Start young to keep eyes healthy<\/p>\n
Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Anita could tell that there was something wrong with one of
\nher son's eyes. \"He narrowed his eyes every time he read. After
\nschool he often complained of a headache,\" said the housewife.<\/p>\n
She then decided to take him to an ophthalmologist from whom
\nAnita learned that Tony needed a pair of glasses. The doctor also
\npraised her for immediately seeking professional help.<\/p>\n
An ophthalmologist with the Jakarta Eye Center, A.M. Ginting,
\nsaid that correction of possible eye problems and efforts to
\nmaintain healthy eyes should start from infancy.<\/p>\n
He said ophthalmologists may also need to check the mother's
\nhealth to support their examination. \"This way, they can detect
\npossible infections due to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),
\nwhich can affect a newborn's eyes and immediately treat it,\" said
\nGinting.<\/p>\n
\"It's important because several STDs show no symptoms and many
\nmothers are not aware that they are passing the infection to
\ntheir newborn babies.\"<\/p>\n
Ginting also stressed the need for eye examinations on
\npremature babies for possible eye disorders, such as retinopathy
\nof prematurity, which can lead to blindness.<\/p>\n
During infancy, the role of parents is also very important in
\nobserving the functioning of children's eyes.<\/p>\n
According to Ginting, babies can only focus after they reach
\ntheir third month and parents can test whether or not their
\nbabies have eye problems.<\/p>\n
\"Simple tests can be performed at home. Parents can check if
\ntheir baby blinks when there is a moving object near his or her
\neyes or shuts his or her eyes when exposed to light. They can
\nalso see if their babies' eyes are symmetrical or notice other
\neye irregularities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
When an irregularity is found, immediate treatment is
\nnecessary to ensure optimal results.<\/p>\n
\"Cross-eyed children are best treated or operated on before
\nthey reach four years of age. Otherwise, the squint may affect
\nthe development of the related part of the brain.\"<\/p>\n
He added that failure to provide immediate treatment can lead
\nto lazy eye (dimness of sight in one eye).<\/p>\n
A child should be taken for the first time to an
\nophthalmologist when he or she reaches the age of six.<\/p>\n
\"The most common eye problems are short or long sightedness
\nwhich require eye glasses to correct. This problem can affect a
\nchild's performance in school,\" he said, citing research data
\nthat 30 percent of children with poor school performance need
\nglasses to aid their vision.<\/p>\n
Healthy eyes, Ginting added, can be maintained by consuming
\nvitamin A-rich food, like liver, fish and red palm oil as well as
\nvitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables, like carrots and papaya.
\nSupplements may be needed during illness to fulfill requirements.<\/p>\n
There is no need for periodic visits to the ophthalmologist if
\nthere is no complaint.<\/p>\n
He added that eyes can protect themselves from dust, pollution
\nand the drying effect of air conditioners, by shedding tears,
\nwhich also contain an antibacterial substance, called lisozyme.
\nThe function of tears, he added, are to cleanse, irrigate and
\nmoisten the eyes.<\/p>\n
\"This is why eye drops and other medicated liquid for the
\neyes, like bore water, are only used when prescribed by
\nophthalmologists. Don't use eye drops frequently because they may
\ncontain preservatives and other elements that may worsen the
\ncondition. And don't try to cure what seem to be simple eye
\ninfections or irritations yourselves. Get professional help,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
A simple operation can help children who have blocked tear
\nducts, when they are unable to secrete tears by themselves.<\/p>\n
Ginting identified the two most common serious eye problems as
\nglaucoma, which often displays no symptoms, and vision impairment
\ndue to diabetes. Both can lead to loss of vision.<\/p>\n
He advised people aged 40 years or older to have their eyes
\nexamined by an ophthalmologist for early detection of possible
\nglaucoma. They may also need reading glasses. Diabetics are
\nadvised to have their eyes checked every year, especially after
\nsuffering the illness for more than five years.<\/p>\n
The elderly, he said, are prone to cataracts, or clouding of
\nthe eye lens and\/or its surrounding transparent membrane that
\nobstructs the passage of light, which can be treated.<\/p>",
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