Taking Care of Your Eyes at Every Stage of Life
March 13, 2014 by Theo Schmidt
Filed under VISION
Eye care is an often underrated but important part of our physical health. You may not think much about what you need to do to take care of your eyes until it is too late. Common eye problems including refractive errors (near- or farsightedness), cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration can happen to anyone. So it is important to always take care of your eyes, no matter your age or general health.
Children
Although young children may not show symptoms of eye problems, it is still important for them to get routine eye exams. Children should be checked at six months, three years, and just before they begin first grade. After this point, you should take your child for an eye exam if you notice they are struggling in school, squinting while reading or watching TV, or if they complain of frequent headaches.
To help your children care for their eyes, always encourage them to take breaks from eye-straining activities. These can include reading, watching television, or playing video games. Also help protect your children’s eyes from the sun. Encourage them to wear sunglasses or a brimmed hat on sunny days.
Childhood is the foundation for health so teach your child the importance of keeping their eyes protected and healthy.
Teenagers
During the teenage years the eyes are still growing and developing. Therefore, teenagers should care for their eyes in a similar way that children would. Take notice if your teen is squinting often or frequently has red, itchy eyes. Occasionally a teen will avoid telling his parents if he is having trouble seeing because he doesn’t want to wear glasses or contact lenses. However, encourage your teen to discuss any health concerns with you and reassure them that whether you live in Los Angeles or Edmonton, optical stores offer plenty of stylish eyewear options. Teens should not have corrective eye surgery because their eyes are still developing and the surgery would not be as effective as it would be for an adult.
Remind your teen to keep their eyes safe from harm and clean to avoid diseases. Encourage them to wear protective eyewear when participating in certain sports or activities. Emphasize the importance of not sharing anything that comes in contact with their eyes like goggles or makeup. Also remind your teen to give their eyes the time they need to rest from the computer and reading.
Adults
Adulthood is an extremely important time for eye care because if eye diseases are going to occur, the symptoms will begin to appear during adulthood. Like children and teenagers, adults should take care of their eyes by getting eye exams and taking breaks from visually taxing activities. The latter is especially important since many adults spend a significant time at work staring at a computer screen.
Know what eye diseases run in your family so that you can make your optometrist aware of the risks you have. This will also help you to know what you can do to prevent them. For example, to help prevent diabetic retinopathy you should be cautious about what you eat and have a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Try to have a diet rich in vitamin A, antioxidants, and minerals to keep your eyes healthy and happy. Adults should also avoid smoking as it is linked to many eye problems.
The sad thing about growing older is that you encounter a variety of ailments, both physical and mental. Unfortunately, most eye diseases are not reversible so it is important to care for your eyes while you are young. As you age, continue with your regular eye exams and follow your optometrist’s orders for treatment. Continue to eat well to get the nutrients that your eyes need.
Unfortunately, eye care is often a low health priority for many of us. This may make sense since eye problems are not often life-threatening. However, this does not mean that they aren’t severe. Eye disease symptoms can range from discomfort to intense pain and even blindness. Don’t let your eyes get the best of you; take care of them as you age to have a more beautiful life ahead of you.
About The Author
Theo Schmidt enjoys getting healthy in the outdoors and is passionate about protecting the environment. He gets his information about eye care from Londonderry Eye Care. You can reach Theo at his Google+ or Twitter accounts.
6 Signs Your Eyes Are Suffering from a Vitamin B Deficiency—and How to Cure It
March 5, 2014 by Candice Harding
Filed under VISION
When you’re diagnosed with a vitamin B deficiency, you expect the ever-present fatigue, tingling sensation, and even mouth sores. What you might not expect, however, is the damage it does to your eyes.
Vitamin B produces red blood cells and nerve cells to give you energy, as well as myelin, a protective shield for your nerves. So without this vitamin, your nervous system weakens. The optic nerves in your eyes are no exception. If they are suffering from the deficiency, here’s how you might be able to tell:
1. You have blurred or dim vision. A deficiency in vitamins B2, B6, and B12 can lead to optic neuropathy (i.e., damage to the optic nerve). Since the optic nerve is the heart and soul of your eye, your vision starts to go if it isn’t fully functioning.
2. Your eyes itch, burn, or water. Vitamin B produces riboflavin—a strengthening substance. Since your body isn’t producing as much riboflavin as it should, your eyes don’t receive that extra “oomph” to ward off irritating particles and produce enough tears.
3. You have sensitive eyes. Riboflavin also helps your eyes withstand bright lights and quick changes in the climate. Without it, you likely prefer dimly lit rooms.
4. Your eyes twitch. A vitamin B deficiency causes fatigue and muscle shakiness. So if your eyelids twitch, you’re probably missing B2 and B6 vitamins.
5. You have cross-eyes. Vitamins B1 and B12 cause this. They do more than nourish your eyes; they produce myelin to strengthen the cranial nerves. So without the myelin, your eyes might struggle to move in sync.
6. You have pink eye. Pink eye is essentially inflammation of your eye—an infection that causes burning and itching, among other symptoms. Because you don’t produce as much riboflavin, your eyes won’t just burn and itch; they might also produce more mucous and bacteria.
It’s true that any of these symptoms can happen when you don’t suffer from a vitamin B deficiency. But if you experience any of them, it may be a sign that your deficiency is spreading to your vision (or that you are deficient, if you haven’t already been diagnosed).
What You Can Do
If you do have a vitamin deficiency, you and your eyes don’t have to suffer any longer. You can solve most of your problems by:
· Taking regular vitamin B shots. Depending on the severity of your deficiency, you can get a shot of this weekly, monthly—whatever works for you. You can’t overdose. Any little bit that you take helps.
· Eating more vitamin B-rich foods. This means more eggs, meat, fish, cheese, mushrooms, spinach, seafood—all the good stuff. Think protein, and think of it often.
· Getting your eyes checked. When in doubt, consult an eye doctor, not just a general physician. People with symptoms just like yours opt for an eye exam in Edmonton, Denver, New York, and all over the world to get advice from a specialist. While an optometrist won’t give you vitamin B shots directly, he can provide advice about taking B12 pills and eating eye-healthy foods.
Source: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/B_vitamin_supplement_tablets.jpg
So if you’ve struggled with eye problems, take heart. The cause of it may well be a vitamin B deficiency, and if it is, you have a say in how you feel. Don’t hesitate to meet with different doctors, and adjust your diet so you give your eyes—and the rest of your body—their best chance.
About The Author
Candice Harding enjoys writing about ways to improve specific areas of health, such as optic health, and is always looking for ideas to publish on her website, myredbicycle.com. She is single, lives in Phoenix, AZ, and loves riding her bike and exploring the outdoors. She recommends the Eyewear Place to anyone looking for a great optometrist in that area.
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