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
Posts Tagged ‘Academy Of Ophthalmology’
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
Lasik – Finding The Right Surgeon
December 1st, 2009Though LASIK surgery is a relatively simple procedure, you should still take special care when considering it. After all, a poorly performed surgery will affect your vision for the rest of your life. One of the most important things that you can do when considering LASIK surgery is to carefully choose your surgeon.
So how do you go about finding a good LASIK surgeon? Most likely you will have seen many advertisements announcing the now widely available procedure. And with the surgery being so widely available, you may have noticed that many are performing the procedure at really attractive rates.
However, while many of these practices may be competent, choosing your LASIK surgeon based purely on an advertisement is not a wise decision. Sure, advertisements can be good starting points, but there are other things that should be considered also.
One thing to consider is if your potential surgeon is associated with an academic medical center. Practitioners that are associated with medical centers are more likely to be abreast of current information and technology. If possible, you should choose a surgeon who is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, as their standards for acceptance are pretty rigid.
Another avenue for helping you choose a LASIK surgeon is a referral from your regular optometrist or ophthalmologist. Still another resource for helping you to locate a LASIK surgeon is the Academy of Ophthalmology’s website at www.aao.org using the “Find an Eye M.D.” feature. Choose refractive surgery under specialty. You may also call refractive surgery centers in your area.
After you have settled on a potential surgeon, you need to make an appointment for a consultation. Ask any questions that you may have concerning the surgery – it helps to take along a list. If you are having problems thinking of questions, you can visit The Council for refractive Surgery Quality Assurance’s website to get an idea of what you should be asking.
You should also choose a surgeon who is competent in the different areas of refractive surgery, such as LASIK, LASEK, PRK, CK, and clear lens replacement. He should also be informed of the latest technologies in refractive surgery. A surgeon who is competent in all areas of refractive surgery will be able to make the best recommendation for correcting your vision.
Just as you might when considering any other surgical procedure, feel free to consult with several surgeons before making your final decision. It is also important that you are comfortable with your LASIK surgeon and trust that he is competent. You should never feel obligated or pressured to choose a particular surgeon. Be sure to base your preference for a LASIK surgeon on what is best for you and your health.
By: Lyn Davis
