EYE CARE TIPS FOR HEALTHY LIVING

                                                           

EYE CARE TIPS FOR HEALTHY VISION

 

Global statistics show that about 284 million people are visually impaired worldwide; out of which 39 million are blind and 245 million have low vision. About 90% of the world’s visually impaired live in developing countries and 80% of all visual impairment can be avoided or cured.

In Nigeria, about 4.25 million adults aged above 40 years are visually impaired, out of which 1.13million are blind.

 

POSSIBLE VISION PROBLEMS IN ADULTS

Adults over 40 years of age are at risk of:

*   Cataract – a clouding of the eye’s lens

*  Glaucoma – a disease of the optic nerve

*  Macular Degeneration – a loss of Central Vision

*  Presbyopia – a progressive condition that makes reading and doing close-up work increasingly difficult.

 

LOOK FOR THESE COMMON WARNING SIGNS:

 

*  Impaired vision at night,  especially while driving, caused by the effects of bright light.

* Difficulty reading and doing close-up work.

*  White or cloudy spot in the lens of the eyes (instead of black, the pupil appears milky or white).

*  Problems with glare from lamps or the sun

* Frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription.

*  Difficulty seeing things to your side.

* Changes in the way you see color.

*  Double vision and/or halos around lights.

 

 POSSIBLE VISION PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN

Your children’s behavior, performance in school and more are affected by their vision. Since 80 percent of learning is obtained visually, this can lead to difficulties in school. Children are at risk of:

* Amblyopia – lazy eye

* Ametropia – refractive error

* Strabismus – crossed/wandering eyes

 

LOOK FOR THESE COMMON WARNING SIGNS:

*  Squinting, closing/covering one eye

*  Holding a book close to the face

* Losing his/her place while reading

*  Sits too close to the TV

*  Eyes turn in or out

*  Frequently rubs the eyes

*  Avoids reading or other close activities

*  Tilts the head to one side

*  Performing below potential

*  Covers one eye

*  Sees double

* Omits or confuses small words when    reading

 

EYE CARE TIPS

 

EAT A HEALTHY DIET. Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy vegetables such as Spinanch; red or orange coloured fruits such as carrots, pawpaw.

 

MAINTAIN HEALTHY WEIGHT. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions which can lead to vision loss. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days weekly.

GIVE YOUR EYES A REST. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get tired. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.

KEEP GERMS AWAY FROM YOUR EYES. Think twice before rubbing your eyes. To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for about 20 seconds at least.

QUIT SMOKING OR NEVER START. Smoking is bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Smoking can increase one’s risk of developing certain eye diseases which can lead to vision loss such as cataract and optic nerve damage.

WEAR PROTECTIVE EYE WEAR. Wear protective eyewear when playing contact sports or doing activities around the home or at work. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity.

WEAR SUNGLASSES. Make it a habit to wear UV protected sunglasses whenever outdoors. This will help shield your eyes from harmful UV rays and prevent any sun-related vision damage. Sunglasses also provide additional benefits, such as:

– Protecting the eyes from wind, dust and   pollen

– Comforting dry eyes

– Reducing tearing, squinting and eyestrain

 

  FIRST AID FOR THE EYES

A vast majority of eye injuries are preventable. Know what to do when something gets in your eye or an eye injury occurs.

 

* SPECKS IN THE EYE. Do not rub; you may scratch the eye or embed the object. Let the tears wash the speck out or flush the eye with clean water. If the object won’t rinse out, loosely cover the eye with a clean pad and get medical attention.

 

* EMBEDDED OBJECTS, CUTS AND PUNCTURES. DO NOT attempt to remove an object that is stuck in the eye. DO NOT touch or rub the eye. Place the bottom half of a paper cup over the injured eye, secure the cup in place with a bandage or scarf, then quickly get medical attention.

 

* BUMPS AND BLOWS. Apply a cold compress around the affected area. DO NOT put pressure on the eye or put ice directly on the eye. See a physician if there is reduced vision, continued pain, swelling or blood in the eye.

 

* CHEMICAL SPLASHES. Immediately flush the eye with plenty of clean water. Hold the eye wide open – with your fingers if you have to – and flush the eye for at least 15 minutes. DO NOT bandage the eyes; get medical help immediately after flushing.

 

BRIDGE OF SIGHT CONSULT LIMITED

            (The Vision consulting firm)

 

PLEASE CONTACT US IF:

– For a comprehensive eye examination

– The information in this brochure helped you

–  You have comments or questions

–  You need to find an eye doctor in your area.

 

 

Address:

Suite B13, Jabi Plaza,

Beside Rukayat Plaza,

Jabi, Abuja,

Nigeria.

 

Website: www.bridgeofsight.com

Email: bridgeofsightconsult@gmail.com

Tel: 08180365965, 08103779647, 08037709607

 

Bridge of Sight Consult Ltd.

RC 1108289

(The Vision Consulting Firm)