Table of Contents
What is ophthalmology?
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that studies eye diseases. It is important to know the difference between an ophthalmologist, an optometrist, and an optician. Although their main role is to keep your eyesight healthy, there is still a difference in their professions. An ophthalmologist is a doctor licensed for the treatment of eye diseases and performing surgical procedures. An optometrist is the one who will prescribe lenses or glasses to improve eyesight when something wrong is found with your vision. Then we get to the optician who will make the glass according to the required diopter.
Thanks to the quick and efficient diagnosis by an ophthalmologist, many eye diseases can be prevented from spreading, which could lead to permanent damage to vision.
However, to get the care you deserve, you need to find an opthalmologist who deserves your trust. In Miranda, the ophthalmologists at retinaandeye.com.au can help. Every patient who seeks help deserves the best possible care, which in addition to the professionalism of the ophthalmologist includes excellent teamwork, as well as accommodation that will make the night spent in the hospital as pleasant as possible. We will also mention that it is important to do a little research before contacting a clinic, to convince yourself that you are going to the right place. It is important to know that ophthalmologists follow leading international trends when it comes to ophthalmology and that they regularly go to training seminars, as well as to engage in certain research in that field.
What are the signs you need to visit ophthalmologist?
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As a rule, each person should go for a regular eye examination at least annually with an optometrist. However, few people ask for it and do it. It is important to pay attention to whether someone in the family has certain eye problems, because some diseases can be hereditary, such as systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, but also rheumatic diseases. When we talk about children, the first examination is recommended before the age of three, the second around the age of six, and until the age of fourteen, one visit per year is recommended. HealthMarkets
But when do we really need to visit an ophthalmologist? Generally, upon the orders of your optometrist of your GP. The good news is that in more than 80% of cases, the examination will bring a positive outcome when it comes to your vision. In addition to this, there are many other signs that will indicate that you need an examination. The most common warning signs are eye fatigue and headaches, a double or blurred image, a feeling of pressure in the eyes, and many others. One of the main signs that signal to adults that something is wrong with vision is difficulty driving at night. It is not new that diabetics and people who suffer from a disease called lupus, as well as those who have problems with the thyroid gland, must take special care because they already have predispositions for vision loss and eye disease.
The sensitivity of the eye to light or photophobia can indicate a serious problem such as an eye infection, corneal abrasion, and it can also indicate meningitis – a disorder of the central nervous system. To spare yourself worries and thoughts of whether it is just sensitivity to light or something more serious, it is best to go for an examination and hear an expert opinion.
How to preserve eye health?
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As with whole-body health, proper nutrition plays a big role. Of course, food cannot cure the disease, but it can contribute to health. It is known that foods rich in minerals and vitamin A have a positive effect on eye health. Just some of the foods that are healthy not only for eyesight but for the whole body are fish, green vegetables, whole grains, eggs, beans, sunflower seeds, beef, carrots, as well as sweet potatoes whose use in the kitchen has become very popular.
Each of these foods is rich in different minerals and vitamins and that is why it is important to eat them as much as possible. For example, dry eyes can indicate a lack of omega 3 fatty acids, and fish is a perfect source of omega 3 oil. Green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and broccoli are powerful antioxidants and are also rich in vitamins C and E. Eggs help protect against night blindness and dry eyes, and also increase the amount of protective pigment in the macula. The macula is the part of the eye that controls central vision.
In addition to nutrition, it is important to protect your eyesight by avoiding looking at the screen for a long time. However, if your job requires it, the anti-reflective glass could be of great help to you. These are glasses without diopters, and it is a multi-layer coating that puts it over the glass.
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Another thing you can do for yourself and your eyes is to wear sunglasses because the sun produces harmful ultraviolet radiation. These dangers should be especially aware of people who have had multiple cataract surgeries as you may experience sensitivity to the sun’s rays.
Smoking damages eyesight. Although many are aware that smoking leads to various serious illnesses, they still do not give up this vice. In addition to lung cancer, smoking affects vision by increasing the risk of developing macular degeneration. Also, people who smoke are more prone to bad life habits, such as consuming alcohol and unhealthy foods. This leads to problems with the optic nerve.
There are also many exercises for better vision. They won’t take you much time, and they will mean a lot to your eyes. Alternately looking to the side, moving your eyes up and down, and circling your eyes in a circle are just some of them.
So, sit comfortably in an armchair and start with these simple exercises and your eyes will be grateful.
