40 | July 2012 | woman this month Showcase Clear Vision ROYAL BAHRAIN HOSPITAL The information we process during our daily lives relies on our sight; we sit down with Dr Bachar Khoury to learn more. Eye sight is probably one of the most relied upon senses, but our eyes are also one of the most vulnerable organs in our body. Dr Khoury, consultant ophthalmologist at Royal Bahrain Hospital and holder of a European Board of Opthalmology from France, answers all our optics questions. What is the most common reason that patients visit an ophthalmologist? The most common reason for patients to go and see an ophthalmologist is blurry vision. Many people immediately recognise it as a problem indicator. Needing glasses is an obvious cause of blurriness, but there are other triggers. Pain, sometimes resulting from injury, is a good reason to make an appointment. As people rely on their eyes in their perception of the world, having pain in this organ can be a big issue, so it’s best to visit a doctor as soon as you feel persistent pain. How often does a person need to visit an ophthalmologist? This varies with age. For example, it is recommended that children have at least one exam in their first three years. Following that, they should visit every six months or at least once a year before entering school. Afterwards, it should be whenever a problem is suspected. It can be different for everyone. For instance, a diabetic patient needs to visit the ophthalmologist for the diabetic retinal screening at least every year. Which are better , contacts or glasses? Generally speaking, glasses are better and more practical than contact lenses. Contacts involve a bit of risk and some people are careless in the way that they put them in their eyes. Others leave them in for too long. However, some lifestyles and medical conditions require contacts. Is bad eyesight genetic, or can it be influenced by other factors? Bad eyesight is usually genetic, such as in families with myopia, where almost all the members wear glasses. On the other hand, it can be sporadic, whereby an individual with no genetic factor has bad eyesight. Some refractive errors are related to certain diseases. What advice would you give for patients to maintain good eyesight? Get regular check ups, make sure you take your children to the ophthalmologist before they reach school age. Consult a doctor if you come across any abnormalities like abnormal blinking, tearing from one or both eyes or cross eyes. A white eye reflex in photos, instead of a red reflex, can also be cause for concern and a doctor's visit is advised. Call 17 246-800 or visit www.royalbahrainhospital.com. Dr Bachar Khoury
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