Is it a good idea to use eye drops suggested by a chemist?

In India, when someone has a red eye, they often go to a chemist and request him to give them an eye drop. Chemists tend to handout steroid drops. Now steroid drops are indicated only in a small percentage of red eye cases. Their use in conditions like corneal ulcer or a foreign body in the eye can considerably worsen the situation. Prolonged use can cause glaucoma which is a sight –threatening condition.

Decongestant eye drops relieve redness and discomfort by constricting the superficial blood vessels of the eyes. But what consumers don’t know is that this is a temporary solution – the more you use these products, the more sensitive and redder your eyes will be.

Some eyewash also may relieve redness and soothe the eyes for a few hours, but their long term usefulness is questionable. The truth is your eyes don’t have to be cleaned with eyewashes. Simple irritation caused by smog, strong light, bathing in sea or bathing in chlorinated water is often self-limiting and natural tears do a better job of eliminating these problems.

If you have conjunctivitis, you need specific antibiotic drops and lubricant drops according to the type of infection.

Another bad effect of self medication is that it may mask symptoms of other diseases like glaucoma that is sometimes characterized by a vague discomfort – the kind of feeling you could mistake for tired eyes. In this case, eye drops won’t solve the problem. You have to see an ophthalmologist for a correct diagnosis and treatment.

Prevent Computer Vision Syndrome

As more and more people all over the world use computers for long hours , many people are discovering that it causes problems like red eyes, tiredness etc.

What are the symptoms of computer vision syndrome?

Eye strain, dry, irritated eyes, blurred vision and difficulty refocusing  .It can also cause headaches, fatigue and neck and shoulder discomfort.

Why does it happen?

There are two main components of the syndrome

1) The eyes use muscles to accommodate – to focus on near objects. Our cavemen ancestors used their eyes more for distance – to hunt, to detect danger. It is only in recent history that we have so much near work – reading, desk work, computer work. The ciliary muscles were not made for such prolonged contraction and get fatigued.

We have more difficulty trying to focus on the letters on the computer screens which are made up of fuzzy-edged pixels than printed material whose letters have sharp contrast.

Young people who have a very small eye no. may be able to do all other work without glasses but may find difficulty in computer work.

As we approach the age of 40, the ciliary muscles start weakening – that’s when everybody needs reading glasses. We need computer glasses as well.

2)  The other component of CVS is dry eye. Normally we blink 16-20 times per minute. This blinking spreads tears over the front of the eyes and keeps them comfortable. When we are staring at the computer the blink rate can go as low as 6-8 times per minute. This causes dry spots and the gritty sensation.

Prevent

# To relax the muscles of accommodation, follow the 20-20-20 rule.
Every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

# Blink more often, consciously.

# Check your vision. Close each eye in turn and look at a clock or a calendar about 20 feet away.Ifthere is any difference in clarity between the two eyes you probably need to wear glasses.

# Check that the level of the computer monitor is below your eye level so that you have to look down. This is better as the eyes do not get dry very soon.

# Flax seeds (they are known as ‘alsi’ in hindi) can help treat dry eyes .Roast one teaspoon, chew them properly and drink 2 glasses of water – everyday.
Treat

If you still have symptoms after following these rules, you need to see us. We will do special tests to assess the CVS and treat the condition.

The consultation for CVS will include

* A complete eye exam.

* Prescription of computer glasses.

* Test for tear film quality and treatment with eye drops if necessary.

* Advise about exercises and workstation ergonomics.

WASHING EYES WITH WATER – GOOD OR BAD ?

We have been often advised by our peers to splash water on our faces while we sit on computer or hook on to a television for longer hours. The reason, they say, is to get fresh and give a rest to our eyes and we have just held on to that advice as if it were a bible.

But has one ever wondered that washing the eyes by splashing water on them is actually asking for an eye trouble?

Many of our ancient traditions like yoga seem to advocate frequent washing of eyes. But, a detailed study on the activity by doctors has revealed that routinely washing your eyes with tap water is NOT a good idea. What it actually does is it washes away the tear film which covers the surface of the eye. The tears are not just water; they have lipids to lubricate the surface, electrolytes to maintain the pH and immune proteins to protect against infection, etc.

The optical surface is optimized to clean itself. The normal protection mechanism of the eye is for the dust etc. to collect at the base of the eye lashes. Hence, doctors often advice their patients to wash their eyes with their eyes closed. So if you have been out in a dusty atmosphere, close your eyes and wash the outside of the eyes especially the roots of the eye lashes.

The only time washing is indicated is when an irritating chemical gets into the eye .If an acid or alkali gets into the eye , wash the eyes continuously for about 10 minutes and then seek the help of an eye doctor.

So, if a particle has gone in the eye, blink a lot – this will dislodge it .If it doesn’t, try splashing water for a few minutes. If this too doesn’t help, go to an eye doctor. It is not a good idea to try and remove it with a wet cloth – you will ultimately dislodge a lot of epithelium and eye infection can occur.

In Monsoons, Prevent Red Eye

In Monsoons, Prevent Red Eye

With the onset of monsoons comes a host of viral diseases that one needs to be cautious of and definitely not the one to missed is the ‘Conjuctivitis’, also known as the ‘pink eye’. ‘Conjuctivitis’, most of the times is viral in nature and causes irritation in the eye. Eyes also tend to turn red due to the disease though it is better to check with the doctor before forming a conclusion.

It is extremely important to study the cause of the disease in order to avoid it.

HOW IS CONJUNCTIVITIS CAUSED and HOW DOES IT SPREAD?

Conjunctivitis is generally caused when a person comes in contact with the virus. It spreads by what are called ‘fomites’ objects, which when handled by the patient causes the virus to be transferred. .When that object is handled by another person he gets the virus on his hand and then transfers it to his eye .Common ways of spread are by the viruses on objects like pens etc. exchanged with the patient or sitting on a chair vacated by a patient and touching the handrest touched by the patient etc. It does not spread through the air.

As we commonly say, prevention is better than cure, lets see how we can avoid them.

PRECAUTIONS:

Its important to keep your hands clean, especially if you come across somebody with red eyes.
It is quite possible that the virus may come in contact with your eyes.
Wash your hands with soap. Make sure your child washes his hand after he comes from school or playground.

WHAT IF I GET RED EYES?

Do not use eye drops advised by chemists .They have a tendency to dispense a steroid called ‘pyrimon’ which can be harmful in certain cases.
Visit your eye doctor to make sure it is conjunctivitis (there are many other causes of red eyes )
Make sure that your ‘cornea the transparent front portion of your eye’ is not involved .
The doctor will then provide the appropriate medicines.