Online teaching could make kids vulnerable to Corona Virus

Online teaching could make kids vulnerable to Corona Virus

 In olden time kids were usually read books and was spending lesser time to screen (includes TV,  computer, etc). In the past few years teaching kids is not remaining same as earlier.

In the recent past, online education is rapidly increased due to competition among children. Most children take online classes due to nuclear-family as both parents go to work and parents can’t take them to coaching classes. Kids are spending lesser time in outdoor activities (lesser exposure in sunlight) as both parents are not having sufficient time to spend with them. Teachers also give them more creative activity as homework so kids use computers or mobile to search mostly.

Eye experts are informing parents of the dangers of increased digital screen-time on their children’s eyes due to online classes. Due to which children are at the risk of myopia (near-sightedness), dryness and redness of the eyes and disrupted sleep patterns. Dryness of the eyes can damage to the ocular surface (front surface of cornea) and could even make patients more susceptible to contracting COVID-19.

If someone use digital screen (including mobile, tablet, computer, laptop etc) and spending average 6-12 hours per day then their blink rate reduces along with that they could have symptoms of gritty sensation, itching, redness and dryness in the eyes. “When a person blinks, tears are liberated through tiny pores which lubricate the eye.

So kids also have lesser blink rate, pink eyes, and dryness of eyes while using screen and sometimes they are not expressing in front of parents. Most families may not have laptop or computer with them so mostly kids are taking classes in mobile phone.

“The patient can become vulnerable to catching an infection when their ocular defence mechanisms are down. Conjunctivitis is a common presentation among Covid-19 patients, indicating that people with dryness issues in their eyes are at risk of contracting the infection. As they touch their eyes due to dryness and irritation, and eyes are at risk of contracting the infection.

Why we are more sensitive to smart phone or tablet screen? Why we should restrict small screen usage?

1. Smart phone and tablet screen size is smaller than laptop or computer screen.
2. Smaller screen size means smaller font size in mobile and tablet screen.
3. Digital screen (mobile and tablet) is having sensors due to which screen brightness keep fluctuating with lighting conditions.
4. Mobiles, tablets and laptops screen usually have glossy screen where light reflection may occur but computer monitors are not having glossy screen.
5. Laptop and computer monitors do not have sensors to change the brightness and contrast automatically.
6. Good thing: mobile and tablets are more handy - whenever or wherever you want to use them, press the button and screen get on within a second.
7. Laptops are bulky; relatively screen size is bigger than a tablet but takes time to boot. A laptop has a glossy screen due to that reflection occurs.
8. Computers need more space and computer screen size is definitely bigger in all screens and takes time to boot. There are no sensors to change the brightness and contrast automatically and there is no glossy screen in monitor.

 Eye specialists advise parents to exercise caution by restricting screen time for children and incorporate regular breaks during class work.

Children who aren’t getting enough sunlight or change of scenery were at high risk of developing myopia or progression of myopia (worsening of nearsightedness). “Increased screen time will also lead to disruptions in their sleep patterns.” Eye specialist recommends an age-bracket approach to restricting screen time for children. “It is important that the number of teaching hours should be reduced greatly. If a child used to have eight hours of classes at school, the number of online hours cannot be of the same length.”

Computer use for children should be as follows (if needed):

-First standard classes should not be conducted online at all.
-Second to fifth class online classes should be 2-3 hours per day with the break of 30 minutes and parents should be involved for homework through email or Whatsapp.
-Sixth to eighth class online classes should be 3-4 hours per day with the break of 30 minutes and parents should be involved for homework through email or Whatsapp.
-Ninth to twelfth class online classes should be 4-6 hours per day with the break of 30 minutes and parents and teachers should be involved for homework through email or Whatsapp.

 Parents should be counseled that the kid should have some snacks, drink water and focus far objects during the break time. Room illumination should not be very bright or dull (semi dark) at the time of screen usage. Kids should not use screen in sleepy position and close to face. Parents should insist on kids to make book-reading habits. Book reading should always be in good illuminating room and sitting position. Books, mobile, and tablet should be kept at 30-35 cms distance from eyes. Computer monitor should be at least one hand’s-distance (50 cms) from eyes.

 If kids are getting any kind of discomfort in their eyes; they should:

1. Avoid excessive screen usage and eye rub.
2. Take water wet cloth and put it over closed eyes.
3. Frequent blinking during screen usage time.
4. After online classes kids should close their eyes and give rest to their eyes for one hour.

Children should follow computer vision syndrome (CVS) rules means take a 20 second-long break after every 20 minutes of screen time, and focus at something located 20 feet away.

Lubricating eye drops could be administered during the day to facilitate moisture on eye surface.

If kids rub their eyes then there is a risk to change the eyeball shape and glasses power may increase. Eye rubbing could sometimes lead as an eye allergy.

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How to take care Contact lens related allergies?

Contact lenses (CLs) provide safe and effective vision correction if adequate lenses’ care is ensured as recommended. However, CLs’ wearers may have risk of eye infections if they fail to clean, disinfect, and store their CLs as instructions given.

    Contacts are composed of hypoallergenic materials. This means the materials themselves do not usually cause an allergic reaction. Instead, what causes it is a buildup of contaminants on the contacts. However, in rare cases, people can develop allergies to the actual lenses.
    Your eyes produce a protein that is deposited on your contact lenses while being worn. The protein is broken down when the lenses are stored in the contact lens solution. Over time, from daily usage of contact lens, the proteins can end up in your bloodstream via eyelids. Your immune system identifies these proteins as foreign invaders, similar to an allergen.
    Your body then begins creating antibodies and once these antibodies are enough in your bloodstream, the contact lenses become uncomfortable. This leads to an allergic sensation through a condition called giant papillary conjunctivitis or GPC.
    Sometimes contact lens user may find discomfort with CLs due to improper fitting of CL, uncorrected astigmatism, CL induced dry eyes, excessive digital screen usage and other allergies. Discomfort with contact lens can be identified by irritation, redness, bright light, pain in the eyes every time while lenses are worn.
    Sometimes contact lens solution could be the next cause of eye allergy because these solutions contains preservatives. Even proper cleaning of contact lenses may still leave traces of preservative. Thimersol is one of the main preservative in contact lens solutions - better to use Thimersol-free or presarvative-free contact lens solution.
    If still you have any kind of discomfort in your eyes, firstly to stop using contact lens. Prolong CL wear will increase discomfort, aggravate pain and eye infection.
    Better to consult with eye doctor for your eye discomfort, pain and infection.

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Contact Lens and Eye Allergies - Reasons

Contact Lens and Eye Allergies

 The option to correct a refractive error (vision correction) is spectacle, contact lens, or refractive surgeries. Each of those choices has its advantages and disadvantages downside. 

Spectacles are the foremost commonly used for refractive correction. All three types of corrective choices for refractive error are simply offered in developing and developed countries. Though, the selection varies from the individual affordability, place, and nature of work, profession, socioeconomic status, and hobbies. 

Of those corrective options, contact lens has been playing an important role in providing vision to the countless users worldwide with several advantages like comfort, convenience, quality vision, wider the field of view, and different optical advantages over spectacles. Apart from the natural look it also opens the door for an unlimited selection of sunglasses.

Contact lens penetration in India was reported as ~5.5% of the target population 18 million. This can be considered low compared to other Asian countries like China (17%), Korea (16%), Malaysia (25%), and Singapore (35%). 

The contact lens provides safe and effective vision correction if proper lens care is taken care of as recommended by the practitioner. However, contact lens wearer may have a risk of an eye infection if they fail to wear, clean and disinfect, their contact lens as per instructions directed.

The phrase ‘allergic reaction’ could be causing up images of hives or the sudden sensation of restricted airways, but did you recognize that an allergy can develop slowly? After all, you will gradually become allergic to belongings you use every day, like your soap, favorite beverage, or maybe your contact lenses.

If you develop an allergy with contact lenses, you’ll first notice some itching and irritation. If the condition is not taken care of promptly then feeling of heaviness within the eyelids, redness, swelling, and discharge may develop.

As your eye responds to the contact lens, inflammation causes small bumps formation under the eyelids called papillae. The bumps are visible when a doctor inverts the eyelid to have a glance. When these bumps continue to enlarge - and that they can get as big as a millimeter each called giant papillary conjunctivitis - the condition worsens and your eyes become very sensitive to bright light and contact lenses. 

So don’t get frustrated – It is possible that you are allergic to your contact lens material (if hygiene and disinfection is proper) or maybe you are allergic to any ingredient of contact lens solution.
  
How to take care of contact lens allergies

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Eye allergies - take care with simple tips

Eye Allergies

If your eyes are becoming red and causing irritation, and you don’t see anything in them, it could be an eye allergy.

Symptoms – Redness in eyes, itchy eye, irritation, watery eye, grittiness, sometimes difficulty to open eyes in bright light, feels burning sensation and rubbing of eyes.

This type of allergy could be due to:

Dust

Pollution

Pollens from grass, flowers

Pet dander, 

Perfumes

Cigarette smoke

Old books, news paper

Old mattress, pillow

New construction area

General cold 

Sneezing

All these symptoms are eye allergies or allergic conjunctivitis; they pose little threat to eyesight other than temporary blurriness.

Types

There are two types of eye allergies: seasonal (more common type of allergy), and perennial.

Seasonal allergies: Seasonal allergies occur at certain time of the year -- usually in spring through summer and into autumn. Allergy triggers is allergens within the air, pollen from grasses or flowers, trees, and weeds, likewise as spores from molds.

Perennial allergies: Perennial allergies occur round the year. Major causes of this type of allergy include feathers (in bedding), dust mites and pets (animal) dander. Other substances, including dust, air pollution, perfumes, smoke, chlorine (mostly use to clean water tanks), cosmetics, and certain medicines, can also play a role.

Treatment for eye allergy - just click

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Eye allergy treatment

Causes for eye allergy – just click

Do-It-Yourself for Eye Allergy Relief

Wash your hands and maintain hygiene before and after touching your eyes. 

Whenever you go out, wear protective glasses or big sunglasses (wrap around the eyes) to block pollen and pollution from your eyes. 

Use special pillow covers to avoid exposure to dust mites that keep allergens out. Wash bedding frequently in hot water. If your mattress is very old, consider changing it.

Clean floors with damp mopping. If you have a pet at your home, rugs, and carpets should be cleaned every day if unable to clean than consider changing them, which usually trap and hold allergens, with wood, tile, or other flooring materials that are easier to clean

. 

Don’t touch and rub your eyes frequently. That’s likely to make symptoms worse. Use cool compression instead (avoid frequently in case of cold, cough, sinusitis and sneezing).

Best to consult with an eye doctor. 

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) or Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) daily four to six times.

Sodium Cromoglycate 2% three times a day (4 % twice a day) or Olopatadine twice a day.

Keep your eye drops in the refrigerator door and eye drops may bring more relief.

*This is not for medico-legal purpose

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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