Take care of those eyes

Do you rub your eyes? Do you splash water when you wash your face? Do you sleep with eye-make-up on? If your answer is an excited YES to all of the above, you need to do a serious rethink.

We'll do that for you, step by step.

• Although eyes have a natural mechanism of self-cleansing and healing, it is ideal to clean eyes twice daily.
• If you have an eye secretion, try a warm application with damp cotton. The best way to clean discharge after a night's sleep is to first wipe it clean with sterilised cotton and boiled water and then rinse thoroughly, NOT to try and break or smudge it with the finger (aha! gotcha).
• Do not rub eyes frequently. Whenever you want to rub your eyes, use your elbow (tough isn't it? Try the impossible).
• When you wash your eyes, do not splash frequently. The best way is to wash gently -splashing may hurt the smallest of dust particles or an allergen which might minutely damage the cornea.

2. SIMPLE EVERYDAY EYE EXERCISES

After every hour before a computer screen close your eyes gently for 30 seconds to relax them. Yoga experts recommend rotating the eyes often to relax muscles. Move your eyeballs from the extreme left corner to the extreme right corner. Hold a pencil at arm's length and slowly bring it toward your nose, keeping eyes focussed on it at all times. This helps prevent blurred vision.

Especially for those Internet freaks and software geeks. Make sure your office is well lit. A mix of tubelights, yellow light, and natural light is ideal. The idea is to have plenty of light sans the glare. Adjust your monitor to a comfortable easy-to- read height. Take a break and avert your eyes from the computer screen every now and then. Look out of the window. Just shut your eyes or focus on a distant object (preferably something natural like a tree). Relaxing your eyes is vital.

4. HEADACHES

Weak eye muscles, deteriorating vision, bad posture while reading, watching television, or working on a computer can cause the worst of headaches (of course, the brat next door could also be a factor). Try sitting at least 15 feet away from the TV and keep a book two feet away from your eyes (always lower than your eye level, not propped up in your hands as you lie down). If headaches persist, it's time to see your doctor. Don't put this off for later.

Eye specialists say glasses, especially glares, protect eyes from being exposed to smoke, dust, and other allergens. But, when choosing your glasses, consider comfort, cosmetic satisfaction, and weight of the frame. Consult your ophthalmologist.

Sunglasses protect the eyes from harsh UV rays. And they delay the wrinkling process around your eyes. Wear photochromatic lenses if you find them more convenient.

Choose a pair of contact lenses that are easy to use and go with your lifestyle. Soft lenses are easy to handle as they settle immediately on the eyes. Semi-soft lenses take about 15 minutes to settle in the eyes and are cheaper than soft lens. Tinted lenses cost more than soft lenses. Disposable contacts can be used for about 15 days (but don't forget to take them off at the end of the day). Regardless of your choice of contact lenses, remember that it is the extended-wear lenses -those you wear overnight - that have the highest rate of complications. Get your lenses prescribed and fitted by a qualified ophthalmologist.

It's not good. You know that. But, you don't care because it looks good. We know that. So, we'll take it from there.

• Don't wear eye make-up all the time. And don't compromise on quality.
• If you wear contact lenses, put the lens on first and then apply the make-up. At night, remove the lens and then the make-up. Never sleep with your eye make-up on.
• Use damp cotton or eye make-up remover to clean your eyes.
• Powdery eye shadow can enter eyes, causing irritation. But if you must, apply with a slightly damp brush to seal the powder. Use cream-based products instead.
• Make sure your eyeliner brush is thin and soft without any bristles sticking out. Harsh brushes irritate the lids and may lead to itching. Liquid eyeliner tends to bleed in from the innermost corners of the eye, so apply the liner just a little away from the corner.
• Be very gentle while applying eye shadow especially if you wear contact lenses.
• Smell your eye make-up now and then. If it has gone bad, you will detect an odour. Time to throw it away.
• Avoid using hairspray if you wear contact lenses.

• Headaches persist despite a well-lit area and correct reading/writing postures
• You keep having sties
• A foreign body or contaminant enters the eye
• You squint every time you watch TV or read a book
• You have dryness in the eye
• Lens is damaged
• Even if you have no complaints, go for regular check-ups