WE’VE all heard that consuming carrots helps us to see at nighttime, however the well being of our eyes is usually ignored.
Within the over-50s, injury to the retina — a skinny layer of tissue that strains the within of eyes — is without doubt one of the most typical threats to our eye well being.
Eyes are one in every of our main organs however data on holding them wholesome may be scarce.
As we speak Solar on Sunday Well being appears at widespread eye circumstances with the assistance of Alex Ionides, a number one surgeon at London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital.
He defined: “Eye issues can account for 5 to 10 per cent of GP consultations however docs’ surgical procedures don’t have the tools to cope with them.
“That’s why it's best to go for a watch examine each two years to choose up on circumstances like cataracts, glaucoma or retina issues, which may result in blindness.
“Some circumstances are treatable however others, sadly, will not be. Nevertheless, there are many issues you are able to do to maintain your eyes wholesome simply as you'll with the remainder of your physique.
“My golden rule is that what is sweet for the guts and the mind is sweet for the eyes too so which means staying a wholesome weight, exercising and consuming properly to minimise the danger of diabetes and hypertension.”
Right here Alex breaks down 4 of the commonest eye circumstances within the UK . . .
Retina injury (macular degeneration): The retina strains the within of the attention, like wallpaper.
And the macular is the central half that appears at individuals’s faces, the writing on a web page or the clock on a wall, as an example.
When that's broken, you lose your central imaginative and prescient which makes it exhausting to see superb particulars, up shut or distant.
This normally impacts individuals of their 50s and 60s.
There isn't any remedy however therapy, via injections, can gradual the illness.
An eye-healthy eating regimen can shield the macular.
It's best to eat a big focus of carotenoids — the pigments present in brightly colored fruit and greens.
That’s the place the previous adage that carrots are good for seeing at nighttime comes from — and it’s true.
Naturally crimson, orange and yellow meals are filled with carotenoids, as are garlic, crimson cabbage and leafy inexperienced veg resembling broccoli, Brussels sprouts and spinach.
Cataracts: That is when your eye’s lens turns into cloudy, making your imaginative and prescient go misty.
Once we’re younger, the lens in our eye is like trying via clear glass, however with age this deteriorates.
Cataracts develop in half of individuals over 50 and 100 per cent of individuals over 80 and may ultimately result in blindness.
They don't seem to be preventable however may be handled by some of the widespread operations on the NHS, which sees a brand new lens implanted.
Individuals may be genetically predisposed to cataracts and the danger is considerably larger for people who smoke.
UV mild additionally has a job to play, so it’s suggested that you just put on sun shades on sunny days.
Dry eyes: Tears are made up of mucus, water and oil.
There are round 200 glycoproteins within the mucus, which cling to the cornea and act like a sponge, absorbing the water in our eyes.
That water makes tears, that are filled with our personal antibodies and good micro organism, so good intestine well being may help contribute to good eye well being.
Nevertheless, on a regular basis occurrences, together with central heating, air con, chilly winds and watching screens, could cause that to evaporate, contributing to dry, stingy, itchy, crimson eyes.
Over-the-counter drops may help replenish moisture.
And lots of include antioxidants to imitate these antibacterial qualities that we create naturally.
Glaucoma: 4 per cent of individuals over the age of 40 are susceptible to growing glaucoma, the place the optic nerve — which connects the attention to the mind — turns into broken.
Signs can embody blurred imaginative and prescient or seeing rainbow- colored circles round vibrant lights. B
oth eyes are normally affected.
It must be picked up in a routine eye examination.
Glaucoma is attributable to raised stress — not blood stress — throughout the eye.
The optic nerve is sort of a BT cable with 1.2million phone strains going into it, and glaucoma knocks these out one after the other, so your visible discipline is more and more misplaced.
It may be handled by laser or surgical procedure in addition to every day eye drops.
- Alex Ionides is an ophthalmologist and advisor to specialist eyecare model MTHK (Make Expertise Human Form).
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