Living with refractive errors
Patients with refractive errors should visit their ophthalmologist once a year. If associated complications arise, the visits will be done on a more regular basis (3-4 times a year).
Consejos para cuidar los ojos
Eat a diet rich in vitamins A, C, E and antioxidants. This allows the cells of the retina and the ocular surface to function well.
Proper ocular hygiene prevents infections such as conjunctivitis and keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). You should avoid rubbing your eyes with your hands.
Use approved sunglasses to protect the eyes from the aggression of ultraviolet rays.
Wear glasses with the correct grading in order to prevent strain when focusing, in order to avoid headaches, fatigue, strabismus (cross eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye).
Lubricating frequently with artificial tears helps to renew the corneal epithelium, the eye’s most superficial layer. This is recommended in women who are around the age of menopause.
Seek urgent medical attention when patients with high myopia see floaters or flashes of light, as this can be a warning sign of the holes in the retina that precede detachment.
Glasses care
Do not clean the lenses with dry fabrics, as this can cause scratches.
Do not use abrasive chemical products (ammonia, bleach, acetones) which can affect the anti-reflective layer of the glasses.
Do not put the glasses in your pocket or bag without using a protective case.
Protective cases must be rigid to prevent deformations or breakages.
Use both hands to remove them, keep glasses on the nose and do not put them on your head to prevent them falling and breaking.
Contact lens care
Do not use contact lenses for more than 12 hours.
Frequently lubricate them with compatible artificial tears during use.
Do not swim in the sea or swimming pool.
Do not use them in the shower.
Always wash, rinse and dry your hands before handling contact lenses.
Always use solutions for the care of new lenses and check the expiry date.
Always remove, rinse and disinfect lenses in accordance with the system prescribed by your ophthalmologist/optometrist.
Do not use saliva or any other solution to lubricate or moisten the lenses. Only use the recommended solution.
Never rinse the lenses with tap water. Tap water contains many impurities that can contaminate or damage the lenses, or can lead to a serious eye infection.
First, clean one lens (complete the process for one lens at a time to avoid confusion). Rinse the lens properly with saline solution or the recommended disinfectant to eliminate any cleaning solution, mucus and film on the lens surface.
Follow the instructions on the cleaning solution label. Place this lens in the correct chamber in the storage box, then repeat the procedure for the second lens.
After removing the lenses from the case, empty and rinse the storage case with the solutions recommended by the case manufacturer. Leave it to air dry. When using the case again, refill it with new storage solution.
Eye care following laser surgery
Limit activities. You should limit activity for a short time after laser surgery and avoid certain activities such as driving for one or two days after the procedure.
Do not rub your eyes for a week after the procedure. If you are concerned about rubbing or knocking your eyes while you sleep, you can use protective glasses.
Avoid getting water in your eyes for the first two or three weeks after the procedure. Water, even in the bath or shower, transports bacteria that can cause an eye infection during the healing process. If you need to clean the eye area, you are advised to moisten a piece of gauze with saline solution, close the eyes and gently dab the area around the eyes.
Carefully follow the guidelines of all anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medicines prescribed, and frequently use preservative-free artificial tears with hyaluronic acid. Many LASIK patients experience dryness in the eyes after the procedure.
Eye care in children and those aged 40 and over
At approximately six weeks old, babies should be able to follow something colourful with their eyes, or smile at someone who is not calling them to grab their attention. It should be observed whether there is some drift or repetitive movement in the direction of the gaze. If this is the case, see a specialist.
Children should see an ophthalmologist when:
An eye drifts inwards or outwards.
They regularly rub their eyes.
There is excessive watering.
They sit very close to the television and squint.
They complain of blurry vision.
They blink often.
They have unexplained headaches, a lack of concentration and behavioural problems.
From 40 years of age, you should see an ophthalmologist in cases of:
Blurry vision when focusing on near objects, or the need to move them further away to see them clearly.
Visual fatigue.
Reduced visual field.
A spot in the middle of the visual field.
Substantiated information by:
Published: 21 October 2020
Updated: 21 October 2020
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