DIGITAL EYE STRAIN IN CHILDREN

KNOW ABOUT GLAUCOMA

CHILDREN AND COMPUER USE - points to remember

Millions of children work on the computer on a daily basis. While this may be a necessity in some cases as they may have school assignments, some may be just playing computer games for hours on end. It is important to be aware of the harmful effects of computer use in children.

Dry eyes
Adults do complain of symptoms of dry eyes like redness, pain , irritation of the eyes  after prolonged computer use. Children also have the same symptoms but they have some unique aspects which makes them more susceptible to the eye problems

Use of adult computer
Children may not adjust to the table height or the ergonomics may be wrong. Hence they may end up having eye strain or back and neck pain

Increased tolerance
Children are too engrossed in their own world and may ignore the warning signs like eye strain . If they have an underlying refractive error or eye problem they may ignore the poor vision as something that everyone may have. Children many a times have a hypermetropia or plus number which they can overcome with their eye power, but this may become an issue when they use the computer for long hours.

Reduced blinking
Children are not bothered about other things when they are hooked on to computer games and reduced blinking will lead them to forcefully blink their eyes or to severe eye strain.

Accommodation problems
Focussing can be at strain and the internal eye muscles may fatigue because of the excess eye strain .
This can lead to difficult focusing for distance - accommodative spasm.

Room lighting
The room light should not be too bright nor too dark. Comfort while viewing is a must.

POINTS TO REMEMBER
1, PREVENT CONTINOUS USE
2, GET THEIR EYE EXAMINED IN CASE OF ANY ISSUES
3, CHECK THE ERGONOMICS
4, USE OPTIMAL LIGHTING
5, ENCOURAGE THEM TO PLAY OUTDOORS

Its SUMMER - Allergy is back !

ALLERGIC EYE DISEASE

It is summer and the temperatures are soaring. The heat some how triggers a lot of allergy. It is unusual but I think I am seeing more number of patients with allergy this year.

Interestingly many patients are presenting to me with a doubt that they have developed infective viral conjunctivitis. But how do I make out it is allergy and not infective, contagious viral eye disease.

In allergy there is no lid swelling or it is mild, watering is not much and the redness is not very diffuse. In infection the lid is swollen, with severe watering and redness.

The most important feature of allergy is ITCHING.

So how do we take care of this problem.
1, COLD compresses - keep a wet handkerchief on the eyes.
2, Of course keep washing the face and hands and feet periodically.
3, There are medicine drops which will surely give relief
4 Avoid the afternoon heat, the hot wind and the dust when possible
5, Use goggles and a cap when out in the sun

Of course let us wait for the rains to come ....
It will surely cure the allergy....

HOLI - TIPS FOR A SAFE HOLI - CARING FOR YOUR EYES

WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY HOLI

We look forward to this festival of colours. ...

let us ensure we take care of our eyes this Holi,,,

1, Avoid industrial colors or synthetic dyes...these can harm the eyes permanently

2, Use natural colours only...

3, Do not rub your eyes when irritation occurs or colors enter the eyes

4, Do not throw water balloons and water guns - these can cause permanent damage and bleeding

5, Wash the eye thoroughly if something enters the eye.

6, Do not buy over the counter medications for the eyes like rose water etc... these can be harmful

WIsh you all  a safe and happy Holi 

DON'T IGNORE SQUINT

Why should one take note of squint and get an urgent check up. Let us talk of common and the more serious issues which can be underlying squint.

1, Lazy eye - most of the times lazy eye is present and the vision is less in the eye. Please note that lazy eye is not easy to cure and there are many cases where recovery does not occur...it is indeed tough to cure lazy eye.

2, Neurological problem - many a times there is an underlying neurological disorder which presents for the first time as a squint.

3, Cancer- I have had at least 4 patients where squint was the presenting feature of eye cancer. It is indeed important to examine every case of squint carefully.

4, Systemic diseases - many a times I have children who present with squint but actually there is an underlying metabolic disease.

Let us ensure all cases of squint are seen by a squint specialist or pediatric ophthalmologist...

AWARD FROM SQUINT SOCIETY OF INDIA

HAPPY TO INFORM EVERYONE THAT I WAS AWARDED THE PROF KAMLESH
BEST PAPER AWARD BY THE

SQUINT SOCIETY OF INDIA.

DR RAMESH MURTHY
JAN 2015