Faq's
The following FAQ may be useful for proper eye
care in the family - for the young and the old alike.
Q. What if spectacles do not suit my child and she
doesn’t wish to wear them and wishes a laser surgery?
A. The parents should change their attitude and use more love
and patience to convince the child to wear the prescribed
glasses. Train the child to use them gradually instead of
insisting that the child wears it during all waking hours
from day one
Q. When should I first take my child to see an eye
doctor even if he or she has no apparent problem?
A. It should be before the age of 5 years because certain
problems like unequal spectacle number or a number only in
one eye can be detected by the doctor even at that age and
can be rectified by correct glasses or even a contact lens
in one eye if there is a number only in that eye. This will
prevent the development of a “lazy” eye. Remember
the doctor does not need the co-operation of the child. It
is also not necessary that the child know how to read the
alphabet to test for spectacle numbers!
Q. Does a child wearing minus numbers means the eyes
are “weak”?
A. NO. Minus numbers is referred to as ‘myopia’
or short sight. This means that the child can see well for
near but has problems seeing for distance. This is because
the focusing system of the eye i.e. the cornea and the lens
bend the rays of light too much so that they focus in front
of the retina. Hence myopia means the eye is too strong or
powerful and certainly not weak.
Q. Do wrong reading habits or too much TV cause increase
in numbers?
A. To a large extent, minus numbers are genetically predetermined
and their extent of increase not in our control. There is
an environmental factor perhaps to an increase in numbers
though there is no universal agreement on this subject.
Q. How the environmental factors can be regulated
?
A. There should be a control in the visual habits, which needs
to be discouraged. Like
a) Reading in poor light. Reading in a
lying down position. Reading in a moving vehicle.
b) Watching TV or being on the computer without a break for
hours at a stretch. It is recommended that the child takes
a break at least every 30minutes or so.
c) Too many late nights. Studying late into the night or too
many late nights. It is better to wake up early in the morning
and study on fresh eyes.
Q. Please suggest some ideal visual
habits?
i) Watch TV or read always being in the sitting up
position, not lying down either on tummy or on back.
ii) Always view TV or the computer screen directly and not
be placed at an angle.
iii) Take breaks every 30-45 minutes for at least 30 seconds
to a minute while reading, watching TV or the computer. Look
far out into the distance or simply gently shutting their
eyes to refresh.
iv) One should read in a room with adequate
light. In fact bulbs are better for the eyes than tube lights.
Reading in poor light causes a strain on the eyes and this
should be avoided.
v) In the case of children who have extra studying to be done,
such as during examinations, it is better to wake up early
and read when the eyes are fresh rather than read late into
the night, when the eyes are already tired having been strained
throughout the day. Follow the idiom “Early to bed,
Early to rise”.
vi) People should avoid reading or sending SMS in moving vehicles.
Q. What are the preventive steps for
Conjunctivitis (Sore Eyes)?
A. Avoid crowded areas such as
swimming pools. If there is a conjunctivitis (sore eyes) with
discharge from the eyes and not just redness. One should take
complete rest till the discharge subsides as this can infect
others. Avoid physical contact with anyone till the discharge
from the eyes subsides. Also clothes like handkerchiefs etc
will have to be washed separately.
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