Eye Care (Part 1)

Treatment for Eye Irritation

Eyedrops will usually cure the redness of a mild eye irritation, but the relief is only temporary and not risk-free. Eye irritation may have been caused by dust, smoke, allergies or even colds. Severe cases, especially when accompanied by a discharge, may be a sign of conjunctivitis, an infection that needs treatment with antibiotics. In any case, if the problem persists or recurs frequently, it is important to have a proper diagnosis.

Many over-the-counter eyedrops contain decongestants which reduce inflammation by shrinking the eyes' blood vessels. These drops may trigger allergic reactions in some people, particularly contact lens users and people with glaucoma; so consult a doctor or ophthalmologist before using eyedrops.

Try to use eyedrops only occasionally as excessive use can eventually worsen the problem, increasing redness as the effects wear off, and the need for more drops.

Always use eyedrops carefully to prevent risk of infection. Remember that as soon as you break the seal of the sterilised container, you open the way to contamination from germs. Squeeze bottles are the safest dispensers, as long as you do not touch the nozzle; eye baths are the worst. WASH your hands before and after applying drops, and DO NOT TOUCH your eye with the applicator. NEVER SHARE eyedroppers.


Treatment for Styes


Styes are intensely irritating, but extremely common. They are caused by a bacterial infection in an eyelash follicle. A small abscess forms on the edge of the eyelid and as it develops, the spot becomes red and painful. Eventually a visible pimple appears and shortly after the stye comes to head and discharges the pus that has built up. Afterwards the pain and irritation diminish and the abscess rapidly clears up.

There is no simple way of preventing styes, but the condition is reasonably easy to treat. The best time to start is as soon as you notice the symptoms. To encourage the stye to come to a head, hold a warm compress to the area for about 15 minutes, three or four times daily. It is important to be careful to no rub your eyes, as this may cause the infection to spread.

Styes are painful while growing, but seldom need treatment with antibiotic drugs. If the problem continues, or if the styes cause excessive pain, you should see a doctor.


Buying Sunglasses


A good starting point is to look at the labels on a pair of glasses. There are three sunglass standards:

1. The Australian Standard is AS 1067. The five sunglass ratings under this standard are based on the amount of light they absorb, 0 to 4, with “0” providing some protection from UV radiation and sunglare, and “4” a high level of protection.
   
   
2. The US standard is ANSI Z80.3-1972. According to the ANSI Z80.3-2001 standard, the compliable lens should have a UVB (280 to 315nm) transmittance of no more than one per cent and a UVA (315 to 380nm) transmittance of no more than 0.5 times of the visual light transmittance.
   
   
3. The European standard is EN 1836:2005. The four ratings are 0 for insufficient UV protection, 1 for sufficient UV protection, 2 for good UV protection and 3 for full UV protection.

The label will also supply other useful information - such as how much light the lenses let through, whether there is any image distortion, and how tough the lenses are. For most ordinary uses any pair that conforms to the Standard should be quite adequate.

One feature that may be worth considering is polarised lenses to cut down glare from water, snow and other highly reflective surfaces.

Before you buy your glasses, examine the lenses carefully and avoid any with bubbles or scratches. Glass lenses are less susceptible to scratching than plastic ones, but they are heavier and more likely to break. Also check for colour distortion by looking at red and green objects in the shop - poor differentiation could make driving hazardous.

CAUTION:

Unlike glass, plastic is permeable to ultraviolet light. If you buy plastic lenses, make sure they are marked UV400. Other types may let through ultraviolet radiation which can contribute to cataracts and cause painful - though temporary - snow blindness.

Do's

• Have your eyes tested every two years. Children and pensioners should have an annual checkup.
• Read and work in good light. Make sure that the light falls over your shoulder to avoid glare and shadow.
• Rest your eyes at least every 30 minutes when reading, sewing, or using a computer by looking up and peering at distant objects.
• Make sure that your computer and television screens are sharply focused.
• Wear safety goggles whenever you use caustic chemicals, do woodwork, or run power tools.
• Wear shatterproof sports goggles for games such as squash.
• Wear sunglasses when in bright sunlight.
• Wear goggles in chlorinated swimming pools or in any water of doubtful cleanliness.

Don'ts

• Never look directly at the sun, as you might be tempted to do during an eclipse; even the darkened sun can cause severe and permanent damage. Similarly, avoid staring at any bright or glaring lights.
• Do not rub your eyes to try to remove a foreign object. Try blinking and washing the eye with cold water. If that fails, see your doctor.

- Image from beautymarked.com.au -