Eye Care - AskDr

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@dylanojh24

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Is Enchroma colour blind glasses 👓 effective for patients with colour Vision Deficiency? What brand of sunglasses offers the most protection against ultraviolet light from the sun?
I have colour Vision Deficiency and have difficulty differentiating certain shades of colour well...
0 Answers 0 Comments2021-06-29 20:34:45 UTC
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@dylanojh24

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How can I prevent astigmatism from Worsening?
What are some habits to prevent astigmatism from worsening due to long hours of laptop and smartp...
1 Answers 1 Comments2020-11-17 06:44:49 UTC
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Hi @ongjunhao1997 good questions! Have added responses to each of them separately -

For the first question, Astigmatism is a common cause of blur vision arising from irregular shape of the cornea (superficial layer of the eye) or lens (inside the eye). It is a structural problem that is not directly affected by screen exposure (smartphone/laptop use) although excessive use of these devices without breaks can cause other eye problems that may worsen your blur vision overall. For the latter, I recommend the 20-20 rule i.e. to take brief 20 second breaks to look at something in the distance, at least 20 meters away. This can be done every hour or so when using these devices for prolonged periods, and will help reduce your risk of eye strain.

For the second question, Acuvue contact lenses are generally a good option. Most contact lenses are not suitable for use while swimming due to all the organisms in the water. There are a few specialised options, but these are costly and hard to come by. Some recommend to use daily contact lenses with waterproof goggles for protection, and to throw the contact lens away after swimming without touching the eye at all. However, this is hard to do in practice and there is still risk of contamination. One option is to consider prescription goggles that incorporate refractive correction based on your vision - this is something you can speak to your optician about for available options. Some lenses and goggles do make such claims about blue and UV light. While they may offer some protection, it is recommended to take regular precautions and especially avoid directly looking towards the sun. Hope this helps!
Dr. Dinesh G
•2020-12-20 15:07:53 UTC

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@maybe7843

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Are blue light glasses useful for laptop and mobile device?
Are blue light glasses useful? I spend hours in front of my laptop and mobile device daily.
1 Answers 1 Comments2020-10-09 02:57:28 UTC
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Hi @maybe78 unfortunately not - the Science behind blue light glasses is not definitive. Although excessive blue light exposure can affect the sleep cycle, the amount from device screens has not been conclusively shown to cause any problems to health in general or in the eye. That said, the sun itself emits large amounts of blue light/ UV radiation, and excessive sun exposure can damage the eye. Avoid looking directly, and wear sunglasses on hot days or when driving.

Ultimately if you find that you lead a lifestyle with large amounts of exposure to digital screens such as laptops, mobile devices, and televisions, here are 2 key things to improve your eye health and minimise the impact on sleep;

1) Take visual breaks
This is important, especially during prolonged continuous visual tasks such as browsing social media, reading documents, or drawing on these device screens. This means to take a break every half-hour or so, to look further away at something in the distance. You may find looking out of the window at nature every once in awhile to be particularly relaxing!

2) Avoid screen time in the 2 hours before your bed time.
Instead, try to do something relaxing such as to go for a walk, or have a conversation with your loved one (although, depending on circumstances this may not always be relaxing 😂 ). Other tips to improve sleep are to avoid drinking liquids in the 2 hours before your bed time, and to try and incorporate some exercise in the first half of your day.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology are a reputable resource for eye health matters, and they provide a detailed discussion about blue light and eye health here: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/blue-light-digital-eye-strain

I hope this helps!

Dr. Dinesh G
•2020-10-21 14:30:37 UTC

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@jeff23

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Hello Doctors, im currently experiencing vertical monocular diplopia (double vision persists when either eye is covered). It started 2 days ago when I was using my phone before bed.
The picture I’ve attached somewhat describes what im seeing but it’s less mild. Double vision doe...
1 Answers 0 Comments2020-10-05 14:51:47 UTC
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Dear Jeff. It is not usual to have double vision. The cause can be due to abnormality in the brain ( Central ) or the ears ( peripheral). It is important for you to consult an opthalmologist. Alternatively, you may visit the Emergency Department for a consultation. Imaging of the brain might be considered to rule out central causes of diplopia and tinnitus. Kindly go to Emergency department if you have any weakness or numbness of hands and legs. Thank you.
Dr. Yan Y T
•2020-10-10 06:10:24 UTC

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@Me66

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Went for laser for a vessel bleed, but still see floaters - How long will floaters last?
I recently saw eye floaters. Went for laser for a vessel bleed which has stopped. But still see f...
1 Answers 0 Comments2020-07-17 06:40:07 UTC
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Hi @Me sorry to hear about this, hope you're feeling well after the laser! The human mind is very adaptive, and over time will gradually learn to "block out" the floaters. The process can take months, and is generally faster if you try not to pay attention to the floaters (difficult as that may be).

Nonetheless, given that you've seen your specialist and had the laser done, at least you can rest assured the underlying cause has been addressed. That said, if you suddenly notice an increase in the number of floaters, flashes of light, or blurring of vision, that would be an indication to arrange an urgent review with your eye specialist. I hope this helps!
Dr. Dinesh G
•2020-08-01 03:13:24 UTC

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@cyeap29

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Eye sensitivity to light
My eyes have been feeling real sensitive to light recently and this mostly occurs at night. At ti...
1 Answers 0 Comments2020-07-02 13:17:12 UTC
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Hi @cyeap this indicates sensitivity to light and possibly photophobia. If you experience this in association with fever or headache, you should go for a review with your doctor for an examination.

Otherwise, other possible causes include problems with your vision or inflammation in the eye. A review with an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist for an examination would be a good place to start to get to the bottom of it. Hope this helps!
Dr. Dinesh G
•2020-07-26 14:24:08 UTC

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@Curiousity25

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Feel like there is foreign substance/ stuff In eye
Can feel It when I blink and when I roll my eyes the object moves with it. It feels like it’s on ...
1 Answers 0 Comments2019-11-30 02:11:23 UTC
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Hi @Curiousity thats a great question! There are many possible causes for what you describe, ranging from dry eyes to a foreign body thats lodged in the eye. Unfortunately an examination by a doctor or possibly an eye specialist may be required to make that distinction - and I would recommend to get that assessment early. If you would like to seek further care in the public sector, you may need to see a polyclinic for an assessment by the doctor and referral if required. If you would like to see an eye specialist in the private sector, you could use a teleconsult app like DoctorWorld for a detailed consult and a referral to an eye specialist if required. Hope this helps 😊
Dr. Dinesh G
•2019-11-30 02:35:45 UTC

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@briantoh29

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What happens if I leave dry eyes without being lubricated?
I am frequently sitting in front of a screen and my eyes feel really dry. If I don't have eye dro...
1 Answers 1 Comments2019-08-29 10:59:29 UTC
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Hi @briantoh thats a great question! In general, not to worry, there are no long-term implications aside from the discomfort you would experience. That being said, it is not normal for a 27-year-old to develop dry eyes. You may want to consider some work-place modifications. One piece of advice - especially for those whose work involves long hours in front of a screen - is to take plenty of visual breaks. After 1-2hrs of computer work, make it a point to take a 5 minute break to stare outside a window to something in the distance to "rest your eyes". It is easy to get overly engrossed in computer work and strain your eyes. It may be the case that in your focus you may be "forgetting to blink". Give Visual breaks a try, and if that doesn't help the dry eyes, you may want to get it checked out by an optometrist or eye specialist physician at least once. Symptoms that should prompt you to review with a health professional early would be eye pain, blurring of vision, rash, or dryness in other areas such as the mouth. Hope this helps!
Dr. Dinesh G
•2019-08-31 03:24:54 UTC

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@WangXiuYing8927

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How do I know if I need to get a new pair of glasses?
I've worn the same pair of glasses for almost 5 years now - when should I check in with an eye do...
1 Answers 0 Comments2019-08-21 10:36:03 UTC
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Hi @WangXiuYing89 thats a great question! Eye care professionals recommend eye checks every 1 to 2 years depending on your background and age. If you experience eye tiredness, headaches after prolonged visual tasks (like reading, using the computer), or find yourself straining to read books or items at a distance (bus number, street signs, etc) you may want to visit an Optometrist to check your eye sight earlier. When in doubt, always good to speak to your GP or eye care professional to have a recommendation based on your individual needs.
Dr. Dinesh G
•2019-08-21 23:07:58 UTC