At least 2.2 billion people in the world have visual impairments. Experts believe that prevention of eye diseases could prevent many of them. What can be done in youth to reduce risks in the future, we figured out together with an expert of the medical holding ” SM-Clinic “.
What diseases are most common and why are they dangerous?
According to the WHO, the most common eye disease is myopia, or nearsightedness. According to various estimates, between 1.97 and 3.43 billion people live with it , including 312 million under the age of 19. Myopia is dangerous because over time it increases the risk of developing other, more serious problems, such as retinal detachment.
In second place is presbyopia, an age-related decline in vision. It affects approximately 1.8 billion people on the planet. Common eye diseases include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. Some of them can lead to serious consequences. For example, cataracts are one of the main causes of blindness.
What Causes Vision Problems
Among the factors that contribute to the development of diseases, several are distinguished :
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Age: According to WHO, every person who lives to 60–74 years of age experiences at least one vision problem.
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Heredity. More than 350 eye diseases can be inherited from close relatives. These include, for example, age-related macular degeneration, color blindness, cataracts, glaucoma, myopia .
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Eye strain. Working on a computer, reading, and other interactions with close objects increase the risk of myopia.
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Late diagnosis. For example, advanced glaucoma can lead to irreversible vision loss.
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Diabetes. It causes damage to the retina of the eye. At the same time, the symptoms of diabetes type II may be weakly expressed at first , and the disease can be detected only after complications have appeared.
In addition, visual impairment occurs as a symptom of a brain tumor , traumatic brain injury , migraine . Therefore, even minor changes or discomfort should not be ignored.
How to Maintain Eye Health
Eat a varied diet
It’s worth including more fruits and vegetables in your diet, especially greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens. They contain carotenoids, which help reduce the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Orange bell peppers and egg yolks also have benefits.
Fish such as salmon, tuna, and halibut are also good for eye health. They contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are needed by the retina. Smaller amounts of these substances are found in flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, and canola oil.
Walk more often
Myopia develops when the intraocular muscles that allow you to focus your gaze far and near cannot cope with the load. As a rule, it occurs in childhood or adolescence and progresses until the age of 20. But it can also appear in adults due to constant eye strain.
The habit of spending a lot of time outdoors will reduce the risk of myopia. In addition, physical activity helps maintain weight. And therefore, reduces the likelihood of diabetes.
Give your eyes a rest
When you spend many hours in front of a computer, smartphone or TV screen, your eyes get tired. You can help them by using the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look into the distance. For example, out the window.
Other eye exercises are also suitable. For example, you can rotate them in a circle in one direction and then the other from time to time. Or close your eyes tightly for 3 seconds, and then open them. It is useful to do such exercises 6-8 times a day.
Wear glasses or lenses
If there are already problems, you should not refuse correction means. The opinion that the eyes will relax and stop working on their own is just a stereotype. For example, myopia in most children progresses regardless of whether glasses are used or not. But without them, a person may experience headaches, encounter eye strain, blurred vision and other consequences. To select glasses and lenses, you need to contact a specialist who will write a prescription.
Protect your eyes
Some sports can cause eye injuries, so it is important not to neglect protection. For example, use special glasses when riding a bike. Bright sun rays can damage your eyesight. Therefore, on a fine day, take sunglasses for a walk that block 99% or 100% of UVA and UVB solar radiation.
Do not rub your eyes with dirty hands
It is especially important to wash your hands when putting in or taking out contact lenses. Otherwise, you can introduce germs into your eyes that cause conjunctivitis , an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye. Symptoms include redness, itching, a “gritty” feeling, and discharge that turns into a crust overnight. If the condition does not improve within 24 hours, it is important to see a doctor to make sure there is no serious infection.
Quit smoking
The bad habit increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and dry eye syndrome. In addition, smoke can negatively affect the tissue around the eyes, causing swelling of the eyelids, irritation, and inflammation. By the way, vapes lead to the same consequences as regular cigarettes.
See your doctor regularly
In Russia, visual acuity is checked during the first medical examination. And after 40 years, it is recommended to measure intraocular pressure every year. Its increase increases the risk of developing glaucoma – a chronic disease that can lead to blindness.