By Dr Andile Pieterson & Dr Ayanda Mthembu (TwinsOnEyes) — Optometrists
Simple Steps for Better Eye Health This National Eye Care Awareness Month
September is recognised in South Africa as National Eye Care Awareness Month an important opportunity to pause and consider one of our most precious senses: our eyesight.
Vision plays a central role in almost every aspect of our daily life from learning , working to driving, reading, socialising and enjoying the world around us. Yet despite its importance eye health is often overlooked until a problem begins to affect our vision.
Our eyes are exposed to numerous challenges every day. Long hours spent looking at smartphones and computers, exposure to sunlight and environmental factors , poor nutrition, underlying health conditions and genetics can all influence our eye health. The good news is that many eye conditions can be prevented and managed or treated more effectively when detected early.
This National Eye Care Awareness Month it is worth taking a closer look at the simple steps we can all take to protect our vision and recognise when it may be time to seek professional help.
Why Eye Health Matters
Healthy eyes are about much more than simply seeing clearly. Our eyes can also provide important clues about our overall health. Certain systemic conditions including diabetes, hypertensioncan and cholesterol affect the blood vessels and structures within the eyes. In some cases changes in the eyes may occur before a person notices other symptoms.
Regular routine eye examinations are therefore an important part of preventative healthcare. An eye examination does more than determine whether you need spectacles or a change in your prescription. It allows an eye-care professional to assess the health of the eyes and identify potential concerns that may require further investigation or treatment.
Routine examinations become particularly important as we get older especially for people over 40, those with a family history of conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts, people living with diabetes or hypertension and individuals who experience changes in their vision.
Children should also have their vision assessed routinely.Particularly when there are concerns about their ability to see clearly, read, concentrate or participate comfortably in the classroom.
Common Eye Problems
A number of eye conditions can affect people at different stages of life.
Refractive errors including short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism can cause blurred vision and make everyday activities such as reading, driving or seeing the board at school difficult. These conditions can generally be managed effectively with the appropriate vision correction.
Cataracts occur when the normally clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. They are more common with ageing and can gradually cause blurred or hazy vision, glare and difficulty seeing at night.
Glaucoma is another significant eye condition because it can develop without obvious symptoms in its early stages. Damage to the optic nerve can result in permanent vision loss making regular eye examinations particularly important for early detection and management.
Diabetic retinopathy can develop when prolonged high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels supplying the retina. People living with diabetes should therefore have their eyes monitored regularly as part of their overall healthcare.
Another increasingly common concern is digital eye strain as our reliance on smartphones, tablets and computers continues to grow.
Digital Eye Strain and Screen Time
For many people screens are now an unavoidable part of everyday life. We may spend hours working on computers, studying, attending virtual meetings, scrolling through our phones or watching television. Extended screen use can contribute to symptoms such as tired or dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision and difficulty focusing. Poor posture while using devices can also contribute to neck and shoulder discomfort.
One simple strategy is the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes of screen time look at something approximately 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This allows the eyes to relax and refocus.
It is also helpful to position your screen at a comfortable distance, reduce glare, ensure adequate lighting and remember to blink regularly. Taking short breaks throughout the day can be particularly beneficial for people who spend long periods working in front of screens.
Nutrition and Eye Health
A balanced diet is another important component of maintaining healthy eyes. The nutrients we obtain from food support the normal functioning and maintenance of the eyes.
Dark leafy vegetables, colourful fruits and vegetables, citrus fruits, eggs, nuts, seeds and fish containing omega-3 fatty acids can form part of a healthy diet that supports overall eye health. Nutrients such as vitamins A, C and E, zinc and other antioxidants play important roles in maintaining healthy tissues.
Adequate hydration is also important. Drinking enough water supports normal body functions and may be particularly helpful for people who experience dry-eye symptoms.
Protecting Your Eyes From the Environment
South Africa’s bright sunlight also makes UV protection important. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can contribute to eye damage over time. Wearing sunglasses that provide appropriate UV protection together with a wide-brimmed hat when spending extended periods outdoors can help reduce exposure.
Good eye hygiene is equally important. Avoid rubbing your eyes unnecessarily and practise proper hygiene when handling contact lenses or applying eye makeup.
It is also important to remember that not every eye problem can be prevented through lifestyle changes. Regular professional eye examinations remain an important part of maintaining long-term eye health.
When to Seek Professional Help
Changes in your vision should never simply be ignored. Persistent blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night, recurring headaches associated with vision, eye pain, flashes of light, new floaters or increased sensitivity to light should be assessed by an appropriate healthcare or eye-care professional.
A sudden loss of vision or sudden significant change in vision requires urgent medical attention.
Final call to make Your Eye Health a Priority
National Eye Care Awareness Month is more than a reminder to have your eyes tested. It is an opportunity to make eye health part of your everyday approach to wellbeing.
Your eyes work for you every day. This September give them the attention they deserve.Because protecting your vision today can help you continue seeing, learning, working and experiencing the world tomorrow.
Pearls of Wisdom:
Why Eye-Care Awareness Is Personal to Us
As optometrists and co-founders of Twins on Eyes, National Eye Care Awareness Month is particularly meaningful to us.
Twins on Eyes was created from our shared passion for vision education and giving back to our communities. We travel to underprivileged schools and communities to raise awareness about children’s eye health, provide eye-care services and where appropriate within our programme provide spectacles free of charge to children who need them.
Our passion for this work is also deeply personal. We come from a disadvantaged background ourselves navigating most of our childhood with vision impairments we understand that growing up without access to certain resources can create barriers that children should never have to carry into their education and future.
We know there are children growing up today in circumstances similar to those we experienced. Children with dreams, talent and enormous potential who may simply need someone to recognise their needs and give them an opportunity.
That is why we believe taking eye-care services into these communities is so important. A child struggling to see clearly should not have their educational development affected simply because they could not access an eye examination or a pair of spectacles.
Through Twins on Eyes our hope is to help identify these challenges early, educate families and schools about the importance of children’s eye health and give children the opportunity to see clearly and participate confidently in their education.
Help Us Spread the Vision
If you are a school, teacher, parent, organisation, company or potential partner who would like to help us bring eye-care awareness and services to children in underserved communities we would love to hear from you.
Whether it is helping us reach a school, supporting the provision of spectacles, sponsoring an outreach programme or partnering with us on children’s eye-health education, your support can help us reach another child who needs to see clearly.Together we can help ensure that poor vision does not become a barrier to a child’s education, confidence or future.
Partner with Twins on Eyes. Help us reach more schools. Help more children see clearly.
Our mission: Spreading Vision. Spreading Hope. Spreading Love. One school at a time. One child at a time.
To collaborate, support our work or bring Twins on Eyes to your school or community, get in touch with us.
CONTRIBUTOR NOTES – NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN ARTICLE JUST FOR READING:
We were thinking a holistic article touching on most common eye problems and explains each of them to educate and stress the importance of eye examinations as well