Hy Local Guides,
April is known to be Women’s Eye Health & Safety Month. This month is to create awareness and promote Women’s eye care and health. Dr. Awungshi Philamazan (@Philamazanawungshi) is an amazing and inspiring Local Guide who is also an Ophthalmologist for the talk today about Women’s Eye Health and Care. To know more about her, please visit - Celebrate Women’s Week & An Ophthalmologist With Me!
Let’s hear what @Philamazanawungshi has to say about Eye Care and Health.
- As an ophthalmologist, What is important for women’s eye health and safety month?
Answer : As an ophthalmologist, Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month in April is crucial for several reasons:
- Raising Awareness of Higher Risk: Women are at a statistically higher risk for developing several eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and autoimmune related eye diseases. The month serves as a dedicated time to highlight these disparities and educate women about their increased susceptibility.
- Addressing Hormonal Influences: Fluctuations in hormone levels throughout a woman’s life, such as during pregnancy, menopause, and with the use of hormone replacement therapy, can significantly impact their vision and eye health.
- Promoting Preventative Care: Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month emphasizes the importance of regular comprehensive eye exams, healthy lifestyle choices, and protective measures to safeguard their vision. Women may face specific eye safety risks in their daily lives, whether it’s related to cosmetics, household chores, or certain occupational hazards. By dedicating a month to this specific area, it sends a powerful message that women’s eye health is a priority. It encourages women to be proactive about their vision, seek timely care, and advocate for their eye health needs, leading to better long-term outcomes and overall quality of life.
- What are the common eye health issues seen in women and how can they be prevented or be treated?
Answer : Here are 5 common eye health issues seen in women, along with ways they can be prevented or treated:
Dry Eye Syndrome:
Prevention:
- Blink regularly: when using digital screens
- Stay hydrated
: Drink plenty of water. - Use a humidifier: dry environments.
- Take breaks from screens
: Follow the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds). - Wear wraparound sunglasses: To protect from wind and sun.
- Consider dietary changes: Include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet (found in fish, flaxseed, and walnuts).
Treatment:
- Artificial tears💦: Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops.
- Warm compresses and lid massage: To help release oils from the meibomian glands in the eyelids.
Cataracts:
Prevention:
- Wear sunglasses
: Protect from UV radiation. - Manage underlying conditions: Such as diabetes.
- Eat a healthy diet
: Rich in antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. - Avoid smoking: Smoking increases the risk of cataracts.
- Regular eye exams: To detect early signs.
Treatment:
- Surgery: The only effective treatment for cataracts. It involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens (intraocular lens or IOL). Consult your ophthalmologist for detailed evaluation and tests.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD):
To know more about it, please visit this post.
Prevention:
- Eat a healthy diet: Rich in leafy green vegetables and fish containing omega-3 fatty acids.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking significantly increases the risk of AMD.
- Manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Wear sunglasses : To protect from UV radiation.
- Regular eye exams: To monitor for early signs, especially if there is a family history of AMD.
Treatment:
- Treatment focuses on slowing progression and managing vision loss.
- AREDS and AREDS2 supplements: Specific formulations of vitamins and minerals that have been shown to slow the progression of intermediate and advanced AMD in some individuals.
- Consult retina specialist for more details
Glaucoma:
Prevention:
- Regular comprehensive eye exams with eye pressure checks:
- Know your family history: Glaucoma can be hereditary.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Regular exercise and a balanced diet may be beneficial.
- Treatment: Focuses on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) to prevent damage to the optic nerve.
- Consult a glaucoma specialist for more information.
Autoimmune-Related Eye Diseases (e.g., Sjögren’s Syndrome-related dry eye):
Prevention:
- Manage the underlying autoimmune condition: Following the treatment plan prescribed by your rheumatologist or other specialist is crucial for overall health, including eye health.
- Regular eye exams: To monitor for any ocular involvement.
Treatment:
- Treating the underlying autoimmune disease: Systemic medications to control inflammation and the autoimmune response.
- Lubricating eye drops and other dry eye treatments: To manage dry eye associated with autoimmune conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome.
- Immunosuppressant medications and eyedrops to be used after consulting an ophthalmologist.
- What are the simple eye care and safety tips that women can follow to reduce Digital eye strain?
Answer : Tips to reduce digital eye strain:
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Follow the 20-20-20 Rule: This is a simple yet highly effective technique. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something that is 20 feet away. This allows your eye muscles to relax and reduces the strain caused by prolonged focus at a close distance.
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Optimize Your Viewing Setup:
- Distance : Position your screen about an arm’s length away (roughly 20-30 inches).
- Height: The top of your screen should be at or slightly below eye level. This helps prevent you from straining your neck and eyes by looking upwards.
- Lighting: Reduce glare on your screen. Position your monitor so that light sources (like windows or lamps) are not directly reflected on the screen. Consider using anti-glare screen protectors. Adjust the brightness and contrast of your screen .
- Distance
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Blink More Frequently and Use Artificial Tears: When we focus on screens, our blink rate tends to decrease significantly. Blinking is essential for lubricating the eyes and preventing dryness. Make a conscious effort to blink more often. If you still experience dryness, use over-the-counter artificial tears to keep your eyes moisturized.
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Adjust Text Size and Screen Settings:
- Increase Text Size: so your eyes don’t have to work as hard to focus.
- Reduce Blue Light: Consider using blue light filters on your devices or wearing glasses with blue light filtering lenses. While the long-term effects of blue light are still being studied, some people find that reducing blue light exposure, especially in the evening, can improve comfort and sleep.
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Take Regular Breaks: Get up and move around for at least 5-10 minutes every hour. This not only gives your eyes a rest but also benefits your overall physical well-being. During these breaks, focus on objects at varying distances to further relax your eye muscles.
Thank you Dr Awungshi Philamazan for having a talk about Eye health and how to take care of it.
Having a healthy Diet and lifestyle, we all can have and maintain a healthy eyes for today and for the future.
Share your views and thoughts about this day and how you take care of your eyes.
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