The Eyes Have It

Why an Eye Exam?

The primary reason for an eye exam is to check the health of the body. Most people have the idea that you go to the eye doctor for glasses or when you don't see very well, but the truth is a much deeper than that. Your eyes are a direct outcropping of cranial nerves that extend from your brain. When you hear the term "your eyes are the window to your soul," that phrase is totally accurate. Peering into those big brown eyes can help in the detection of many ailments of the human body.

Why Do We Neglect our Eyes?

Often things such as eyes and healthcare are relegated as one of the lowest priorities and are neglected, if addressed at all. Because there are no nerve endings (pain receptors) in the anterior portion of the eye and many times there is no evidence of pain, the individual believes that there is no need for a medical check-up and eye health is delayed for something more pressing. Unfortunately, it can't be stressed enough that the lack of symptoms doesn't mean that there is nothing wrong. That's why annual physical examinations are recommended for people of all ages. Just because you do not have any symptoms? Check again!!

How does the Modern Lifestyle Affect our Eyes?

There are inherent problems in today's modern lifestyle that aid in the demise of your eyes. Ultra-violet radiation is emitted from all light sources, natural and artificial, such as indoor lighting and, yes, even computers. The lack of proper rest causes a tremendous strain on and depletion of the nutrients utilized by the eye. Being that super woman, super mom or super man also takes its toll with the lack of sleep. The eye is not able to rest and rejuvenate itself as most of its replenishment is accomplished while sleeping.

Medical problems that can have an adverse effect in the eyes

Your eyes are a direct outcropping of cranial nerves that extend from your brain. When you hear the term "your eyes are the window to your soul," that phrase is totally accurate. Peering into those big brown eyes can help in the detection of many ailments of the human body.

Common Eye Diseases and Symptoms

Many things that present medical problems in the eyes include hypertension, AIDS, cholesterol and well-known afflictions that attack the eyes directly such as Glaucoma, which is a major problem in the Black community. The onset of glaucoma may be as early as thirty or so years. Many times minorities, as a people, are very busy trying to deal with day-to-day life issues such as family, work and survival.

Being Black DOES have an Effect!

. Many times minorities, as a people, are very busy trying to deal with day-to-day life issues such as family, work and survival. Often things such as eyes and healthcare are relegated as one of the lowest priorities and are neglected, if addressed at all. Because there are no nerve endings (pain receptors) in the anterior portion of the eye and many times there is no evidence of pain, the individual believes that there is no need for a medical check-up and eye health is delayed for something more pressing. Unfortunately, it can't be stressed enough that the lack of symptoms doesn't mean that there is nothing wrong. That's why annual physical examinations are recommended for people of all ages.

Contact Lenses - Care and Problems

If you are a contact lens wearer, you should be aware of the fact that contacts provide added stress on the eye. Contact lenses must be removed on a timely basis and ample time is needed for the eye to breathe (the anterior portion of your eye absorbs oxygen directly from the atmosphere). In most cases, contact lenses work like a cap that does not allow any gas exchange. Thus, your tears are not able lubricate your eyes causing "dry eyes." If you wear colored lenses, the gas exchange is even worse. Wearing lenses longer than the recommended time causes two problems: (1) protein deposits are are excreted from your eyes which abrasively rub on your cornea and any are more |advanced with any type of extended wear. Deposit laden lenses are the perfect breeding grounds for anerobic bacteria. This bacteria may spread through your eye causing a contact blephoritis or even worse. The best cleaning systems combine ultrasound cleaning along with u.v. sterilization, these tend to be automatic, no irritation and touch free cleaning systems.

Dos and Don'ts

Dos
Don'ts
See the doctor yearly
Skip exams
Get proper rest
Stay up excessively
Wear protective lenses
Look at bright light directly
Use Hydrating drops
Use redness removers
Correct nutrition
Smoke, chemicals or drugs
Clean contact lenses properly
Wear contacts excessively

To better preserve your eyes, you should always wear ultraviolet protected eyewear. You should be protected for both indoor and outside occurrences and eat foods that are rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E in natural forms. Foods rich in these nutrients aid healthy vision - carrots for example. Yes, some of the old wives' tales are true - "%u2026an apple a day" and "greens are good for you%u2026", etc. Vitamins help, but anti-oxidants are even larger contributors (there are vitamins made to aid vision) ; they keep the eye young by sloughing off dead cells and keeping the young vital cells at the surface.

You should avoid smoke, pollutants and suspended debris. Suspended debris can be anything in the atmosphere that is kicked-up or stirred-up in reaction to activity. Air produced by artificial sources, like air conditioning units, dries your eyes and combats your eyes with other harmful chemicals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you should guard your eyes as if they were your only pair. They really are and these windows to the world cannot be replaced at any cost. Do the things that prolong their life and their usefulness. Keep your eyes hydrated, feel free to use products that hydrate (over-the-counter eye drops used to lubricate your eyes and available in most drug stores across the country); you can't over hydrate your eyes. Avoid using products that claim they eliminate irritation and eye redness. These products are called "vaso-constrictors" and while they do eliminate or lessen the "red" by clamping down on the blood flow, they do not solve the actual problem(s) that caused the eye irritation.