1. People who do not follow the doctor's advice of not wearing eyeglasses or specs and only wear specs as and when they think due to any reason like; it doesn't suit their face, specs are uncomfortable, is unfashionable, people teasing them, can see clearly, etc. should be careful as it can weaken the eyes further which can result in poor vision, increase in specs number, put strain on your eye. So for proper eye care and good vision choose to wear your spectacles at all times. Along with wearing your specs at all times, ensure to keep your spectacle lenses clean from dust, speckled or blurry glasses as it can interrupt your vision and even cause a headache. When you step out in the sun for long hours, make sure to use spectacles that provide 100% UV protection. Always select lightweight and correct fitting specs as wearing uncomfortable or ill-fitted specs can stress and worsen your vision. While selecting lenses for your specs, go for Impact resistant lenses i.e. polycarbonate lenses as they do not break or shatter during accidents or normal circumstances and are a safer alternative to regular lenses.
2. Cataracts is a condition wherein the lens of the eye forms cloudy spots or an opaque lens that slowly impact the loss of vision. The changes can be seen as haziness or blurriness, trouble with night vision, yellowing or darkening of the colors around us, increased sensitivity to light, double vision in one eye, and milky white or yellowish spot on lost vision, etc. Usually, people above 40 are affected but it can also be due to disease (diabetes mellitus or glaucoma), genetic, nutritional deficiencies, gender (Women have a slightly higher risk than men) ultraviolet radiation, or eye trauma. A cataract is caused because of damaged proteins in the lens which lumps together and obstruct vision. There are several kinds of cataracts that have different causes and symptoms that look different in the eye that can be understood through an eye exam by the optometrist or eye specialist.
Changes in lifestyle slow down can slow down the progress of a cataract in your eye after it has begun. Some of it is: quit smoking or drinking or reducing alcohol consumption, eat a healthier diet, wearing sunglasses blocking UV rays, avoid steroids/drug substances, and take vitamin supplements like vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, zeaxanthin, and lutein, following doctors' advice by monitoring chronic illnesses like diabetes and blood sugar.
Once the cataract surgery is done some people may need glasses or contact lens while others will not. Some of the factors that influence the need for continued wear of glasses, part-time wearing, reading glasses, or none at all post-cataract surgery are Overall health of your eye, your current eyeglass number, type of artificial lens implanted into your eye during cataract surgery i.e. Astigmatism-correcting intraocular lenses (IOLs), etc. Even if the type of lens selected, one may still have to depend on glasses for a time but your IOLs selected can greatly reduce your dependence on glasses in the future.
Some of the things you can do to keep your eyes healthy are:
a) Every year or two, get a complete eye exam. If you have diabetes or a family history of eye disease, do make it a point to visit your eye doctor every six months¬ to a year.
b) Quit smoking and drinking.
c) Always wear sunglasses (that block out both UVA and UVB light) while going out in the sun for long hours.
d) Eat healthy and nutrient-rich food.
e) Take vitamin supplements like vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc, zeaxanthin, and lutein which are important nutrients for eye health.
f) Try different types of eye exercises like Focus change, 20-20-20 rule, Near and far focus, Figure-eight, etc. that can help with eyestrain, provide eye comfort, and improve vision.
“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in." — Morrie Schwartz