Eye Health

Overview:

Eyes are one of the many blessings God has bestowed on us to discover the world around us; however, eyes can be inflicted with some diseases or problems, or even sometimes we can practice bad habits that deprive us of such blessing partially or entirely. Thus, we should spare no effort to keep our eyes safe and avoid whatever may harm them. All eye problems and diseases negatively affect eyesight and may occur due to genetic factors, accidental occasional problems, or aging. Such problems and diseases are treated with several methods such as wearing glasses, surgeries, or LASIK.

Eye parts:

Cornea: This is a protective dome of clear tissue at the front of your eye.
Conjunctiva: This is a thin transparent tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of your eye (sclera).
Iris: This is the colored part of your eye. It contains a ring of muscle fibers and a linear muscle that control the amount of light entering your eye.
Pupil: This is a circular opening at the center of the iris. It is distinguished with the ability of changing in size (expands or contracts).
Lens: The lens is a clear, elliptical structure that helps refraction of light.
Retina: The retina is a thin layer of tissue inside the eye. It consists of layers of nerve cells, nerve fibers, photoreceptors and support tissue.
Optic nerve: This is a group of nerve fibers that carry visual information gathered by your eye to your brain.

How do we see things?

The eye uses two main parts to focus on the image being seen:

Cornea: The clear tissue that covers the front of your eye.
Lens: The lens is a clear, elliptical structure that that sits behind the iris (the colored part of your eye). The curvature of your lens changes to adjust refraction of light on the retina (the inner layer in your eye).

In normal conditions, the cornea and lens work together flexibly to be concave and convex depending on the proximity and distance of the image to adjust refraction of light on the retina and provide the ability to see the image clearly.

Refractive defects:

If the cornea or lens cannot work flexibly to be concave or convex, and refraction of light on the retina cannot occur, the image will not be seen clearly. Such condition differs according to the place where light refraction hits, and comprises:

Nearsightedness (myopia)
Farsightedness (hyperopia)
Astigmatism

Common Eye Problems:

Cataract
Glaucoma
Dry Eyes
Keratoconus
Keratitis
Retinal Detachment.
Eye Allergies
Exophoria

General Guidelines for Maintaining Eye Health:

Periodic eye examination to make sure of its safety.
See your doctor when there are: redness, itching, secretions, pain, or strange symptoms in your eye.
Wear sunglasses when exposed to the sun, especially at the prime time.
Do not touch your eyes unless you wash your hands with soap and water.
Beware of using expired, mediocre, test samples of or shared make-up.
Do not stare for a long time at computer or TV screens.
Use adequate light in your room while reading.
Get enough sleep at night; avoid staying up.
Keep your eyes moist by drinking abundant quantities of water.
If you have dry eyes, consult your doctor to use lubricating eye drops (artificial tears).
Eat healthy food that contains significant vitamins for the eyes.
In some cases of dryness, warm compresses benefit the eyes.
In some cases of redness, cold compresses benefit the eyes.
Perform eye exercises that contribute to strengthening eyesight. For example, hold a pen, focus your gaze on it, gradually bring it closer to your nose, then move it away from your eyes to the maximum extent.

FAQs:

Are oysters and oranges good for eye health?

Oranges are a source of vitamin C which can be found in other sources. Oranges also strengthen your immune system. Oysters are rich in minerals that the human body needs. Therefore, oranges and oysters benefit all the parts of your body including the eyes.

Does smoking affect the shape or safety of the eyes?

Smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products expose the retina to high risks and damages, because the toxic substances in tobacco and its derivatives rise with smoke and enter the eyes. This increases the chances of blocking the retinal blood vessels and capillaries, which negatively affects eyesight health and safety.

Does histamine treat eye bags?

Under eye bags is a common problem suffered from by many people, but can be treated by several methods. However, it is highly necessary to know the reason for and diagnose swelling in such area, as treatment depends on the cause. In specific cases, the doctor may prescribe oral antihistamines, decongestants, or perhaps eye drops that contain antihistamines.

Myths & Truths:

Massaging or rubbing the eyes increases dark circles around them.

Truth: Massage helps get rid of dark circles under the eyes. This is because regular eye massages renew the skin cells around the eye.

Cosmetics do not harm the eyes, no matter how long they are used.

Truth: Misuse of eye cosmetics may allow dangerous bacteria to grow in them. In addition, such products may contain high risk and sharing them with others may transfer germs from one person to another. The risk of infection increases if (test samples) of such cosmetics are used as they are tried by many women. Permanent dyes and coloring materials to beautify eyelashes or eyebrows can cause serious injuries, including blindness. The competent authorities did not authorize the use of any color additives for dye, or permanent coloring of eyelashes or eyebrows.