Take Care Your Eyes – Dr. Shilpa Kodkany

by Dr. Shilpa Kodkany, MS (Ophth)

Our eyes are God’s gift to us to see this wonderful world. We must take care of them.

How to take care of our Eyes?

Usually, around the age of 40 everybody starts feeling the need for spectacles to see the fine print. This is a normal aging change just as we start greying around that age. The lens inside the eye becomes less elastic and so cannot focus on near objects very well, hence the need for glasses.

After age 40, certain eye problems like glaucoma, cataracts, Age-related macular degenerations can start. So routinely along with checking of spectacle numbers, The eye pressures and the retina at the back of the eye are examined.

The eye actually works like a camera. Just as the lens of the camera focuses on an object similarly the Lens inside the eye helps us focus on objects to see clearly.

Does this mean we get our eyes checked only after 40?

No, every child, although we feel everything is normal, has to be checked around the age of 5 when they start reading. Nowadays most schools get a health checkup done which includes an eye check-up. This is a very good screening method since very often children are not able to tell or understand that they cannot see well. School checkups are done as a mass activity and hence a proper eye check where the vision of the child is checked and if need be spectacles can be given.

Eye Problems in Children:

1. Spectacle numbers.
2. Squinting of eyes: If a child has a squint an eye check-up is required at the earliest. The eye which is squinting goes weak and can end up as a lazy eye. Sometimes only glasses can help correct the squint if not surgery is also required.
3. Some children can also have cataracts, glaucoma or retinal problems since birth and they need to be addressed.

So a complete eye checkup by an Ophthalmologist is a must if any parent has the slightest suspicion of a problem.

Computer Vision Syndrome

We live in the age of technology which is a great boon to us and the society at large but there are some downsides to this too. Nowadays we see everybody children, teenagers, adults and the old constantly on some device or the other like mobile phones, computers, laptops, ipads or the most favourite pastime of all – Television. These electronic devices cause 4 times the eyestrain as compared to reading a book.

The Rule of 20:

Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20seconds.

Cataracts:

Most common cause of the decrease in vision in the older age group is a cataract. In India and all tropical countries, the incidence of cataract is much higher because of the ultraviolet rays present in Sunlight.

Cataract surgery today has advanced to a walk in walk out procedure where the recovery is very fast and people return back to their routine work the very next day. The latest procedure called MICS (Micro-Incision Cataract Surgery) involves removal of cataract and implantation of Lens inside through just a 2 mm incision. Cataract surgery has evolved from a 12 mm to a 2 mm incision over the years

Diabetes / Hypertension (High BP) and the Eye:

The blood vessels present on the retina undergo changes causing a reduction in blood supply to the retina causing permanent damage resulting in decrease/loss of vision. These changes if detected early and treated in time will help prevent blindness. So yearly check-ups of the eyes even if there is no vision problem is a must. Timely treatment in the form of laser treatment/ injections will help.

Every Year In The Month of Your Birthday get Your Eyes tested.

Eye Donation and Corneal Transplants:

• Anybody can donate their eyes after their death.
• Eye donation forms are available with most ophthalmologists.
• They need to be signed after which a pledge card is given.
• One must inform all the family members that one has donated their eyes.
• The pledge card has to be kept with you at all times like a driving license.

After Death:

• The cornea alone is taken within 6 hours of death.
• The cornea is taken to the eye bank for analysis
• The cornea is transplanted into a person who is blind due to the cornea being white.

ONE EYE DONATION WILL HELP TWO BLIND PEOPLE SEE. SO PLEDGE TO DONATE YOUR EYES TODAY.

SOME TIPS FOR HEALTHY EYES :

• After age 5 get the child eyes examined by an ophthalmologist ( Eye Doctor )
• After the age of 40 spectacle numbers, eye pressures and a retinal examination is a must once a year.
• Get your eyes examined in the month of your birthday to remember your yearly check ups.
• Any redness of the eyes needs to be attended to by your eye doctor.
• Please do not take drops directly from the medical shop counter, every eye redness is not conjunctivitis.
• Conjunctivitis is a viral infection and most often spreads through contact with an infected person. It does NOT spread by looking at somebody who has conjunctivitis.
• Do not rub your eyes. Rubbing of eyes causes infections.
• Eat healthy food to keep your eyes healthy, healthy food doe not mean have only carrot juice. Foods rich in Vitamin A are carrots, green leafy vegetables, eggs, and meat.

Happy Doctors Day To All.

About the Author:

Dr. Shilpa Kodkany, MS (Ophth)Dr Kodkany’s Eye Centre, Maruti Galli, Belagavi

She is the chief consultant and Medical Director Dr. Kodkany’s Eye Care Centre at Maruti Galli, Belagavi since 2000. She specializes in

1. Micro Incision Cataract Surgery with Foldable Lens Implantation.
   Pioneer in Lasik treatment for permanent removal of Spectacle numbers & Contact Lenses in the city of Belagavi.
   Pioneer in ICL (implantable contact lenses) for high myopia in Belagavi
   Glaucoma Surgeries & Laser Procedures for Glaucoma.
   Laser treatment for Diabetic Eye Diseases.

Dr Kodkany’s Eye Centre under her leadership is one of the few hospitals in Belagavi to have got THE Accreditation from The National Board of Hospitals (NABH) for providing High Quality and Safe Standard of care to patients as well as the Staff.

It is also the only Eye Hospital in the private sector to have got permission from the Government of Karnataka under the HOTA (Human Organ Transplant Act) to Conduct Corneal Transplantations following Eye Donations.