Kajal (kohl) ... and your eyes

‘Kajal’ (Kohl) is a popular eye care product and its use has been reported since ancient times. Kohl (surma) has been defined as an eye preparation in ultra fine form of specially processed “Kohl Stone” (galena) incorporated with some other therapeutically active ingredients. there are lots of myths associated with kajal use. It has been claimed to keep the eyes cool and clean, improve vision and strengthen the eyes. It has also been used for the prevention and treatment of eye diseases such as blepharitis, cataract, conjunctivitis etc. It is also said to ward off an ‘evil eye’. My experience as an eye specialist is contradictory.

As an eye specialist, I see a lot of kajal associated chronic eye allergies, infections/chronic conjunctivitis, uneven conjunctival surface, chronic dryness, kajal deposits on under lid surface. Eyes often give a bleary, tired, congested and murky off white appearance with discharge in corners which is not beautiful…!!!

Most people believe that home- made kajal is very safe, good for eyes.

Home-made kajal of any kind…badam, oil, ghee or herbs, is finally burnt carbon preparation on which bacteria grow within 6 hours. No wonder regular application of any such preparation leads to chronic infections.

Most commercially produced ‘kajal’ contain high levels of lead. Studies have revealed that ‘Kajal’ comprises of galena (PbS), minium (Pb3O4), amorphous carbon, magnetite (Fe3O4), and zincite (ZnO). Prolonged application may cause excessive lead storage in the body, affecting the brain and bone marrow, causing convulsions and anemia.

Dirty fingers, sharp and uneven fingernails of the caregivers are potentially harmful to the child’s eyes. I distinctly remember two kids with corneal ulcers and losing good vision, post regular kajal applications from periphery.

Make-Up Safety: What's the Concern?

Eye make-up and cosmetics can enhance your appearance. Adding a little mascara, eye liner and eye shadow is easy and fun. However, applying make-up can be harmful to eyes if applied carelessly. Issues can range from allergic reactions, to eye infections, to serious injuries.

Though extreme, the most serious eye issues caused by make-up application could involve injury to the cornea, which is the front part of the eye's surface. Corneal injuries usually cause pain and always necessitate quick medical attention. Other eye make-up application issues can be caused by bacteria growing inside the cosmetic containers or on the surface of make-up applicators. If precautions are not taken when applying make-up, bacteria can be transferred directly to your eyes.

Make-Up and Contact Lenses

Wearing contacts does not exclude you from being able to wear eye make-up. Contact lenses are designed with the understanding that users may wear make-up. If you do wear contact lenses, following the make-up safety tips below can help you look -- and see -- better!

• Insert contact lenses prior to applying make-up to help avoid residue transfer
• If your eyes feel dry, use re-wetting drops prior to make-up application
• Never sleep in your make-up, especially if you wear contacts
• Always remove contacts prior to removing make-up
• Replace eye make-up every three to four months

General Dos and Don'ts of Eye Make-Up Application

Following these tips will help keep your eyes healthy:

• Buy new make-up every six months, at minimum -- more often if you wear contact lenses
• Make sure make-up containers are closed tightly when not in use
• Never use saliva or water to thin out old or clumpy make-up
• Never use a safety pin or other sharp object to separate eyelashes
• Never share make-up with friends
• Do not apply make-up on the inside of your lash line
• Never use an old applicator in a new make-up container
• Don't use cosmetics if you have an eye infection. If you develop have an eye infection, replace your eye make-up immediately after you heal.
• Always wash hands before applying make-up
• Keep eye pencils sharpened to prevent scratches to the eyelid
• Store make-up properly and keep it away from extreme heat
• Only use make-up on the eyes that is intended for the eyes

In addition to these make-up safety tips, always use common sense. If your make-up turns a different color, begins to clump or starts to smell, throw it out. Check with your eye care professional if you feel you have a make-up-related eye issue.

HAPPY HOLI….WITH GLEAMING EYES

Infection in eye due to Holi:

 Synthetic colours used in Holi contain heavy metals like lead, which causes pink eye, chemical burn, corneal abrasion or blunt eye injury.

 Avoid water balloons as it can cause blunt eye injury or even head injury. The shining mica particles in colours can cause damage to the cornea.

Avoid wearing contact lenses as colour may get trapped between lenses resulting in infection. Contact lenses may also absorb some of the harmful chemicals, aggravating the problem due to continued exposure.

Eye care during Holi:

1. Protect your eyes with sunglass or protective eye wear during Holi

2. Tie your hair or use a cap to prevent colour dripping in the eyes.

3. Never rub your eyes if colour gets into them as it may cause irritation or vision loss

4. Apply thick layer of coconut oil around eyes, so that colour can be removed easily without any harm to eyes.

5. While playing request the person to not to smear the colours near eyes.

Keep water guns away from the face: Water guns and pichkaris, if aimed directly at the face, hold the potential to cause serious damage to the eyes. Wearing protective eye wear while playing with water guns is also highly recommended

Tips to play safe Holi

1. Avoid using toxic colour on children

2. While washing off the colour, use lukewarm water and keep your eyes tightly closed.

3. Try avoiding dark colours as they stick to the skin and harder to remove

4. Apply cream or oil before venturing out for Holi

5. Oil and cover your hair to protect them from colours

6. Keep anti allergic tablets handy. Avoid playing Holi if you are prone to skin allergies

7. Avoid running on wet floors.

काला मोतिया और आप की आँखे

Reading Glasses (Presbyopia)

As one reaches late thirties or early forties, you experience difficulty in reading caller’s name, fine prints, playing on smart phones, reading menu cards or price tags. You are finding it hard to recognize the word without keeping the book far from your eyes and your eyes are feeling strained while reading.  It is time to go and consult your eye doctor. These symptoms are of Presbyopia.

As you grow old, you have difficulty in reading, writing and doing your regular work, which earlier you used to do without even noticing. When you hold the object or book near your eyes then you cannot focus on the object or the letters clearly. The difficulty in focusing is the main symptom of Presbyopia. The lens part of the eyes looses flexibility with growing age and it become less elastic day by day. The muscles holding the lens also become loose and thus the eyes find it difficult to focus on various things. This condition can be easily diagnosed as the affected person starts observing things and objects by holding them very far from the eyes in an attempt to focus well on the things.

Treatment for Presbyopia

The common treatment for Presbyopia includes the use of reading glasses, progressive additional lenses, contact lenses and bifocals.

If you are mainly looking for solution so that you can read your favorite books without finding reading an arduous task then the reading glasses are the most suitable option for you. These glasses you are supposed to wear only while reading and writing. You can also use these glasses while working on computers.

The bifocal reading glasses are good for you if along with Presbyopia you also have myopia, Hyperopia and astigmatism. These glasses have two focal points. The upper half part is to help with nearsightedness or farsightedness and the lower half part is to cope with Presbyopia.

The bifocals can also be further improved with the help of progressive additional lenses. The progressive additional lenses will make sure that the transition between the two focal points is gradual rather than sharper. These glasses are more suitable for intermediate distances such as computers, ipad, files, laptops, smart phones etc.

If you do not like the concept of wearing eyeglasses then you can also wear contact lenses. Contact lenses are also popular alternative to cure the vision problems associated with Presbyopia. You can also make use of multi-focal contact lenses in case you are suffering from other eye conditions.

A Journey Through the Human Eye: How We See

Amazing facts about our eyes

On the face of it, our eyes are just simple orbs in our head, but the fact is that they’re very complex organs. There are seven main parts in the eye that play a role in transmitting information to the brain, detecting light, and focusing. A problem with any of these parts means a problem with your vision.

Our eyes are very complicated and amazing. They seem pretty simple, but there’s really a lot to know about how they function.

You may think you know them pretty well, but here are some fun facts you may not know about eyes:

1. The average blink lasts for about 1/10th of a second.
2. While it takes some time for most parts of your body to warm up to their full potential, your eyes are on their “A game” 24/7.
3. Eyes heal quickly. With proper care, it only takes about 48 hours for the eye to repair a corneal scratch.
4. Seeing is such a big part of everyday life that it requires about half of the brain to get involved.
5. Newborns don’t produce tears. They make crying sounds, but the tears don’t start flowing until they are about 4-13 weeks old.
6. Around the world, about 39 million people are blind and roughly 6 times that many have some kind of vision impairment.
7. Doctors have yet to find a way to transplant an eyeball. The optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain is too sensitive to reconstruct successfully.
8. The cells in your eye come in different shapes. Rod-shaped cells allow you to see shapes, and cone-shaped cells allow you to see color.
9. You blink about 12 times every minute.
10. Your eyes are about 1 inch across and weigh about 0.25 ounce.
11. Some people are born with two differently colored eyes. This condition is heterochromia.
12. Even if no one in the past few generations of your family had blue or green eyes, these recessive traits can still appear in later generations.
13. Each of your eyes has a small blind spot in the back of the retina where the optic nerve attaches. You don’t notice the hole in your vision because your eyes work together to fill in each other’s blind spot.
14. Out of all the muscles in your body, the muscles that control your eyes are the most active.
15. 80% of vision problems worldwide are avoidable or even curable.

Who knew your eyes could be so amazing and complex? Make sure to give them the attention they deserve by seeing your VSP doctor for a comprehensive eye exam every year.