Yeditepe University Hospitals Ophthalmologist Prof. Dr. Sinan Tatlıpınar lists the things we should pay attention to for our eye health.

• Keep your sunglasses with you in all seasons

Sunglasses play an important role in protecting our eyes from the sun. Therefore, one should not wait to be in the intense sun to use glasses. Because it is important to use glasses to protect from the harmful rays of the sun in all seasons. In this way, the eye can be protected against diseases such as cataracts, yellow spots, and pterygium. However, at this point, it is important to be careful when choosing sunglasses and to benefit from the opinion of an expert.

• Avoid smoking

Smoking, which paves the way for many diseases, also negatively affects eye health. It is known that it can cause many diseases, especially cataracts and yellow spots. In addition, smoking disrupts the structure of tears, causing eye dryness complaints and redness in the eye. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid smoking for eye health.

• Do not neglect regular eye examinations if you have diabetes

Diabetes is a problem closely related to the eyes. Saying that uncontrolled blood sugar can cause complications in the eyes, Prof. Dr. Sinan Tatlıpınar states that the risk of damage increases especially as the duration of diabetes increases. He says, “Retinal damage caused by diabetes is among the most common and most important causes of low vision. However, it is known that eye pressure (glaucoma) and cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) are more common in people with diabetes than in the normal population. For this reason, people with diabetes need to be examined by an ophthalmologist without waiting for any problems and make it regular. Because problems detected at an early stage can be treated much more effectively.”

• Wash your hands frequently

One of the organs affected by upper respiratory tract infections is our eyes. In particular, conjunctivitis, which manifests itself with redness, burring, stinging, and swelling in the eyelid, may occur in association with upper respiratory tract infections. If these symptoms are ignored, the cornea, the transparent layer in the front of the eye, is affected. And as a result, blurring of vision may occur. In order to prevent it, it is necessary to minimize the contact of the hand with the eye and wash the hands frequently.

• Pay attention to keeping your contact lenses clean

Improper use of contact lenses also negatively affects eye health. For this reason, it is important to use lenses under the supervision of a physician in the first place. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the cleanliness of the hands and general hygiene conditions while wearing them on and off, and to pay attention to the general care when not in use. It is important to use it within the period determined by the physician, to make the necessary changes and to consult a specialist even in a very minor discomfort.

• Distance yourself from technological devices

Keeping phones, computers and tablets, which have become indispensable in our lives with the developing technology, at a very close distance for a long time also negatively affects eye health. Because we forget to blink after a while when we look at the screen carefully. This evaporates the tears and causes dryness in the eyes. In addition, false myopia may occur in those who have to focus on the screen and work closely, because they cannot relax after stress, fatigue and overload. Therefore, it is important to look at the mobile phone, computer and tablet from a distance of at least 40 cm and to take short breaks during the day in order to avoid all these undesirable results.

• Adjust your work environment light

Saying that one of the most important points that those who have to work at the computer for a long time should pay attention to is the light of the environment they are in, Prof. Dr. Sinan Tatlıpınar lists his suggestions as follows: “The screen illumination of your monitor should be lower than the light in your environment. Spending too much time in an area devoid of natural light can impair eye health, so it is beneficial for your working environment to receive daylight.”