Six Key Eye Care Tips for Adults and Children

By Dr Aron Wohl, MCOptom, CEO of Eye Q Optical

I am often asked, “what can I do to look after my eyes?”

The short answer is “if you look after your general health, your body will look after your eyes.”

Some specific things should be done to ensure that we enjoy the gift of sight for as many years as possible. Everyone must have their eyes examined by a fully licensed and registered eye care practitioner.

Here are a few recommendations that are crucial to having healthy vision.

Eye Care Tips for Adults

1. All adults must have an annual eye examination from age 35, even if their vision is good. It is important to screen for glaucoma, which is common among West Indians. Glaucoma can lead to blindness. We cannot fix the damage once it has been done, but we can effectively reduce or even prevent further damage by using eye drops. Early detection is paramount and can only be achieved by routine screening. A comprehensive eye examination covers a lot more than just determining the numbers for your glasses, as looking in the eye can say a lot about ones’ general health.
2. The UV from the sun is damaging our eyes. UV rays may result in fleshy growths on the front surface of our eyes called Pterygia, which may need to be surgically removed (scraped). The sun’s UV can also cause cataracts to form at an earlier age within the lens of our eyes which may require them to be removed surgically. Be trendy and wear sunglasses!
3. Most of us spend a significant amount of time staring at screens. However, we can minimise fatigue and damage to our health from these devices. Be aware of blinking, as this keeps the front of the eye moist aiding vision and comfort. Take frequent short breaks. I recommend the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break staring at a minimum of 20 feet. There are anti-fatigue lenses available that reduce the amount of effort needed to look on screens, thereby reducing visual fatigue. (https://picklelicious.com/) There are also special coatings that filter the blue light from these devices which have been shown to be detrimental to our health. Both kinds of lenses should be used in conjunction with the settings available on smartphones to reduce their blue light emissions. Keep screens at the minimum brightness needed to see them comfortably.

Eye Care Tips for Children

1. Children must have their first comprehensive eye examination at around age five. This is crucial to ensure the normal development of the visual system, even if they’re not experiencing any noticeable symptoms. Some common issues if not detected before age eight cannot be rectified later.
2. All children must wear sunglasses with proper UV protection when outdoors to reduce UV damage from the sun. Children typically spend more time outdoors, have larger pupils and less natural protection within their eyes than adults. Most of the damage from the sun to our visual system happens in the first 18 years of life. Purchase sunglasses from a reputable supplier.
3. More children suffer from allergies that affect their skin, sinuses and eyes. The natural reaction is to rub the eyes for relief. Vigorous rubbing can cause the cornea to take on an irregular shape leading to a condition called keratoconus. This causes foggy vision and can’t be rectified by glasses. If your child is suffering, bring them in for an examination so they may be prescribed drops to relieve the itching. Over-the-counter eye lubricants should be used in conjunction with a medicated drop.

Dr. Wohl is the CEO of Eye Q Optical, which has two locations – Shop #22, Courtleigh Corporate Auditorium, St Lucia Avenue in New Kingston and Shop #10, Lower Manor Park Plaza.