Red eye is a very common condition, where the surface of the eye appears red. There are several fine blood vessels on the surface of the eye, which become prominent and inflamed giving a reddish hue to the eye in conditions which include fatigue, illness, eye injury, allergies or eye infections. Red eye is frequently encountered in clinics in pediatric age group. The most common complaint being frequent redness, itching, discharge, discoloration of eyes.

Allergic eye disease is commonly seen cause of red eye in clinic. Patients present with frequent redness, itching and whitish discharge. This condition can be related to certain seasonal aggravation or present throughout the year. Symptoms or redness increases whenever the patient comes in contact of dust, pollens and even chalk powder in class. Allergic eye condition is sometimes found in association with asthma and skin allergies too. The treatment of eye allergy lies in medicines prevention more than the medicines. Avoiding dust, rubbing of eyes, frequent washing with cold water, wearing protective glasses while going out help in reducing the frequency. Allergic eye disease if severe and untreated can be vision threatening in some cases.

The other common condition presenting with fiery red eyes and discharge is infection in eyes which usually spread from one patient to another. Treatment involves eye drops and medication and takes around one to two week to completely heal. However sometimes it can take longer, involve cornea or the black part of eye which you see and threatens vision.

Causes of Red Eye

1. Environmental Pollution: One of the most common causes of red eyes is allergens and irritants present in the environment such as pollen, dust, wind, dry air etc.

2. Lack of Sleep: People who do not get enough sleep will also experience red eyes.

3. Eye infections: Eye infections and inflammations can cause red eyes, as well as other symptoms such as itching, discharge, pain, and blurred vision.

4. Lack of clean contact lens: Improper care or use of contact lenses can cause redness in eyes.

Symptom of some disease:

Red eyes can be like a symptom which indicates a more serious problem such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, scleritis, or acute glaucoma. If you are experiencing other symptoms, such as discharge or pain associated with the redness, you should schedule an appointment with your eye-care professional or primary care doctor right away to see if one of these conditions is present.

Treatment for Red eye

It is good to take some precautionary measures if you are experiencing red eyes and irritation, so that the condition doesn’t get worse.

1. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes.

2. If the environmental factors are bothering you, change your location or minimize your time there, if at all possible.

3. You could also try putting an ice pack on your eyes to relieve symptoms like swelling and pain, and may alleviate the redness.

4. You might also consider rinsing your eyes with cool water. This can work to irrigate and cleanse your eyes without harming them.

5. Getting plenty of sleep and eating a healthy diet keeps your eyes and other important organs healthy and resistant to infection.

If you suspect that your red eyes are caused by a more serious condition or if the red eyes are persistent, call your doctor and make an appointment. Your doctor will examine and prescribe medications as per the diagnosis and this can relieve your symptoms.

Dr. Bhujang Shetty – Chairman 
Narayana Nethralaya
121/C , 1st ‘R’ Block, Chord Road
Rajaji Nagar
Bangalore – 560010
Ph: o8o-6612 1401-1402

The post Red Eyes: Causes and Treatment appeared first on Health Vision.

Narayana Nethralaya in collaboration with Acer India has launched the PC + tablet based software, “VisioNova” designed for children suffering from Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI). This initiative by Narayana Nethralaya and Acer India aims at breaking down barriers and providing the patients with better access to treatment.

Acer VisioNova, a path-breaking innovation was conceptualized as a mobile alternative to on-site therapy for CVI children that will offer them the standard of care. Narayana Nethralaya as a part of its ‘Buds to Blossoms’ initiative provides dedicated therapy programs to help children develop and improve motor, cognitive and visual abilities that significantly improve their quality of life.

Cortical Visual Impairment :

Cortical Visual Impairment is a condition of bilateral visual loss caused due to injury of visual areas in the brain without significant eye or anterior visual pathway impairment. CVI is currently an emerging cause amongst children across India. With 161 children in every 100,000 born with CVI, India has declared it to be a high priority issue and classified it as one of 30 conditions that all babies must receive mandatory screenings. These children with CVI have great difficulty in performing visually guided activities and these therapies rely on machines that are bulky, expensive and require the child to be in the hospital for the entire duration of six-to-nine-month therapeutic process.

In order to address this, Acer provided PC and 100+ tablets under CSR to kick-off this noble cause. Acer has also further intent to supply around 2000 tablets for patients where patients can pay the hospital a small, refundable deposit and receive the tablet for use from the comforts of their home and still continue treatments even with COVID disruptions.

The tablet will offer CVI patients exercises that can benefit and help them develop and improve their deficient skills and visual abilities that significantly improve the quality of life. Also, since a number of specialised therapies that are deployed require expensive equipments that need the child to be present at the center for the entire duration of the treatment, this tablet will allow remote therapy under the mentorship of Narayana Nethralaya’ CVI experts, making this treatment accessible to the outreach.

On the occasion of this launch, Mr. Harish Kohli, President & Managing Director, Acer India said, “It is a matter of pride for us to join this innovative collaboration with Narayana Nethralaya where technology helps break barriers to improve lives. Acer VisioNova engineered the overall solution, comprising both the software and the hardware. At Acer, we always believe in closing the gap between people and technology and to meaningfully improve clinical outcomes and reduce the systemic cost of healthcare, VisioNova will help patients with timely access to care when they need it.

“With Buds to Blossoms and Acer India initiative, we are aiming to make differently-abled children independent and integrate them to the normal stream of society. This collaboration is important for us to help integrate the CVI patients. Acer VisioNova is a next-gen software which is a dedicated solution to help over hundreds of visually impaired children from their homes,” said Dr. Bhujang Shetty, Founder & Chairman, Narayana Nethralaya Eye Institute, Bengaluru. With Acer Visionova and ‘Buds to Blossoms’ initiative, today is even better poised to help improve the lives of these innocent children. Buds to Blossoms and Acer are proud to be by their side and enable them to live a life full of joy and independence.

 About Acer:

Founded in 1976, today Acer is one of the world’s top ICT companies and has a presence in over 160 countries. As Acer looks into the future, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will fuse with one another to open up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. From service-oriented technologies to the Internet of Things to gaming and virtual reality, Acer’s 7,000+ employees are dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.

About Narayana Nethralaya:

Narayana Nethralaya is a super speciality eye hospital with 4 branches in Bangalore. They have state of the art operating theatres and facilities for advanced diagnostics in all specialties of eye care including Laser-assisted and Microincision Cataract Surgery, most recent procedures for refractive error correction, advanced glaucoma management, comprehensive treatment for vitreoretinal disorders, pediatric & squint management, uveitis, oculoplasty procedures and custom made ocular prosthesis. Narayana Nethralaya also have two eye banks and are committed to assisting the financially weaker sections of our society. Narayana Nethralaya’s flagship program, KIDROP, is the country’s first and currently largest tele-medicine network for screening for retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants in rural and semi-urban centers.

The post Narayana Nethralaya and Acer India Team up to build India’s first PC & tablet-based software therapy for children suffering from Cortical Visual Impairment. appeared first on Health Vision.

March is the month of exams for most students. We find children putting in about 6 -10 hours of intense study per day during this time. Due to the pressure of the exams, there is bound to be physical and psychological stress. Children are usually advised to take nutritious food and adequate sleep. Eye care and health is usually neglected.

Here are a few tips for eye care during exams.

1. It is advisable to wear the glasses prescribed when studying, even if you can see clearly for near without glasses.

2. If you are using contact lenses, do not use them for more than 12 – 14 hours/day.

3. Follow the 20-20-20 rule during prolonged hours of study. If you study for 20 minutes, look out of the window for about 20 secs, at an object which is about 20 feet away. This helps to relax your eyes and relieve eyestrain.

Also Read: What is Computer vision syndrome and how to reduce the effects? 

4. Since you have to do a lot of near work during your study, avoid watching TV and playing games on your mobile or i pad. Instead you could go for a walk to feel refreshed and relaxed.

5. It is advisable to keep the reading material at a distance of 1 foot and that the light fall on the print and there are no shadows on it. You should not slouch over the table/ or read in awkward positions. This might lead to neck pain and headache.

6. Lubricant eye drops can be used during the exams after consultation with your eye doctor.

7. Prolonged near work with an overlay of mental stress can sometimes cause a condition called spasm of accommodation in some children. This causes blurred vision, eyestrain and pain around the eyes. This condition can be prevented by following the above tips.

8. At least 6 hours of sleep and a healthy diet with adequate water intake are also equally important.

9. Eat right for good eye health – A diet rich in citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, eggs, nuts, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and zinc, can help ward off age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts.

10. Ensure that you rest your eyes properly by getting a good night’s sleep. Inadequate sleep may contribute to eye fatigue, puffy and dry eyes, eye spasms, popped eye vessels and dark circles. Good sleep (7-8 hours) rests the eye muscles and provides the necessary fluid circulation.

11. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight – Regular exercise stimulates the entire body, lowers your odds of obesity, and can reduce your chances of developing serious eye diseases such as diabetes (which can lead to diabetes-related eye disorders and blindness), glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

12. Wear sunglasses when out doors to protect your eyes from the harmful effects of UV light. Too much UV exposure increases your chance of cataracts and macular degeneration.

13. Make sure you drink sufficient water to avoid dehydration – which can lead to reduced tear production, dry eye, eye strain, blurred vision and headaches.

14. Be aware of your family’s eye health history– as some eye disorders are hereditary. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing a hereditary eye disease or condition.

Good luck for your exams!

Dr. Bhujang Shetty – Chairman 
Narayana Nethralaya
121/C , 1st ‘R’ Block, Chord Road
Rajaji Nagar
Bangalore – 560010
Ph: o8o-6612 1401-1402

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Most people are not aware of the fact that high blood glucose levels is one of the most common reasons for vision loss among adults in the whole world. Diabetic patients have an increased risk of developing eye complications which, if left untreated, can lead to poor eyesight and blindness. However, with frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels and with regular eye examinations and early treatment, it is possible to prevent 98% of serious vision loss due to diabetes.

 How can diabetes affect the eyes?

High blood glucose levels can cause changes in the shape of the lens which can temporarily cause blurring of your vision. This commonly occurs before being diagnosed with diabetes or when diabetes is out of control. When blood glucose levels are reduced through appropriate treatment, the blurriness usually disappears. Therefore getting new glasses should be delayed until blood glucose levels are under better control.

The blood vessels of the retina may swell and leak fluid leading to changes in the retinal layers and causing visual blurriness. This condition is known as diabetic retinopathy and is commonly found among Type I and Type II diabetic patients. Persistently high blood glucose levels can increase the risk of more serious eye problems in people with diabetes, including:

• Retinopathy
• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Glaucoma

 Caring for your Eyes

1. Have a through eye examination by an expert eye care professional when you are first diagnosed with diabetes.

2. Only an expert eye specialist can conduct through examination of your eyes by dilating your eyes, to have a clear picture of your retina.

3. If retinopathy is detected, you will need to have your eyes examined more often.

4. Notify your eye care professional immediately if you notice any changes in your vision.

5. Keep your blood glucose levels, HbA 1 c, blood pressure and cholesterol at recommended levels. High blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure increase the risk of eye damage and affect its severity.

6. Have regular health checks including blood pressure readings, cholesterol measurements and kidney function tests as recommended by your health care team.

7. Quit the habit of smoking as soon as possible.

Also read: Smoking cessation at any stage has great health benefits 

8. Maintain a lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and healthy eating to better manage your blood glucose levels.

9. Always take your medications as instructed by your doctor.

Dr. Bhujang Shetty – Chairman 
Narayana Nethralaya
121/C , 1st ‘R’ Block, Chord Road
Rajaji Nagar
Bangalore – 560010
Ph: o8o-6612 1401-1402

The post Eye care for people with Diabetes appeared first on Health Vision.

Squint is said to occur when there is misalignment of the eyes and each eye points in different directions. One of the eyes may be turned inwards, outwards or upwards or downwards. Normally both eyes are perfectly aligned and they point in the same direction. Squint is one of the common eye problems seen in children and must be treated on emergency basis as it may lead to amblyopia or lazy eye and decreased stereovision (3D vision) if left untreated. Squint can occur in childhood or later in adulthood. But there are plenty of differences between squint in a child and an adult. The most important difference being squinting in children can lead to decrease in vision in the squinting eye (LAZY EYE or AMBLYOPIA)

Causes of Squint

The eye has muscles attached on its surface which moves it in different directions. An imbalance in the function of these muscles may lead to squint. This imbalance may occur spontaneously or following an eye disease, injury or a systemic disease which may affect the muscle directly or the nerves that supply these muscles.

Squinting in children develops spontaneously or due to eye diseases like refractive errors, cataract or even rarely neurological diseases.

Squinting in adults on other hand occurs as a result of nerve damage due to injury, systemic diseases like Diabetes or neurological diseases.

Evaluation of Squint

The team of paediatric ophthalmologists and optometrists conduct a detailed evaluation of squint to arrive at an accurate diagnosis and provide appropriate and complete treatment. A thorough evaluation of squint is done with appropriate tests which may include the following:

• Vision
• Spectacle power
• Slit lamp examination
• Retina examination
• Squint examination – including tests for measurement of squint, stereovision and tests for suppression
• Orthoptic evaluation
• Diplopia charting
• HESS charting
• Prism trial
• Neuro-ophthalmologist consultation
• Paediatric neurologist/ neurologist consultation

If indicated your doctor may also request for a neurologist’s opinion or ask for brain imaging (MRI / CT Brain) to rule out a brain disease.

Treatment of Squint

The most vital part of squint treatment in children is correction of amblyopia or lazy eye. Lazy eye is treated either by occlusion or patching therapy in which the better eye is patched so that child sees more with the squinting eye and the vision improves. Lazy eye can also be treated by making the vision in the stronger eye blur either with eye drops (penalization) or fogged glasses

Based on the cause, the type of squint and its severity, we may either choose to treat it with

• Glasses
• Exercises
• Surgery – surgery may be done on muscles in one eye or both eyes
• Prisms/ occlusion (to avoid diplopia in adults)
• Treating the cause (underlying neurological problem)

Squint surgery involves adjusting the position of muscles or shortening the muscles and reattaching them to the surface of the eye. After squint surgery you will require to continue patching therapy and to continue the use of glasses as advised by your pediatric eye specialist. We have a dedicated team of Squint specialists / Strabismologists who are capable of diagnosing and treating all types of squint and associated problems.

Dr. Bhujang Shetty – Chairman 
Narayana Nethralaya
121/C , 1st ‘R’ Block, Chord Road
Rajaji Nagar
Bangalore – 560010
Ph: o8o-6612 1401-1402

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Diabetes and its relation to the eyes. Yes eyes will be affected by diabetes in the long run. But early detection will at least the slowdown diabetes-related eye diseases.

Diabetes is not only sight threatening but also life threatening disease if not detected early and managed well. It is a workable disease if you catch the devil young and are willing to change life style. But unfortunately in India it is developing into an epidemic and is a real ticking time bomb.

An estimated  77 million million Indians suffer from diabetes and according to experts, the problem seems to be growing at an alarming rate.  The number is expected to double and reach epidemic proportions, even as half the number of diabetics in the country remain undiagnosed. India currently represents 49 percent of the world’s diabetes burden, Worse still, diabetes has debilitating consequences on many of the body’s vital organs if remained unchecked and controlled, the biggest problem being that of eye sight. .

Experts across the country consider India to be the diabetic capital of the world and the condition a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. However, of more concern is the fact that awareness of the condition’s consequences is quite low. While blood sugars need to be controlled, patients are seldom aware that in the long run it can affect eyes, kidneys, heart and every single vital organ of the body

Diabetics are 25 times more prone to blindness when compared to non diabetics. We Indians have a genetic predisposition for diabetes but there are the contributing factors which precipitates early diabetes. The eye is the most common organ to be affected by diabetes in the long run. So it is essential for diabetic patients to be aware of this fact that blindness through diabetes can be avoided to a great extent through regular check ups.

Diabetes patients should undergo an eye check as soon as the condition is detected and regular yearly checks thereafter or as frequently as the doctor recommends. This will enable the early detection and prevention of eye diseases through laser and other treatments. Doctors estimate that early detection will enable the halting or at least the slow down of diabetes-related eye diseases.

Diabetic patients tend to ignore this problem since the symptoms might not manifest themselves overtly. He may go 10 years without any obvious problems, but it might have set in internally however, a doctor will be able to detect the problems during regular checks and begin remedial measures. But if the patients ignore it, it might be too late when he actually realises. If the problem becomes more acute and leads to bleeding, then only surgery can set this right. The point is all this can be avoided through awareness and preventive measures.

Diabetes is a lifestyle disease and it is essential to keep preventive aspects in mind. Family history plays a major role in diabetes. A person stands a 40 per cent chance of getting diabetes if the father has it, 60 per cent if the mother has it and a 90 per cent chance if both parents have it. Also, men are more prone to diabetes than women. Its onset can be delayed if weight is kept in check, regular exercises and stress is minimised, it is also helpful to keep in mind that statistics indicate diabetes is more prone to urban dwellers than rural – an estimated 12.5 per cent of urban dwellers are prone to it, as against just 4 per cent of rural dwellers,

Some facts about diabetes and its relation to the eyes

• The commonest cause for blindness in developed countries is diabetes and the contributing factors are
• Longer the duration of diabetes – more the chances
• Even if diabetes is under good control it can affect the eyes in the long run; if poorly controlled – more likely
• If associated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels -eyes are likely to get affected
• There are 50% chances of eye involvement if you have diabetes for more than 10 years. Diabetes primarily affects the film or the retina of the eye and if not detected and treated early can lead to irreversible blindness.

 Prevention is better than cure

Prevention is better than cure is not just a frequently quoted statement but is actually important for a healthy and long life If you have any of the above predisposing factors do keep a close watch on your blood sugar, and the early signs of diabetes are

• Excessive thirst
• Excessive hunger
• Excessive urination
• Unusual weight loss

 Some mandatory dos and don’ts

• If you are already a diabetic, keep a tight control on your blood sugar, a close watch on your diet and shed those excessive pounds. The couched-potato life style must change.
• Have your eyes checked for diabetic changes at least once a year even if you can see well.

Diabetes has considerable medical, social, financial impacts. Half the battle can be won by creating awareness of disease and learning how to live with it. We need to have a multi-pronged approach with diet, drugs, exercise and life style changes-all in equal measures and as it is popularly said “Avoid hurry, worry and curry”.

Dr.K. Bhujang Shetty
Narayana Nethralaya
121/C , 1st ‘R’ Block, Chord Road
Rajaji Nagar
Bangalore – 560010
Ph: 91 8066121300-305

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How can you know if your child has an eye problem?   The best way is to undergo vision screening by an Ophthalmologist, if they have high risk factors for eye problems. This is best in the first year of life (around three and five years) and annually if wearing prescription glasses or contact lenses.

One of the greatest moments for any parent is when your child looks at you and smiles and that gives you an assurance that your child is seeing you. The first few weeks after birth your child sees things indistinctly and in shades of grey. The visual system of a newborn takes several months to develop fully. Any eye problem during this crucial period of vision development could delay a child’s cognition as well as learning. Hence it is important to detect and correct these problems as early as possible.

Children are more at risk for an eye problem in the following cases:

1. Labor that is difficult or assisted, associated with fetal distress or low APGAR scores

2. Low birth weight, premature birth, or oxygen use after birth

3. Drug or alcohol use during pregnancy

4. Sexually transmitted disease, CMV, HIV

5. Brain Injury / Trauma

6. Developmental delay

7. Down syndrome

8. Autism spectrum

9. Cerebral Palsy

10. Family history of eye conditions such as congenital cataract, congenital glaucoma, retinoblastoma, metabolic or genetic disease

11. Family history of high refractive error, lazy eye or cross eye

 Important warning signs which indicate that your child has an eye problem:

1. Not able to follow or track an object with the eyes as it moves across their field of vision after 3 months of age
2. Sitting closer to the television or holding a book very close to the face
3. Squinting of eyes
4. Drooping of the eyelids
5. White reflex on a camera flash instead of a red reflex
6. Excessive rubbing of the eyes
7. Excessive watering from the eyes
8. Blurred vision
9. Unexplained headaches
10. Closing one eye in bright light
11. Cloudy eyes

Since most of the time vision problems are not very obvious, the best way to catch these issues early is to undergo vision screening. Get your child’s eyes examined by an Ophthalmologist if they have high risk factors for eye problems – at first year of life, around three and five years of life and annually if wearing prescription glasses or contact lenses

Only a comprehensive eye examination done by an Ophthalmologist helps to fully identify eye problems, provide diagnosis, and ensure proper treatment for all of the vision and other eye health related  issues that can impact a child’s ability to meet important developmental and educational milestones.

Dr. Bhujang Shetty
Narayana Nethralaya
121/C , 1st ‘R’ Block, Chord Road
Rajaji Nagar
Bangalore – 560010
Ph: 91 8066121300-305

The post How Can You Know If Your Child Has an Eye Problem?   appeared first on Health Vision.

Vision errors, which are some of the most common eye abnormalities in the world, are caused due to changes in the length of the eyeball (longer or shorter), changes in the shape of the cornea, or age-related stiffness of the lens.In a normal eye, the cornea and lens are smooth and curved equally in all directions which allow light rays to focus sharply onto the retina, the light-sensitive surface at the back of the eye. This produces a clear image for the brain to process  in an eye with refractive error, irregularly shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly onto the retina, causing blurred or distorted vision.

The main types of refractive errors are myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (loss of near vision with age) and astigmatism. While presbyopia affects most adults over the age of 40, other refractive errors can affect both children and adults. Refractive errors, when left uncorrected, can lead to irreversible decrease in vision in one eye or both eyes depending on the severity, especially in children.

According to Dr. Bhujang Shetty, Chairman of Narayana Nethralaya, patients with corrected refractive errors have better quality of vision, and therefore an improved quality of life. In the past, refractive vision errors could only be corrected with corrective lenses such as eye glasses or contact lenses. Now a days, refractive surgery is an elective option that can help people with refractive errors reduce or eliminate their dependence on corrective lenses. Tremendous advances in surgical techniques, tools, and procedures have made refractive surgery a safe, effective, and reliable method for vision correction with few complications.

Refractive corneal surgery and refractive lens surgery are the currently established surgical methods for the correction of refractive error. In refractive corneal surgery the cornea and/or the lens is modified with excimer laser techniques and incisional procedures to enable light to focus onto the retina at the back of the eye. In refractive lens surgery, phakic intraocular lenses (PIOL) and refractive lens exchange (RLE) are used to refocus light rays for sharpen vision.

Eliminate your dependence on spectacles and contact lenses with Personalized Laser Vision Correction

Custom laser vision correction at the hands of experienced surgeons, with advanced diagnostics equipment, a state-of-the-art OT complex, and meticulous postoperative care makes Narayana Nethralaya the best choice for your laser eye surgery. We have over 15 years of experience in managing complex, irregular corneas, and complicated cases.

According to Dr. Rohit Shetty, corneal and refractive surgeon, and Vice Chairman of Narayana Nethralaya, “Every vision correction requirement is different and what type of surgery suits one patient may not be right for another”. Narayana Nethralaya offers various modern approaches to corrective eye surgery that range from CONTOURA, LASIK, SMILE, and PRK, where laser energies used to reshape the curvature of the cornea, to surgical insertion of artificial lenses to correct eyesight.

Contact  9845385398 / 080 66121417 for more details or to make an appointment.

The post Celebrating 15th Year of laser vision correction at Narayana Nethralaya appeared first on Health Vision.

How diabetes effects eye health? Diabetic retinopathy is caused due to the changes in the blood vessels in the retina due to diabetic conditions.

Diabetic retinopathy is fast emerging as one of the leading causes of blindness in the world and preventive measures should be taken for eye health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, diabetic retinopathy accounts for about five per cent of the global pattern of blindness and the WHO has projected a significant increase in the incidence of diabetes in all the geographic regions owing to lack of knowledge among the affected population on how to prevent the disease from worsening and leading to blindness.

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problem that people with diabetes may face as a complication of the condition and this causes severe vision impairment or blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is caused due to the changes in the blood vessels in the retina due to diabetic conditions. According to ophthalmologists the threat of the disease spreading fast in the highly population regions such as India and China. According to the estimates of the WHO, individuals suffering from diabetes would double by 2030.

 There is an urgent need for initiating targeted action and inter-disciplinary approach to tackle the problem. Controlling diabetic retinopathy is a complex issue requiring health education to prevent diabetes, early diagnosis of diabetes, comprehensive and cost-effective screening programmes to detect diabetics with treatable retinopathy through laser treatment. There is also need for specialised ophthalmologists to manage diabetic retinopathy, make appropriate technology available, develop new treatment programmes and frame a public health education policy on preventing diabetes.

Other eye disorders associated with diabetes included glaucoma, which damages the optic nerve due to increase in the pressure on the eye and cataract. The laser surgery for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy was time tested and helps to shrink the abnormal blood vessels in the retina. At least four sessions were usually required to complete the treatment. This is an out-patient procedure.

Preventive measures

• Several studies have shown that many complication of diabetes can be prevented or delayed through effective management. This includes measures such as healthy diet, exercise, physical activities, avoidance of overweight and obesity and not smoking.
• Knowledge in good food care as well as regular health check up is a good example of low cost method of prevention.
• Diabetes therapy is not only about lowering glucose, but also overall reduction in risk factors for diabetic complication which include control of blood pressure and blood lipids. This requires life long care and management.
• Health system that is able to deliver optimal care need to be designed around the needs of the patient with the condition as on a day to day basis.
• Most diabetic care is undertaken by person and not the health professional. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, at least 5 days a week is enough to promote good health and reduce the chances of developing diabetes.

Healthy eating

Healthy eating is the first step in taking care of your diabetes. You do not need special diet or foods. The food that is good for you is good for your whole family. Eat a wide variety of foods every day.Try new foods. Eat high fibre food such as fruits, vegetables whole grains and beans.

Dr. Bhujang Shetty
Narayana Nethralaya
121/C , 1st ‘R’ Block, Chord Road
Rajaji Nagar
Bangalore – 560010
Ph: 91 8066121300-305

The post How diabetes effects eye health? appeared first on Health Vision.

Eye and vision-related problems that are caused by prolonged use of digital devices such as computers, tablets, e-readers and cell phones are known as computer vision syndrome (CVS).  The number of people using digital devices and the amount of time they spend looking at digital screens has gone up all over the world. Working adults and children are equally affected by computer vision syndrome. It may affect older individuals too as senior citizens are becoming increasingly tech savvy nowadays.

A large number of people experience discomfort when viewing digital screens for extended periods of time. The level of discomfort and vision problems appears to increase with the amount of time spent looking at a digital screen. Research shows that between 50% to 90% of people who work with computers have at least some of the following computer vision symptoms:

1. Eyestrain

2. Headaches

3. Blurred vision

4. Dry eyes

5. Neck and shoulder pain

These symptoms can intensify due to factors such as poor lighting, poor seating posture, improper viewing distance, glare on the digital screen, uncorrected vision problems, or a combination of the above. Digital screen time is significantly higher in all age groups nowadays and also starts at a far younger age. Most people in today’s world have jobs that require them to stare at computer screens for long hours. This can put a real strain to the eyes. Kids who use tablets or play video games on computers for long hours can also be affected.

When working at a computer, eyes tend to focus and refocus constantly. Our eyes move back and forth as we read. We may have to look down and then back up to type. The inner muscles of the eyes have to react to changing images on the screen so that the brain can process what we are seeing. All these jobs require a lot of effort from the eye muscles. And to make things worse, the screen adds contrast, flicker, and glare; unlike a book or piece of paper. This could lead to eye strain and fatigue.

Uncorrected vision problems such as far sightedness and astigmatism can lead to the development of visual symptoms when using a computer or digital screen device. If you need glasses but don’t wear them, or if you wear the wrong prescription spectacles for computer use, you are likely to face more symptoms.

Simple practices to reduce the effects of computer vision syndrome:

1. Make sure there is adequate lighting in the room. Good lighting prevents from staring into the glare on the computer screen. A screen glare filter can decrease the amount of light reflected from the screen.

2. Establish proper working distances. Position the digital display so that head is in a naturally comfortable position for screen viewing.

3. Take breaks regularly to prevent eyestrain. A few minutes away from the computer can go a long way when it comes to eyes. Use the 20-20-20 rule. i.e. every 20 minutes take a 20 second break to look at least 20 feet away into the distance and relax your eyes.

4. Make sure your seat is comfortable. A comfortable chair that conforms to the body encourages good posture and will help to avoid neck and shoulder strain commonly associated with computer vision syndrome.

5. Regular spectacles or contact lenses may not be adequate for computer work. Special lens designs with tints or coatings that reduce the effects of extended computer viewing may help to maximize visual abilities and comfort.

6. Blinking frequently can keep the front surface of the eye moist and minimizes the chances of developing dry eye when using a computer.

Also Read: HOW CAN YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHILD HAS AN EYE PROBLEM?  

Dr. Bhujang Shetty
Narayana Nethralaya
121/C , 1st ‘R’ Block, Chord Road
Rajaji Nagar
Bangalore – 560010
Ph: 91 8066121300-305

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