Human vision consists of paired eyes located in the eye sockets. The eyes contain sensory cells that receive light stimuli, and they are called photoreceptors. The eyes consist of auxiliary (protective) and main parts. They are the most wonderful sense in our body. They give the brain more information about our environment than all the other senses combined. The eye through the nerve sends messages to the brain about what we see. The brain interprets messages from the eye and then we become aware of what we have seen. We look with our eyes, and we see with our brains. In this way, we become aware of our environment and 80% of everything we learn is through our sight.
How do the eyes work?
The light reflected from the object we look at enters the eye through the pupil and focuses on the macula which is located in the center of the retina at the back of the eye. The macula allows us to see the fine details and colors and enables us to read and recognize things. Light stimulates nerve cells in the retina and the image is sent along the optic nerve to the brain, where images from both eyes merge into a single image.
Maintaining good eyesight is very important for everyone. Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that negatively affect our eyes and impair vision, and they include:
- Ageing – There are some eye conditions that develop as we age;
- UV rays – Excessive exposure to the sunlight during high UV radiation can damage the eyes;
- Excessive alcohol consumption;
- Excessive use of eye drops;
- Excessive time in front of screen can impair the vision;
- Contact lenses can irritate the eyes;
- Smoking;
- Allergens irritate the eyes and make them itchy or sensitive and dry;
- Infections can damage the eyes, especially if left untreated;
- Lack of sleep or fatigue contribute to poor eyesight;
- Too much light can cause blurriness.
Most common eye condition include:
- Refractive errors – Blurred vision caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism;
- Age-related macular degeneration – Blurred vision and loss of vision in the middle caused by the nerve damage;
- Glaucoma – Eye disease in which vision is lost due to damage to the optic nerve due to high intraocular pressure;
- Cataract – Blurred area in the lens that reduces vision;
- Diabetic retinopathy – A condition that affects blood vessels in the eye due to diabetes.
There are a number of treatments for eye diseases such as eye drops, medication, ointments, injections, and surgeries and their use depends on the type and severity of the disease.
But there are also a number of things we can do to take care of our eyes and prevent disease. The simplest is a balanced diet that will provide the nutrition needed for eye health. In addition to diet, we need to pay attention to the condition of the eyes. If our eyes are tired or we have blurred vision, we need to find the reason for it. It is best to go out into the fresh air, take a deep breath, wash your face with lukewarm water, go to the park and take a nice walk.
Depending on the cause of blurred vision you can try life style changes, or natural treatments that include:
- Protect your eyes – wear goggles when working with things that can irritate or damage your eyes;
- Take a rest – If your eyes get tired from long rides, long time in front of the screen or lack of sleep, take a rest or a good sleep;
- Lubricate your eyes – If your eyes get dry due to air pollution, prolonged work, physical damage to your eyes, you can treat them with lubricating eyedrops;
- Improve air quality – Make sure that you ventilate the room frequently or clean the filter in the air conditioner;
- Avoid allergens – Allergens can dry out your eyes and blur your vision, so try to stay away from allergens and protect your eyes when exposed;
- Quit smoking – If you smoke you may have dry and irritated eyes, so the best way to protect your eyes is to quit smoking;
- Take omega-3 fatty acids – Omega-3 fatty acids can improve the oil film of the eye produced by the small gland on the edge of the eyelid;
- Take vitamin A – Vitamin A is very important for maintaining eye health.
As for the overall health of the body, as well as for the health of the eyes, it is important to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and try to minimize stress.
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➥ DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to replace medical treatment. The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.