www.womanthismonth.com May 2016 53 Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and Digital Eye Strain (DES) nowadays. The demands of the digital world today have a lot of adverse effects on the human eye. Increased strain on eyes, caused by continuous usage of digital gadgets, is leading to complications such as CVS and DES, where people experience tired, watery or dry eyes, blurred or double vision, headache, sore neck, shoulders or back, increased sensitivity to light, difficulty in concentrating, a feeling that you cannot keep your eyes open, etc. At Optica, we do special CVS/DES counselling and recommend specialised lenses to treat the same.” There are times when we experience discomfort in the eye, but we tend to ignore the niggle, hoping it’ll disappear on its own. “If you experience blurred or double vision, general eye fatigue, headaches or increased light sensitivity, it is important to immediately consult an optometrist or If you experience blurred or double vision, general eye fatigue, headaches or increased light sensitivity, it is important to immediately consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist ophthalmologist,” says Pushpita. On the subject of optimal eye health, Pushpita has some simple advice. “Good eye health starts with healthy eating. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E are essential in our everyday diet. Smoking affects eye health and, hence, quitting has an overall health benefit, not just on the eyes. Besides the essential regular eye check-ups, at least once every year, it is also important to use the right eye shades to protect eyes from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays,” she says. Doctors cannot stress the importance of shielding one’s eyes from the sun enough, as overexposure to UV rays can cause serious eye problems like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. They recommend that sunglasses or tinted lenses carry the UV400 mark. Pushpita also says those who work in a potentially hazardous environment must protect their eyes by wearing safety eyeglasses. If you have already been diagnosed with less than optimal vision, wearing the right refractive correction glasses, as per the optometrist’s recommendation, is mandatory. Pushpita suggests taking frequent short breaks from digital devices, as well as doing some eye exercises as advised by your eye-care specialist. She also emphasises the need for protection from ultraviolet rays for children. “Kids spend much more time outdoors than most adults do; sunglasses that block 100 per cent of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays are extra important for children. “In fact, because children spend significantly more time outdoors than most adults, some experts say that up to 30-50 per cent of a person's lifetime exposure to UV radiation can occur by the age 18,” she reveals. She continues: “Children’s eyes are more susceptible to UV and High Energy Visible (HEV) radiation than adult eyes, because the lens inside a child's eye is less capable of filtering these high-energy rays and thus more vulnerable. This is especially true for young children, so it's wise for kids to start wearing protective sunglasses outdoors as early in life as possible.” g
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