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What is Myopia?

What Is Myopia? Learn Its Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

What Is Myopia? Learn Its Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

What is Myopia?

What is Myopia?

Do you find it difficult to focus on distant objects while the ones close by appearing as clear as day? If yes, then you might have to get your eyes checked for nearsightedness or shortsightedness, also known as myopia. It is a refractive error when your eyes are unable to bend light accurately, thus causing distant images or objects to appear blurry or out of focus.

Myopia is a common condition that can get fixed either with glasses, contact lenses, or eye surgery. It either develops gradually or quickly, magnifying, especially during childhood and adolescence. To make sure you have myopia or not, an elementary eye exam prescribed by the doctor will do the trick.

Today, most people prefer to do away with glasses or contact lenses and opt for refractive eye surgery to correct eye conditions like myopia. Therefore, a brief understanding of this refractive error and its causes, symptoms, and treatment can go a long way in helping you decide if it is for you or not.

What Are Different Types of Myopia?

While myopia can get cured, its development and aggravation depend on the causes. Family history is one of the main factors that tend to cause nearsightedness. However, this tendency aggravates by how a person uses his or her eyes. If you spend a considerable amount of time in front of the screen, reading e-books, or other intense visual work, the chances of you developing myopia increase. However, it does not end at this.

The dependency on other aspects and how they affect your eyes can help the doctors understand the type of myopia that’s affected you and help find its treatment. There are two very distinct types of myopia or nearsightedness. They are:

    1. High Myopia – Usually, if you have mild symptoms of myopia, the doctors categorize it as low myopia. However, if the symptoms are severe, it gets termed as high myopia. In the latter, your eyeballs grow sizeably than usual and tend to become very long from front to back. The downside of this condition is that it could affect your chances of seeing things clearly from a distance and also developing other eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, or detached retina.Mostly, high myopia stabilizes between the ages of 20 to 30 years. However, the condition of every individual’s eyes differs, which is why consulting a qualified ophthalmologist helps gauge the extent of eye damage and get immediate treatment.
    2. Degenerative Myopia – This type of myopia is rare and usually inherited from the parents. It goes by other names, such as pathological myopia and malignant myopia. In the case of degenerative myopia, your eyeballs elongate rapidly, thus causing severe myopia. It usually affects teenagers or young adults and can worsen during adulthood. While making it hard to focus on things from a distance, the drawback of degenerative myopia is that it increases your chances of getting a detached retina, abnormal growth of blood vessels in your eyes (also known as choroid neovascularization), and even glaucoma.

What Are Symptoms of Myopia?

Difficulty reading signs while driving, watching a movie, or what’s written on the blackboard is the indication that you may have myopia. As you already know, it usually develops during childhood but can aggravate as you grow into adulthood. Visual stress or health conditions like diabetes may lead to myopia. However, identifying its symptoms can get you the help you need at an early stage. So, let’s take a look at the several symptoms of myopia.

      • Blurry vision when looking at distant objects
      • Squinting when watching TV or reading the board
      • Having the need to sit close to the TV or computer screen
      • The need to sit at the front of the classroom to clearly see the board
      • Holding books close to your eyes
      • Blinking excessively or rubbing your eyes frequently
      • Reduced clarity of vision as compared to others
      • Headaches due to strain on the eyes

Read more: LASEK Eye Surgery: Know All About Surgery, Benefits, After Care

What Are Causes of Myopia?

The cornea and the lens are two vital parts of your eye that focus on images. In the case of commonly shaped eyes, both the cornea and the lens have a smooth curvature allowing the light to bend accurately to make a sharply focused image at the back of your eye, on the retina. When there’s a refractive error, the refraction of light onto your retina does not occur aptly, thus causing nearsightedness and other refractive errors.

There might be other risk factors associated with myopia, and they include:

      • Genetics – Myopia or nearsightedness tends to run in the family. If both or one of your parents gets affected by it, the likelihood of you developing myopia cannot get discounted. The risk is higher if both parents have myopia.
      • Environmental Conditions – Staying indoors, in front of your screens, rather than being outdoors, can increase your chances of developing myopia, according to some studies and researches.

Read more: How to Choose the Right LASIK Hospital in India for Your Eye Surgery?

What Are Treatments for Myopia?

The treatment for myopia gets determined after an elementary eye exam that includes a refraction assessment and an eye health test. The former determines the type of vision problem, while the latter helps the doctor understand the extent of eye damage caused by the eye condition.

The primary treatment approach for myopia is to help correct your vision with the use of corrective lenses or refractive surgery. Apart from treatment, regular monitoring of your eyes to make sure no other condition has developed over time also gets taken into account.

So, what are the different treatment options for myopia? Let’s take a look.

      1. Prescription Lenses – Wearing corrective lenses helps correct the curvature of your cornea, thus helping treat myopia. The two types of prescription lenses include eyeglasses and contact lenses. Depending on what suits your eyes the best, your doctor will suggest either of these two options. If you’re pressed for time or do not want to opt for surgery just yet, this is your best bet.
      2. Refractive Surgery – If you wish to get surgery for your nearsightedness, it is an option. Your ophthalmologist will use a laser beam to reshape the cornea, thus resulting in a decreased nearsighted prescription. There are three different types of refractive eye surgeries that help with the treatment of myopia.
      • Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)LASIK eye surgery often offers improved vision without the hassle of wearing glasses or contact lenses. In general, there’s an excellent chance of achieving 20/25 vision or better after this refractive surgery. In this procedure, a programmed laser helps reshape those damaged parts of your cornea. However, with each pulse of the laser beam, a small amount of the corneal tissue gets removed.
      • Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratectomy (LASEK) – Another form of laser eye surgery, PRK/LASEK, involves separating the epithelial part of the cornea from the stroma. People with thin corneas, dry eyes, or corneal scarring can opt for PRK/LASEK eye surgery.
      • ReLEx SMILEReLEx SMILE eye surgery is the newest advancement in laser eye surgery and involves the use of a femtosecond laser to make a disc-shaped cut inside the stroma. This procedure is less invasive and requires the use of only one laser as opposed to LASIK.

Read more: Nearsightedness: Myopia Diagnosis And Treatment

Does It Get Better Over Time?

Controlling myopia at an early stage, on-time or early detection, a proper diagnosis, and the best possible treatment can help nearsightedness to either disappear or get better over time. Since myopia develops during childhood, the eyes keep changing until your teenage years or your young adult years. Therefore, get your eyes checked annually, and adequate treatment can help curb its aggravation.

Topical treatments like eye drops, refractive surgery, or the use of eyeglasses and contact lenses can considerably reduce the refractive error and help you see things clearly from a distance.

What is Treatment Cost for Myopia?

Treatment cost for any eye surgery depends on several factors. While the expertise of your doctor is paramount, other considerations are technology-used, the type of treatment, the extent of treatment, the type of surgery required, and many more. Many centers across India have varying costs depending on the city, the doctors, and the use of technology.

On average, the treatment cost for myopia can vary from 20,000 INR to 1,00,00 INR. Another variant that needs consideration is if you’re getting treated on one eye or both eyes. The hospital or eye clinic then takes a call on the cost of the treatment along with its duration.

Conclusion

In conclusion, myopia is an eye condition that can get cured. However, to stop its amplification, its early detection and treatment deem paramount. To make that happen, you need to identify its symptoms and consult an ophthalmologist regularly to get the necessary treatment. LASIK, PRK/LASEK, and ReLEx SMILE refractive eye surgeries help correct vision problems like myopia and can potentially reduce the need and dependency on corrective eyewear – eyeglasses and contact lenses.

So, if you wish to get treatment for myopia or other eye conditions, you must find a qualified doctor that offers advanced technology options for treatment. Whether it’s LASIK eye surgery or other surgical treatments for your eyes, the doctors at Dada Laser Eye Institute share their expertise with the best eye care services for people from all over the country. To book an appointment with the expert ophthalmologists at Dada Laser Eye Institute, Pune, you can give us a call at (+91) 992 299 5549 or visit our website for further information.

How to Select the Right Eye Hospital and Eye Surgeon

How to Select the Right Eye Hospital and Eye Surgeon?

How To Select The Right Eye Hospital And Eye Surgeon?

How to Select the Right Eye Hospital and Eye Surgeon
Eyes are one of the most important sensory organs that helps us see this beautiful world. It is also one of the most delicate parts of the body. Hence even a small error can cause irreversible damage. It is important to choose the right eye hospital and eye surgeon to minimize the possibility of error and have a successful surgery. In this blog, we will share 12 important tips that will help you in choosing the right hospital and eye surgeon for your eye correction surgery.

Top 12 Tips to Choose Right Eye Hospital and Eye Surgeon

Below mentioned are the 12 important parameters that you should keep in mind before finalizing the right eye surgeon and hospital.
  1. Long Term LASIK Fellowship Training

LASIK corrective eye surgery is performed on people with unclear vision who need to wear spectacles or contact lens to see clearly. Since this is a surgery that’s performed on eyes that are considered one of the most delicate parts of a human body, you need a doctor who has a rich experience of 2 years or more from internationally reputed centers along with certified fellowship training for LASIK. Hence when you go to a clinic, don’t forget to ask the doctor about his training credentials.
  1. Board certification

Most doctors have the basic license to practice ophthalmology but it is also important that the doctors practicing LASIK have a certification that specializes in the front portion of the eye that’s called the cornea. A cornea certified doctor who has credentials of LASIK fellowship can perform eye surgery with utmost precision and safety. Also in case of any post LASIK issues, these certified doctors are the best to take care of it.
  1. Scientific Credentials and Hospital Accredited

An ideal LASIK surgeon should be updated with the latest advancements of technology in the field of eye surgery like LASIK, Relex SMILE, etc. The doctor should have an international reputation with credentials of research work published in leading journals and must be credible enough to have spoken on the topic of LAISK and Relex SMILE in medical institutions and to fellow colleagues.
  1. Experience

Experience plays a very important role when it comes to choosing an eye doctor. The eye is the most delicate body part, it needs high precision that comes with years of hands-on experience. Hence the ideal doctor should have at least 10-15 years of experience and must have performed at least 10,000 LASIK surgeries.
  1. Versatile Surgeon

Although you are looking for an eye surgeon, you don’t want a doctor who specializes only in a specific type of eye correction surgery. Not every patient needs a LASIK, hence the doctor should be versatile enough to understand the need of the patient and perform the best-suited surgery which could be LASIK, Relex SMILE, LASEK, epi-LASIK, PRK, Femto LASIK, etc.
  1. Technology

When choosing a hospital, it is important to know if it has the latest technologies that the medical field has to offer. In general, the latest technology tends to be the most precise, least painful, and has a fast recovery time. The center should have excimer laser and femtosecond laser which are used to perform LASIK, Femto LASIK and ReLex Smile laser vision corrections. Currently, Carl Zeiss VISUMAX lasers are one of the best lasers that perform the latest technique like bladeless, flapless, all-laser SMILE techniques.
  1. Infrastructure

The clinic should have a state of the art facility with the great ambiance that’s clean and hygienic with all the facilities available. Do not choose a compromised clinic that’s not hygienic and lacks facilities. Remember, it’s your eyes and it important you give it the best treatment available.
  1. Advertisements

You must have seen a lot of advertisements in newspapers, TV radio, and even social media where the hospitals share their offerings. While advertisements could help you understand the facilities and pricing offered by the hospital, it is still important to physically visit the hospital to understand the reality and if there are any hidden terms and conditions involved.
  1. Reputation

Any institute is known for its reputation that it has accumulated over a period of time. Hence it is important to choose a hospital that has a great reputation in the area, city, or even the state. A reputed hospital means you can be sure about the services and the pedigree of the doctors.
  1. Referrals

Word of mouth is one of the most reliable marketing available to the patients. Hence you should speak to your regular eye care practitioner about the best hospital and doctor available in your area. In case you know a good doctor who is unfortunately not in your area or city, call him/her up and ask for a recommendation. They would very likely know a reputable doctor and hospital in your area.
  1. Reviews

In today’s digital world, understanding the quality of a business or hospital is just one click away. So you must spend some time on the internet searching for hospitals and doctors who have great reviews on Google, Facebook, and medical websites like Practo, etc. You should also be sure of checking not just the rating of the clinic but also the volume of the customers who have given a rating. So a hospital that has hundreds of ratings on the internet is better than a hospital that has just a couple of high ratings.
  1. Raise Your Insurance Concerns

If you have health insurance and have doubts regarding the coverage of eye correction surgery under it, raise the concern with the doctor during your appointment. An ideal hospital for you would be the one that has the facility of accepting your health insurance policy. So to conclude, it is important that you look for the hospital that has the latest medical technologies, state of the art facility that has the highest level of hygiene. The operating doctor should have rich experience in eye correction surgeries along with global certification and fellowship. If you are looking for further assistance or guidance regarding eye correction surgery, call us at (+91) 992 299 5549. You can also fill your details in the form below and one of our representatives will get in touch with you.
LASEK vs LASIK Which is Better Choice

LASEK vs LASIK Eye Surgery: Which is Better Choice?

LASEK vs LASIK Eye Surgery: Which is Better Choice?

LASEK vs LASIK Which is Better Choice

With the internet and google at your fingertips, you have a lot of information regarding eye surgery and sometimes it becomes overwhelming and confusing to know which surgery is best suited for you. There are also a lot of blogs that give a biased opinion to favor one surgery over the other for personal gains.

In this blog, we will give you unbiased information on LASIK and LASEK eye surgery along with their advantages and disadvantages. This will give you a clear picture and will help you clarify most of your doubts.

Difference between LASEK and LASIK Eye Surgery

LASEK and LASIK eye surgery has a similar approach with some minor changes in the procedure. Both surgeries work on reshaping corneas permanently.
The major difference comes during the treatment of the corneal area. In LASIK eye surgery the corneal flap is created and replaced. In LASEK eye surgery, however, the top layer of the cornea is separated and moved back. Post-surgery the flap is reattached.

Because of this procedure, a patient who has undergone LASEK takes more time to recover with discomfort for three to five days. LASIK patients recover quickly with minimum discomfort.

Procedure Overview – LASEK Eye Surgery

LASEK Eye Surgery – LASEK or Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy is a type of photorefractive keratectomy or PRK. The procedure takes a different approach than LASIK. Below mentioned is the procedure

    • With the help of excimer laser, surface ablations are made on cornea instead of creating a cornea flap like in LASIK
    • The outer layer of the cornea is either diluted with alcohol or loosened with the help ethanol
    • The outer tissue is them removed and with the help of laser the stroma is reshaped just like in LASIK
    • While the top layer of the cornea is removed, it is re-positioned or replaced post ablation of the cornea

Benefits of LASEK Eye Surgery

Although LASEK Eye surgery is an older technique compared to LASIK, it definitely has some very important advantages which is why the procedure is still very popular. Below mentioned are some of the advantages.

    • LASEK surgery can be conducted on people with thin corneas
    • The chances of the patient getting dry eyes is significantly less compared to LASIK surgery
    • There is no chance of any corneal flap complications or removal of too much cornea area
    • Post-surgery the vision become 20/40 or even better

Read more: LASEK Eye Surgery – Know All About Surgery, Benefits, After Care

Disadvantages of LASEK Eye Surgery

There are some disadvantages to LASEK eye surgery because of which some people prefer the more advanced LASIK eye surgery. Below mentioned are some of the advantages

    • The healing time post-LASEK surgery is longer compared to LASIK. Patients need at least three to five days to heal and more time to get a clear vision.
    • Patient experience significantly higher discomfort and pain compared to LASIK and it can last for a few days
    • There is a chance of corneal structure compromise due to LASEK surgery which creates a hazy vision.

Procedure Overview – LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK Eye Surgery – LASIK is one of the most common surgeries undertaken by patients for their vision correction. The full form of LASIK is Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis. Below mentioned is the step by step procedure followed in the surgery

    • A femtosecond laser is used to cut the cornea flap and move it back to access the inner stromal tissues at the core. The femtosecond laser is super precise and hence the cut is extremely accurate
    • Once the flap is moved back an Excimer laser is used to change the shape of the stroma with the help of a process called photoablation
    • After the photoablation procedure, the flap is then replaced and the self-healing procedure starts which takes around a day or so

Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK eye surgery is one of the most advanced surgery, hence it overcomes some of the shortcomings of earlier surgical procedures. Below mentioned are some of the benefits of LASIK eye surgery

    • LASIK patients have a super-fast recovery and hence their vision starts clearing within a few hours of surgery. Their eyes heal completely in 24 hours
    • LASIK surgery is a minimally invasive surgery, hence the area around eyes does not undergo any significant changes or alteration.
    • The discomfort post LASIK surgery is very minimum and so is the pain. Hence you can resume your regular work in no time.
    • There are very fewer chances of any kind of complication like a hazy vision from corneal eye integrity.

Read more: How to Choose the Right LASIK Hospital in India for Your Eye Surgery?

Disadvantages of LASIK Eye Surgery

Just like any other surgery, there are some disadvantages of LASIK surgery that you must be aware about. Below mentioned are the disadvantages

    • The most common side effect of undergoing LASIK eye surgery is dry eyes
    • There is a chance of complications occurring in the corneal flap area.
    • There is a high chance of corneal flap getting dislodged from its position in case of a head trauma injury occurring prior to the completion of the healing process.

So to conclude both LASEK and LASIK eye surgery have their advantages and disadvantages and it completely depends on patient’s eye condition and the doctor to finalize which surgery would be best suited. It is strongly advised to consult a doctor before finalizing the procedure. If you are looking for expert consultation on eye surgery,  call us on +91 992 299 5549. You can also fill in your information below and one of the representatives will get in touch with you.

With the internet and google at your fingertips, you have a lot of information regarding eye surgery and sometimes it becomes overwhelming and confusing to know which surgery is best suited for you. There are also a lot of blogs that give a biased opinion to favor one surgery over the other for personal gains.

In this blog, we will give you unbiased information on LASIK and LASEK eye surgery along with their advantages and disadvantages. This will give you a clear picture and will help you clarify most of your doubts.

Difference between LASEK and LASIK Eye Surgery

LASEK and LASIK eye surgery has a similar approach with some minor changes in the procedure. Both surgeries work on reshaping corneas permanently.
The major difference comes during the treatment of the corneal area. In LASIK eye surgery the corneal flap is created and replaced. In LASEK eye surgery, however, the top layer of the cornea is separated and moved back. Post-surgery the flap is reattached.

Because of this procedure, a patient who has undergone LASEK takes more time to recover with discomfort for three to five days. LASIK patients recover quickly with minimum discomfort.

Procedure Overview – LASEK Eye Surgery

LASEK Eye Surgery – LASEK or Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy is a type of photorefractive keratectomy or PRK. The procedure takes a different approach than LASIK. Below mentioned is the procedure

    • With the help of excimer laser, surface ablations are made on cornea instead of creating a cornea flap like in LASIK
    • The outer layer of the cornea is either diluted with alcohol or loosened with the help ethanol
    • The outer tissue is them removed and with the help of laser the stroma is reshaped just like in LASIK
    • While the top layer of the cornea is removed, it is re-positioned or replaced post ablation of the cornea

Benefits of LASEK Eye Surgery

Although LASEK Eye surgery is an older technique compared to LASIK, it definitely has some very important advantages which is why the procedure is still very popular. Below mentioned are some of the advantages.

    • LASEK surgery can be conducted on people with thin corneas
    • The chances of the patient getting dry eyes is significantly less compared to LASIK surgery
    • There is no chance of any corneal flap complications or removal of too much cornea area
    • Post-surgery the vision become 20/40 or even better

Read more: LASEK Eye Surgery – Know All About Surgery, Benefits, After Care

Disadvantages of LASEK Eye Surgery

There are some disadvantages to LASEK eye surgery because of which some people prefer the more advanced LASIK eye surgery. Below mentioned are some of the advantages

    • The healing time post-LASEK surgery is longer compared to LASIK. Patients need at least three to five days to heal and more time to get a clear vision.
    • Patient experience significantly higher discomfort and pain compared to LASIK and it can last for a few days
    • There is a chance of corneal structure compromise due to LASEK surgery which creates a hazy vision.

Procedure Overview – LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK Eye Surgery – LASIK is one of the most common surgeries undertaken by patients for their vision correction. The full form of LASIK is Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis. Below mentioned is the step by step procedure followed in the surgery

    • A femtosecond laser is used to cut the cornea flap and move it back to access the inner stromal tissues at the core. The femtosecond laser is super precise and hence the cut is extremely accurate
    • Once the flap is moved back an Excimer laser is used to change the shape of the stroma with the help of a process called photoablation
    • After the photoablation procedure, the flap is then replaced and the self-healing procedure starts which takes around a day or so

Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK eye surgery is one of the most advanced surgery, hence it overcomes some of the shortcomings of earlier surgical procedures. Below mentioned are some of the benefits of LASIK eye surgery

    • LASIK patients have a super-fast recovery and hence their vision starts clearing within a few hours of surgery. Their eyes heal completely in 24 hours
    • LASIK surgery is a minimally invasive surgery, hence the area around eyes does not undergo any significant changes or alteration.
    • The discomfort post LASIK surgery is very minimum and so is the pain. Hence you can resume your regular work in no time.
    • There are very fewer chances of any kind of complication like a hazy vision from corneal eye integrity.

Read more: How to Choose the Right LASIK Hospital in India for Your Eye Surgery?

Disadvantages of LASIK Eye Surgery

Just like any other surgery, there are some disadvantages of LASIK surgery that you must be aware about. Below mentioned are the disadvantages

    • The most common side effect of undergoing LASIK eye surgery is dry eyes
    • There is a chance of complications occurring in the corneal flap area.
    • There is a high chance of corneal flap getting dislodged from its position in case of a head trauma injury occurring prior to the completion of the healing process.

So to conclude both LASEK and LASIK eye surgery have their advantages and disadvantages and it completely depends on patient’s eye condition and the doctor to finalize which surgery would be best suited. It is strongly advised to consult a doctor before finalizing the procedure. If you are looking for expert consultation on eye surgery,  call us on +91 992 299 5549. You can also fill in your information below and one of the representatives will get in touch with you.

Covid-19-Tips for Eye Care During Working from Home

Covid-19: Tips for Eye Care During Working from Home

Covid-19: Tips for Eye Care During Working from Home

Covid-19-Tips for Eye Care During Working from Home
The coronavirus pandemic has brought unprecedented changes in all of our lifestyles. People who used to travel to offices every day are now confined to their homes. Similarly, an alien term for many called “Work from Home” has now become the new norm. Most of us now spend hours on the computer screen doing video conferencing or work thus causing unusual strain on the eyes. In this blog, I would be covering all the information regarding taking care of your eyes while working from home, along with some very simple but useful tips to keep the eyesight healthy and sharp.

How can coronavirus affect your eyes?

Coronavirus is a contagious disease and spreads through fluids coming out of the nose and mouth. The virus can enter a healthy person’s body through eyes, nose, and mouth. In some cases, coronavirus can also cause pink eyes or conjunctivitis although it is a very rare case scenario. It is advised to visit the doctor immediately to understand the exact cause of conjunctivitis.

If you look at Screen all day while working from home

Apart from coronavirus affecting your eyes, there are other lifestyle changes that this pandemic has brought. One of which is working from home. A recent study concluded that employees end up working more hours working from home compared to the office. This additional work has brought more stress to the eyes as the majority of the work is done through a computer/laptop. Hence it is important to take all the preventive measures to take care of your eyes. Below mentioned are some tips that you can follow to have a healthy work from home lifestyle. Blink more often Recent research concluded that people blink only about one third as often as they generally do when they are in front of a computer or laptop screen. This less blinking increases the strain on the eyes as it loses moisture and becomes dry. Hence it is advised that you should blink more often to reduce stress on your eyes. This can be done by training your eyes to blink after reading 2-3 paragraphs on the digital screen. You can also keep a bottle of artificial tears handy and use it whenever you feel dryness in your eyes. Use proper lighting of surroundings Sometimes you might experience eye strain not due to the light coming out of the computer but due to the surrounding lights. Any type of harsh light is bad for eyes, so if you have high-intensity lights then it is advised to replace it with soft white LED light bulbs with a color temperature of 2700 k. Also if your room has windows then ideally your computer should be placed by the side of it. It should not be placed either in front of the window or opposite to it as the light will fall directly on your eyes or reflect from the computer screen. You can also use soft colored thin curtains to reduce the intensity of light. Minimize glare Any surface be it computer or walls should not reflect too much light as it can again cause strain to your eyes. Install an anti-glare screen on your computer to reduce the reflection. If the walls have bright colors then you need to either repaint it with soft colors or use soft color wallpaper to cover it. Read more: How to Take Care of Your Eyes During Coronavirus Pandemic Wear the right glasses You can use computer glasses that are specifically made to use while working long hours in front of the screen. These glasses help in reducing the strain on your eyes. You can also use photochromatic lenses that reduce the exposure of harmful blue light emitted from the computer screen. Also, people wearing lenses should use computer glasses while working on the computer as it is much more comfortable. Also, prolonged use of lenses during work can sometimes dry out causing irritation in eyes. Adjust your computer display settings Most of the time we use the computer and laptop at their default display settings which sometimes could be too bright or too dark for your eyes. Hence it is advised to change the display settings to suit your surrounding well. To start change the brightness of the screen to match your surrounding. To judge the surrounding light consider this white screen on which you are reading, if it is emitting light then it is too bright and if it looks dim then it is too dark. Change the setting until the brightness blends with the surrounding. Maintain an appropriate distance from the monitor All the digital screens are made up of LCD or LED that emit light. This light is essential to show what’s on the screen but a prolonged exposure adversely affects your eyes if the screen is too close. Hence it is very important to maintain sufficient distance from the monitor. Ideally, your laptop should be 50 centimetres away from you. Adjust text size, colors, and fonts If you read or type a lot on your computer then it is advised to have a text size that does not strain your eyes. In terms of color, the ideal combination would be black text on a white background. Eat well Food also plays a very important role in the overall health of your eyes. One of the best food to eat is carrots that are super rich in vitamin A and lutein which are great for your eyes. Green leafy vegetables, eggs, salmon, and citrus fruits also help keep your eyesight sharp and healthy. Read more: Best Eye Care Tips for Kids During Covid-19 Exercise your eyes Just like your body, your eyes need exercise to keep it sharp and healthy. The most simple exercise you can follow is “20:20:20” which is every 20 minutes, spend 20 secs looking at something that is 20 meters away. This reduces fatigue and relaxes the focusing muscle present in your eyes. Take frequent breaks Due to the high workload given during the pandemic lockdown, we often spend hours at a stretch working and staring at the computer screen. This habit can have an irreversible impact on your eyes causing weak vision and eye strain. Hence you need to take regular breaks from your computer work. Stretch your arms, legs, back, neck, and shoulders to reduce muscle fatigue and tension. Get a comprehensive eye exam A comprehensive eye exam at least once a year is advised for everyone to check the eyes and take timely measures in case of any issues. Also if you are facing any issues like headache, neck pain, eye strain, blurry vision then you should immediately go for a comprehensive eye check-up. To conclude although work from home has become a new norm, you still have to make sure you maintain a healthy lifestyle and take care of your eyes by following the tips mentioned above.
Best Eye Care Tips for Kids During Covid-19

Best Eye Care Tips for Kids During Covid-19

Best Eye Care Tips for Kids During Covid-19

Best Eye Care Tips for Kids During Covid-19
Living with coronavirus has become the new norm today as scientists are yet to develop an effective vaccine for it. Until it is developed you need to take all the precautions necessary. The most vulnerable population in this pandemic are children and aged people. In this blog, I will share details on how to take care of your kids and specifically their eyes. I will share how coronavirus can affect the eyes, different types of eye strain and what can you do as a parent to make sure your children have healthy eyes as they grow up.

How Can Corona Virus Affect Your Eyes?

Coronavirus is a contagious disease and spreads through fluid coming out of the nose and mouth of the COVID-19 patient when he/she sneezes or coughs. This fluid can enter a healthy person’s body through the nose, mouth, and eyes. Hence it is very important to cover your eyes, nose, and mouth whenever you are in a public space and avoid touching your eyes without washing or sanitizing your hands. Coronavirus can also cause pink eyes (conjunctivitis ) but the percentage is very less. In case you get those sore eyes, do not panic as it does not necessarily mean you have coronavirus. Get the eyes checked by your doctor to understand the exact cause.

Increase in Screen Time

The lockdown has kept the children away from school and confined to their homes which is good for family bonding but bad for the kids if they are spending a lot of time on the computer screen or TV. The increased screen time adversely affects the children’s eyes due to lights emitting from the TV and computer screen. It also can weaken the children’s vision which could lead to wearing spectacles.

What is digital eye strain?

Digital eye strain is another side effect of prolonged exposure of eyes to digital devices like computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. When a person sits in front of a computer or any other digital device every day for a longtime then his/her eyes might start showing digital strain symptoms like blurry vision, headache, neck, and shoulder pain. The digital eye strain can be reduced by following a simple 20-20-20 rule which is after every 20 minutes of digital screen time, the person should spend 20 seconds looking at something that is atleast 20 feet away. This helps the vision to relax and remove the strain caused by the digital screen. If the eye strain persists, then you need to visit an ophthalmologist who can advise you on the right solution.

10 Most Effective Eye Care Tips for Children

Below mentioned are 10 most simple and effective eye care tips that every parent should follow to make sure their children have great eyesight as they grow. Here is 10 most effective eye care tips for children.
  • Prevention Should Be the First Line of Defence
As a parent, you need to focus on preventive measures rather than reactive measures. So whenever your kid is involved in activities that have even a 1% chance of injury, it is better to take all the precautions. For example, if the child is playing any outdoor sport then he/she should wear safety goggles. Similarly, during swimming, the child should wear swimming goggles as the pool water contains chlorine that can affect the eyes.
  • Avoid Using Hard and Sharp Toys
Kids love their toys but sometimes these toys can also harm them. The toys that have sharp edges are especially dangerous as they can cause accidental injuries, especially to eyes. Hence whenever you buy toys, make sure they are soft and do not have any sharp edges.
  • Don’t Apply Eye Cosmetics on Your Child
In Indian tradition,it is normal to apply kajal/soorma on your child’s eyes. This had a cultural and medical significance in the past as the kajal/soorma was made from natural ingredients. Today however the kajal/soorma or eyeliner for that matter hasharmful chemicals. So it is highly advised to refrain from using any cosmetics on your child’s eyes.
  • Teach Your Kid to Stop Rubbing the Eyes Constantly
Whenever a child gets a feeling of itchiness in his/her eyes, the first response is always rubbing the eyes with hands. This does more harm than good as rubbing it causes the irritation to increase and in case of a foreign element in the eyes, it can scratch the surface of retina causing serious damage. Also if the kid’s hands are dirty, then those harmful bacteria can enter his/her eyes. So it is important to teach the kids to refrain from using hands to rub the eyes. Instead, they should be trained to wash theirhands andeyes with water which is the safest solution.
  • Reduce Continued Exposure to Digital Devices
Kids love video games and they tend to play for a long time. This is again very harmful to their eyes as the light-emitting out of the digital devices like smartphones, tabletsare not good. Also during the process of playing games or watching cartoons, the eyes are constantly focused on certain points which can cause degradation in eyesight. This could lead to vision problems in the future.
  • Keep a Good Distance from the Screen while Watching Television
Apart from games, kids also love to watch cartoons on television. In the process of getting a better experience, they tend to sit very close to the television set which can cause serious harm. To avoid this make the kids sit on a couch that is kept at a sufficient distance from the Tv. Also, make sure the room is well lit and the TV is not the only source of light as that can also harm the eyesight.
  • Maintain a Balanced Diet that Supports Eye Development
Just like the body, a healthy diet helps in the improvement of eyesight. Include fruits like papaya, mangoes, and other fruits in your kid’s diet. These fruits are high in beta-carotene which plays an important role in the development of eyesight. Similarly, leafy vegetables and iron-rich foods help in developing sharp eyesight.
  • Give the Eyes a Break and Get Enough Rest
Today kids spend around 6 hours in school looking at the blackboard and when they come home they are glued to TV or computer screen. This creates stress on their eyes which could lead to dark circles and weak vision in the long run. To avoid this make sure their eyes get sufficient rest. An evening walk in the park is better than a TV or computer screen. Also, make sure they sleep for atleast 8 hours at night.
  • Make Use of Sunglasses When Stepping Out of the House
In summer kids like to go outdoors like the beach, park, etc. The UV lights emitting from the sun are at a higher level in summer which can affect your child’s eyesight. So wearing a sunglass protects them from UV light and also makes them look stylish.
  • Undertake Regular Checkup of Eyes
It is suggested that you need to visit an ophthalmologist atleast once a year and get your kids eye checked. In case the child is complaining of blurry vision or irritation in eyes, you need to get it checked immediately to take corrective measures. To conclude, children are very delicate while growing up and it is our duty as a parent to protect them during this time. If you follow the tips mentioned above along with a routine that is a mix of digital and outdoor activities with all the safety gear and precaution then your child will have healthy eyesight.