PROTECT YOUR EYES FROM MORE THAN THE SUN
Visual impairment such as Difficulty in focusing and distinguishing colors is common in ageing. But the problem with our vision, especially losing our vision, are not just bothersome. Visual impairment presents serious health issues which can also increase the risk of injury or death.
How often you check your eyes depends on several factors, such as your age and whether you are at risk for other eye problems (for example, people with high sugar levels or high blood pressure, or people who recently had surgery related to visual impairment).
Here are reasons why you should take your vision seriously
- Loss of vision can increase the risk of death. Loss of vision impairs the ability to perform basic tasks, also known as activities of daily living, such as grocery shopping, phone calls, and household chores. This is a measure of your ability to live independently.
- A decrease in the level of IADL is associated with an increased risk of mortality, researchers found that people with high IADL difficulty had a 31% increased risk of death during the eight-year study period.
- Vision problems can also be a warning sign of other health issues. Losing eyesight is not only because of ageing. Having serious health concerns such as diabetes and high blood pressure leads to issues with vision. Having constant high blood sugar levels may lead to vision problems and night vision problems. Talk to your doctor if you are at risk of diabetes and have vision problems.
- Loss of vision is associated with depression. Adults who lost their ability to see are 90% more likely to have depression than adults who have no vision problems.
- Loss of vision can cause anxiety A 2014 study found that anopsia was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms in the elderly. Previous studies have found that older people who have lost their eyesight report lower quality of life, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety, than older people in general.
Our eyes are not only affected by the sun but also by other means. Even if we avoid in being contact with the sun mostly other factors may also affect our eyes. Factors such as foreign bodies which mean indoor factors like chemical exposure, bacteria, small insects, dust, etc.
Few ways to protect our eyes
- Wear sunglasses with full UV protection
- Use goggles by the pool
- Wash your hands and do not rub your eyes
- Wear a hat
- Protection from chemicals
- Keep your kids safe and start young with eye protection
- Wear eye protection when engaging in outdoor activities
- Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water
- Use eye medicine
- Get enough sleep
Exposure to UV light might also pose the following risks
Macular degeneration: This disease might cause visual impairment which is occurring as a result of damage to the retina.
Photo keratitis: photo keratitis is also known as burns of the cornea. Which can be very painful and the main reason for this is exposure to UV light.
Pterygium: Pterygium is generally a growth of tissue in the cornea which might result in visual impairment.
Skin cancer: Too much UV light from the sun or solarium can damage the DNA of skin cells. DNA teaches our cells how it works. Accumulation of sufficient DNA damage over time can cause cells to grow out of control, leading to skin cancer.
conclusion
By improving the interaction between healthcare providers and patients and creating public health messages about eye diseases and the importance of protection for eyes, we can promote the use of appropriate ophthalmic care services and create awareness among people and educate them on what has to be done when they face the similar situations.
Frequently asked questions and answers
How to safeguard our eyes?
protect your eyes from any harmful materials we always need to wear safety glasses while doing any kind of work that has the possibility of affecting our eyes with any harmful materials. Safety glasses include goggles, and shields. Avoid being in direct contact with places having dangerous smoke, chemicals or mechanical scraps, etc.
Will tears help protect our eyes?
Tears help keep your eyes moist and smooth and focus the light so that you will have a clear vision. It also protects your eyes from infections and inflammation such as dirt and dust. Each time you blink, a thin layer of tears called the “tear film” spreads over the surface of the cornea (the transparent outer layer of the eye) which will help protect our eyes.
List some factors that can affect our eyes?
The eyes are the most sensitive part of our body they can get affected by many factors such as radiation, UV rays, high focused beam lights, dust, foreign bodies, chemical exposure, and also bacteria which can penetrate our body through the eyes easily.
How to protect our eyes from too much sun exposure?
Try wearing high-quality glasses which will give you full protection from UV rays, or wear hats, umbrellas etc. which will give shade to your eyes.
How can we protect our eyes without investing?
- Try having foods with good vitamin supplements
- Avoid smoking
- Wear sunglasses
- Do not overuse computers or mobile phones.
Why do our eyes need special protection?
The delicate skin around the eyelids and eyes is especially susceptible to skin cancer. So don’t take your eyesight for granted, but give your eyes the best chance of a lifetime. To protect your eyes from both UV rays and blue light.
