It is estimated that more than 95% of the information our brain receives comes through our eyes. Sight is by far the ability we fear losing the most, far ahead of physical mobility or hearing.
The second Thursday of October is celebrated every year as World Sight Day, a date that aims to raise public awareness of the importance of prevention and timely treatment of the main diseases that cause blindness. To this end, the Vissum center, specialists in eye health, offers some advice.
Regular check-ups at the ophthalmologist are necessary, as many serious diseases do not show symptoms but can be prevented on a daily basis with a few habits:
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Table of Contents
Protect your eyes from the sun
Solar and ultraviolet radiation can cause damage to the outer part of the eyes, such as the eyelids, cornea and conjunctiva, but also to the inside, with the appearance of cataracts at an earlier age or macular degeneration.
If you go skiing, keep in mind that snow is one of the surfaces that most reflects ultraviolet light and that it is practiced at a higher altitude, so the ultraviolet radiation that reaches our eyes will be greater. It is necessary that the sunglasses have adequate filters and are approved. In addition, it is very important to keep our eyes protected with special glasses in certain jobs and when practicing contact sports: a large number of retinal detachments occur due to trauma when practicing sports or in work-related accidents.
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How to avoid dry eyes
The use of heaters in winter or air conditioning in summer generates a drier environment at work, in a cafeteria or at home. This will cause our tears to evaporate, creating a feeling of discomfort, irritation, grit and eyestrain. To help us combat this dryness, in addition to using the well-known artificial tears – mind you, they are not all the same – we can install a humidifier at our desk or at home to achieve a better environment.
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Superfoods against macular degeneration
Eating a healthy and balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, will help us to take better care of our vision. There are certain vitamins that help prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
For example, broccoli is a vegetable rich in beta-carotene, zeaxanthin and lutein, substances that help stop the progression of the disease in patients with moderate macular degeneration, who are treated with pills based on these pigments. Vitamin A is found in tomatoes, green vegetables and carrots. Other vitamins such as E and C, which are present in plums, bananas, apples and cabbage, are great antioxidants that will help us delay the aging of our eyes and associated diseases.
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Avoid eyestrain
A good illumination of the text -when there is good illumination the pupil is smaller and makes less effort- or a break of a few seconds every 20-30 minutes while working with the computer, will help us to reduce the visual stress that occurs when we use our near vision so many hours a day. Trying to reduce visual fatigue (asthenopia) as much as possible when working with computers, cell phones or tablets, or when reading, is very important as it will prevent headaches, tearing and burning eyes; even, in some cases, anxiety and anguish.
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If you are diabetic, eye care is essential
The excess of carbohydrates in the blood that characterizes diabetes particularly affects the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is a disease of the retina caused by diabetes, as a consequence of the alteration of the blood vessels that irrigate it. It takes the form of lesions of varying severity, from minimal ones that do not require treatment to other important ones, such as diabetic macular edema. Another cause of vision loss caused by diabetes is cataract, which can be solved quickly and effectively with surgery.
A healthy lifestyle by controlling cholesterol levels, blood glucose and blood pressure is important to keep your eyesight in shape if you suffer from diabetes, but visits to the ophthalmologist specializing in retina should be annual.
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Don’t smoke
Smoking is the most important risk factor associated with macular degeneration; smokers have a relative risk 2.4 times higher than non-smokers, and if we also add genetic risk, this increases up to 34 times. In addition, smokers respond much worse to AMD treatments.
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Use contact lenses correctly
Wearing contact lenses for long hours, poor maintenance or cleaning, sleeping with them, or even bathing with them at the beach, can cause from ocular dryness to serious infections that can cause serious damage to the cornea. Following the advice of your contact lens specialist and ophthalmologist is essential.
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If you have more than 7-8 diopters of myopia, your eye is at high risk.
The eye with high myopia -magnus or pathological myopia- is longer than normal and usually the inner layers of the eye, including the retina, are stretched, thinner and more fragile. The retina of highly myopic patients may present degenerations that predispose to retinal detachment.
It is estimated that they have a risk of retinal detachment up to ten times higher than a normal eye.
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Recognize serious signs of eye disease.
If part of your visual field is suddenly covered in black, you see flashes of light or a central spot in your field of vision, visit your ophthalmologist as a matter of urgency, as these may be symptoms of retinal detachment or serious retinal disease. In case of eye trauma, burns, cuts or when abrasive liquids enter the eye, you should also do so.
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Have your eyes checked annually
Prevention and healthy living are very important, but should not be confused with early detection. Regular check-ups are necessary: some very serious diseases, such as glaucoma, do not show signs until the damage is irreparable. If you also have a family history of macular degeneration, glaucoma, keratoconus, or are simply diabetic, it is necessary to visit the ophthalmologist once a year.
Don’t forget that getting your eyesight checked is not the same as visiting the ophthalmologist, who will perform a detailed checkup of each part of the visual organ.