Better Vision: Vision is our most important sense because our vision drives our perception. However, very few people know that eyes are one of the first senses to get sick and damaged with ageing, leading an unhealthy lifestyle, smoking, and hereditary tendencies.
Children should take care of their eyes to prevent early onset of retinal diseases, just as it is necessary for adults and older people to take care of their eyes to prevent life-threatening events such as accidents or falls. Therefore, early prevention of progressive eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy should include regular screening.
Former VRSI President Dr NS Muralidhar said, “In my clinical practice, we see around 60% retinal disease patients, 10% glaucoma patients and 30% cataract patients in a month. The key to all the three conditions is timely diagnosis and There is treatment. Without timely treatment, the condition is allowed to progress, which can result in irreversible vision loss. But it can be prevented.”
Dr Muralidhar, who is now president of the Retina Institute of Karnataka, said, “An annual, routine eye check-up, especially for people with diabetes and the elderly population, can help catch it early. Enable prompt care.” Early detection is imperative to treat and prevent vision loss.”
Follow these 6 tips to maintain better vision
1. Regular Check-ups
Regular eye exams are important for maintaining good vision, as they can help prevent or detect diseases early and prevent vision loss.
2. Be aware of diseases related to eyes
Being aware of eye diseases can help you and your caregivers manage them better. Whether it is external damage or an underlying condition, awareness is the key to preserving our vision.
3. Wear Your Shades
Macular degeneration is a condition where the macula degenerates over time which causes blurriness and in some cases blindness. The sun’s UV rays accelerate this process, so it’s important to protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses.
4. Take a break from the screen
Excessive use of computers, televisions and phones can put severe strain on the eyes and even cause dry eyes, affecting the clarity of vision. It is recommended that you take breaks every 30-40 minutes to reduce screen time, or try the 20-20-20 rule—look about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
5. Monitor and control glucose levels and blood pressure
Monitoring glucose levels is important for diabetics if they want to avoid or manage DR. High levels of glucose can cause blindness from DR, while high blood pressure can damage organs such as the heart and eyes.
6. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires a healthy diet
Eliminating vices such as smoking and alcohol consumption along with regular exercise and adequate sleep.
Patients need to have eye exams, including retinal exams, especially when they are diagnosed with diabetes and then every year with no visual problems, because by then it may be too late, they start to lose vision Is.
Follow-up intervals may shorten with progression of DR. In case of AMD which is age related and multifactorial smoking is one of the reasons highlighting the fact that we all need to make changes in our lifestyle to ensure good eye health.
Retinal damage cannot be cured, so you must be disciplined with your lifestyle, regular with your check-ups, and follow recommended treatments to prevent further eye damage and worsening vision.
(This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for advice provided by qualified medical professionals.)