Healthy Habits

The most frequent question I am asked is, what can I do to keep my eyes healthy?

Well, here are some healthy habits!

Proper Diet

Adequate Immunizations

Good reading habits

Regular eye exams

What should I eat to supply Vit. A in my diet?

Here are some of the foods that provide Vit A:

Sources of Vit. A -

	Milk is a good source, esp. if fortified with Vit. A,
	Cheese, cream, butter also provide Vit A.
	Eggs, liver,
	Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, broccoli are excellent! Other good sources are carrots, squash, fruits like mango, papaya, cantaloupes
	Cod Liver Oil is the best source.

For a healthy new recipe of Soybeans, click here

Vit. A Deficiency -

In the eye - Vit. A deficiency causes

	Conjunctival and *corneal xerosis* seen as whitish, foamy areas, called as ‘Bitot’s spots’.
	Prolonged deficiency leads to softening called keratomalacia.
	Such eyes are prone to *infection and ulceration*.
	Vit. A also leads to *night blindness.*

In the skin -

Vit.A deficiency is seen as dryness and hyperkeratosis.

Vit. A supplements are provided in most schools especially in areas, where deficiency is common.

Immunizations should be given to all babies. This is especially vital in tropical countries, where one of the causes of deficiency is chronic infections and diarrhea. Measles has been sited as the one cause of Vit. A deficiency.

For adults in general, Vit. A tablets should be taken only on doctor’s advice. High doses of Vit.A over long time can lead to toxicity.

Adequate light while reading or doing close work. Proper posture!

Hold the material at a proper distance, so as not to strain the eyes. If you need to hold the book farther than before, if your arms appear to 'get shorter', you might be presbyopic!

Regular eye exams are important.

If you have to use eye drops, here is an ideal way to do so -

Use only one drop of medication at a time.

Close eyelid after instillation.

Close the lacrimal punctum, by pressure on inner side of the lid (not the eye). This prevents the drops from getting absorbed into the blood stream.

Keep a gap of at least 10 min between instillation of two different medicines.

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