Your eyes are like gold! Shall we talk about how to take care of them (Eye Care)?

You know how precious your eyes are, right? These precious eyes help us see the world, experience beautiful things, and see the faces of our loved ones. So, whether you already have good vision or not, it is very important to take care of these precious eyes, to protect them from injuries and various diseases . Today, let's talk about how to keep these eyes healthy and what we need to take care of.

How important is an eye exam?

One of the best things you can do to keep your eyes healthy is to have your eyes checked by a doctor every time you have a regular physical examination. Sometimes we can notice small changes in our eyes without even realizing it. If you have trouble seeing, have your eyes hurt, or are experiencing any other eye discomfort, be sure to ask your parents to get your eyes checked by an eye specialist.

Now let's see who these eye specialists are.

There are mainly two:

• ` Ophthalmologist `: Simply put, this is a doctor who has a medical degree in eye care. That is, someone who examines the eyes, diagnoses eye diseases, prescribes medications, performs various treatments, and even performs eye surgery if necessary.
• ` Optometrist ` (Optometrist): This person is not a doctor with a medical degree. However, like an ` Ophthalmologist `, they are someone who has received special training to diagnose and treat many eye diseases (excluding surgery). They can also prescribe things like glasses and ` contact lenses `.

So, how often should you get your eyes checked?

It's generally a good idea to have your eyes checked at least once every two years . Especially if someone in your family has a condition that causes increased eye pressure , such as glaucoma , or vision problems, such as cataracts , it's wise to get them checked even more often, perhaps even once a year.

Common vision impairments we are talking about

You've probably heard stories about your eyes since you were a child. For example, someone may have told you that watching TV or staring at a computer for too long will damage your eyes. But that's not actually the case. Similarly, some people say that reading books at night in dim light (night-light) can cause nearsightedness. There's no clear scientific evidence for that either. But, there's one thing. Reading books in dim light can be very tiring, but it won't permanently damage your eyesight.

So what is the real cause of these vision problems? Most of the time, the cause is the shape and size of the eye . Think about it, a person with perfectly healthy, perfect vision (20/20 vision) has eyes that are roughly round like a baseball. The eyes of someone who needs glasses to correct their vision are usually shaped a little differently.

Now let's see what are the most common vision impairments:

Myopia - nearsightedness

Myopia, or what we commonly call nearsightedness , is a very common problem, especially among young people. A person with myopia cannot see things that are far away clearly. A sign on a bus or a blackboard in class may appear blurry.

The reason for this is that their eyes are slightly longer than the average person's. This means that the distance from the front to the back of the eyeball is greater. Because of this extra length, light rays from an object focus slightly in front of the retina, the sensitive layer inside the eye that receives images and sends them to the brain. This is why farsightedness is common. This can be easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

`Hyperopia` - nearsightedness

Hyperopia, or nearsightedness , is another common vision impairment. People with hyperopia have difficulty seeing things that are close up, for example when reading a book or looking at their phone.

Because their eyes are a little 'short' from front to back. That means the eyeball is shorter than normal. So instead of focusing on the `Retina` (retina), the light rays focus behind it. That's why things that are close up appear blurry. A person with this condition who is a little severe has to wear glasses to improve their vision.

But here's a surprising fact: Many babies are born with `Hyperopia` (farsightedness)! But there's nothing to worry about. As they grow older, their eyeballs also lengthen, and for most people, this condition disappears on its own.

`Astigmatism`

Astigmatism is another condition in which the eye is shaped differently. In this case, the transparent part at the front of the eye, the cornea, is not exactly round, but rather slightly oval. Like a rugby ball. This causes light to focus in several places instead of focusing in one place. So, vision at close range, far away, or both can be blurred. This condition can also be corrected with the use of contact lenses or glasses.

Vision correction surgeries

Around the age of 18-20, when the eyes are fully developed and their shape is less likely to change, some people choose to have Refractive Surgery to permanently correct conditions such as Myopia, Hyperopia, or Astigmatism. Then they will no longer need to wear glasses or contact lenses. This is a procedure that is usually performed using a laser and can be completed in a few minutes. This involves reshaping the cornea to change the way light enters the eye and forms images. This allows a person to see clearly.

What if something happens to your eye? Accidents and minor problems

If you suddenly experience any kind of eye injury, even a minor one, it's best not to ignore it. The best thing to do is, "If in doubt, definitely get checked out by a doctor!"

You should definitely see an eye specialist if:

• If your eyes are red .
• If you have a pain that doesn't go away after a while.
• If you have ever had a sudden change in your vision (e.g., blurring, double vision, seeing rings around lights).

Imagine that you are playing with your friends and a small grain of sand gets into your eye. Oh, you shouldn't rub your eye in panic at that moment? If you do, the grain of sand can scratch the cornea inside your eye. Instead, gently rinse your eye with clean, lukewarm tap water for a few minutes. It may be easier to do this in the shower. If you still feel like there is something stuck in your eye, definitely see an eye specialist. If you get something like wood or metal dust, definitely see a doctor.

If you have a sharp blow to the eye, it looks strange, if it seems like blood is coming from inside the eye, or if you have a significant change in your vision or even complete loss of vision, go to the hospital emergency room immediately and get checked out. It is not a good idea to delay in such a situation.

Cornea scratch

A common eye injury among young people, especially those who wear contact lenses and those who play sports, is a corneal abrasion. The cornea is the clear, transparent membrane at the front of the eye. When this is scratched, it can feel like something is inside the eye, even though there is nothing in it. The eye may become red, itchy, watery, and the eyes may become so blue that they cannot look at the light (photophobia).

If you think you have an eye injury, and you wear contact lenses, stop wearing them immediately until you see an eye specialist. Putting in lenses while you have an eye injury can cause further damage or a serious infection. Don't worry – if your cornea is scratched, it will usually heal quickly, with proper treatment, within a few days. You may need to use medicated eye drops and not wear your lenses for a week or two. You may not want to wear your old glasses, but that's only for a few days – it's better than damaging your eyes permanently, right?

These habits will help you take care of your eyes.

Just as you wear a seatbelt to protect yourself when you're in a car, it's also important to protect your eyes before anything happens to them.

• Sunglasses are a must:

Wearing sunglasses is one of the best ways to protect your vision. The sun's UV rays can cause long-term damage to the delicate structures inside your eyes. So, wear a pair of sunglasses with UV400 protection whenever you're in the sun. This can help protect you from serious eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration, which can be caused by exposure to UV rays.

• Cataracts are a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, gradually impairing vision.
• Macular Degeneration is an eye disease that causes the macula – the part of the eye that gives you clear, sharp vision, helps you read, and recognizes faces – to gradually weaken, causing vision loss and even blindness.

Important: Smokers are at a higher risk of developing macular degeneration. So, this is another good reason to quit smoking!

• Protective Eyewear:

When you play fast-moving sports like racquetball or cricket, or when you do carpentry work at home, do lab experiments, cut metal, or use a grinder, be sure to wear protective eyewear/safety goggles . An unprotected eye can be hit in seconds, causing serious, possibly life-threatening damage.

• Be careful with firecrackers:

While it's fun to light firecrackers during the festive season, don't be near where they're going off. Firecrackers can cause serious damage to your eyes. Why take unnecessary risks with your precious eyesight?

• Be careful when using computers and phones:

Now look, most of us spend most of our day in front of a computer, tablet, or phone. Maybe we're working in the office, or at home watching a movie, playing a game, or on social media. When we stare at it for a long time, our eyes get tired, don't they? Our eyes get red, dry, and sometimes even a headache. The reason for that is, we usually blink about ten to fifteen times a minute. But when you're staring at a screen for a long time, the number of times you blink can drop to two, three, four, or five times a minute.

So the best thing to do is:

• Blinking too much! Make a conscious effort to blink frequently.
• The 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 seconds away (about 20 feet). Then start working again.
• Keep the computer screen slightly below eye level.
• Adjust the screen brightness to suit the environment.
• If your eyes feel dry and irritated, ask your doctor about using artificial tears. However, do not continue to use eye drops that reduce redness. Although they contain a chemical substance (vasoconstrictor) that temporarily reduces redness, long-term use can cause your eyes to become even redder (rebound redness).

• Be aware of other medical conditions:

If you have a chronic condition like `Diabetes Mellitus` or `Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis`, you need to take extra care of your eyes. This is because you are at a higher risk of developing serious eye diseases like `Diabetic Retinopathy` and `Uveitis`. If you have any condition that can affect your eyes, it is important to see an ophthalmologist at least once a year . Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend that you have your eyes checked more frequently, such as every 3 months.

Let's protect ourselves from eye infections.

Another important thing to do to protect your eyes is to avoid infections that can damage them. Conjunctivitis, or pink eye as we all know it, is a common eye infection. It can be caused by a virus, bacteria, an allergy, a chemical, or an irritant like dust that gets into the eye.

Conjunctivitis, which is caused by germs like viruses and bacteria, can be easily spread from person to person. For example, if you shake hands with someone who has a bad cold and eye infection, and then touch your eye with the same hand, there is a high chance that the infection will spread to your eye as well.

So, here are some things you can do to prevent the spread of germs that cause eye infections:

• Never share your eye makeup – mascara, eyeliner, etc. – or eye drops with anyone else.
• Do not touch the tip of the eye drops bottle with your hands, eyes, or eyelids. Doing so can contaminate it with germs and cause infection the next time you use it.
• Never put your contact lenses in your mouth to wet them. Your mouth can harbor many bacteria and viruses – even the virus that causes cold sores – which can easily spread to your eyes and cause serious infections.
• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap, especially before touching your eyes!

Glasses and Lenses

If you have to use glasses or contact lenses due to poor vision, remember these tips to get the best results.

• When choosing glasses:

When choosing eyeglass frames, remember that while there are many styles, as a general rule, smaller frames give you the clearest vision . The larger the frame, the more distortion you can experience around the edges of the lens, and the less clear your field of vision. So, choose a frame that fits your face and is comfortable for your eyes, but isn't too big.

• When using `Contact Lenses`:

If you wear contact lenses, it's important to follow your eye doctor or optometrist's instructions carefully , including how to clean them (only with recommended solutions), the maximum number of hours you can safely wear them, and how often you should replace them (daily, weekly, monthly).

If you don't, you could develop serious infections inside your eye (Microbial Keratitis) or Corneal Ulcers, which are painful, difficult to treat, and may require months of medication or surgery. These can sometimes even lead to permanent blindness. So, you need to understand the freedom of wearing lenses, as well as the responsibility that comes with it.

Finally, remember this.

So, you can see how precious our eyes and vision are to all of us. No one wants to lose them. If you want to keep your eyes healthy and functioning well for many years to come, it is very important to protect them now and take care of them in the best way you can.

Your eyes are your world. It's your responsibility to protect them!

Here are some things to always remember:

• Get your eyes checked regularly, at least once every two years.
• If you have any eye injury, even a minor one, and are in any doubt, definitely see a doctor.
• Wear good sunglasses with UV protection whenever you are in the sun.
• When looking at screens like computers and phones for long periods of time, give your eyes a break, blink frequently, and follow the 20-20-20 rule.
• If you wear contact lenses, follow your doctor's instructions carefully about cleaning and using them.
• To avoid eye infections, always keep your eyes clean and do not share eye creams or eye drops with others.

If you take care of these simple things, you will be able to keep your precious eyes healthy for a long time!

Eye care, vision, eye health, myopia, hyperopia, eye infections, glasses