Wednesday Brief

As expected, yesterday PM Modi extended the lock down for further 19 days and now it will be there till 3^rd May 2020. He also announced that after 20^th Apr, the areas where Covid 19 cases are contained and those areas do not fall in Red Zone, will be partially allowed to function. Today morning at 10 am govt has announced the detailed list indicating which will permitted, and which will be not be permitted after 20^th Apr. I am not going into the details of the same, as the details are available on the e media.

But yesterday what happened at Surat and Mumbai was highly deplorable, as thousands of migrant workers in these 2 cities assembled at particular location and started demanding that train serviced should start as they want to go to their home town. The PM announcement had clearly indicated that the no intercity air/road/rail services will be permitted till 3^rd May. It looked like it was well planned move by some political leaders and media persons who are there to spread negativity about the lock down, as there were enough messages about suffering of migrant workers because they are unable to reach their home town. This is to the contrary of when all the state govts are requesting the migrant workers to stay where they are and there well being will be taken care. But still  these negativity spreading people are posting fake news on various social platforms. No idea when these politicians/media persons will behave sensibly considering the nation first and vote bank politics later.

This is my observation on the current situation.

Now in today’s health related topic, I am writing about VISION and EYE CARE:

It is quite normal that as we age, our vision will also take some hits and hence will need some care. Usually when people cross the age of 40, they may require reading glasses. This is more so because, as people are now spending more time on screens, be it of computers, laptops, mobiles and TV. Constantly spending more time in front of screens give rise to vision issues. With advancing age problems like cataract glaucoma and eye damage due to diabetes are also very common.

Therefore regular eye checkups are must for all those above 40, and more so for those above 60. It is highly advisable that once in a year , one must go in for complete eye check up. People who are using spectacles/reading glasses/lenses must get their eye check up at least once every 6 months.

There are few tips for keeping healthy eye sight:

Eating Right – Indeed a well maintained diet can lead to good eye health also. Low fat diets, with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits are advisable for the eyes. Also include whole grains and vitamin A rich foods like carrots, papayas, pumpkins etc. Any citrus fruits with omega3 fatty acids like fish, nuts and vitamin E like cashews and walnuts, sweet potatoes, and eggs are foods that are good for your eye health. One has to ensure a regular intake of water through out the day.

Exercise- Along with the body eyes are also benefitted , if one exercise regularly. Exercise helps increase of blood flow in the eyes and thus enables you to maintain a good vision and eye health in general Also, for those who work with screens  for long, few simple eye exercises are suggested like looking away from screen on something far off, blinking continuously now and then, palming your eyes etc are good for vision. Depending on any specific eye condition that you may have, like dry etc, the doctor may also suggest few exercises.

Avoid smoking- Smoking not only kills, it can also affect your eyesight, as it is one of the factors for cataract. The smoke is also irritant to your eye and aids the age related muscle degeneration. Hence one should avoid smoking altogether.

Few other general tips to keep your eye healthy are- Wash your eyes regularly to keep  it free of dirt, dust and bacteria. Also maintain eye hygiene and do not share your eye drops or ointments with others. One must wear sunglasses, if stepping out in sun and ensure to use your prescribed glasses, if any, always.

So these were few tips to keep your eyes healthy.

Awaiting your feed backs/views/comments.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

15^th Apr 2020.