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Eye diseases common in children

There are many eye conditions and diseases that can affect a child’s vision and influence every aspect of his or her life. Two of the most common eye problems in children are amblyopia and strabismus. Amblyopia is a vision development disorder caused by one eye not being able to see as well as the other. The brain sees two different pictures that it can't combine in a meaningful way, so it ignores the image from the weaker eye and chooses to interpret only the image sent by the stronger eye. The result is that the eye that isn't seeing well will not develop properly. More common in preschoolers is a problem with eye muscles called strabismus. In this condition eyes are unable to focus both eyes in the same direction accurately, which makes the eye appear lazy. If it is not treated, strabismus can also cause amblyopia.

Eye structure

Lens: The lens, by changing shape, helps the eye focus on objects at various distances.
Retina: The purpose of the retina is to receive light that the lens has focused, convert the light into neural signals, and send these signals on to the brain for visual recognition.
Macula: the macula is a part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision.
Vitreous: The vitreous humour is the clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina of the eyeball.
Optic nerve: The job of the optic nerve is to transfer visual information from the retina to the vision centres of the brain.
Iris: The colored part of the eye is called the iris and It controls light levels inside the eye.
Cornea: The cornea functions like a window that controls and focuses the entry of light into the eye.
Pupil: The pupil is the opening in the center of the iris. The size of the pupil determines the amount of light that enters the eye.
Aqueous humour: the aqueous humour is a colorless fluid similar to plasma that supports the lens.
Sclera: The sclera is commonly known as "the white of the eye." It is the tough tissue that serves as the eye's protective outer coat.

What is eye health and why is it important?

Eye health is the term used to describe the taking care of your eyes to prevent any diseases or treat any unpreventable diseases to make your life more enjoyable. Healthy vision can help keep people safe and also help ensure a healthy and active lifestyle well into a person’s later years. The eyes are an important, but often overlooked, part of overall health. Eyes should be constantly checked for a comprehensive dilated eye exam, which can help detect common vision problems, and eye diseases that can easily be treated. Vision loss and low vision can affect many aspects of a person’s life forever. However, paying extra attention to your eyes can guarantee a healthy and happy life

Why do we need vitamins and supplements?

Vitamins and minerals are very small nutrients that serve a specific purpose and benefit the body in a unique way. Vitamin and mineral deficiency can impair the body’s ability to heal and protect itself. Taking vitamins does not make up for an unhealthy diet, and vitamins are an insufficient substitute for nutrients from fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. However, a general multivitamin and mineral supplement can be a good safeguard against periodic vitamin shortfalls in your diet. Vitamin and mineral supplements can help prevent deficiencies that can contribute to chronic conditions. Numerous studies have shown the health benefits and effectiveness of supplementing missing nutrients in the diet.

What is a healthy and complete diet?

Healthy eating is not about strict dietary limitations, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, improving your outlook, and stabilizing your mood. Here are some tips for achieving that goal:
• Set yourself up for success: Make your own food, drink a lot of water and make sure to read the label.
• Moderation is the key: eat smaller portions, take your time and try not to think of certain foods as off limits.
• Fill up on colorful fruits and veggies: try to double the amount of greens, sweet vegetables and fruits that you consume everyday.
• Eat more healthy carbs and whole grains: these include gains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Try including whole grains in your diet and you can start doing that by mixing whole grains with your favorite grains.
• Enjoy healthy fats and avoid unhealthy fats: you should try to include natural oils like olive oil, avocado and omega-3 and omega-6 in your diet and cut back on saturated and trans fats.
• Reduce sugar and salts: start this process slowly, avoid processed or packaged foods and be careful when eating out. Also try some sparkling water and juice instead of sugary drinks.
• Add calcium for bone health: as you might be eating less food when on a diet, try having more dairy products and beans to ensure your bone health.
• Put protein in perspective: protein supplies the energy for our day-to-day life so it is hard and risky to reduce our protein consumption. However we can choose to have healthier proteins like fish, chicken and beans to help our body stay healthy.