Eyecare Essentials

There are a number of things you can do to look after your eyes. These include:

REGULAR EYE EXAMINATIONS

Have regular eye tests with Kofsky Optometry. Prevention and early detection can often lead to the best forms of protection and treatment. An eye test is recommended every two years however, if your vision suddenly changes, come in to Kofsky Optometry immediately for an examination.

WEAR SUNGLASSES

Wear sunglasses all the time when you are outdoors. Even on overcast days, UV radiation (UV radiation) penetrates clouds and is what causes the most damage. We all know the ’Slip, Slop, Slap’ sun safe message. The same message applies to our eyes. UV radiation has been shown to be linked with skin cancers, cataracts and growths on the eye. Even a short overexposure to excessive UV can injure the eye and produce a ’sunburn’ like irritation called UV keratitis. This is the irritation or grittiness you get in your eye when you have been on the beach, in the boat or on the snow for too long. It is difficult to say how much UV exposure is damaging for individual people because we are all different, live in different parts of the country and do different things. However, we support the Victorian Cancer Council’s recommendations of slip on a hat, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat and slide on sunglasses whenever you are outdoors. For more information, see the Sunsmart website.

EAT A BALANCED DIET

Eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of water. It has been shown that a diet high in anti-oxidants and omega oils is beneficial in reducing the incidence of dry eyes and macular degeneration in older people. The evidence for this comes from a long term US clinical trial called the age-related eye disease study (AREDS). A summary of this study can be found at the National Institute of Health.

TAKE REGULAR BREAKS

Do not spend excessive periods of time using your eyes for specific non-varied work without a break. For example, when using your computer take a break every 45 - 60 minutes and go for a walk or look up at something in the distance for a few minutes. Most office workers spend all day looking at a computer screen. However, it is important to:

• rest your eyes for two or three minutes every 45 - 60 minutes by looking around the office.
• blink your eyes often to moisten your eyes and avoid dryness and irritation.
• position any reference material the same distance from your eyes as your computer, so you don't need to re-adjust your focus.
• get anti-reflective coating on your glasses to prevent glare and lens reflections.
• make sure light sources are not in your direct line of sight or reflecting off your computer screens. If your eyes get sore and red by the end of the day, have an eye test to rule out any serious reasons for eye strain.
• wear eye protection when working in certain dangerous environments that could lead to eye injuries.

WEAR EYE PROTECTION

Wear eye protection when playing specific sports that may cause eye injuries: eg. squash.