How to protect your eyes

by Dr Shahid Nasim

Your eyes are one of the most important organs in relationship life, but they are fragile. How can we take care of it on a daily basis, both inside and outside?

Organs in high demand

The eyes pick up the images and transform them into electrical signals, which travel through the optic nerve to the brain. They also help us manage the light signals that keep your body's internal clock working properly. But the eyes are very vulnerable and therefore it is essential to protect them to preserve and improve vision. Throughout the day, they are solicited in a more or less intense way: working on a screen, driving a vehicle, artificial lighting, physical activity and pollution attack the retina and the lens without our being able to really control the impact.

Tips to protect your eyes

Don't look at the light. Exposure to excessive light is one of the causes of eye aging. If you must drive at night, avoid looking directly at the headlights of the oncoming car. Look slightly to the side to avoid being dazzled.

Take breaks. Working in front of a computer for several hours does not damage eyesight but often leads to eyestrain. To avoid redness and irritation, take a break every 20 minutes and organize your workspace, placing the screen at least 70 cm from your eyes. When driving, be careful. Itchy eyes, staring, blurred vision, stiff neck or the feeling of being cramped in one's clothes are signs of fatigue, which makes it essential to stop or risk multiplying by three the risk accident within 30 minutes.

Stay safe. Any gardening or DIY activity requires protecting your cornea from foreign bodies by wearing transparent glasses. Similarly for reading, light up properly to make the most of this moment of calm or escape. Finally, do not touch your eyes without washing your hands. A simple instruction that applies to young and old and limits the risk of infections and irritations. Microbes and dust could cause eye problems such as conjunctivitis or a stye.

Most Common Eye Disorders

Apart from the 4 vision disorders (myopia, presbyopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism), examined by Francis Humberclaude, there are many eye problems which sometimes require a medical consultation.

Diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy. Diabetes and hypertension can cause secondary damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Maintaining a healthy weight through exercise and a good diet reduces the risk of diabetes and hypertension. Periodic eye exams are also recommended.

Cataract. As we age, the lens of the eye gradually becomes opaque. Although the exact cause of cataracts is unknown, poor diet, excessive exposure to UV rays and smoking are known to increase this risk. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This disease can lead to loss of central vision as you age. AMD is a progressive deterioration of the macula (center of the retina) which occurs with age and is said to be increased by smoking, exposure to UV rays, poor diet and lack of exercise. Thyroid ophthalmoplasty. This problem, also called Graves' disease, is an autoimmune disease characterized by the increase in the volume of the fatty connective tissue and by the hypertrophy of the muscles around the eye. Smoking is an important risk factor. Comprehensive, periodic eye exams help monitor changes that can put your vision at risk.

Dryness of the eye. Dry eye is a problem that affects the tear film and results from tear deficiency or excessive evaporation. This lack of moisture causes damage to the ocular surface and could be caused by taking certain medications (such as Surmontil).

Conjunctivitis. If you suffer from itchy eyes or your eyes are watery, irritated, pink or red, you may have conjunctivitis, a common condition that is fairly easy to manage and treat.

Glaucoma. It is a group of diseases associated with intraocular pressure that can cause progressive damage to the optic nerve. It can be difficult to detect because it varies in severity. The symptoms are: colored halos around light sources, impression of visual haze or fog, eye pain and headaches sometimes accompanied vomiting. This excessive permanent hypertension in the eyes leads to hardness of the eyeball and can cause blindness if the condition is not corrected. The cause of glaucoma could come from hyper-toxemia caused by the abuse of drinks (alcoholic, fermented, tea, coffee) and acidifying foods (salt, sugar, flour, proteins). A sedentary lifestyle and emotional shocks increase the risk of glaucoma, which often affects hypertensive, diabetic and hyperthyroid people.

Toxic spots in the eyes. These are floating points, "flying flies", which hinder the path of light rays inside the eye. These floating points are made up of opaque tissue particles in the vitreous humor and retinal metabolic waste products. which have not been eliminated due to ill health, poor blood circulation and enervation.

Eye health tips

To preserve your sight, consume products rich in vitamin A, present in particular in egg yolk, calf's liver, butter, carrot, tomato, pumpkin and fish. Antioxidants are to be put in the first line. They are the ones that provide protection against free radicals that attack the eyes. Note that a daily intake of high-dose antioxidants often improves stubborn dry eyes as well as AMD. Lutein and zeaxanthin, colored pigments of the macula, central part of the retina, belong to the family carotenoids in which we find yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, omega 3 fatty acid. Some plants are particularly rich in these substances, especially blueberries in all their forms (juice, fruit, compotes, plant powder), but also carrot, tomato (in coulis) and grape seeds… The list of interesting nutrients for vision is long, it would be possible to add: organic silicon, organic germanium and vitamins. Finally, the elimination of alcohol and the fight against overweight have demonstrated their effectiveness, particularly on AMD (age-related macular degeneration). As soon as possible, quit smoking, as smoking is also singled out as a risk factor for cataracts and macular degeneration.  

Effective protection

By living a healthy life and having regular eye exams, you are promoting real and very effective protection. Ophthalmologists recommend an exam every 10 years (for 18-40 year olds), every five years (for 41-55 year olds), every three years (for 56-65 year olds) and every two years for 65 year olds. years and older. If you have diabetes or a family history of glaucoma or cataracts, increase the frequency of your visits to find suitable solutions.