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Eat Your Way To Healthy Eyesight

We know that the means to achieve overall good physical health is to watch what we eat and maintain a healthy diet. A healthy diet is crucial for the well-being of your cardiovascular health and also enhances immunity and energy. But did you know that what you eat could also play an important role in determining the condition of your eyesight? The consumption of certain nutrients has been linked to better eye health, which in the long run can lead to prevention of eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, dry eyes and even cataract. Some of these nutrients are Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin A, E and C, Zinc, Lutein and Zeaxanthin. The Eye Consultants team has compiled a list of foods that contain a high amount of these nutrients to help you embark on a journey to better eye health. Carrots: We decided to start with the most predictable food item on the list. Growing up, you’ve probably always heard your parents tell you to eat your carrots, because they are good for your eyes. Like most things in life, they were right about this one as well! Carrots are a rich source of Vitamin A, a component that helps you see better in the dark and thus linked to avoiding night blindness. Carrots also contain beta-carotene, which is a storehouse of eye vitamins. The next time you think of passing on the carrots, just remember how good they are for your eyes. Nuts: Nuts are loaded with Vitamin E, a component that battles molecules that destabilize healthy tissues. Regular consumption of food rich in vitamin E can help prevent age-related macular degeneration and even cataract. Almonds, sunflower seeds and hazelnuts are great sources of Vitamin E. They also taste amazing when added to your morning cereal. Fish: Tuna and Salmon are fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which is key to visual development and normal functioning of the retina. The presence of high content of Omega-3 fatty acids in most fish, help the eye to retain moisture and thus aid in the prevention and potential reversal of dry eye. Cod liver oil is a supplement that is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids as well. However, if you are not a fan of seafood, you can get your dose of Omega-3 Fatty Acids by consuming, flax seeds, chia seeds and soybeans. Eggs: Eggs are a powerhouse of vital nutrients that protect the eyes. Eggs contain Zinc, Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which help protect the eye from eye damage over the years like age related macular generation and cataracts. Zinc also enhances the overall health of the retina. Leafy vegetables: If fish and eggs are not part of your regular diet, you can get your supplement for eye care by consuming green leafy vegetables. Veggies like Kale, red peppers and Spinach are packed with Lutein and Zeaxanthin, essential components of the visual system, which aid in reducing the effects of glare and enhancing contrast. Oranges: Fruits that contain citrus like oranges and lemon, are packed with vitamin C, another vital component in regulating eye health. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in protecting the blood vessels in the eye and also the capillaries in the retina. Vitamin C also helps in prevention of vision loss. Oranges and other citrus fruits, thus contain important antioxidants that help retain eye health. Water: We all know how water helps prevent the body from reaching a dehydrated state. In a similar manner, water also helps the eye stay hydrated and helps stabilize the fluid content in the eye. This fluid washes away particles that irritate the eye and also prevents dry eye, blurred vision and eye irritation. The doorway to good health, surely starts with what is on your plate. The next time you sit down for a meal, make sure you load up with healthy food that is good for your eyes! 

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March 03, 2020
Eye Consultants
Dubai, UAE
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6 Tips To Preserve Your Eyesight

As time goes by, we realize that there is something we have been taking for granted for years and now reality has found a way to catch up. It may start off with symptoms of mild irritation, blurry vision or a partial loss of vision around the periphery. With age, eye problems have a tendency to crop up and one begins to realize the importance of good eye health and its role in providing quality life. We at Eye Consultants believe that maintaining eye health is a practice that needs to be adopted early in life, if one wants to live a life without eye complications. Here is team Eye Consultant’s checklist on ‘6 tips to preserve your eyesight.’ Watch your diet: While a healthy diet may seem to have a direct correlation with overall fitness, you cannot rule out the role of nutritious food when it comes to preserving eye health. What you eat influences your eye health more than you can imagine. Be sure to stock up on those eggs, nuts, green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits, as they go a long way in enhancing your health and keeping diseases like age related macular degeneration, cataract and dry eye at bay. Avoid consuming food that is high in sugar as this could lead to fluid build-up and blood vessel damage in the retina and cause diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic eye diseases.  Regular eye exams: What’s a good way to ensure that your eyes are healthy and prevent eye disease? Schedule regular eye exams! As you age, so does your vision and it may not be as sharp and accurate as it was when you were younger. Not only are eye exams a good way to test your vision, they are also instrumental in the detection of early onset of eye diseases like glaucoma and cataract and aid in prevention of further vision deterioration. Our experts at Eye Consultants suggest that you schedule an eye exam at least once a year. If you are living with an eye complication, it is adviced that you schedule eye exams on a more frequent basis. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise can do much more than help you shed those extra kilos and keep cardiovascular risk at bay. Over the years, studies have drawn a clear link between exercise and good eye health. Regular exercise can help fight diabetes, which in turn prevents the development of diabetic retinopathy. It has also been proven that moderate intensity exercise over prolonged periods of time can help reduce eye pressure in young adults combatting glaucoma.The decision to avoid smoking also falls under the purview of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Studies clearly reveal that smoking has been linked to cataract development and other eye diseases. Make a conscious effort to quit smoking for the sake of better eye health. Be vigilant: You’ve probably heard of the saying, ‘Prevention is better than cure’. This is applicable in the world of eye care as well. If you notice a sudden change in your vision, where objects appear to be blurred or you notice halos and symptoms of distorted vision, do not take it lightly and be sure to visit the nearest eye doctor. Furthermore, if you suffer an eye injury or experience eye irritation, make sure to visit an eye doctor. Self-medicating will only worsen your condition and you need to seek professional help at the earliest. Be on the watch for sudden change in vision and get it examined immediately. Maintain eye hygiene: If you are a person who uses eye makeup, be sure to wash it off before you go to bed. Never sleep with eye makeup on and do not share makeup or makeup brushes with others. Eye makeup components can cause eye infections if they are not stored properly or are past their expiration date. Avoid the risk of contracting eye infections by washing off your makeup before you go to sleep. Wear eye protection gear: If you are stepping out into the sun, there is something else you will need other than sun tan lotion to protect yourself from UV rays. Make sure to wear sunglasses that provide optimum protection from UV rays. Additionally, if you are trying to beat the heat with a swim, make sure to wear goggles as the chlorine and other chemicals found in pool water can cause eye irritation. Moreover, if you are in the construction business or if your work involves dealing with stray particles that may enter your eye, remember to wear protective eye gear. Remember, a little precaution now, will go a long way tomorrow.

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March 03, 2020
Eye Consultants
Dubai, UAE
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Vision and Night Blindness

A type of vision damage, night blindness is also known as nyctalopia. People who suffer from this have very weak nightly vision or in dimly-lit areas. Although night blindness means that you can’t see at all at night, really all it means is that you have difficulty seeing in the dark. Ordinarily, some types of this condition are treatable, but not others. Causes Night blindness develops due to the following conditions: Myopia Glaucoma Blurred vision Cataracts Tunnel vision Usher syndrome which affects vision and hearing Vitamin A deficiency Pancreatic insufficiency High blood sugar levels Diabetes Keratoconus Symptoms The No. 1 symptom of night blindness is difficult night vision. One can experience night blindness when one’s eyes move from a bright environment to one of low light. Poor vision can also be experienced when vehicles’ headlights are shone intermittently along with streetlights. Other causes include: Difficulty seeing objects or furniture in the dark or in a room of low light Difficulty recognizing people in dim or no light Requiring more light to carry out day-to-day chores Treatment Your eye specialist will take down your medical history in detail and examine your eyes to check for night blindness. Your blood sample will be necessary to measure your glucose and Vitamin A levels. If myopia, Vitamin A deficiency or cataracts have led to your suffering from night blindness, it can be treated by increasing Vitamin A content to your diet. Vitamin A can be found in eggs, fortified milk, eggs, cod liver oil, fortified cereals, orange and yellow vegetables and fruits, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, etc. With corrective lenses, your day and night vision can improve. By wearing sunglasses when out in the sun, your eyes can be protected from UV light, which could otherwise damage your eyes further. In chronic cases, eye surgery may be the solution. If you suffer from Retinitis pigmentosa, your type of night blindness cannot be cured. Preventing Night Blindness If the type of night blindness that you suffer from is due to genetic conditions or birth defects, you cannot prevent its development. However, you can prevent its further damage by monitoring your blood sugar levels and eating nutritious food. Include in your diet foods that have an abundance of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, which could play a huge role in preventing cataracts. Foods rich in Vitamin A should also be eaten to lower your chances of developing night blindness. Orange-coloured foods that are abundant in Vitamin A include: Carrots Cantaloupes Mangoes Pumpkins Sweet Potatoes Butternut Squash Collard Greens What We Can Do for You As you get out of mid-life and into your sixties, you might find that you’ve been taking life for granted. Somehow something’s changed and you can’t put a finger on what it is. You could begin to feel odd when you can’t see as well as before, or you have a partial vision loss or you can’t see things to your left or right. It’s normal for eye problems to crop up as we age. When you begin to feel the loss of normal eyesight, that’s when you realize the importance of vision and that it helps give you a good quality of life. Eye surgeons today believe that eye health is something that one should practice from one’s childhood if one wants to lead a complication-free life. You can do this too by following these few principles: Eat a Healthy Diet: Nutritious food will have an overall good effect on your entire system and that includes your eyes. Your eye health is grossly influenced by what you eat—far more than you can envisage. To enjoy good eye health, eat eggs, citrus fruits, green leafy veggies and nuts. This diet will stave off macular degeneration and cataract and keep your eyes healthy. Undergo Eye Exams Periodically: To make sure your eyes are always health and you aren’t developing eye disease, go in for eye exams regularly. With age, your eyes aren’t as sharp as before. So, a good way of testing the efficiency of your vision is to have a vision test. This will also give you an early indication that you’re on the verge of developing eye diseases like cataract and glaucoma. By detecting this early, your doctor will be able to catch it quickly and prevent its further development. You should have an eye test once a year or if you have any eye complaints, have your eyes checked more often. Lead a Healthy Lifestyle: By leading a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise, you can reach your optimal weight and keep the risk of cardiovascular disease far away from you. By exercising regularly, your eyesight also improves, say studies. Not just that, exercise can also reduce the risk of diabetes and developing diabetic retinopathy. By doing moderate exercise over a protracted period can bring about a reduction in eye pressure in young adults struck with glaucoma. By not smoking, you prevent the development of cataract, blindness, macular degeneration, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Dry Eye Syndrome. Be Alert to Any Changes in You: If you suddenly see a change in your vision, you must see a doctor immediately. Perhaps, your vision isn’t too clear, or you see halos or you have distorted vision. In such cases, have your eyes tested as soon as possible. Don’t go in for self-medication as you could only worsen your condition.  Keep Your Eyes Clean: Wash off all eye makeup before going to bed. Don’t go to bed with eye makeup on or share eye makeup with anyone. Wear Eye Protection Gear: Apart from protecting yourself from the sun by wearing sunglasses, it would help if you apply sun tan lotion to safeguard yourself from UV rays. When you swim, wear goggles as otherwise chlorinated water in the pool can bring about some eye irritation. Eye doctors are experts in spotting problems of vision. To know the state of your vision, speak to the experts at Eye Consultants. Call us on +971 (0)4 4211299 and schedule an appointment to discuss your doubts.

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March 03, 2020
Dr. Tarek Ibrahim
Ophthalmologist
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Tips to protect your eyes from a hot Dubai Summer

As the temperature begins to soar in the city of Dubai, you know it is time to bring out the sunscreen lotion and stock up on the ice cubes. However, often we tend to neglect an organ that needs to be protected from the sun and requires just as much protection as our skin from ultraviolet radiation: the eyes. The hot summer air is a perfect breeding ground for eye diseases like conjunctivitis, dry eyes and a host of other eye allergies. Our experts at Eye Consultants have come up with a few measures you can take to protect your eyes from the scorching heat of the Dubai summer: 1. Wear Quality Sunglasses: Sunglasses are no longer a fashion statement when It comes to protecting your eyes from a hot summer day. They are essential in protecting your eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. Make sure that the sunglasses you choose are capable of completely blocking out UV rays. You can also have your sunglasses examined by your optician or eye doctor, to ensure maximum protection. 2. Wear goggles while swimming: We all know how tempting it is to take a plunge into a pool on a hot summer day. While we are completely game for it, chemicals like chlorine can irritate your eyes and cause eye dryness or itchiness. A simple precaution of wearing goggles while swimming can help you refresh yourself, without having to worry about eye irritation or eye infection. 3. Stay hydrated: With the AC running constantly in the summer months, it is quite common for people to forget to drink adequate water and stay hydrated. However, drinking enough water during the summer is crucial for your eye health as it helps your eyes remain moist and prevents eye irritation and dryness. 4. Avoid smoking: While this is not a tip that is relevant only to the summer months, avoiding the urge to smoke can work wonders for your eyesight. Studies clearly indicate that smoking affects eyesight and increases the risk of cataract and other eye diseases. Do yourself a favor and try to cut down on the smoking this summer. Your eyes (and your lungs) will thank you. 5. Wear a hat and use artificial eye drops: Sunglasses alone cannot offer you complete protection from UV rays as the sides are open and exposed. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to offer maximum protection from sunlight and UV radiation. For those of you who experience continued eye irritation despite taking precautionary measures, it is better to consult a qualified eye doctor who can prescribe artificial eye drops, to keep your eyes moist and lubricated. 6. Practice personal hygiene and do not rub your eyes: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water and maintain high standards of personal hygiene to avoid transmission of any eye disease. You may naturally be inclined to rub your eyes as dirt and dust coupled with the hot weather can aggravate itchiness and eye irritation. Avoid rubbing your eyes and do not share tissues or cosmetics with others. 7. Visit an eye doctor at the earliest signs of discomfort: While all of the above tips are good pointers to protect your eyes during the summer, there is no guarantee that following these tips will keep all eye disease at bay. If you are experiencing symptoms of dry eyes, itchiness or eye irritation, visit a qualifies eye doctor in dubai at the earliest. Early detection is key in the treatment and diagnosis of any form of eye discomfort. Note: Children are more prone to UV radiation in comparison to adults. If you have/live with young children, make sure to take adequate measures to protect their eyes from exposure as well. Following these few easy tips could help to protect your eyes from the harsh summer heat. However, if you experience constant symptoms of dry eyes, itchiness, blurred vision, constant headaches or eye irritation, we recommend that you visit a qualified eye care professional at the earliest. 

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March 03, 2020
Eye Consultants
Dubai, UAE
Body
All You Need to Know About Cataract

We all have a natural lens in our eyes. When this lens bends, light rays enter our eyes and allow us to see. For normal vision, the lens should be clear but when a cataract develops, this lens becomes cloudy. The result: Your vision is unclear and as the cataract grows, you lose more vision. This is normal for people over 40 and is the chief cause of blindness. Causes The lens focuses light on the retina to provide clear vision. It also adjusts the focus of the eye, allowing us to see clearly, both nearby objects and distant ones. The protein content in the lens is set in a way to keep it clear and allow the passage of light through it. However, with age, this protein may form clumps and cloud our vision in a small part of the lens. This is a cataract which grows with time, clouding more of the lens and making it more difficult to see. Cataracts can also be caused due to these reasons: Physical Injury: If your eye has been punched, or there’s been a cut or puncture, or if you’ve experienced an electric shock Medication: If you have taken corticosteroids to treat inflammation Unhealthy Nutrition: If your diet does not contain Vitamins A (beta carotene), C and E, antioxidants and selenium Radiation: Perhaps, you have been exposed to UV radiation for a long time or for treating head and neck cancers. Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy: If you already suffer from these diseases, you could develop a cataract too. Hereditary: Not only can cataracts be congenital, but they are also hereditary. Smoking: Whether you’re a smoker of 20 cigarettes or more a day or inhale second-hand smoke, you run the risk of developing a cataract. Uveitis and Other Eye Diseases: The inflammatory disease, Uveitis, affects the inner eye. Not only is it due to uncontrolled inflammation, but also due to extended period use of high-dose corticosteroids. Trauma: If the eye is injured, it could lead to a cataract. Other Reasons: These include undue exposure to UV light and heavy smoking. Types of Cataracts There are several types of cataracts, such as: Age-Related Cataracts: As the name suggests, these cataracts form in old age. Congenital Cataracts: When babies are born with cataract due to injury, infection or poor growth and development, or in childhood, they are called congenital cataracts. Secondary Cataracts: Medical conditions like diabetes bring on cataracts. Cataracts are also due to being in the environment of toxic substances. They are also due to hormone replacement therapy, obesity, taking statin medicines to lower cholesterol levels, hypertension, high strength of myopia and family history. Symptoms Initially, a cataract might not affect your vision at all. However, as it grows, your vision will begin to be blurred and hazy. Other symptoms include: Short-sightedness in seniors Double vision in the eye with a cataract Difference in your interpretation of colour Problems with night driving, such as glare from oncoming traffic Inability to face the glare in daytime Trouble using spectacles or contact lenses Diagnosing a Cataract In order to find out whether you do, in fact, have a cataract, your doctor will first go over your symptoms and medical history. He will then perform an eye test, followed by several other tests. These are: Visual Acuity Test: With the help of an eye chart, the doctor can see how well you read a sequence of letters. He will test each eye while keeping the other covered. The chart contains a sequence of letters beginning from large-sized letters to very small. The doctor will determine if your vision is 20/20 or if it is impaired to some extent. Slit-lamp Examination: Using a slit lamp, the doctor will see all the structures in the front part of your eye duly magnified. This microscope is also known as a slit lamp because it works with strong slit of light which illuminates all parts of the eye. He also sees these structures in small parts which enable easier detection of small defects. Retinal Exam: For this exam, the doctor will put some drops in your eyes to dilate the pupils. In this state, your retina is easier to examine. Again, the slit lamp is used to examine the lens for any cataract development. Cataract Treatment Surgery: There are surgical and non-surgical or lifestyle cures for cataracts. However, the more popular is the former. Doctors generally recommend surgery when a cataract prevents you from performing your daily chores comfortably. Your doctor may also recommend it when a cataract interferes with other eye problems you may have and their treatments. Phacoemulsification: This is the name of the surgical method that uses ultrasound waves to break open the lens and remove its pieces. Extracapsular Surgery: Here, the hazy part of the lens is removed by making a slit in the cornea. A synthetic intraocular lens then replaces the natural one. Overall, surgery is very safe and successful. Patients are allowed to go home on the day of the surgery. Cataract Prevention A natural sign of ageing, a cataract results in blurred vision which keeps growing. Usually, cataracts do develop, but there are ways of delaying their progression and the consequent requirement for surgery. Here are some methods of preventing the development of a cataract: Shielding Your Eyes from Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation It’s necessary to shield your eyes from the harmful glare of UV radiation. You can use a scarf for this or even polarized sunglasses or photochromatic glasses. This is necessary as UV radiation raises the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Quit Smoking Smoking raises the risk of cataracts, caused due to the ill-effects of setting off free radicals in the body. It also increases the risk of cataract development and progression by three times. Manage Your Blood Sugar Levels An increase in blood sugar levels automatically helps develop a cataract. If you don’t manage your blood sugar levels and suffer from diabetes, you will have cataract at a much younger age. So, work hard to have your glycemic index under control. Avoid Traumatic Cataract Trauma at any age can result in a cataract. So, take care so that you do not have any eye injuries by wearing protective eyewear such as eye shields, glasses, etc. Don’t Take Steroids Unnecessarily Though steroids are life-saving drugs, yet their blatant use has caused certain problems. Steroids should be used only on a doctor’s recommendation and extremely judiciously. Eat a Nutritious Diet Though the prevention of cataracts is highly debated, yet it has been found that they can be prevented by taking nutritional supplements and certain foods over a prolonged period. For instance, one study found that by taking Vitamin E and carotenoids such as zeaxanthin and lutein, the chances of developing a cataract could be lowered. Vitamin E can be sourced in almonds, spinach, and other green leafy vegetables, and in sunflower seeds. Vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids can also lower the risk of cataracts. These are found in oranges, lemons, limes, papaya and strawberries. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in salmon, tuna and other fish. Conclusion If you follow these few prevention methods, you can stave off a cataract from developing and marring your sunset years. For more help and guidance on this subject, speak to the experts at Eye Consultants. 

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March 03, 2020
Dr. Tarek Ibrahim
Ophthalmologist
Book Now
This is a Verified Doctor. However, to get a higher chance of a confirmed appointment, look for a Premium Doctor
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