We take our senses, including eyesight so much for granted, that we become complacent when it comes to caring for them. For instance, so many of us work on computers the entire day. The same can lead to computer vision syndrome (CVS), with symptoms of eyestrain, double vision, temporary short-sightedness and visual fatigue.
Occupational hazards to eye health also include professional sports, the biggest cause of hospital admission for serious eye injury. Hence, you need to keep your eyes safe. Racket sports in particular account for thousands of eye injuries a year. Wear protective sports goggles, which not only look trendy, but make for protection from projectiles traveling at top speed.
DIY causes several eye injuries owing to tiny flying wood splinters or shards of metal that enter the eye and cause damage. For good defense against these, a good pair of safety goggles can be worn. These are inexpensive and effective.
Today, most people know that wearing sunglasses is important to protect eyes from harmful ultra-violet rays. Ultraviolet (UV) radiations contribute to a variety of disorders, including cataracts, cornea damage and age related macular degeneration. The result is sight loss. UV is just not present on sunny days but is actually present all the time during daylight hours. Also, over-exposure to UV can prove harmful between 10 Am to 2 PM, at high altitudes, closer to the equator, during summer months, when you're near water, sand, or snow, as these make for reflective surfaces. All you need is a pair of sunglasses that do not necessarily have to be expensive, but must conform to safety standards. Stay out of the sun as much as you can, and also wear a hat whenever possible.
It's important to consume eye health food that helps safeguard eyesight. Two substances, called lutein and zeaxanthin, have been found to have protective qualities against sun damage, and they help in preventing the onset of eye disease. They are often found together in many, usually dark-colored, fruits and vegetables such as spinach, sweet corn, broccoli, orange, peas, peppers, green beans, grapes, sprouts, papaya, mango, peaches, pumpkin, prunes, sweet potatoes, melon and others.
Go for regular eye tests. They not only help diagnose how long-sighted or short-sighted you are, but reveal eye conditions that you may be susceptible to, and these problems discovered at an early stage can make treatment mush easier. This is especially true in case of Glaucoma, an eye condition that is not noticed until it is actually at the advanced stage, threatening to cause sight loss. For children, eye tests are recommended after a gap of two years. Aged people must go in for a full eye examination every year.
First Aid for the Eyes: If some foreign particle does get into your eye, do not rub it. Instead, pull the upper eyelid down over the lower lid and let the lower eyelashes sweep away the particle by blinking repeatedly. Tears that are produced by doing this will further wash away any particles of grit or dust. Wash the eye out with clean water or sterile fluid from a sealed container. If that does not bring relief, immediately head for a hospital. In case of cuts in and around the eye, do not rub it, wash it out, and then gently bandage it before seeing an eye specialist. If something has actually become embedded inside the eye, do not remove it yourself and visit the accident and emergency department of a hospital right away. For chemical flashes, again flush clean your eyes with water and then visit the nearest hospital. In case of physical trauma, such as an accident or fall, cold presses, applied gently, are recommended for pain and swelling relief.