Many people regularly take eye health supplements but fail to get proper ophthalmic examinations, right? If your vision suddenly becomes blurry or tired, you might not go to the doctor, assuming it’s a temporary issue. However, as we age, we need to pay attention to the signals our eyes are sending us. Regular eye exams can prevent severe conditions, so it’s essential not to neglect eye health during routine check-ups.
An ophthalmic exam is better than eye supplements
While it may seem like taking supplements alone can keep you healthy and prevent illness, this is merely a placebo effect. People often go to the doctor when they have a cold, but they hesitate to seek medical attention for minor eye discomfort. Yet, once your eyes deteriorate, it’s not easy to reverse the damage, and you could lose your vision. The eyes are an essential part of our body. If you’ve been consistently taking supplements up until now, why not consider getting regular ophthalmic examinations?
Once it deteriorates, the retina can’t be reversed
Macular degeneration is one of the major retinal diseases. It occurs when bleeding in the retina, the nerve in the eye, can block blood vessels or cause nerve damage. Macular degeneration primarily occurs due to aging. It can even lead to blindness by preventing you from seeing light. Initially, you may see distorted letters or lines, or when looking at images, it may appear like a part has been erased. These symptoms gradually worsen, but because they are not severe in the early stages, many people delay seeking medical attention.
Diabetes can also be a cause
Diabetes is another cause of retinal abnormalities. The retina is a very sensitive and thin tissue, so even a small amount of bleeding can cause damage, and diabetes can cause this bleeding in the retina. Even if diabetic patients manage their blood sugar well, they can still develop diabetic retinopathy, so it’s essential to get regular eye exams from the early stages.
Eye health deteriorates rapidly with age
As we age and chronic diseases like hypertension increase, the frequency of retinal diseases is increasing. However, even with good management of chronic diseases, complications can arise, so it’s essential to take care of your eyes. To prevent eye aging, wear sunglasses when going out and pay attention to nutrition by consuming fresh vegetables and blue fish. In particular, carrots, broccoli, and egg yolks suit the retina.
When objects appear distorted
The eye’s retina can be compared to the film of a camera. If a hole forms in the middle of the film, it can’t take proper pictures. Similarly, if a macular hole forms, objects can appear distorted or squished. If one eye’s vision decreases, the other eye compensates, so you might not notice in the early stages. In this case, you should cover one eye and check if the lines appear straight. Macular holes can be treated with surgery, and the prognosis varies depending on vision and the size of the hole.
What if there’s a sudden flash of light?
Between the retina and the lens, there is a transparent jelly-like vitreous. Typically, they are firmly attached, maintaining the shape of the eye and transmitting light. However, if a gap forms and sticks together, the retina can tear, causing a retinal hole. This can happen in people with thin retinas from birth, as well as due to aging or high myopia. If detected early, retinal holes can be treated with a laser without surgery. However, once a hole forms, it doesn’t disappear, so it’s good to get regular check-ups afterward.
What if you’re taking supplements?
If you want to take supplements for eye health, how about supplementing with lutein and zeaxanthin? As we age, levels of lutein and zeaxanthin decrease, and because they are not naturally produced in the body, they need to be continuously consumed. The recommended daily intake is 20mg. Consistent consumption of these supplements can increase the concentration of lutein in the blood and the density and area of macular pigment. Usually, people only consume lutein, but it’s more effective to consume it with zeaxanthin.
Supplements are ineffective for prevention
Eye supplements do not prevent eye diseases like macular degeneration or cataracts, but they can slow their progression. If you want to take eye supplements correctly, it’s best to consult a specialist, carefully check the ingredients and dosage, and consume the nutrients that are right for you. When choosing supplements, it’s more important to check the content of the primary and secondary ingredients carefully rather than focusing on the raw materials.
Get rid of bad habits in your daily life
Watching YouTube in the dark before bed can be addictive. It might not affect your eyes immediately, but if repeated daily, it can have a detrimental effect on your eyes. Especially for children, it’s crucial to ensure that strong lighting doesn’t directly hit their eyes and to be careful about exposing them to smartphones and TVs. Also, the habit of reading books lying down is not good. Keep a distance of 12-16 inches between your eyes and the book, limit reading time to a maximum of 50 minutes to an hour, and give your eyes a rest in between.
Regular ophthalmic exams are essential even if there are no symptoms
Ophthalmic examinations should be done regularly, at least once every six months for teenagers and once a year for adults. The Korean Ophthalmological Society recommends regular ophthalmic exams, including fundus examinations, for those aged 40 and over. As mentioned earlier, regular check-ups can detect retinal diseases early, preventing complications and the worsening of the disease.
By. Jeon Shin Young
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