Sunday 1 September 2013

Vision Care Basics - Keep Your Eyes Healthy


A good number of children experience visual impairment during their early years. Prescription lenses can correct most childhood eyesight problems quickly. An ophthalmologist or an optometrist may prescribe corrective lenses your child will use for a given time frame. You will have different needs as you get older. Make sure you visit a specialist every now and then to check the health of your eyes.
What causes visual impairment?

Many factors can cause eyesight problems. Some conditions are hereditary and will manifest over time, while others may be a congenital defect. Myopia or nearsightedness is a very good example of a problem that may stem from genetics.

Other problems arise from neglect and bad habits. Your eyes need vitamin A and lutein. Vitamin A helps maintain your eyesight, while lutein keeps your eyes lubricated and protects it from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Not having enough of these two hastens the deterioration of your vision.
Reading habits such as reading in poorly-lit places, reading for extended periods of time, and reading at an uncomfortable angle makes your hereditary condition worse.

Aging affects your eyesight dramatically. Your body's capacity to retain the nutrients needed for healthy eyesight decreases as you get older. This can lead to nearsightedness and farsightedness, astigmatism, and more serious conditions like glaucoma, retinal detachment, and cataracts.


What types of treatment are available?

Prescription lenses correct most eyesight problems. You either have to wear it for a limited time or wear it for the rest of your life. This will depend on what condition you have. Most people begin with corrective lenses as children, and move on to reading glasses once they start aging. You will need to see an optometrist or an ophthalmologist for proper diagnosis of more serious conditions. They will give you an eyeglass prescription and tell you whether or not your condition is still reversible.

Other disorders may require surgical procedures. Those with advanced myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism may qualify for LASIK eye surgery. It involves the use of laser to reshape and remodel your cornea. Conditions like cataracts and glaucoma require traditional surgical procedures. Retinal detachment, meanwhile, will need emergency surgery to stop the retina from detaching completely.


Tips on Caring for Your Eyes

Make sure you eat a healthy diet rich in vitamin A and lutein. Squash, broccoli and spinach are good examples of lutein-rich food, while red pepper and carrots are rich in vitamin A. You should also mind your reading habits. Read at a comfortable angle and ensure you have ample light. Rest your eyes every now and then when reading for an extended period of time. You can exercise your eyeballs by looking up, down and sideways. Finally, make sure you visit a vision care specialist every two years, and that you keep your prescription updated. Wearing the wrong prescription lenses does more damage than good.

Mirabelle Potter shares vision care tips and proper selection of prescription lenses in an online magazine.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mirabelle_Potter

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