Here’s why you need to take care of your eyes now more than ever

In todayrsquos 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 habitsAccording to a research study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology eye care centres in India reported a 965 percent to 987 per cent decrease in patients visiting clinics for their routine care and followups 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 clinicsDr 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 adherenceFour reasons why you need to take care of your eyes in todays screendependent worldScreen time With the largescale adoption of workfromhome 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 ones 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 ones list of healthcare priorities often as the damage may not be immediately apparentAge no bar For much of Indias population with preexisting lifestyle diseases such as diabetes the pandemic only aggravated their condition Whats 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 managedLifestyle 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 healthMental health Covid has taken a considerable toll on peoples mental health With deteriorating mental health peoples 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 noncompliance to medical treatments ii which can affect routine eye care and followups and lead to a number of diseaserelated complications as wellThe way forwardRegular eye checkups are essential particularly for atrisk groups Apart from getting ones eyes screened one quick way to also give them rest is by adopting the 202020 rule This means taking a break from your electronic screen every 20 minutes by looking at something that is 20 feet away for 20 secondsDr 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 preexisting 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 prioritise your eyes is neededAlso Read How one should modify their exercise regime and diet while fastingThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever