5 Basic Eye Protection Measures
Protecting our collective sensory organs is extremely important in our lives because we rely on them to learn, interact with others, and even protect ourselves.Eye careAs an integral part of our cognitive system, vision impairment can threaten our safety and health. Since the brain relies primarily on vision to make the fastest and most accurate judgments about the environment among all sensory organs, eye health has become a top priority, especially for infants and the elderly.
Furthermore, eye problems can be uncomfortable, frustrating, and restrictive. Case studies show that severe visual impairment not only troubles the patient but also inconveniences their caregivers. To protect family well-being and minimize the risks associated with physical discomfort, this article outlines several basic eye care methods to help you. Therefore, this article focuses on several safe and healthy basic preventative measures for common eye problems.
1. Avoid exposing your eyes to harmful light.
Harmful light is everywhere, including ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun and man-made low-energy lighting systems (i.e., LED lights). Today, we live in a technologically advanced world where almost all the gadgets we love are lit by light-emitting diodes (LED lights).
Studies have shown that excessive blue light can damage the retina. Even prolonged use of mobile phones with LED-backlit screens exposes our eyes to short-wave radiation, which can potentially cause eye damage if the exposure is too long.
Another common eye problem is computer vision syndrome. This is a condition caused by prolonged, uninterrupted, and repetitive staring at a computer screen or other display devices. Computer vision syndrome is often accompanied by symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, neck pain, eye strain, dry eyes, and even restlessness and difficulty concentrating.
For some people with pre-existing eye conditions, avoiding exposure to harmful light is paramount, as their eyes may be more susceptible to cumulative tissue damage. Therefore, they must adhere to all precautions to ensure their lenses are not easily injured and to prevent further damage to their eyes.
Experts recommend
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection recommends safe exposure limits for artificial light (> 10,000 seconds or about 3 hours).
In specialized work areas (such as welding companies), safety goggles must be worn at all times.
Make sure to wear photochromic or anti-reflective lenses when necessary.
Avoid exposing your eyes to excessively bright light, dim the screen brightness, and use a backlight when necessary.
Purchase nutritional supplements to improve eyesight.
Add some natural nutritional supplements with antioxidants to your diet list.
two,Quit smoking
Quitting smoking is an important measure to protect your eyes. Because the eyes are close to the heat source of burning cigarette smoke and ash, they are easily damaged. In addition, cigarette smoke contains a large amount of chemicals and carbon dioxide; if these components are present in higher concentrations than the oxygen levels at the cellular level, they will hinder blood flow around the eyes. Numerous studies have shown that nicotine has an adverse effect on oxygen supply and tissue blood flow velocity in the optic nerve of habitual smokers. Many studies have also linked smoking to an increased risk of age-related macular or lens degeneration. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to smoke as little as possible, or even quit altogether, especially if you already have eye problems.
Experts recommend
Smoking ban is key to this measure; however, choosing e-cigarettes is also a viable way to reduce tobacco consumption.
three,Avoid contact with chemical irritants in the eyes.
Always remain vigilant and avoid contact between chemicals and your eyes. If you are at increased risk of exposure to chemicals in professional settings, ensure you are trained on how to handle these substances to prevent eye injury. At home, keep chemicals and flammable materials out of reach of children. These substances include insecticides, air fresheners, sprays, and soap sprays, which can cause eye irritation or damage, and potentially more serious consequences, if they come into contact with the eyes.
If you can learn more about other harmful substances, such as varnish, bleach, clove oil, hydrogen peroxide, and phosphoric acid, it will also be helpful to you.
Four,Avoid eye injuries
Trauma is a major cause of increased risk of eye injury and blurred vision. Eye injuries can occur when foreign objects enter the eye. Normally, the eyeball protects itself from invisible debris by blinking and using eyelashes to filter it. However, high-speed projectiles can also cause physical trauma to the eye. They can cause penetrating injuries or pain from movement around the eyes. Harmful particles include sand, amalgam fragments, and debris from drills.
For some experts, especially subsistence farmers, it is best to wear safety goggles while working to avoid eye contact with flying particles. We also need to warn children against doing anything too dangerous, such as playing with toy guns or sharp objects.
Experts recommend
In cases of penetrating injuries, medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen should be avoided.
Sufficient bed rest is required during blood removal (the head should be kept upright while sleeping).
Doctors should recommend using steroid medications to treat the inflammation.
five,Pay more attention to nutritional supplements that are beneficial to the eyes.
We cannot underestimateNutritionThe importance of eye health. In some developing countries, nutritional deficiencies and lens aging are the main causes of vision loss. Conversely, in some developed countries, age-related eye degeneration is the primary cause. Clinical evidence suggests that substances such as lutein and zeaxanthin have been identified as beneficial for vision.Vitamin C，Vitamin EZinc, copperOmega-3 fatty acidsNutrients such as DHA can reduce the occurrence of age-related macular degeneration and slow down its progression.
Using compositeVitamin SupplementsThis is another way to ensure that the eyes receive adequate nutrition and to improve daily nutrition. Most products on the market are formulated with high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which helps reduce damage caused by free radicals and protects the eyes from continued degeneration.
Conclusion
The eyes are a delicate yet vital organ, and any form of visual impairment poses a challenge and threat to one's quality of life. However, by taking preventative safety measures and purchasing eye-care supplements, we can achieve excellent eye care results. Therefore, we recommend that the elderly, infants, and those with eye problems begin a rigorous multivitamin regimen.
Every family member has a responsibility to protect the eyes. Infants and toddlers should be supervised, and they should be warned and educated about potential eye damage. Finally, please remember that nothing related to the eyes or any medication is worth taking a gamble with. If in doubt, please contact an optometrist or primary care physician for appropriate guidance.
References
- Rosenfield M. (2011) Computer vision syndrome: A review of ocular causes and potential treatments. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 31 (5), 502-155. Google Scholar
- McKinsey & Company. Lighting the way – Perspectives on the global lighting market. 2nd edition report. Aug 2012 Google Scholar
- Nutrition and Eye Health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6771137/ accessed 6th September, 2020.
- An eye on nutrition: The role of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants in age-related macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, and cataaract https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.11.009
