Eye is an important organ. Unfortunately most people realise it in later part of their life. We hardly care for our eyes unless there is a problem. Preventive care of eyes is often neglected. Doctors keep telling us eye mannerism but nobody takes it seriously. There is an eye discipline which we don’t follow. The preventive care for eye is absolutely not in the list. We have stopped ignoring the indications that our eyes give. If we take these indications seriously, we can maintain the health of our eyes in a well manner.

 

What should be done to take proper care of eyes? What diet one should have that would put eyes healthy? With these questions, ‘The Hitavada’ approached stalwart in ophthalmology, noted eye specialist Dr Satish Sule. For more than five decades, Dr Sule has been rendering eye care services to the people. Dr Sule is known for his simplicity and soft approach towards his patients. The patients feel at ease when Dr Sule gently holds their hand and checks eyes. Dr Sule has very simple and clear thoughts on eye care. “We must take care of our eyes in our young age and they will take care of us in old age. This is the simple formula. In recent past, ophthalmologists are witnessing patients with some eye ailments, which we never studied before. We are the students of 60s and there were no such issues then. I feel the issues like dry eye syndrome are man-created,” cautioned Dr Sule.

 

“The types of toys being handed to children have changed. Parents give them mobile handsets. This is very dangerous trend. I hardly see any children, youngsters on the playground. They are glued to mobile all the time. They are abusing their eyes which makes me feel bad. They are not aware how much harm they are causing to their eyes,” expressed Dr Sule. Dr Sule advised the formula of 20:20:20. “Now, working on computer or on mobile has become necessary. We can’t stay away from these gadgets. But we should try to avoid their unnecessary use. We should be judicious while using mobile. Secondly, whenever we work either on mobile or on computer, we should follow the 20:20:20 principle. When one works for 20 minutes, take a pause after that much working.

 

For next 20 seconds, keep eyes off the screen and either look at the wall or at a tree or blink eyes for 20 seconds and work again for next 20 minutes. If one continues this practice, then one can keep one eye in proper order,” said Dr Sule. Dr Sule is an alumnus of GMCH Nagpur; the Founder Secretary of Vidarbha Ophthalmological Society, Past District Governor of Rotary and is on the Technical Advisory Board of Madhav Netralaya. “We should teach eye mannerisms to children like not to rub the eyes, not to be on social media for longer time, not to look directly at sun, the eyes should be kept clean. Intake of Vitamin A, Vitamin C is must for good health of eye. Green vegetables, cucumber, carrot, drumsticks are very good for eyes. There is a study by Dr Paithankar on how drumsticks is a good diet for good health of eyes. We should read good books, newspapers and never use eyes when they are tired. If you take care of your eyes, they will never deceive you. Eyes always speak truth,” remarked Dr Sule.n