Dr. Arvind Varma is a practicing ophthalmologist who runs a clinic in Nerul, Navi Mumbai. Besides writing on common eye problems, Dr. Varma will also answer specific queries.

This week we give you a detailed account of how to best care for your eyes.

Take these precautions…

• Eat a balanced diet that is rich in Vitamin A, C and E
• Do not read in a moving vehicle
•Detect and correct refractive error at an early stage
• Bright lights and dull illumination are bad for eyes
• Never look directly at a solar eclipse
• Use protective eyewear whenever required
• Do not enter public swimming pools during an epidemic of red eye i.e. conjunctivitis
• Avoid shaking hands with a person suffering from conjunctivitis and do not use/share any article used by him/her
• Never wash eyes with ordinary tap water
• Keep diabetes, blood pressures under control
• Do not allow cataract to mature in your eye
• If you are suffering from glaucoma, follow the drug schedule strictly
• Visit your ophthalmologist regularly. There are many eye diseases, which produce symptoms at an advanced stage only. Your eye doctor will be able to detect them at an early stage and save your sight before the damage has been done.

How often should I see an eye doctor?
Ideally the first eye examination should be carried out as early as possible (early childhood). Considering that your refractive error is stable and there are no serious diseases that require constant supervision, a visit once in a year to the ophthalmologist is good enough.

Will television/computers affect my eyes?
Watching TV, working on computers and driving are highly demanding on the eyes. That is because the objects one is seeing are not stationary and constantly moving. To keep the image sharply on the retina, your eye has to move accordingly. This places extra burden on the eye and leads to eye strain. If you have an uncorrected refractive error you will develop eyestrain symptoms rather early.

What are the symptoms of eyestrain?
These include irritation, tiredness of eyes, foreign body sensation in the eyes, itching, redness of the eye and headaches. These symptoms are usually relieved after due rest.

I suffer from frequent headaches. Should I consult an ophthalmologist?
Even small astigmatic errors may lead to headaches and you must visit the ophthalmologist to detect if the causes are ocular.

Next fortnight read about the causes, symptoms and treatment of cataract }

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Other Articles By Dr. Arvind Varma

• An Eye On trouble
• An Eye On Your Glasses…
• Do You Have A Lazy Eye?
• Do You Have Computer Vision Syndrome?
• Does Your Child Need An Eye Checkup?
• FAQ’s About Cataract
• Cataract Treatment
• Should You Opt For Contact Lenses?
• Treatment For Glaucoma
• Understanding Glaucoma
• Your Eye & Diabetes Mellitus