Cosmetic Safety Practices for Contact Lens Wearers

It is natural to be alert when wearing contact lenses, but you must take extra precaution if you are wearing eye cosmetics, besides contact lenses. Using eye makeup products when wearing contact lenses could cause harmful reactions which, in turn, could cause eye problems.

contact lens precaution

Listed below are a few tips to help you to maintain eye health when wearing eye cosmetics and contact lenses:

1) Don’t use eye makeup products past their expiration date

One of the basic yet important safety measures is to avoid using your eye makeup products way past their expiry date. Expired eyeliners, mascaras, and eyeshadows could cause irritation which will be troublesome to contact lenses. Apart from this, expired eye makeup products are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria

2) Avoid applying eyeliner to the inner edge of your eyelids

The one area of your eyes where you should avoid applying eyeliner when wearing contact lenses is the inner edge. Doing this could cause the eyeliner to come in contact with the lenses. The contact may lead to eye irritation and infection because of a chemical reaction with the contact lenses.

3) Avoid glittery, shiny eyeshadow when wearing contact lenses

Unlike regular eyeshadows, frosted/glittery eyeshadows flake in a short period of time, which may cause eye irritation and increase the risk of eye infection. It’s best to exchange these for regular eyeshadows with a mild formula when wearing contact lenses.

4) Discard old mascara applicators and other eye makeup brushes

Using old mascara applicators increases the risk of eye infection. This is because, the older the eye makeup applicators, the more susceptible they become to bacterial growth. Therefore, it is advised to replace old applicators with new ones.

When using the applicators, make sure that they do not touch your contact lenses or scratch against them. Wash your eye makeup brushes properly every once in a while to make sure there’s no bacterial growth in them.

5) Keep contact lenses away from certain cosmetic products

It is advisable to keep contact lenses away from certain cosmetic products such as perfumes, cologne, nail polish, nail paint remover, and false eyelashes. These cosmetic products chemically react with contact lenses and damage them.

If you are facing discomfort in your eyes when wearing your contact lenses or eye makeup, consult with one of our eye doctors at Disha Eye Hospitals. They can help you to learn about your general eye health and guide you in taking proper eye care, including early treatment.

As one of the renowned eye hospitals in Kolkata, Disha Eye Hospitals is committed to providing comprehensive eye care with a team of well-qualified eye specialists.  To book your appointment online, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/. The hospital offers advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures for corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, uveitis, squint, and refractive errors. The eye care services are made affordable to suit the needs of people from different walks of life.

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7 Things To Know About Eye Scratches

Eye scratches could have a minor impact or a serious one, depending on its cause. As in the case of other injuries in the eye, eye scratches should not remain neglected. Taking proper steps to treat them, ensure their safety and keep infections at bay.

Listed below are 7 important things to know about eye scratches:

 

1) If you get a scratch in your eye, rinse it

Some people unthinkingly rub their eyes after a minor scratch, but this is not a good practice. The right action is to gently rinse the scratched eye with water. Doing this would help you wash away the tiny foreign substance that may have entered your eye, thereby preventing the risk of further eye scratches.

Apart from rinsing the scratched eye, it is also encouraged to get the injury checked, in order to lower the risk of infections. You could have them treated by one of the eye specialists at Disha Eye Hospitals; one of the best eye hospitals in Kolkata. Disha houses a team of highly-qualified and well-experienced eye doctors who do their best to provide instant relief.

2) How eye scratches occur

There are several ways in which eye scratches could come about. Some of the very common ones are physical injuries (e.g. a blow in the eye or being hit by a ball in the eye), wearing contact lenses carelessly, using an eye make-up applicator in the inner eyelid, wearing false lashes, spending time in a dusty environment, etc.

 3) Symptoms of eye scratches

A spot of blood in the eye and a scratched line are two of the most common symptoms that appear in case of eye scratches. Other symptoms may include irritation (something that is stuck in the eye), pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and headache.

 4) Complications of eye scratches

The medical term for eye scratch is corneal abrasion. If left untreated, corneal abrasion could lead to serious complications such as traumatic iritis, corneal ulcers, recurrent erosion syndrome, and bacterial keratitis.

5) Lowering the risk of eye scratches

The main determinants that lead to an eye scratch could be avoided. Some of the effective steps to lower the chance of eye scratches are: avoiding to wear contact lenses when sleeping, avoiding to touch the eyes frequently, wearing eye protection when engaged in injury-prone outdoor activities and avoiding dusty environment.

6) Dos of treating eye scratches

When treating your eye scratch, make sure to apply eye drops and/or ointment as prescribed by your doctor to lower the risk of infection, and make possible fast healing. Make sure not to strain your eyes by looking at the computer and mobile phone screen for long hours.

7) Healing time for an eye scratch

Minor eye scratches normally heal on their own and within a short period of time. However, serious eye scratches take more time to heal. An eye doctor can help you shorten the healing time for your eye scratch with the right treatment option.

The specialists at Disha Eye Hospitals could aid you in treating your eye scratch in the correct way, keeping the risk of further complications at bay. To book an appointment online, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment

Eye Care Insights to Know

Not all eye diseases can be prevented completely. But you sure can lower the risks if you practise some essential eye care habits every day. Luckily, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Here are a few eye care insights that are practical and easy to accomplish:

1. Avoid rubbing your eyes


This is a common eye care mistake that everyone makes. The hands are exposed to a lot of bacteria, dust and dirt. And each time you rub your eyes or touch them, it is transferred to your eyes.

Avoid putting hands in your eyes frequently. This helps in preventing any infection and another type of irritation. Get rid of this habit soon. Also, wash your hands regularly to keep infections at bay. Follow this religiously with your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

2. Stop overstraining your eyes

If you work in front of the computer for long hours, then your eyes are subject to a lot of pressure. Often, you are so absorbed in the work that you keep on staring at the screen for a longer stretch and forget to blink. This can make your eyes dry and increase the risk of Dry Eyes Syndrome.

Blink often; this not only keeps the ocular surface clean but also keeps it moisturised, healthy, and nourished. Also, use anti-glare screen protectors for reducing the glare levels and overstraining your eyes.

3. Sleep Well


If you are a night owl then you might be risking your eye health by staying awake till late night. Just like your body, your eyes too need enough rest and sleep so that it can function properly without appearing red, puffy, and tired.

4. Avoid over-the-counter eye medicines

It’s a natural tendency for people to buy over-the-counter eye drops and ointments to treat small eye infections and allergies. This can turn fatal for your vision. Avoid doing this. Wash your eyes with cold water. And in case the irritation continues, immediately consult an eye care specialist.

5. Protect your eyes in the Sun

Sunglasses are not just for making a fashion statement but also for protecting your eyes from the harmful UV rays. Whenever you are going out in the sun, avoid looking directly at the strong sun rays. Wear good quality sunglasses. These should be UV protected. It will protect the eyes from the damaging effect of the sun.

6. Eat for your Eyes

Eat right to maintain your vision. It’s a crucial step in your daily eye care routine. Vitamin deficiency affects your retinal function. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables such as beetroot, carrots, and a variety of green leafy vegetables in your diet. These contain eye-healthy nutrients such as Vitamins C and E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, Omega-3 Fatty Acids EPA and DHA. These help in lowering the risks of a number of serious eye issues.

7. Avoid Tobacco

Smoking tobacco is linked to many ill health effects but it also impacts your vision. Smoking increases your vulnerability to cataracts, Age-related Macular Degeneration, and other eye issues.

Follow these easy-to-implement steps to keep your eyes healthy.

Get your Eyes checked at a reputed Eye Care Centre in Kolkata

Are you looking for treatments for eye disease such as cataract and glaucoma in Kolkata? It’s best to review the hospitals beforehand to ensure that you are getting the best eye care service.

When it comes to opting for a good eye care in Kolkata, Disha Eye Hospital is a name to be reckoned with. We have near about two decades of history in successfully treating eye issues and addressing all specialities of ophthalmic treatment. For any further details, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/home

Information on Kids’ Eye Health & Safety

Everything is possible for your kids when they have a good vision. Without a good vision, your kids aren’t able to learn which makes the world around them difficult. Factually, children are most vulnerable to poor eye health and safety than people of every other age group. This is because of their size, behaviour, and physiology.

So, here’s brief information on kids’ eye health and safety which will help you take more care of them.

Your child’s vision

To fully understand about kids’ eye health, it is beneficial to first know about how vision develops in a baby. Here’s a timeline of the development of vision in a baby:

  • Newborns – It is very interesting to know that the acuity (vision sharpness) is already fully developed in a newborn baby. They are attracted to faces and brightly coloured objects.
  • 3 months – By now, babies have full control over their eyes and are able to follow a moving object. Cot mobiles help in stimulating their vision development.
  • 6 months – The eye develops two third of its adult’s size at 6 months while distant vision and depth perception continue to develop.
  • 1 year old – By now, the eyes are almost fully developed. Coordination of the eyes can be improved with games which involve activities such as catching, placing, tossing, and pointing.
  • 2 to 5 years old – Vision is well coordinated with hearing at the preschooler age.

Kids’ eye health

As discusses above, a good vision is essential for any kid to learn properly in and outside of school. Here are the vision skills that every child needs to have to read and learn effectively.

Eye focusing – it is the ability to maintain clear vision while the distance of the object(s) changes. For instance, a child can easily maintain clear vision when looking from a book to the chalkboard (and vice versa) with a good eye focusing ability.

Visual acuity – with a good visual acuity, a child is able to see clearly over distant objects.

Eye tracking – it is the ability to focus on a target when shifting gaze from one object to another. For instance, following a moving ball, or moving the eyes along a printed page.

Visual perception – with a good visual perception, a child is able to organise, understand images and remember what it is. For instance, normal visual perception allows a child to read and remember.

Eye-hand coordination – it is the ability to direct hands using information. Normal eye-hand coordination allows a child to draw pictures, write, or play.

As children spend a great deal of time in school learning, they face increasing demand on their visual abilities while they are progressing. Although parents are very concerned about getting the best education for their children, the vision, which is one of the crucial elements of learning, is often overlooked.

Children have to spend a great time reading school books that have small print size and increased homework may put extra pressure on their eyes. This, therefore, can tire the eyes.

When the vision in a child is not fully developed or if the child has poor eye health, he/she may find attending the school and learning difficult. If your child is suffering from poor eye health, he/she may show these typical signs:

  • Short attention span – as they experience discomfort and fatigue.
  • Avoid reading or looking into objects that are near and intricate.
  • Poor performance in school work.

Children may experience vision changes during the school years. So, it is very important that parents ensure regular eye and vision care. Failing to do so can cause eye problems to occur.

Common eye problems in kids
common eye problem among kids
There are many eye problems (diseases and conditions) which can affect a child’s vision. Here are the common eye problems in kids.

  1. Strabismus – it is a condition in which one or both eyes get misaligned and may be intermittent or constant. Strabismus in children typically results in lazy eye.
  2. Amblyopia – Amblyopia (aka lazy eye) is the poor vision in an eye that has not fully developed eyesight. Amblyopia can also be referred as deterioration of vision which results from the misalignment of the eyes (strabismus).
  3. Refractive errors – it is a common eye problem in kids’ which involves blurry vision. Refractive errors are classified into two types: Nearsightedness (poor distant vision), and Farsightedness (poor close vision).
  4. Astigmatism – Astigmatism is a condition in which one cannot see both distant and close objects clearly as they appear blurred. It is the result of imperfection in the eye’s curvature.
  5. Epiphora – Epiphora (aka childhood tearing) is a condition which involves excessive tearing. The condition often occurs during infancy but can be acquired later on as well.
  6. Congenital Glaucoma – it is a rare condition in infants which is often inherited. The condition is the result of incomplete or incorrect development of the drainage canals of the eyes before birth.
  7. Infantile Cataracts – in general, cataract is the clouding of the eyes’ lens. Infantile Cataracts occurs in newborns.
  8. Retinoblastoma – it is a malignant tumour which causes whiteness in the pupil and vision loss. Retinoblastoma can affect children of up to 3 years.
  9. Double vision – as the name suggests, double vision involves the displaced perception of an object in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal fashion. It is often caused by misalignment of the eyes (strabismus).
  10. Nystagmus – it is a condition in which the eyes move involuntarily. The eye movements can be circular, up and down, or side-to-side.

Spotting signs of eye problems in kids

Children may not complain or tell you about their eye/vision problems as they can be on the perception that how they see is the way everyone else sees. And children aren’t usually concerned about their health, they may try to get away with bearing the eye/vision problem(s).

So, it’s up to you to check for any sign which may be an indication that your child has eye/vision problem. Here are some indicative signs:

  • Short attention span
  • Difficulty in reading and seeing closer objects
  • Difficulty in remembering what he/she has read/watched
  • Tilting the head to one side
  • Frequent headaches
  • Poor concentration
  • Consistently holding books and other objects close to the face to see properly
  • Frequent blinking
  • Chronic rubbing of the eyes
  • Reddening of the eyes
  • Watery eyes/excess tearing
  • Lower eyelids getting swollen
  • Covering one eye
  • Using a finger as a guide while reading
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Avoiding using the computer (as the eyes hurt)

Foods to keep the eyes healthy in kids
healthy food for eyes
The best ways to keep your child away from eye/vision problems is making them eat healthily. The right and healthy foods provide the eyes with essential nutrition which helps in keeping eye problems/diseases at bay.
Here are the foods that are beneficial for kids’ eye health and vision:

  • Green leafy vegetables

Fresh and green leafy vegetables play a profound role in improving eyesight and are thus considered as super foods for the eyes. Green leafy veggies such as Collards, Kale, Spinach and Broccoli are a rich source of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin C, A, and Calcium.

  • Blueberries and grapes

Making your child eat grapes and blueberries can improve their night vision. Make sure to include blueberries in your child’s lunchbox as they reduce eye fatigue and helps in improving vision.

  • Carrots and sweet potatoes

Yellow vegetables such as carrots contain a high amount of Vitamin A and beta-carotene which promote retinal health and better eyesight.

  • Omega-3 fatty acid foods

Omega-3 fatty acid promotes blood circulation in the brain which in turn results in improved eye function. Dark green leafy vegetables, walnuts, and flax seeds are some of the plant-based omega-3 sources.

  • Almonds

Almond is a rich source of Vitamin E and is an excellent food for the eyes. Make sure that you give small amounts of almonds to your child.

Eye exams for kids

Taking children for regular eye check-up is essential in ensuring that they have a good eye health. There are different types of eye doctors and their names can be confusing.

Optometrist – they provide medical care of the eye but do not perform surgery.
Ophthalmologist – they provide complete eye care including medical care and surgery.
Pediatric Ophthalmologist – they specialise in treating kids’ eye problems.

Here are the eye exams that children should undergo:

  • New born babies should be checked for general eye health even if they do not have eye irregularities.
  • Babies who are 1 year old, should be checked for general eye health routinely.
  • At around age 3, kids should be screened for general eye health and visual acuity test.
  • Pediatric Ophthalmologist can be chosen for vision and eye alignment test for 5-year-olds.
  • Kids who are more than 5 years old should undergo routine screenings.

Eye health safety for kids

Eye safety is another crucial aspect of ensuring good eye health in your child. Children are often reckless and aren’t concerned much about their eyes. So, you as a concerned parent must teach/supervise eye safety to your child.

Here are some of the eye safety measures for kids:

1) Sports-related eye injuries

Kids are often energetic and can get carried away while playing outdoors. In such cases, they may unintentionally cause harm to their eyes. Kids aren’t bothered about their eye safety when they are exploring and experimenting new things.

So, it is very important to make your child wear a protective eye wear whenever he/she is playing outdoors. Similarly, if your kid takes swimming classes, make sure he/she wears swimming goggles as chlorine present in swimming pool water can irritate the eyes.

2) Eye injury with toys

Although toys are intended to be kids’ best companion, they can pose a risk of eye injuries as well. Try and get rid of all the jagged toys as they can cause eye injury upon mishandling. Also, when you are buying new toys for your child, check the packet to see if the materials used in the toy are safe for children.

3) Eye injury inside the house

As much the risk of eye injury outdoors is concerned, your child is not completely safe inside the house as well. Make your house safe and lower the risk of eye injury to your child. You can do this by identifying all the sharp corners inside the house and making them blunt or covering them with protective padding.

4) Too much of TV, computer, and games

Your child’s eye already has a lot to take in during school time and watching TV or using a computer at home for long hours adds extra stress to the eyes. So, you’ve got to limit TV, computer, PlayStation, and phone exposure to ensure that their eyes don’t get excessively tired.

5) Safety in school labs

Kids are often required to visit science labs in school to learn practical. When in the laboratory, the teacher must insist students to wear protective eye glass to stay safe from the risk of chemical spillage.

6) Carefulness with contact lens and spectacles

If you child has been prescribed glasses or contacts, then you’ve got to teach them how to handle it carefully. For instance, remind your child to take off the contacts while sleeping and bathing.

7) Precaution with chemicals inside the house

Chemicals inside your home such as petrol, insecticides, paint, and fertilizers pose a great risk to your kid’s eyes. Therefore, it is important to label them with a warning sign. For the best, keep them out of reach for your child.

8) Safety during travelling

When you travelling with your kid in the car, make your he/she is wearing a safety belt throughout the journey to avoid bumps upon applying brakes.

9) Sleep routine

One of the best ways to keep your kid’s eye health safe and sound is to insisting them on sleeping early.

10) Avoiding rubbing the eyes

Whenever you see your child rubbing his/her eyes, you should immediately stop them and instruct them not to do so. Instead, you can soak a piece of cloth in lukewarm water to bring relief in case a foreign object gets into the eye.