Your eyes are often labeled as the “window to your soul” and are the gateway to appreciating most physical things in this world. Your eyes help you appreciate beautiful sceneries, admire intricate details of certain objects, and get through your everyday tasks at work. Needless to say, your eyesight serves an important role in your daily grind and it needs the proper care that it deserves
Basic parts of your eye
- Eyelids – your eyelids protect your eyes from harmful elements by blocking foreign objects and harsh lights.
- Sclera – the white part of your eye that shields your eye’s delicate internal structures. A thin transparent tissue called the conjunctiva covers the sclera.
- Iris – the colored part of your eye with muscle fibers that enables you to control the amount of light that enters your eye. It’s also the part responsible for recalibrating your focus on objects of interest.
- Pupil – the dark spot in the middle of the iris that also regulates the light that passes through your eyes.
- Lens – the lens is located behind the iris and it helps sharpen your focus.
- Cornea – convex surface located in the front of your eye that also helps focus light rays before they enter the lens.
- Retina – thin layer of tissue that lines the inner wall of the backside of your eyeball. The millions of cells in your retina captures the images from the cornea and lens and transmits them to the optic nerve.
- Optic nerve – responsible for carrying the information from the retina to the brain.
Common eye diseases
Causes blurred vision and usually occurs when you have an irregularly shaped cornea.
Cloudy/opaque area in the lens of your eye which can cause vision problems. Cataracts form very slowly and is usually common in older adults aged 55 and up.
Often referred to as color-blindness and is usually an inherited eye condition or a result of certain diseases like diabetes, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Also called pink eye or sore eyes. Usually caused by a viral/bacterial infection and can sometimes be a result of an allergic reaction.
A dangerous eye condition that affects the optic nerve which may eventually result to blindness.
Care Tips
Maintain good hygiene
Common eye diseases can be caught from poor hand hygiene. Always make sure that you always wash or sanitize your hands most especially after you go to the restroom. Cut your fingernails as needed and never remove/put on your contacts if you have dirty hands to prevent infection. Avoid rubbing your eyes to prevent irritation.
Don’t sleep with contacts on
This is a common practice for some people who are too tired to remove their contact lenses or have the habit of dozing off while in the middle of reading/watching television. Contact lenses absorb bacteria and other germs when you’re doing everyday activities like taking showers and even swimming. Failing to remove and clean your contacts after a long day puts your eyes at risk of developing infections and other serious medical conditions like blindness.
Wear protective eye gear
Whether you’re an athlete or work at a woodshop, you always need to wear protective equipment to ensure that your eyes are shielded from the repercussions of your strenuous tasks. Buy sunglasses which provide protection against the harmful UV rays of the sun. there are also a variety of safety goggles available in the market for those who work with tools on a daily basis.
Visit your doctor regularly
The American Optometric Association recommends that you see your ophthalmologist every other year even if you have no vision problems.
Eat healthy
Eating a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats can help promote a healthy vision. Infuse ingredients rich in essential vitamins like vitamin C and E. Make it a point to eat food rich in zinc and omega-3 fatty acids like fish and poultry.
