.
Family History
It is advised to know your family’s eye health history. Some eye problems are hereditary so it is important to get your eyes checked consistently if you have a family history of eye problems
Rest Your Eyes
A lot of work today is done staring at a computer screen. Adopt the 20-20-20 rule. Every twenty minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Take breaks away from your screen. Ensure that your workspace is well illuminated so it relieves a bit of strain on the eyes.
Get Your Eyes Tested
Just like you need physical checkups, your eyes also need to be tested regularly. Children usually have vision screening at their health care provider or school. Adults need to do the same. They may also need to get a dilated eye exam. This helps to catch underlying eye problems that may not be showing any symptoms.
Types of Tests
A Visual Acuity Test
You may be familiar with this test where you read an eye chart about 20 feet away.
Tonometry
This measures your eye interior pressure which can help detect glaucoma
Dilation
This involves the use of eye drops which help to dilate your pupils. It makes them wider thereby allowing more light into them. Your eye care provider then examines your eyes with special lens to check tissues at the back of your eye.
If you have a refractive error, you would probably need glasses or contact lenses. You will look through a device with different lenses of different strengths to help your eye doctor know which lenses will give you the clearest vision.
Take care of your eyes
If you suffer from itchy red eyes, use soothing eye drops. Apply a cold compress over your eyes to reduce the symptoms.
Don’t touch your eyes with dirty fingers. Don’t use dirty handkerchiefs or tissue to clean your eyes. Avoid sharp objects or heat near your eyes. Should you develop severe symptoms like pain, swelling, secretions of unusual sensitivity to light, ensure you see your doctor immediately.
