In the latest episode of InnoHealth Magazine Podcast, Soumya Singh sat down with Dr. Virendra Singh Sangwan, a renowned ophthalmologist at Dr. Shroff’s Eye Care Charity Hospital, to discuss the latest advancements in eye health, emerging technologies in treatment, and how we can protect our vision in an increasingly digital world.

A Personal Journey into Ophthalmology

Dr. Sangwan’s journey into ophthalmology is deeply personal and rooted in a moment of inspiration during his early years. Reflecting on his path, he shared a story his mother told him from his childhood, a defining experience that guided his professional choices. This story is also a central part of his book, Unbound, which outlines his life journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

Dr. Sangwan’s experiences emphasize how seemingly random decisions, sometimes made without a clear vision at the time, can lead to fulfilling and impactful careers. His book serves as a framework for young adults navigating their professional and personal lives, encouraging them to dream big and embrace paths that may not always seem conventional.

Emerging Technologies in Eye Care

Over the years, the field of ophthalmology has seen incredible advancements. Dr. Sangwan recalled a time when, during his training in the late 1980s, ophthalmology was devoid of the advanced technologies we have today. However, things have drastically changed, and today, the field boasts innovations such as stem cell therapies, bioengineered corneas, and the latest, the liquid cornea.

The liquid cornea, a bioengineered solution for treating corneal damage, is one of the most exciting developments in modern eye care. Dr. Sangwan elaborated on how this technology could revolutionize corneal transplants and other treatments for patients with severe eye conditions.

Protecting Eye Health in the Digital Age

With the rise of digital screens in everyday life, protecting our eyes has become increasingly important. Dr. Sangwan addressed the issue of prolonged screen time, a concern for many in the digital age, especially those working in corporate environments. While using screens isn’t inherently harmful, he emphasized the importance of giving eyes proper rest.

He recommended taking a 2-3 minute break every 20-30 minutes of screen time, blinking forcefully to refresh the eyes, and using lubricating eye drops if symptoms of dryness or discomfort arise. Adjusting the position of your screen to eye level and using blue light filters on devices can also help minimize strain.

For those concerned about the impact of blue light, Dr. Sangwan suggested that while protective screens and special glasses might offer some relief, the key is to manage screen time and ensure that breaks are regularly taken to prevent eye fatigue.

Eye Health in Children

One concerning trend Dr. Sangwan noted is the increasing number of young children wearing glasses. This is largely due to the rise in screen time at a young age. In countries like China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, where screen use among children is particularly high, nearly 80% of the population wears glasses. In India, the rate is growing, especially among urban populations.

Dr. Sangwan explained that excessive screen time at a young age, combined with limited outdoor activities, contributes to the worsening of children’s eye health. He encouraged parents to ensure that children engage in outdoor physical activities, which can help balance the effects of screen time and contribute to better vision development.

The Link Between Diabetes and Eye Health

Diabetes, a condition prevalent in India, has significant implications for eye health. Dr. Sangwan discussed diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that can lead to vision loss if left untreated. With India having the highest number of diabetic patients globally, it is crucial for individuals with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Dr. Sangwan explained how high blood sugar levels affect the retina, leading to reduced blood supply, bleeding, and in severe cases, retinal detachment. Timely detection and management of diabetes can help prevent or mitigate the effects of diabetic retinopathy.

Nutrition and Its Impact on Eye Health

Diet plays a key role in maintaining good eye health. Dr. Sangwan recommended traditional foods such as seasonal fruits and vegetables, milk, and curd, which are rich in nutrients essential for eye health, including vitamin A. He specifically mentioned the benefits of eating carrots and radishes, which are high in vitamin A, during the winter months.

Although Ayurveda offers several remedies for improving eyesight, Dr. Sangwan emphasized that, as an allopathic doctor, his expertise lies in more scientifically proven methods. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the importance of maintaining a balanced diet for overall health, including eye health.

Final Thoughts on Eye Health

Dr. Sangwan concluded the conversation with an important message for listeners: 80% of the information we gather about the world comes through our eyes. He urged people of all ages, whether young or old, to prioritize their eye health by maintaining a balanced diet, taking regular breaks from screens, and scheduling routine eye checkups. Protecting our eyes ensures that we can continue to fully engage with and appreciate the world around us.

Authors Biography

Dr. Virender Singh Sangwan is a globally acclaimed ophthalmic surgeon, pioneered SLET for corneal blindness, treated 800+ patients, authored 274 papers, and led innovations at LVPEI and Dr. Shroff’s Eye Hospital.

The post Advancements in Eye Care: Insights from Dr. Virendra Singh Sangwan appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

“Work From Home” has been a serious concern around the world amid deadly pandemic. WFH actually means: being in front of a screen: computer or tablet or smartphone, at all times on a daily basis. This extended digital device usage in blue lights at close distance, is leading our generation to digital eye strain or screen vision syndrome, a group of eye and vision related problems: eyestrain, blurry vision, trouble focusing at a distance, dry eyes and even headaches. Be vigilant about eye-related issues, such as dry eyes, cataracts, macular degeneration. Take care of your eyes everyday to maintain good eye health.

Our eyes have a higher metabolic rate resulting in quicker free radical formation, which means cells in the eye have a hyperbolic need for protecting antioxidant nutrients like vitamin A, C and E. Oxidative damage caused by vulnerability to environmental pollution, smoke, harmful rays and increased screen time can slowly take a toll on the eye cells and may affect eyesight. But these antioxidants work to halt this damage by neutralizing free radicals. Tears are water-based, but they also contain a mucus and oil component, so a lack of essential fatty acids like DHA and EPA may lend to dry eye symptoms. Consult a dietitian nutritionist to eat-right and protect your eye-sight. A nutritious diet full of healthy fats, antioxidants (function as a natural sunblock) and anti-inflammatories may help keep eyes healthy. The specific nutrients our eyes need include the following:

Vitamin A is required to maintain functioning of the cornea and is part of the pigment rhodopsin, which enables light to be converted into electrical signals that get interpreted as vision. Not only vit-A, other eye nutrients like vit-C, vit-E, zinc, selenium, and omega-3s, are worth adding to our daily meals for eye health. 

Beta carotene is an antioxidant that converts into vitamin A and is the deep yellow/orange pigment in color-rich vegetables like carrots, papaya, sweet potatoes and pumpkins. Vit-A nourishes the cornea and retina to work properly. Eating yellow/orange pigment in colored vegetables has become synonymous with having good eyesight and healthy eyes. They contain lycopene, a carotenoid that appears to slow cataract formation. Vit-A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children worldwide.

Vitamin C produces collagen, a structural protein to our eyes. It helps prevent or delay age-related eye damage by repairing and growing new tissue cells. Studies suggest vitamin C might help prevent cataracts (clouding of eye lens) and the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Good sources of vitamin C include raw: amla, bell peppers, oranges, and lemons. Collectively, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, carrots, mangoes, papaya, apricots, and oranges are rich in vitamins A, C, and E.

Zinc and copper fights free radicals and are vital to retinal health as they delay the AMD and eyesight loss.

Zeaxanthin, lutein and vit-C are antioxidants that protect the macula and can lower risks of developing AMD, cataracts, or other eye damage. Dark, leafy greens (spinach, and other dark greens) are top sources of lutein and zeaxanthin that absorb a substantial amount of blue light rays, preventing them from entering the interior eye to keep light-induced free radicals from harming eye cells. Regular intakes of dark greens can increase circulating levels of these antioxidants. 

Vitamin E is responsible for protecting the fatty acids in retina from harmful oxidation. Omega-3 fatty acids are the healthy fats essential for retinal health and for tear function. They help reduce risks of developing eye disease. Eating oily fish like tuna, sardines, salmon, trout and mackerel, may provide some relief from dry eye syndrome caused by inadequate tear production and a lack of tear film over the eyes. Incorporating more vit-E rich foods like eggs, almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, and peanut butter are all important for eye health. Other good sources of vit-E include nuts and seeds: sunflower, chia, or flax seeds, peanuts, walnuts, cashews, and other nuts. 

In addition to eating well, when it comes to eye health, one should: 

• Avoid rubbing eyes.
• Use protective eyewear.
• Never look directly at the sun. 
• Limit sun exposure and wear sunglasses blocking 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays, when you’re outdoors.
• Splash eyes with cold water 2-4 times a day.
• Cut overall screen time and wear blue light-filtering glasses.
• Have your eyes examined regularly, even if you haven’t noticed problems.
• Follow proper contact-lens care instructions, if any.

EYE EXERCISES TO IMPROVE VISION HEALTH

These eye exercises may help to relax eye fatigue and keep eyes healthy from becoming strained or irritated. Set up your workplace cautiously. Placement of computer monitor should be within 20″-24″ of your eyes. Keep the computer screen slightly below your eyes level. Set lighting to minimize glare from windows and lights on the screen. Blink frequently to protect your eyes from tiredness. 

The 20-20-20 rule: Practice to look away from digital screen every 20 minutes. Look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, to rest your eyes. This prevents eye fatigue due to blue lights.

Blinking breaks: When glued to TV/ Laptop screen, generally we forget to blink. This can cause our eyes to become dry or irritated. Set reminders to take tiny blinking breaks to refresh your eyes.

Palms for relaxation: Place your palms over your closed eyes, without putting any pressure, until it’s completely black, for about 30 seconds. It also helps with eye fatigue and eye relaxation.

Figure eight: Train yourself to draw imaginary a big number eight on the wall or in the air – 10 feet away for a few times.

Roll your eyes: The eye-rolling exercises means to look right and left without moving your head. Followed by looking up and down, without moving your head.

The eyes are very sensitive to the hot air during summer. Eye care becomes quintessential to our overall well-being as the temperatures rise.

The eyes are very sensitive to the hot air during summer. Eye care becomes quintessential to our overall well-being as the temperatures rise. This scorching heat is extremely harmful to the eyes. Because of the high levels of pollutants and irritants in the air, our eyes may have allergic reactions. Redness, itching, burning sensation, watery eyes, and gritty eyes are the well-known signs of eye suffering. While these issues are usually temporary, they can be highly uncomfortable. Focus on eating fabulous foods to boost eye health is one of the most important things you can do for your eye health. Sunny days call for polarized sunglasses and head covers, protecting the eye area from damage from ultraviolet light. Staying hydrated is another cornerstone. Happy summers!

Composed by: “Dr. Swati Dave is a dietician and currently associated with ESIC Model Hospital in Gujarat. Her research interest lies in Clinical nutrition,Community nutrition and Public health nutrition.”

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