Caring for Your Sight
Eye Conditions & Care | Caring for Your Sight
Sight is one of our most precious senses but most people take good sight for granted until they have a problem. How many times do you go to the dentist or the gym, but when did you last have an eye test? There are many important ways to look after your eye health and preserve your vision. This applies both to people who have healthy vision and those who may have eye problems.
Regular eye tests
Making regular appointments with your eye doctor is one of the most important steps you can take to maintain the health of your eyes. Everyone should have their eyes tested at least once every two years, although some people may need more frequent examinations (for instance those with diabetes). Eye tests are not just a check to see whether you need glasses or a new prescription, they are an essential health check. A regular eye test means that any eye disease that develops is caught as early as possible. Early diagnosis can make treatment more effective.
If you have Retinitis Pigmentosa visits to the Ophthalmologist continue to be important for the following reasons:
- If you have any doubt you might like to obtain a second opinion or more information
- To monitor the progression of the disease and to retain optimum vision
- Assessment of other family members and referral to a geneticist
- Some people with RP develop cataracts. When they have reached a certain stage, an eye specialist may recommend their removal. This could lead to a limited amount of vision being restored.
- Diagnosis of other eye conditions, which may make vision worse, such as glaucoma and Diabetes
- Information about cures of treatment that may be found in the future
Protect your eyes from the sun
UVA and UVB rays are invisible rays contained in sunlight and because our eyes rely on light to work properly, these rays enter our eyes. A lot of the UV light is absorbed by the structures of the eye without causing any damage. However it has been shown that high exposure to UVA and UVB are risk factors for the development of a number of eye diseases, in particular Cataracts, Pterygium and a temporary but painful disease called Corneal Sunburn.
Protect against this damage by using glasses with a UV filter which stops most of the harmful rays of the sun entering the eyes. Most prescription glasses now have a built in UV filter and many brands of contact lenses now also have UV protection. Ask your Optometrist for advice.
Good quality sunglasses should be used to protect your eyes from UV light especially if you live in a country like the U.A.E. which is very sunny. Wear a hat with a brim to stop rays that enter at the sides of the sunglasses. The UV exposure is also much higher where there are more reflective surfaces, for example near water, so protect your eyes while at the beach, fishing, boating or ski-ing. There is evidence to suggest that blue light (contained in sunlight) may lead to macular degeneration especially in people with light-coloured eyes. Blue-blocker sunglasses offer protection from blue light. Foresight has details of stockists of blue-blocker sunglasses in the U.A.E.
Sunglasses with polarized lenses or different tints may also help people that are light-sensitive or have problems dealing with glare. Blue-blocker sunglasses can reduce glare and help maximise contrast of colours for people with degenerative retinal disease.
Give up smoking
Smokers greatly increase their chances of sight loss in later life. The link between smoking and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) has been proved to be as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer. Smoking exposes your eyes to high levels of oxidative stress. The benefits of quitting smoking are very real. Studies have shown that people who stopped smoking 20 years ago have a similar risk of developing AMD as non-smokers, and that the risk starts to decrease after ten years of not smoking.
Smoking has also been linked to the development of cataracts in later life.
Eat a healthy diet
Good nutrition is important to keep all areas of the body healthy and the eyes are no exception. Various studies have indicated that a diet rich in antioxidant vitamins may protect against Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Free radicals are produced by oxygen and, among other things, can damage the way cells regenerate which is thought to play a part in the development of AMD. Anti-oxidant vitamins A, C and E can help guard against the effects of free radicals, so make sure you're eating lots of leafy, green vegetables and fish (as well as supplementing your diet with eye vitamins if you choose).
Lutein is found in high concentrations in the retina and may also protect or delay the onset of macular degeneration. Some evidence suggests that taking supplements containing lutein contribute to protecting the retina.
Exercise improves blood circulation, which improves oxygen levels to the eyes and assists with the removal of toxins. It also helps control your weight; studies have shown that obesity is a probable risk factor in developing AMD and can also lead to you developing diabetes (with the associated risks of sight loss through Diabetic Retinopathy).
Be careful of your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Poor blood circulation due to high blood pressure (hypertension) and other heart-related conditions may limit blood flow to your eyes and make you more susceptible to developing AMD. People with elevated blood cholesterol levels may also have an increased risk for AMD. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, discuss ways of keeping this down with your doctor and make sure that you inform your optometrist too.
Protect your eyes from physical damage
Wear safety goggles when performing DIY tasks or working in dangerous environments (e.g. building sites).
Do not buy, use or store fireworks of any type or set off fireworks yourself. Only attend authorised public fireworks displays conducted by licensed operators. Fireworks, especially sparklers, can seriously damage the eyes. Children are particularly at risk.
Wear a seatbelt and drive carefully within the speed limit. A high percentage of blindness in the U.A.E is caused by trauma to the eyes sustained in traffic accidents.