During winters your eyes are at higher risk to get damaged either temporarily or permanently due UV rays. The UV rays are not only emitted by the sun but it is also reflected by the earth surface. You need to protect your eyes from UV radiations. American Academy of Ophthalmology has suggested few eye care tips for winters.
With the arrival of the winter season most of the people don’t feel the need to care their eyes. They believe that extensive eye care is needed during the summer season. It’s highly essential for you to protect your eyes from the harmful Ultra Violet rays (UV rays).
During winters UV radiations not only come from the sky but also are reflected from the earth surface. UV ray exposure in winters can damage your eyes temporarily as well as can develop eye disorders like cataract. Not only the sun which affects your eyes but the other culprits are dry air and cool breeze.
Here are some Eye Care Tips for winters suggested by The American Academy of Ophthalmology.
During winters the indoor heaters used tend to dry the air’s moisture which can cause irritation and dryness in your eyes. It is advised to use a humidifier in your house during winters. This would be helpful in tolerating the forced air heating and keeping your dry eyes moist.
Use sunglasses which are capable of blocking 99-100% of UV rays, particularly when the land is snow covered. Remember that sunlight reflected by the snow can lead to sunburned eyes. Overexposed eyes to sun’s UV rays during winters can lead to temporary damage like photokeratitis. So it is advisable for you to use high quality of UV-blocking sunglasses.
If you are using contact lenses then it is advisable for you to use artificial tears often and limit your outdoor exposures. If you are using soft contact lenses then limit your alcohol intake. Remember that soft lenses require lot of moisture and if they tend to dry then can stick and change the shape of your eyes.
This advice is especially for snow lovers as they spend extensive time in snow. They are at a higher risk to develop temporary eye problems hence they should use a pair of properly fitted ski goggles with polycarbonate lenses.
To protect the tear film from evaporation it is advised to use hooded jacket and brimmed hat as they will prevent your eyes from cold wind.
Apply a good quality eye cream around the eyes as it will be helpful in protecting the delicate eye area from the harsh winter.
By: amit shukla
Archive for January, 2010
Eye Care Tips for Winters
January 30th, 2010How Laser Eye Surgery Works – Lasik and Photorefractive Eye Surgery
January 29th, 2010People with eye-related problems are becoming more and more interested in laser eye surgery and its benefits because this is known to be the most exciting ophthalmologic procedure.
To be more precise, this is a refractive eye surgery that can correct all types of refractive errors such as: astigmatism (distorted vision), myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).
Even if the medicine offers various types of surgical techniques for correcting refractive errors, the laser eye surgery was labelled by the American Academy of Ophthalmology the most technically advanced and precise one.
The excimer laser was the first laser ever approved for eye surgery and it’s used to correct myopia. Now, this laser is used in two different procedures: Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK).
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
The surgeon maps and measures the patient’s eye before the procedure in order to analyse the problem. Then, he uses a few local anesthetic eye drops and reshapes the cornea eliminating tiny amounts of tissue from the outer surface.
Next, the doctor uses an ultra violet beam of light and cuts notches the size of human hair. Each pulse of light can remove a 39 millionth of an inch of cornel tissue in only 12 billionths of a second.
According to same studies, only 5% of the patients still use permanent glasses after the surgery while 15% need visual aids only when driving.
Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
The LASIK procedure is more complicated than PRK but it’s a solution for solving all types of myopia.
The surgeon uses the Microkeratome to cut a corneal tissue flap in order to replace it. Everything depends on the doctor because with LASIK he has to make a very precise incision.
The patient only feels a little discomfort and sometimes an irritation but those won’t last too long. In most cases, the patients returned to their normal life in only two or three days.
With LASIK there can be only one side effect and that is occasional glare at night.
Anyway, everyone should know that even if the results are said to be permanent, the age can influence the final results and in some cases the doctor may even suggested re-surgery.
By: Ricky Lim
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians – A Helping Hand To Ophthalmology
January 28th, 2010An ophthalmic laboratory technician is supported to assist ophthalmologist in giving proper medical eye care. Ophthalmologists are specialists who hold expertise in the medical & surgical treatments of eye disorders, providing eye muscle exercises, vision measurements for glasses & prevention of blindness.
As an ophthalmic laboratory technician, you need to conduct a set of daily duties such as obtaining medical histories from patients, measuring & recording vision, testing eye muscle function, providing information on contact lens, providing eye medication, diagnostic tests and maintaining optical as well and surgical instruments.
Whenever a patient needs medical device in order to facilitate clear vision, chew, walk, speak well or even assisting patients for different purposes. They also develop fit, repair, maintain braces, artificial limbs, arch supports, joints & other medical and surgical appliances. They are supported to follow certain prescriptions or detailed instructions from podiatrists or orthodontists. These may request braces or other services.
They should not be confused with workers in other vision related occupations. These are eye doctors who can examine eyes, diagnose & treat different vision care problems. They read out prescription specifications & perform some other tasks such as selecting standard glass, plastic lens blanks & thereafter them in order to indicate the curves specified on the prescription. They also place the lens inside the lens grinder & set the dials for the curvature as prescribed before starting the machine. » Read more: Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians – A Helping Hand To Ophthalmology
