Wait and Think! Are your eyes healthy?

Are you seeing stars or flashes of lights, or cow webs floating, or colored haloes around light source, read without you reading glasses...Well you are not developing supernatural vision nor are things going to become better by ignoring. Get over your fear (doctor or dread of disease), as you are still able to see! All you need to do is fix an appointment with your eye specialist.

FLOATERS: 
Floaters or cow webs are tiny thread like floating objects we see in our field of vision. They are better appreciated against a light background. Most of the times they are harmless aging changes. They have slow random projectile type of movement. Many adults can observe one or two floater in one of their eyes. Better if you can increase antioxidants in your diet. If there is sudden increase in size, number or prominence, or they start disturbing your visual field it’s time to see an eye doctor. There can be associated flashes of light.

FLASHES: 
Sometimes some of us see flashes of light or stars falling or moving in one direction inside our eye. These star showers can be in spurts or continuous. First of all leave all heavy jobs and lie down to rest.  There are higher chances if you wear high minus number (Lasik removes your number by changing the contour of your cornea, but your eyeball remains unchanged and carry’s the associated weakness),had some eye trauma (sometimes even a minor one), had retinal detachment in one eye or even a family history. Even if flashes stop by themselves, it is advisable to get a thorough retina examination done.

COLORED HALOES: 
You observe a blue red circle around a light source such as vehicle headlights, lamps etc. Some describe it as a rainbow around light. Check for associated redness, stickiness, watering, discomfort, eye pain, headache, time of the day (morning/evening). Colored haloes can be seen sometimes in eye infections. They can be appreciated in early cataracts by some. Glaucoma may too present with it. So visit an eye specialist to find out what is the cause in your case.

READING WITHOUT READING GLASSES: 
After using reading glasses for some years lately one feels that he/she can see well without the glasses. An above 40 years old is thrilled with the thought! This is an indication that your minus number is increasing due to nuclear sclerosis; in simple words you are developing cataract. Hence an eye check-up is due.

Eye Care Tips For You

It really is an amazing world; you need an open mind & eyes to see it! For those who are making an effort to read this article, let me congratulate them…as 85% of our learning is dependent on our vision. So about time we stopped taking things for granted .Let me start with some simple tips

·         BLINK MORE- Sounds crazy, but many of us on computers (even the ones reading) are in a habit of blinking partially & infrequently. This leads to unstable tear film, which is carrying the nutrients for our avascular cornea, hence bleary red tired eyes. Blink about 16times/minute…count or autosuggest choice is yours, the world will not be over in a blink!! So relax n blink (use lubricants if you feel dry, even an eyewash will do)

·         FOOD- All most all of us love it, (the ones who are on diet love it more). We all are really busy , running out of time, lots of jobs piled up ,single handed saving the world…so a skip of meal, a handy  burger, pasta, pizza, fries, noodles… anything fast & available has become a part of our lifestyle. Health supplements’ like vitamins, antioxidants, omega, proteins, and nutrients will make up for the deficiency & cover-up our inefficiency and self neglect. But does it really…think for a moment you know the answer! Keep 30 minutes of your life to pamper yourself with one good healthy leafy fresh meal…less of oil, salt is more of life!!

·         MAKEUP- Half the world loves it and other half admires it! Eyes hold the thrown…big innocent eyes, brown/blue eyes, smoldering eyes, smoky eyes, twinkling stars …list is never ending. The extent people go to achieve that look has more risks than the stock market. Nevertheless we all take it… A well calculated risk leads to success, but for others downfall follows. So apply the best & smallest pack (so that it can be changed every 2-3 months) eye makeup which stays on the outside (make sure you don’t have the allergic skin type). Anything inside the eye is a strict no…even the branded or desi kajal, kohl, surma. Remember to takeoff the makeup & stop if you notice any signs of redness, puffiness or irritation.

·         CONTACT LENS – Lenses are great whether it is for number correction, corneal disease or cosmetic makeovers. Getting a right fit, proper number, correct lens material & learning how to wear them is an essential requirement (not a trivial issue).Most lens problems originate from improper & inadequate knowledge. They do cutoff the oxygen supply by 80%, so give some breathing time to your lovely cornea! Wear glasses for a change (add a dash of color to your life with the colorful ones if you like), don’t over wear your lenses (avoid more than 10 hrs). Don’t sleep with your lenses in your eyes. Contact lenses can give most dreadful infections, which will be neither liked by you nor by your eye specialist. After years of lenses use all of us feel like the specialist, and get a little careless about the hygiene regime .Don‘t save money by over using your lenses, save your eyes! This is always better in long run.

·         ROUTINE EYE CHECK-UP- How many of us go for a routine eye check-up on our own? School check-up  employment forms & optical shops are a good screening but they do not suffice. The details of your health that your eye specialist can learn & give through an eye check-up is stunning, besides correcting your refractive errors & eye diseases. Eyes are a reflection of your mind, soul & body not only in spiritual but also in physical sense. Why fear an eye specialist, the most harmless of all with some lights up their sleeves, so about time you saw one & told him/her what has been bothering your eye!