Technology has provided several advantages, like has made work easier for people, it has saved time, energy and also automated mundane or boring work, minimizing human intervention. However, the flip side technology has also resulted unhealthy lifestyle.
Growing up in this digital age, it’s common to see children with their eyes glued to the TV screen or other digital devices. Although this may seem “normal” nowadays, too much exposure to the blue light emitted from gadget may cause adverse effect on their visual health. Continuous use of gadget leads to many reported health problem, like eye straining, finger pain, backache, neck pain, and sleep disturbances. Depending on the amount of time spent on gadget (duration and frequency), there are adverse effects like physiological, social, and emotional.
The risk for developing an eye condition increases with age. But other factors can also up your odds of experiencing vision problems in the future. People who have diabetes can develop a condition called diabetic retinopathy, which can damage their retinas. By detecting eye diseases such as these and treating them as soon as possible, experts estimate that nearly half of all vision loss and blindness could be prevented.
What is blue light?
Sunlight contains red, orange, yellow, green, and blue light rays and many shades of each of these colors, depending on the energy and wavelength of the individual rays (also called electromagnetic radiation). Combined, this spectrum of colored light rays creates what we call “white light” or sunlight.
There is an inverse relationship between the wavelength of light rays and the amount of energy they contain. Light rays that have relatively long wavelength contain less energy, and those with short wavelengths have more energy.
Most Common Eye Problems
1. Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is the name given to the damage to the central portion of retina, known as the macula. With its ability to focus central vision in the eye, macula helps us read, view objects in detail, recognize colors and faces, drive a car and get a detailed image of an object.
2. Cataracts
Cataracts happen to be another of the most widely existing eye problems. The formation of cloudy areas in the eye lens is referred as the cataracts. Light passes through clear eye lens to the retina (just like a camera), where image are processed. With cataracts affecting your eye lens, light cannot pass through to the retina smoothly enough.
3. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye condition where eye’s optic nerve is damaged, getting worse over time. Mostly, it results in pressure build up within the fluid in your eye, which can potentially damage the optic nerve responsible for transmitting images to your brain.
This increased pressure, also referred as intraocular pressure, might also lead to permanent vision loss if it continues for a longer period of time. If left untreated, glaucoma can result in permanent blindness in a matter of few years.
4. Nearsightedness (Myopia)
When you can view the objects close to you clearly enough, while getting a blurry vision of the objects far away, this eye condition is referred as myopia or nearsightedness. This happens because of irregular bending of light (refraction) due to the shape of your eye. The resultant images are focused in front of your retina rather than being focused right on it.
5. Farsightedness (Hypermetropia)
Hypermetropia or farsightedness refers to an eye condition when you have a clear vision looking at farsightedness refers to an eye condition when you have a clear vision looking at far placed things, while getting a blurry vision of nearby objects.
1. Eat Well
Good eye health starts with the food on your plate. Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamin C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. Food those are good for the eyes:
a. Green leafy vegetable, like spinach
b. Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
c. Eggs, nuts, beans, and other nonmeat protein sources
d. Oranges, other citrus fruits or juices
A well-balanced diet also helps you stay at a healthy weight. That lowers your odds of obesity and related diseases like type 2 diabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults.
2. Quit Smoking
Smoking makes person more likely to get cataracts, damage to your optic nerve, and macular degeneration, among many other medical problems.
3. Wear Sunglasses
The rights pair of shades will help protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much UV exposure boots your chances of cataracts and macular degeneration.
Choose pair that blocks 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protects the eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduced glare while you drive.
4. Use Safety Eyewear
If you use hazardous or airborne materials on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective googles. Sports like ice hookey, racquetball, and lacrosse can also lead to eye injury.
5. Look Away From the Computer Screen
Staring at a computer or phone screen for too long can cause:
a. Eyestrain
b. Blurry vision
c. Trouble focusing at a distance
d. Dry eyes
e. Headaches
d. Neck, back, and shoulder pain
To protect the eyes:
- Make sure your glasses or contacts prescription is up to date and good for looking at a computer screen.
- If the eye strain won’t go away, talk to your doctor about computer glasses.
a. Move the screen so your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. That lets you look slightly down at the screen.
b. Try to avoid glare from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if needed.
c. Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position so that your feet are flat on the floor.
d. If your eyes are dry, blink more.
e. Rest your eyes every 20 minutes. Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Get up at least every 2 hours and take a 15 minutes break.
6.Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly
Everyone needs a regular eye exam, even young children. Eye exams can also find diseases, like glaucoma, that have no symptoms. Its important to spot them early on, when they re easier to treat.
A comprehensive eye exam might include:
a. Talking about your personal and family medical history
b. Vision tests to see if you’re nearsighted, farsighted, have an astigmatism (a curved cornea that blurs vision), or presbyopia (age-related vision changes)
c. Tests to see how well your eyes work together
d. Eye pressure and optic nerve tests to check for glaucoma
e. External and microscopic examination of your eyes before and after dilation
Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals in your body. It help you to protecting the eyes. Free radicals cause harm if their levels become too high in your body including your eyes. Your body has its own antioxidant defenses to keep free radicals in check, but if the free radicals are too much for your body, you must get antioxidants from outside. The ingredients that are good for your eyes as a natural antioxidant are Bilberry extract, Beta-carotene, vitamin E, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin.
Bilberries are primarily Eurasian species of low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium, bearing edible, and dark blue berries. Bilberries are rich in antioxidants known as anthocyanins and polyphenols, billberies have been used for medicinal purpose for conditions ranging from eye conditions to diabetes. Bilberry is often touted as a remedy for eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa.
Beta-carotene is naturally occurring plant pigment that is converted into the provitamin A, or retinol. Vitamin A an essential vitamin that the body uses to help the immune system work better. Vitamin A and Beta-carotene help with the eye health by keeping the surface of the eye, or the cornea moist and healthy. Deficiencies of vitamin A often lead to dry eyes, which can in turn lead to corneal ulcers, clouding of the front of the eye, and vision loss. Beta-carotene can also help to enhance night and peripheral vision.
Two carotenoids, Lutein and Zeaxanthin are antioxidants that are located in the eye. Lutein and Zeaxanthin filter harmful high-energy blue wavelengths of light and help protect and maintain healthy cells in the eye. About 600 carotenoids found in the nature, only these two are deposited in high quantities in the retina (macula) of the eye. Unfortunately, the human body does not naturally make the Lutein and Zeaxanthin it needs. This is why getting daily amounts of Lutein and Zeaxanthin through your diet or nutritional supplements can help maintain good eye health.
PT. SIMEX PHARMACEUTICAL INDONESIA as one of the pharmaceutical companies in Indonesia presents GOOD LIFE EYEBRIGHT products as an eye health supplement containing combination of Bilberry extract, Retinol, Beta-carotene, Vitamin E, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin. In adition to, GOOD LIFE EYEBRIGHT contain Selenium and Zinc. The addition of Selenium and Zinc will increase the activity of the supplement’s antioxidant.
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