To Your Health: Eyecare
In today’s world, we pass many a day with our faces glued to the computer and TV. It’s no wonder nine out of ten people who work in an office now experience eye health problems. We asked Dr. Xie Bin-Yu from Beijing Intech Eye Hospital how to keep our eyes in optimum condition.
Why is it important to get our eyes checked?
The majority of eye diseases can be prevented, but unfortunately, some are hard to diagnose without an eye specialist. If you’re having any problems with your vision (i.e. seeing floaters, flashes, fuzziness, etc.), you need to see an ophthalmologist immediately.
What common eye health problems should we be aware of?
The most common eye health problems are conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis and dry eye. Such ailments are related mostly to personal health habits; for instance, they can be triggered by rubbing your eyes with unwashed hands, over-wearing your contact lenses or even eating spicy food.
Why do my eyes feel irritated after using a computer all day?
Regular computer use can also cause eye strain, a symptom usually associated with Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Symptoms include fatigue, dry and irritated eyes (i.e. itching, burning), light sensitivity, squinting, blurred vision and headaches. Here are some suggestions for treating CVS:
- Increase humidity in the work environment
- Avoid direct air blowing into eyes
- Rest your eyes for 20 seconds every 20 minutes
- Lower room lighting or use indirect lighting
- Use an anti-glare screen
- Adjust monitor brightness and contrast
- Place document holder at the same distance from eyes as the monitor
- Make sure the top line of text is approximately just below the line of vision
What can we do on a day-to-day basis to boost eye health?
Focusing on a high intake of antioxidants has been linked not only to a reduced risk of cancer, but also to a reduction of eye disorders like macular degeneration and cataracts. Fresh fruits and vegetables offer more antioxidants than any other food.