The eyes are reputed to be the mirror of the soul and they are one of the first things you notice about any person you are meeting for the first time.

Eyes are precious and it pays to take good care of them, they work very hard for you all your life! Doctors pay a lot of attention to the eye when making examinations as they often indicate other underlying illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Everyone whether requiring glasses or contact lenses or not should have a regular eye examination with a qualified professional for this reason.

Bloodshot eyes occur when the blood vessels in the eyes start to appear more pronounced and red. The upshot of this is that your eyes feel very tired and gritty and very uncomfortable. Common causes include tiredness, swimming in chlorinated water in swimming pools and being exposed to some form of pollution e.g. smog, smoke, fumes. Over the counter eyewash or eye-drops will normally relieve the problem. If however the redness has been caused by a broken or burst blood vessel then you should get this checked out by a qualified professional as soon as possible.

Sore eyes can be the result of eye strain or smoky dusty atmospheres. If you have used eye washes or eye drops to no avail you could be suffering from eye strain. Again you should see your practitioner as soon as possible.

Foreign bodies in the eye occur when something gets trapped in the eye, this could be dust, sand, grit or even an eyelash. To help remove the foreign body use an eyewash to try and rinse the eye clean. If the eye has become over irritated or scratched this may need a visit to your optician, doctor or hospital depending on the severity of the problem. If in doubt always seek professional advice.

Dry eyes are the result of the eye failing to produce enough tears to properly lubricate the eye. The eye may feel dry, gritty, sting or all three. Dry eye can be caused by a dry atmosphere; such was working in an air conditioned office, prolonged exposure to looking at computer screens or extended wearing of contact lenses. It can also be an age related condition and may be caused by illness such as arthritis or as a side effect of certain medications. Dry eyes can be prevented by taking regular breaks from computer screens as laid down in Health and Safety regulations, taking breaks from dry office and home environs and limiting the wearing of contact lenses as recommended by your optician. Over the counter lubricating gels can also

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