Page 34 - Seniors Today - April Issue
P. 34
Health
Eye-Openers
for All Ages
Eye care signs to look for and general tips, from Dr Anand Shroff
This article is not necessarily strictly for out either through tests or observation
the elder population. Some tips here are what the allergies are and try to fix those.
for all age groups, as there may be kids Simple anti-allergy eye drops help treat
and youngsters in the same household that the symptoms but not the cause. Vigorous
could gain from these general tips, which rubbing of the eyes can make the cornea
we call ‘Shroff Eye-Openers’®: go out of shape, a condition known as
keratoconus.
1. We start our tips with the morning ritual 3. Excessive fluid intake: One often gets
of splashing of water in the eyes. That’s not WhatsApp messages recommending
necessarily a very good idea. Unless the drinking 4 glasses of warm water early in
hands are really clean and so is the water. the morning. This practice is dangerous
Besides, this action washes away the tears, because it can lead to a sharp increase in the
which have isoenzymes that fight infection. eye pressure. This high pressure going up
A better cleaning option might be to use early in the morning takes hours to return
cooling eye drops and clean out the eyes to normal, resulting in pressure on the optic
in the morning from mucus that may have nerve of the eye which is responsible for
accumulated overnight. It is always safer vision. Having said this, one must keep in
to have something put in the eyes from a mind that you can and should drink a fair
sterilised bottle rather than use tap water. amount of water but it must be spaced out
2. A general no-no for all age groups throughout the day.
is ‘knuckling’ of the eyes early in the 4. It is also preferable not to touch the eyes
morning. Itching can happen due to with unclean hands and handkerchiefs
allergic causes. One must then try to find or towels lying around. It can lead to
34
