Many eye injuries are preventable. Use foresight and follow this advice.
• Keep damaging rays away from the eyes. Infants should wear sun hats when outside, and all other ages should wear sun hats and sunglasses. Since evidence suggests that the amount of UV exposure during youth and young adulthood may be a risk factor in developing age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of severe vision loss, Dr. John Lloyd, a staff ophthalmologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, recommends wearing impact-resistant UV-blocking sunglasses during prolonged outdoor activities.
• Wear eye protection. The number of work-related eye injuries is lower today than it used to be, says William J. Ulakovic, president of the Ontario Association of Optometrists, because safety glasses and shields are widely employed where required. Most eye injuries are now the result of leisure activities. Make sure you and your children play smartly by wearing a face mask, eye shield or other appropriate device at the rink, on the field, in the garden or in the workshop.
• Avoid computer eyestrain. Computers are associated with a syndrome called computer eyestrain. "When viewing a monitor, the rate at which you blink your eyes drops by about half," says Lloyd. "Your eyes dry out and the constant prolonged close focusing is tiring. So it's important to give your eyes periodic breaks, look away from the screen, and to consciously think about blinking the eyes to moisten them."
Diabetes and your eyes
People with diabetes have abnormally high blood sugar because their bodies don't produce enough insulin. If not properly treated, diabetes will adversely affect many parts of the body, including the eyes. Blurred vision and difficulties with focusing are common treatable eye conditions of people with diabetes, who are also at risk for cataracts and glaucoma.
Diabetic retinopathy is a significant cause of vision problems. In the early stages, the blood vessels that feed the retina weaken and leak blood or fluid, causing the retina to swell. At a later stage, new abnormal vessels, which are fragile and often bleed and tear, replace dead blood vessels. Scar tissue forms; as it shrinks, it tears the retina and can cause the retina to detach, leading to blindness. Most of those who have had the disease long term (10 years or more) have some degree of retinopathy. Anyone who has diabetes should have a comprehensive annual eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Which eye expert do you need?
Is your knowledge of eye-health professionals a bit blurry? Here's how to clear up any confusion.
Ophthalmologist: a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and performs eye surgery.
Optometrist: a university-trained professional who diagnoses diseases and dysfunctions of the eye, assesses vision and prescribes corrective lenses and preventive devices. In some provinces, optometrists are permitted to prescribe therapeutic pharmacological agents for treating eye diseases.
As primary eye-care providers, optometrists work collaboratively with family physicians, who refer patients with diabetes to them for monitoring of eye-health complications related to diabetes.
Optician: a practitioner trained in a community college who fits and dispenses eyeglasses and contact lenses according to prescriptions supplied by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
Read more:
• The best frames for your face
• Does your child need glasses?
• Beauty 101: How to reduce under-eye puffiness
Check out:
• CanadianLiving.com health
• CanadianLiving.com prevention
Page 5 of 5
