The FINANCIAL — People in the Caucasus including Georgians tend to have better sight in one eye compared to the other, ophthalmologists say.
Apart from this, dry eyes and rejuvenated myopia are the most commonly occurring eye problems in Georgia as well as throughout the world.
“A modern lifestyle is usually to blame for these problems, genetics aside,” ophthalmologist Maia Beraia told The FINANCIAL. “Frequent and long hours working in front of computer screens are the main reason for dry eyes and rejuvenated myopia. Whereas previously most people with problems of myopia were over the age of 40, now already a greater number of people from their thirties onwards are suffering from it. If you do not pay attention to having dry eyes, then it can rapidly turn into chronic conjunctivitis.”
Conjunctivitis of the eye has symptoms that include redness, irritation, watery eyes, and other problems with one’s vision. The disease must be treated as soon as possible to prevent it becoming chronic. Vitamin complexes are available especially to treat this problem.
“According to medical research, people bat their eyes three times less than normal while working at the computer,” Beraia said. “It is exactly this that causes dry eyes. As well as this a normal level of humidity in rooms is rarely regulated. Modern heating systems do not help. So I advise everyone that has an office job to use artificial tears which are widely available in pharmacies. Having some water in the room is very helpful as well. The water becomes vaporized which increases the humidity level.”
In Georgia people don’t always consult ophthalmologists when choosing spectacles. This is a big problem as wrongly chosen glasses can cause the same problems as not using glasses at all can. More and more people use computer protective eyeglasses when in actual fact they are not needed.
“Almost all computer monitors have the same glass as protective glasses do,” she explained. “But for people who really have eye problems and need prescription glasses, it is necessary for them to use high quality glasses. It makes no difference whether they are made from glass or plastic. Nowadays prominent global brands use plastic for their glasses. Quality is most important. Low quality spectacles don’t help at all. To the contrary they actually cause additional problems and diseases themselves.”
“I would advise everyone to use no spectacles at all rather than low quality ones,” Beraia stated. “They can cause eye irritation, headaches, feelings of nausea. And if you use low quality glasses for a long time, they can finally result in conjunctivitis.”
Protecting eye hygiene is mandatory. Touching the eyes with one’s fingers is forbidden. A room’s dust can cause infections in the eyelids, so for this reason apartments and offices must always be kept clean.
Reading or watching TV in a lying position is forbidden as it damages the eyes. While reading or writing light has to come from behind.
“For every 30 minutes you spend sitting at the computer, you have to get up and do something else away from the screen for 5-10 minutes. There are special spectacles against eye spasms. They have a black cover with small holes. Such glasses are very helpful. You start using them for five minutes a day and then increase it up to 30 minutes. Choose a point and try to bring it as close as possible yet still have it in focus. Choose one point near to you and one point far away. Look at them in turn, training your eyes to focus on the different points. And move your eyes in a circular motion several times a day,” advises Beraia.
Annual consultations with your ophthalmologist are necessary to ensure good eyesight. Self-treatment or choosing glasses by yourself can cause additional problems so therefore should never be attempted, ophthalmologists say.
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