Eye care for you

MANILA, Philippines - Your eyes are one of the organs most taken for granted. As one of the most sensitive body parts, eyes need proper care and attention, especially if they are exposed to constant strain due to the demands of one’s job. An eye care expert at leading hospital Makati Medical Center shares how you can keep the “windows to your soul” healthy with these simple yet effective eye care tips.

What you eat determines how you see. According to Dr. Carmela Ongsiako of MakatiMed’s Department of Ophthalmology, a well-balanced diet high in green leafy vegetables that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, as well as food high in omega-3 like fish, may go a long way in helping you avoid eye problems in the future.

• Let your shades do their job. Shades are meant to be more than just a fashion accessory — they are supposed to help shield your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Excessive exposure to sunlight has been linked to cataract formation, pterygium development, and macular degeneration. A pterygium is a triangular thickening of the conjunctiva that grows towards the cornea. When the growth is large enough to cover the pupil, this can interfere with your vision. It also can cause redness and tearing. “Make sure that your eyeglasses or shades all have 100-percent UV protection.”

• Curb the ciggy cravings. If you are a regular smoker, now would be a good time to quit. Smoking increases your likelihood to contract eye diseases and vision problems, as it negatively affects your blood vessels by cutting off your eye tissue’s supply of much-needed oxygen.

• Avoid eye strain at work. If your job requires you to sit in front of a desk and stare at a computer screen for long periods of time, know your basic eye care practices to prevent eye fatigue. Dr. Ongsiako advises: “One should sit in the correct position in front of a computer — the screen should be just below your line of sight and shouldn’t be too close to your face. Take short breaks in between prolonged computer work. You may want to use lubricant eye drops to prevent dry eyes.

She also recommends using anti-reflective coatings on computer screens — or the glasses themselves—to decrease glare.

• Go for that regular eye checkup. Never take your scheduled visits to the eye doctor for granted, as these can possibly save you from severe eye disease via early detection and proper treatment. MakatiMed’s Carlos L. Sevilla (CLS) Eye Center, for instance, is known for its expertise in the treatment and study of various eye conditions, with a diagnostic and treatment center that houses the latest in eye care technology.

Services range from different diagnostic procedures such as visual field testing for glaucoma patients, retinal photography and angiography, cataract work-up, and corneal evaluation to therapeutic procedures like cataract surgery, retina and glaucoma laser procedures.

For more information, call the MakatiMed 24/7 on-call hotline at 8888-999. Log on to www.makatimed.net.ph.