Helpful Tips To Ensure Your Eyes Good Health

Regularly visits to an optometrist or ophthalmologist is one of the basics of eye care. A visit to the eye doctor once a year is qsufficient for those with normal vision. Those who have developed visual defects, like astigmatism, near and farsightedness, on the other hand, may need to visit more often to evaluate corrective lenses which have been prescribed to them months prior.

Diabetics may need to do visit their optometrists or eye doctor more frequently though because visual acuity can degrade rapidly especially when such condition is not managed properly. It is so common that at least 80% of those who had diabetes for more than ten years have varying degrees of diabetic retinopathy. Sadly, when not managed promptly, this can lead to total loss of vision.

Good eye care also entails the immediate assessment and management of common eye infections like hordeolum and conjunctivitis, known commonly as sty and pink eye, respectively. Pink eye caused by bacteria or virus is very contagious. The bacteria and virus which causes such disorder can be passed on via washcloths, kerchiefs, or makeup applicators hence should not be shared. Viral conjunctivitis usually resolves without treatment in a week's time or less. Bacterial conjunctivitis on the other hand may need antibiotic eye drops to hasten recovery.

Treatment may not be prescribed in some cases but this decision should be made by the doctor. Conjunctivitis can also be caused by allergies. Treating the underlying hypersensitivity reaction with steroids or antihistamines will also treat the eye irritation. Purulent discharge, itching and redness are the most common symptoms for all types of conjunctivitis. These signs however are not exclusive to conjunctivitis and to determine factors which give rise to them one needs the expert assessment of a healthcare professional.

Diet is an essential component of eye care. Vitamin A or beta-carotene rich foods like carrots and pumpkin help your eyes to adapt quickly in low-light environments. In addition, taking food items that are rich in vitamins C and E will help protect the eyes from being damaged by free radicals.