August 2011 Final Pages.indd - World Memon Organization ...

HEALTH MATTERS
Tips for maintaining
eye health
One must follow a regular eye-care
routine to maintain eye health and
avoid infections or disorders.
Every day, we expose our eyes to dust,
sunlight and other environmental
factors which may, over a period of
time, affect our vision. Working professionals,
in particular, should take extra care to
combat the effect of countless hours spent
in front of computers. Moreover, associated
conditions like headache, concentration
problems and vision related learning
problems are causes for concern as well. To
avoid this, it is important to follow some
basic guidelines for maintaining eye health.
Here they are...
Balanced diet: Maintaining a nutritious
diet program packed with vital fruits and
vegetables is a key factor in promoting good
eye health. Use foods that have high levels
of vitamins A, C and E. Thus, consuming
sufficient quantities of carrots, broccoli and
other vitamin-rich foods is highly recommended.
Apart from this, you can also
opt for salmon which has high levels of
omega-3 fatty acids - an essential nutrient
for maintaining overall eye health.
Improve your immune system: Boost your
immune system by avoiding adverse lifestyle
habits like smoking or alcohol. A major side
effect of smoking is that it affects the blood
circulation around the eyes. According to
experts, frequent smoking is associated with
38
increased incidence of cataract, macular
degeneration and optic nerve damage. Although,
moderate consumption of alcohol
does not affect the health of your eyes,
excessive drinking may lead to slow pupil
reaction, blurred vision, double vision and
reduced color vision.
Routine eye check: Besides improving
your overall immune response and diet
habits, it is mandatory to go for a comprehensive
eye examination. Many times,
we are not even aware of any underlying
eye condition and may attribute those
frequent headaches to overwork or stress.
Also, certain eye diseases like diabetic eye
disease or age-associated macular degeneration
do not have any warning signs and
the only way to detect them is by undergoing
such eye tests.
Eye exercises: Surprised? Yes there are
certain eye exercises that can help you
improve your eye muscles and relieve stress.
This is particularly important for those who
suffer from eye strain problems associated
with long working hours in front of the
computer. Computer Vision Syndrome can
be treated with the help of simple eye exercises.
Start by slowly opening your eyes and
then moving them in all directions one at a
time. Another technique involves opening
your eyes and then looking to the left and
up. Hold for two seconds and then close
your eyes to relax. This can be repeated by
looking to your right-down, right-up and
left-down.
Know your family eye history: There are
certain eye conditions that are hereditary.
Thus, knowing your family history of any
eye disease or condition is a must to take
precautionary measures and improve your
eye health.
Protective eye wear: While performing
any kind of sports activity, make it a
point to use protective goggles or eye wear.
There are many safety shields and safety
glasses that are specially designed to provide
protection against any form of sporting
activities associated with eye injuries. Also,
to protect your eyes from the harmful effect
of the sun’s ultraviolent radiations, you can
use sunglasses and other forms of protective
shades.
Get enough rest: Like the rest of your
body, it is equally important to give proper
rest to your eyes to prevent them from eye
strain and fatigue. Refrain from spending
unnecessary hours in front of the computer
or television screen.
MEMON ALAM AUGUST 2011