This document discusses the importance of eye care and hygiene, common eye complaints, and ways to protect eye health. Maintaining good nutrition with vitamins A, C, and E can prevent conditions like night blindness and age-related macular degeneration. Wearing protective eyewear can prevent injuries from sports, hobbies, and occupations. Regular eye exams are important, especially for those with diabetes or family histories of eye diseases, in order to catch treatable conditions early. Proper care and hygiene of the eyes throughout life can help prevent vision loss and blindness.

1. CARE AND
HYGIENE OF THE
EYES
FG OFFR ADITYA PASUMARTHY

2. IMPORTANCE
• Diminution of vision has both emotional and economic consequences
• Approximately 45 million people are estimated to be blind according
to WHO criteria
• Majority of these cases are of preventable blindness and can be
taken care of by simple interventions.

3. COMMON COMPLAINTS
• Involving protection of eyes
• Preventable eye problems
• Congenital eye diseases

4. PROTECTION OF EYES
• NUTRITION
• Vitamin A-
• deficiency may manifest earliest as night blindness, dry eyes.
• Has a role in formation of pigment rhodopsin and epithelial health of
cornea.
• Xerophthalmia is a very common condition affecting upto 3 million
children/ year in developing countries finally leading to blindness.

5. • Can be effectively managed by supplementation with vitamin A
during immunization or healthy diet.

6. • ANTIOXIDANTS-
• Prevent cell damage caused by oxidative processes and prevent age related diseases.
• Vitamin A, C, E significantly reduce AMD in people at high risk for developing it
• MINERALS-
• Zinc has been found to play an active role in preventing AMD
• Sources- green leafy vegetables, fish products, non meat proteins( eggs, nuts)
citrus fruits, oysters and pork

7. PROTECTION FROM EYE INJURIES
• 90 % of injuries are found to be preventable
• SPORTS- commonest causes, include ball
games like cricket, squash, hockey, campfire
sparks
• Swimming- exposure to chemicals
• Firecrackers
• The best way to avoid these injuries to be
alert. Protective glasses can be helpful

8. • OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
• Works like carpentry involve flying wood
chips, ricocheting nails, paints and
thinners
• Welding works also cause damage to
the cornea
• Using protective eye gear like goggles or
full face shield while on works like wood
works or welding.

9. • Simple chores like
gardening, cleaning of the
house or using chalk and
board.
• Professionals involving long
hours in front of computer
screens

10. PREVENTING EYE PROBLEMS
• Ultraviolet exposure
• Preventing eye strain
• Diabetic eye care
• Importance of regular eye checkups

11. UV exposure
• Protection from UV exposure reduces
chances of cataract and MD
• Right sunglasses block 99 to 100% of UVA
and UVB rays.
• Always test non prescription sunglasses for
any distortion, check if they provide UV
protection
• Wearing sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat

12. REDUCING EYE STRAIN
• Personal measures to reduce eye strain
• Reading in a good light. Dim light doesn’t hurt eyes
but tire them quickly.
• Using glasses or contact lenses if already having.
• Using an anti glare filter on the computer monitor
• Positioning the monitor at or below eye level and
at a distance little farther away from reading a
book
• Taking frequent breaks while working long hours

13. DIABETIC EYE CARE
• Micro angiopathy due to diabetes pose serious threat to the eyes
• Leading cause of blindness in people less than 60 years of age
• Diabetic retinopathy affects almost one third of population having
diabetes for over a decade
• Out of these 5% lose their eyesight completely
• Diet, medication and exercise is the key
• Blood sugar monitoring and an yearly checkup
• Initial examination after being diagnosed and early intervention when
diagosed

14. REGULAR CHECKUPS
• Not to wait for a problem to arise
before getting our eyes checked
• Getting an eye checked every two
to four years between the ages of
45 to 60
• Every 1 to 2 tears after 60 years of
age
• Any family history of diabetes or
glaucoma warrants additional care
and yearly checkups

15. CONGENITAL EYE DISORDERS
• ASTIGMATISM
• Defective peripheral vision
• Early prevention by cylindrical lenses
• CATARACT
• Photophobia, fading colours, halos
• Surgical intervention
• GLAUCOMA
• One of the leading causes of blindness after 60
• Blurred vision, slight pain
• Early detection important
• MYOPIA
• In school going ages
• Corrective glasses or lenses

16. NEWBORNS AND PINK EYES
• Conjunctivitis is a common occurrence in newborns
• Antibiotic eye drops for treatment
• Lacrimal sac massaging done gently two hourly also helps prevent
prolongation or new episodes
• Ophthalmia neonatorum

17. COMMON TEMPORARY CONDITIONS
• DRY EYES
• Commoner complaints
• Allergic reactions blocking tear ducts, medications like antihistaminics,
decongestants, anti anxiety medication, sjogren syndrome, blepharitis
• Artificial tears, avoiding smoking, glasses against wind, swimming goggles,
workplace humidity
• Red eye
• Anything ranging from sleep deprivation to major vision threatening illneses
• Consult an ophthalmologist

18. Preventive eye care setup
• Primary care
• Tailored according to the locally prevalent diseases
• Vit A prophylaxis
• Cleansing for ophthalmia neonatorum (1%
tetracycline)
• Vaccination against measeles, rubella
• Secondary care
• Mx of eye injuries, corneal ulcers, correction of
refractive errors, appropriate referral
• Tertiary care
• Screening and treatment of ROP, MX of cataract,
corneal scars, glaucoma, strabismus and complicated
eye trauma