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Eye Care
      The eyes are the window to the soul, the portal through which we observe the world, and allow us to enjoy the beauty in all things. Keeping your eyes healthy and safe should be a very high priority. It's not hard to take care of your eyes. Common sense and some safety measures is all it really takes. Read and follow these other tips in order to keep your eyes healthy and in good condition:

Eye Check
      Have your eyes examined every year or at the frequency recommended by your optometrist. It is very important that everyone visit the eye doctor each year. Even if your vision is perfect, there could still be problems with the health of your eyes. An eye doctor will be able to check everything out and if something is wrong, start treatment. The sooner you know about a problem with your eyes the better chance you have of correcting it. The key to good vision and health is prevention.

      Children who have trouble seeing or interpreting what they see will often have trouble with their schoolwork. Many times, children will not complain of vision problems simply because they don’t know what “normal” vision looks like. If your child exhibits a reading or learning disability, be sure to have his eyes examined to rule out an underlying visual cause. A routine eye checkup is recommended for all children before they start school i.e. before 5 years of age.

      Adults and children who are associated with frequent computer use can be affected with vision problems. Changes in your vision can occur without you noticing, and the earlier these changes are detected the better your treatment options.

Wear Safety Glasses
      Wear safety glasses, even if you wear prescription glasses, at all times when you are working around the house doing tasks such as hammering, sawing, sanding, cutting, etc. Wear specially-designed goggles when you have high-risk occupations such as welding, braising, etc. Wear safety glasses even when you are working with cement, mortar, paint, etc., to help keep splashes of chemicals out of your eyes.

Wear Sunglasses
      Protect your eyes from ultraviolet light exposure by wearing a pair of sunglasses. Some contact lenses and most regular eyeglasses also have this protection. Also, wearing a hat with a brim will greatly reduce the amount of UV radiation slipping around the side of your sunglasses.

      By the way, did you know that you need sunglasses on cloudy days as well? Clouds might provide shade, but they are no barrier for UV light. Clouds are basically water, and water is UV-transparent. There is some evidence that UV light can lead to cataracts.

Exercise Regularly
     Set a goal of moderate-intensity physical activity for 30 minutes five days a week. Studies tell us individuals who exercise regularly can reduce their risk of macular degeneration by up to 70%.

     When you read or work on the computer make sure that the light is right It is a common knowledge that working with poor light can cause eyestrain, but light that is too bright can do as much damage.

     Almost everybody feels discomfort in their eyes after peering at a computer screen all day long. This is because people blink about 25% less often then usual, while working at the computer, which causes eye dryness. Drink 64 ounces of water each day. This is especially important for those individuals with dry eyes.

Eat Right!
     Most foods don't affect your eyesight at all, although the right vitamins and minerals are helpful. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Your body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals so it can keep your eyes and vision healthy and fine. There are also many supplements on the market today which claim to have beneficial medical effects on the eyes.

     Vitamins A, C and E, folic acid, selenium and zinc are definitely beneficial for the health of your eyes. So a healthy diet won't restore eyesight that is already lost, but it can definitely slow down the process of the disease, or prevent one from starting.

Stop Smoking
     Smoking has a negative effect on eye health, which limits the blood flow to the eyes and increases oxidative stress and can worsen eye diseases such as macular degeneration and dry eye, a common eye disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. This risk is higher for women who smoke.

CONTACT LENS
Guidelines for using Contact Lens

• Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling your lenses. Dry your hands with a lint free towel.
• To avoid getting your lenses mixed up, always apply and remove in the same order.
• Never use eye drops or solutions that are not specifically for contact lenses. Never use tap water to clean your lenses.
• Never use saliva to try to clean or wet your lenses.
• Do not sleep in your lenses unless you have been prescribed a specific type of lens designed for extended wear or your doctor has approved sleeping in your lenses.
• Keep all solution bottles tightly capped when you are not using them.
• Don't let the tip of solution bottles contact any surface, including your fingers, lenses, or contact lens case.
• Never use expired solutions.
• Never reuse solutions. After inserting your lenses, empty the remaining solution out of your case, rinse it with warm water, and let it air dry.

Go for the best quality contact lenses
     Not all contact lenses are equal. Some are safe for you, while others put you at risk of damaging your eyes. Knowing what the modern contact lens industry has to offer will help you make an educated choice, not just blindly follow what your doctor says.

If you wear contact lenses, take proper care of them
     Handle contact lenses correctly. Never touch your contacts with dirty hands because this can lead to germs and bacteria getting in the eyes. Use refreshing agents to keep the contacts moist throughout the day. Taking dry contacts out can cause them to tear and cut your eye. Every time you put your lenses in or take them out, rinse them. You should also take care to change the solution, when you are putting your lenses to rest for the night.

Wear your contact lenses to the recommended schedule
     Change contact lenses at the prescribed replacement interval and comply with instructions for contact lens hygiene. Even though the quality of the lens itself might not decline, protein build-up will make your vision less clear. Another thing to consider is that the longer you wear your lenses, the higher is your risk of eye infections.

Information for DIABETIC PATIENTS
     Diabetic retinopathy is a condition where high blood sugar damages blood vessels behind the retina. That blood then can leak out into the retina, causing vision problems.

     Diabetes can have a huge impact on eye health. Eating correctly, exercising, and maintaining your weight is the best way to ward off diabetes. They are also the way to control it if you already have the disease. Keeping your blood sugar in control is the best way to keep diabetes from hurting your eyes. Left untreated diabetes can lead to blindness. Take it seriously.

How can diabetes hurt my eyes?
High blood glucose and high blood pressure from diabetes can hurt four parts of your eye:

• Retina: The retina is the lining at the back of the eye. The retina’s job is to sense light coming into the eye.
• Vitreous: The vitreous is a jelly-like fluid that fills the back of the eye.
• Lens: The lens is at the front of the eye. The lens focuses light on the retina.
• Optic nerve: The optic nerve is the eye’s main nerve to the brain.

How do I know if I have retina damage from diabetes?
You may not have any signs of diabetes retina damage, or you may have one or more signs:

• blurry or double vision
• rings, flashing lights, or blank spots
• dark or floating spots
• pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes
• trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes

What other eye problems can happen to people with diabetes?
     You can get two other eye problems—cataracts and glaucoma. People without diabetes can get these eye problems, too. But people with diabetes get these problems more often and at a younger age.

• A cataract is a cloud over the lens of your eye, which is usually clear. The lens focuses light onto the retina. A cataract makes everything you look at seem cloudy. You need surgery to remove the cataract. During surgery your lens is taken out and a plastic lens, like a contact lens, is put in. The plastic lens stays in your eye all the time. Cataract surgery helps you see clearly again.
• Glaucoma starts from pressure building up in the eye. Over time, this pressure damages your eye’s main nerve—the optic nerve. The damage first causes you to lose sight from the sides of your eyes. Treating glaucoma is usually simple. Your eye care professional will give you special drops to use every day to lower the pressure in your eyes. Or your eye care professional may want you to have laser surgery.

This disease affects eye health at a greater rate when they are not properly controlled.

Tips & Warnings

• Go to the eye doctor immediately if you get something in your eye.
• Go to the doctor immediately if you notice vision changes.
• Go to the doctor immediately if you see white lights when your eyes are closed.