ByIANSlife
October 12, 2021 (IANSlife) In today’s stressful life, we fail to prioritise our eye health. Our eyesight is affected due to various reasons such as constant exposure to digital screens, work pressure and unhealthy eating habits.
According to a research study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, eye care centres in India reported a 96.5 percent to 98.7 percent decrease in patients visiting clinics for their routine care and follow-ups, including eye injections and retinal laser procedures as of May 2021, as compared to the previous year. Several patients sought help at advanced stages, at which point they were unresponsive to treatment. Despite the ongoing vaccination drive, people continue to remain hesitant to seek diagnosis or treatment at clinics.
“Dr Mahipal S Sachdev, Chairman – Centre for Sight Group of Hospitals said, “In India, there are still a million individuals who are blind from cataracts, even though they could have their vision restored. In contrast, there are people aged 40 years or older who are afflicted with glaucoma who will become permanently blind without appropriate therapy. Another worrisome disease that is affecting the millennials today is Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), which is not completely preventable, but its onset can be delayed with regular exercises, a balanced diet and strict control of systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus, along with treatment adherence.”
Four reasons why you need to take care of your eyes in today’s screen-dependent world
The way forward
Regular eye check-ups are essential, particularly for at-risk groups. Apart from getting one’s eyes screened, one quick way to also give them rest is by adopting the 20-20-20 rule. This means taking a break from your electronic screen every 20 minutes, by looking at something that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Dr. Ajay Dudani, CEO Vitreoretinal Surgeon, Mumbai Retina Centre, commented on disease management, saying, “From a young age, people must learn to maintain optimal eye health. In case an individual is at greater risk due to pre-existing conditions like diabetes, or old age, eye diseases can be identified and addressed early on through regular screenings. For instance, people with prolonged diabetes need to undergo eye screening every 6 months, or annually. There are a number of advanced treatment options available to control the condition, alongside regular monitoring, including eye drops, innovative medication, laser or even surgery.”
To counter these growing problems that can cascade into poorer eye health outcomes, action to prioritize your eyes is needed.
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