Taking Care of your Eyes in the ‘New Normal’
With our current situation in this pandemic, many of us are facing screens for longer periods. Be it for online classes, work conferences, binge-watching shows, or playing video games, our exposure has increased significantly. As a result, our eyes are working more and more and the strain on them is constantly increasing.
According to health experts, online classes are an added burden on kids’ already strained eyes. “Although virtual classes are a much-needed step to ensure studies are not affected, eye problems are also soaring amid the pandemic, with redness in eyes and headache being the most common ones. And,” informs
According to ophthalmologist and eye surgeon Dr. Bhujang Shetty, the new normal brought by the pandemic can add burden to children and adults’ already strained eyes. If not addressed immediately, these can lead to serious issues in the long run
The most common eye problems are usually caused by unhealthy lifestyles. Over-use and lack of nutrients can usually lead to a lot of complications and possibly irreversible damage. But an unhealthy lifestyle can be easily changed and makes avoiding these complications so much easier.
A balanced diet is a key to keeping our eyes in tip-top shape. Without the proper nutrients, our eyes are unable to mend themselves and repair damage caused by daily use. It is recommended to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, with emphasis on carrots, berries, oranges, and leafy greens, which have the key vitamins and nutrients in maintaining our eyes.
Since we are spending longer times facing the screens of our devices, experiencing eye strain is very common. While prolonged exposure to computer screens do not result in permanent eye damage, it can nonetheless be very uncomfortable. Taking frequent breaks is an easy way to combat this. You can also adjust the brightness and contrast settings on your device to lessen the glare. If there is a dark mode or night mode available, it is suggested that you utilize those to reduce the strain on your eyes.
Unhealthy habits like smoking can also lead to serious eye damage since it introduces many hazardous chemicals that can affect your body and eyes. Health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension also put you at risk of developing problems with your eyes and vision. People with these conditions should be very careful in watching their lifestyle and in keeping their conditions in check to avoid further complications.
Since visiting the local optometrist is hard to do given our current situation, it is up to us to assess and maintain the health of our eyes. But if complications do arise, many clinics and hospitals have hotlines that you can contact, so you can get in touch with an expert. And while it is inadvisable to do so, there are articles and videos on the internet you can access for help, just make sure to ensure that the source is reliable and legitimate, and written by an actual expert.
Our eyes are one the most important parts of our body, and our sight one of our most vital senses. It is only natural that we put in an effort to keep them healthy, especially with our situation today. Once the world opens up again, our eyes can once more take in the sights of the various places we go to and the experiences we are soon to have once the pandemic ends.
By Tristan Cedrick Alesna
