In todays stressful life, we fail to prioritise our eye health. Our eyesight is affected due to various reasons such as constant exposure to digital screens, work pressure and unhealthy eating habits.
According to a research study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, eye care centres in India reported a 96.5 percent to 98.7 percent decrease in patients visiting clinics for their routine care and follow-ups, including eye injections and retinal laser procedures as of May 2021, as compared to the previous year. Several patients sought help at advanced stages, at which point they were unresponsive to treatment. Despite the ongoing vaccination drive, people continue to remain hesitant to seek diagnosis or treatment at clinics.
"Dr Mahipal S Sachdev, Chairman � Centre for Sight Group of Hospitals said, "In India, there are still a million individuals who are blind from cataracts, even though they could have their vision restored. In contrast, there are people aged 40 years or older who are afflicted with glaucoma who will become permanently blind without appropriate therapy. Another worrisome disease that is affecting the millennials today is Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), which is not completely preventable, but its onset can be delayed with regular exercises, a balanced diet and strict control of systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus, along with treatment adherence."
Four reasons why you need to take care of your eyes in today's screen-dependent world
Screen time: With the large-scale adoption of work-from-home (WFH), the time people spend on screens has exponentially increased. With prolonged hours spent in front of either a laptop, mobile phone or television screen (or switching between the three), one's eyes have had to endure a lot more strain. The damaging effects of extended screen times on eye health are well known such as dry eyes. Yet, eye care continues to form one of the most neglected, overlooked topics within one's list of healthcare priorities, often as the damage may not be immediately apparent.
Age no bar: For much of India's population with pre-existing lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, the pandemic only aggravated their condition. What's less evident is that ignoring these factors could potentially lead to glaucoma and chronic retinal diseases, including Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), as a result of poor diabetes control. However, it is also important to note that if detected early and properly treated, these conditions can be effectively managed.
Lifestyle choice: Habits such as smoking, drinking, lack of exercise and unhealthy dietary habits due to increased time spent at home can impact overall eye health. Additionally, this can be detrimental to the body, as well as disease management, while also leading to poor glucose control and weight gain, which can further exacerbate health complications, including eye health
Mental health: Covid has taken a considerable toll on people's mental health. With deteriorating mental health, people's focus on eye health � even for diagnosed conditions � is taking a backseat. For instance, a clear link has been drawn between suffering from depression and showing non-compliance to medical treatments, (ii) which can affect routine eye care and follow-ups and lead to a number of disease-related complications as well.
The way forward
Regular eye check-ups are essential, particularly for at-risk groups. Apart from getting one's eyes screened, one quick way to also give them rest is by adopting the 20-20-20 rule. This means taking a break from your electronic screen every 20 minutes, by looking at something that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Dr. Ajay Dudani, CEO Vitreoretinal Surgeon, Mumbai Retina Centre, commented on disease management, saying, "From a young age, people must learn to maintain optimal eye health. In case an individual is at greater risk due to pre-existing conditions like diabetes, or old age, eye diseases can be identified and addressed early on through regular screenings. For instance, people with prolonged diabetes need to undergo eye screening every 6 months, or annually. There are a number of advanced treatment options available to control the condition, alongside regular monitoring, including eye drops, innovative medication, laser or even surgery."
To counter these growing problems that can cascade into poorer eye health outcomes, action to prioritize your eyes is needed.
Get your next steps in and learn some helpful suggestions before your next walk. Bring water to stay hydrated if planning on a lengthy walk. Park water fountains remain closed during Covid-19, so best to bring your own.
The research project is collecting data from children's hospitals on visits that may be related to COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Investigators say they are looking for symptoms that may be caused by the disease, including a rare condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which can cause swelling and heart problems.
UV light is well-known to kill anything that has DNA or RNA, including human cells, viruses, fungi and bacteria. It has been used in hospitals and commercial ventilation systems for years but products for consumer use are more recent.
Your frame of reference is unique to you. You are the best judge for what you need in your life, and sometimes we get to do things that are a little out of our comfort zone to make small shifts that lead to small wins.
Jagjeevan Singh of Brampton, Ont., who is one of Bajaj's patients, developed Type 2 diabetes two years ago at age 32. Singh said he believes the stress of his job at a large warehouse contributed to the chronic disease. But he improved his condition by switching jobs, changing his diet, losing the weight he'd gained from not eating properly while doing shift work, and started practising yoga and meditation.
Plogging a trend that combines jogging or walking and picking up litter. It is an excellent way for residents to get outside and increase their physical activity, while also giving back to the community.
