Every aspect concerning children is undeniably significant and demands immediate attention. All our perspectives about life change when something happens to the health of small children. Every human being, no matter how evil, has a soft corner deep inside their heart the moment they see a child. We just inherently want to do good things for them, no matter what.

With that in mind, this blog will explore key insights related to children's eye health.

The Epidemics!

Two major epidemics are looming quietly, without many people noticing: myopia (nearsightedness, or minus number in spectacles) and dry eyes, affecting children as young as four.

The common link between these two issues is excessive screen time. Recently, we’ve seen kids glued to phones and tablets—not eating without their screens, not going to sleep without watching their favorite cartoons—leading to long-term psychological effects as well.

Ways to Keep Your Kids Away from Screen Time

Regarding children's eye health, there are only two ways to tackle this growing problem. One is eliminating screens from their lives, which is nearly impossible given that education has moved online to a large extent. The second option is strengthening their eyes in such a way that the effects of screen exposure on their eye health are minimized. The second option seems more practical for most parents today, for a variety of reasons, including:

• Parents working
• Nuclear families
• The caretaker dilemma
• Helicopter parenting, etc.

Parents are now searching for solutions that will shield their children’s eyes from the harmful effects of the blue light emitted by screens. In simple terms, as a caring parent, you would want a supplement that:

• Is easy for the child to chew or swallow
• Tastes good enough for the child to take regularly
• Contains the recommended amount of nutrients needed to maintain eye health
• May reduce the child’s spectacle number
• Prevents damage to the retina from artificial rays emitted by screens
• Has no side effects

Does Such a Supplement Exist?

Whether or not such supplements exist, parents need to take certain steps to diagnose and protect their child’s eye health.

So, What Can Be Done?

An Overview about Dry Eyes:

Ever felt that irritating, burning, or stinging feel in your eyes? You might be dealing with dry eyes . Whether you are looking at screen continuously for few hours or just biking, or when you are in an air-conditioned room, or when using contact lenses, dry eyes can cause inflammation and can make you feel uncomfortable.

Though dry eyes are common among many people, there are certain treatments available to alleviate this condition. In this article, let us get to know about the symptoms of dry eyes, its causes, and how to treat them.


What are Dry Eyes?

Dry eye is a common condition in which your eyes do not produce enough tears to lubricate the eyes, or the tears evaporate quickly. Tears in the eye provide lubrication, which helps to lower the risk of eye infection and keep the surface of the eye clean and clear. The dry eye affects the layers of tears that protect the cornea.


Dry Eyes Symptoms

People with dry eyes may most commonly experience burning, scratching and irritable feelings in their eyes. Other signs and symptoms of Dry eyes include:

• Stinging or burning feel in the eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Red eyes
• Blurry vision
• Watery eyes
• String mucus around the eyes
• Difficulty while driving
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
  
  

Causes of Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can be caused by a variety of situations. Generally, the glands above your eyes are responsible for producing tears that keep your eyes moist. Dry eyes occur when no tears are produced in the eyes. Major causes for dry eyes include eyes not producing enough tears, eyes evaporating quickly, contact lenses, looking at screen for long hours

A few other causes for Dry eyes are:

Ageing: People over the age of 65 are more likely to get the symptoms of dry eyes.

Medications: Certain medicines like antihistamines, antidepressants, decongestants, and blood pressure medications, can reduce tear production in the eyes.

Environmental Conditions: Dry eyes can most probably be caused due to the environmental factors such as more exposure to wind, dry climate, poor blinking habits, smoking, or allergies etc.,

Hormonal Changes: Dry eyes are more prevalent in women because of hormonal fluctuations induced by menopause, oral contraceptive use, and pregnancy.

Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions including allergic eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and blepharitis can lead to dry eyes.

Surgeries: LASIK, cataract surgery, and corneal surgery are among the eye surgeries that can raise your chance of developing dry eye.

 
Diagnosis of Dry Eyes

Ophthalmologists may use a variety of tests and procedures to determine and diagnose the cause of red eyes. These include:

Eye Exam: An eye exam that involves a thorough medical history of both your eyes and general health will assist your eye doctor in determining the reason behind your dry eyes.

Medical History: Your provider might ask for your information such as your history of eye diseases, history of other medical conditions, including allergies and chronic viral infections, history of surgeries, allergies, whether you smoke, etc.,

Tests: Your ophthalmologist may use several tests like Schirmer’s test (to check your tear production), Tear breakup time test (to check how quickly your tears evaporate), slit lamp exam (to check the amount of tears).


Treatment of Dry Eyes

We always keep an eye out for sneaky infections lurking around but often forget the most delicate sentinels: our eyes. It is time to show some love and attention to these peepers, least immune to the whims of seasons. With the ever-shifting hues of seasons gatecrashes, the mischief that blunts our visual experience - conjunctivitis. Whether it is blossoming spring or scorching summers, challenges posed by the conjunctivitis pink eye are truly alarming. But worry not; this blog will walk you through the seasonal maze, unraveling how different seasons affect your eye health, essentially equipping you with some handy hacks to keep the pesky conjunctivitis eye under check!

The Pink Trouble!

So here is a lowdown on conjunctivitis or the famous pink eye. It occurs when the conjunctiva, a transparent membrane that lines the inside of your eyelid and covers the eyeball, decides to throw a fit. Your eyes change from looking normal to appearing as though you spent the entire night tearing up because those tiny blood vessels in there start acting up, getting all puffy and red. Now, who is the culprit? Bacterias, viruses, or merely an allergen in the air can cause conjunctivitis pink eye. Thankfully, it does not hamper vision, but trust me, it is real trouble!

Seasonal Conjunctivitis Unveiled

Allergic conjunctivitis, or the seasonal troublemaker, comes in when your eyes are exposed to airborne allergens. Mold spores and pollen chaperons the spring, causing some eyes to go all red and puffy. Summertime cranks up the heat and increases humidity, leading to conjunctivitis madras eye. Not to be outdone, Winter gives a few poor individuals an extra dose of pink-eye drama.

Know the Red Flags!

How can you tell if it is your eyes? Be watchful! The symptoms of conjunctivitis include red, watery eyes, and sudden itching. Oh, and the enlarged puffy eyelids! The light turns into your enemy, and just to make things worse, your eyes may give you a burning and gritted feeling. The tip is to be on the lookout for these signs so that you have less trouble to deal with. A few tricks up your sleeve, and the pink eyes will stay out of your way throughout the seasons!

Outsmart the Allergens

Let us talk about how to survive this seasonal conjunctivitis and treat the eye with conjunctivitis. Start by expertly dodging the triggers. Look at the pollen forecasts. The best move is to stay indoors when those counts are high, especially on windy days. Here's a game-changer: swap that cool breeze from opened windows with some air conditioning. It is essential to keep those bothersome allergens outside where they belong!

The Seasonal Shield!

Talking about shades, they are not just fashion statements; they act as your eye's bodyguard when you enter allergens in the air and the scorching sun. Consider eyeglasses or sunglasses that can cover your eyes entirely during the allergy seasons. It can block the intense light and heat and the pollens, danders, and spores, especially when you are naturally inclined to pink eyes.

The Cleanse They Deserve

Stick on to refreshing splashes of clean and cold water in a timely interval to keep your peepers cool and wash away the bothersome allergens. And yes, a few drops of artificial tears are a perfect sidekick to help the eyes stay moist and drain out the irritants. And most importantly, keep your fingers away from the eyes. An eye rub might feel very satisfactory, but remember the irritants that can make their way to your eyes through your not-so-clean fingers! Use a clean cloth to dab away the trouble. And lastly, give your eyeglasses a good clean too. Infections from allergens stuck on your glasses are the last thing you want!

Seeking the Pros

Healthy eyes!

What defines “healthy eyes”?? When one has a good eyesight and a proper ocular health all at their best, giving one a “visually” satisfying and fulfilling life.

Our eyes are an important organ in our body, and it is extremely sensitive. Having sharp eyesight is a gift that allows you to engage with the world around you and appreciate all its vibrant colors. But in recent years, many people have been found to have low vision because of pollution, stress, unhealthy diet, and aging and so. As it is not possible to stop your eyes from aging completely, you can slow down the process with the right care.

Here are six tips to keep your eyes healthy and your vision sharp!

1. Healthy Diet

A healthy diet equals a healthy lifestyle. Fruits and vegetables, especially dark green and yellow leafy ones, should make up a generous portion of your diet. Eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, tuna, and halibut can also be beneficial to your eyes.

Poor dietary choices lead to weight gain and raise the possibility of diseases like diabetes. Diabetics are at a higher risk for developing diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma and it is a leading cause of blindness in adults.

2. Give Up Smoking