The world is a divine creation, with vibrant natural sceneries and different colors. Witnessing the world in its true self and not only through words is a blessing in disguise. 80% of what we perceive comes through the sense of sight, therefore it is important to protect our eyes in order to reduce the odds of blindness and vision loss.
Prevalence of vision impairment disorders may depend on age, lifestyle (urban or rural) and developed or developing regions. It is estimated that India has approximately 125 million people affected with some sort of impairment, with nearly 63 million people visually imapaired, 54 million with low vision and 8 million suffering from blindness.
What are the problems related to vision?
Uncorrected refractive errors
Cataract
Age-related macular degeneration
Glaucoma
Diabetic retinopathy
Corneal opacity
What are the signs and symptoms?
Appearance of spots and floaters in vision: This is usually an age related effect when eyes gel-like interior liquid separates from the retina. However, it could also happen due to sight threatening tear or detachment of the retina.
Dark solid blocking of field view: It happens when the retina is detached from the nourishing blood vessels beneath it and could lead to permanent impairment if not treated in time.
Eye pain, redness, nausea & vomiting: These are symptoms of sudden attack of narrow-angle glaucoma that can affect the eye’s optic nerve and require immediate medical attention.
Double vision or ‘ghost’ images: It can be caused due to many other eye conditions but can signal an underlying stroke as well. Visit your nearest ophthalmologist if there’s a sudden onset of double vision.
Blurry vision in an eye: Chances of developing a macular hole in part of the retina increases if you are over 60. Macular holes can cause permanent loss of vision, hence it needs prompt diagnosis and treatment if necessary.
Narrowing of field view: Reduction of abilities to see objects off on the sides could be a symptom of glaucoma which can lead to tunnel vision
Blurred & cloudy eyesight or glare: Blurry & cloudy eyesight or glare particularly at night often points to cataract. It tends to worsen over time as the eye’s natural lens keeps on losing clarity with aging, unless you have a cataract surgery.
How can you keep your eyes healthy?
Consume the right food groups: To avoid age related vision problems, have omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc and vitamin C & E in your diet. Make sure you consume plenty of fruits and veggies, especially deep yellow and green leafy ones.
Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight may increase your risk of developing diabetes which can put you at a risk of diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.
Wear sunglasses: Right pair of shades will protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays. A pair that blocks 99%-100% of UVA & UVB rays. Polarized lenses reduce glare while wraparound lenses protect eyes from the side as well.
Use safety eyewear: If your work environment creates hazardous airborne materials, then you should opt for protective goggles.
Screen away time: While using screens, rest your eyes every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Take a break and get up every 2 hours.
One of the best ways to continue to see clearly is to have routine checkups. And just as it is crucial to keep our body healthy, we also need to keep our eyes healthy.
World Sight Day 2020
An awareness day held to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. This year’s theme is “Hope In Sight” which aims to raise public awareness on the importance and need of visual impairment. Identifying and treating the eye conditions as early as possible can protect your eyesight and keep your eyes healthy as you age.
Disclaimer: Indian Health Bureau does not claim any responsibility for the information contained in this article. The information may not hold good for everyone. The post is for general awareness only and should not be construed as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Please consult your doctor to know what is good for you.
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