Risks associated with the use of contact lenses

What are contact lenses?

Contact lenses are worn directly on the corneal of the eye to correct vision. Contact lenses work on the same principle as a spectacle. They refract the light and direct it onto the retina to improve vision quality. There are different types of contact lenses that suit your lifestyle. Your eye care professional can help you to find the right contact lens for you.

Today, most people wear soft contact lenses made of a water-containing material called hydrogel. Contact lenses made from Hydrogel are breathable. 

How to Care of Your Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses are medical devices that are authorized and regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Wearing time:

Contact lenses are made from different materials. Since every material behaves differently. Manufacturers recommend for each contact lens a certain period of wear. So, do not exceed the period of wear the contact lens.

Proceed carefully with your Lenses:

Soft disposable contact lenses can tear. Keep your fingernails away from the lenses. Fingernails are not only sharp; they are also a great home for all kinds of bacteria.

Never share your lenses with others:

Sharing contact lenses with others leads to a transfer of bacteria. So, do not share your lenses with others.

Cleaning and Disinfection of Lenses:

Cleaning and disinfection is important to kill bacteria and other microorganisms. These microorganisms may lead to eye infections. Keep care of cleaning and disinfection of lenses.

Storage of Lenses:

Contact lenses must be stored in designated contact lens containers and in a special contact lens solution.

Moisten your Eyes:

If you feel dryness, please use specially provided drops for the wetting of contact lenses.

Use a contact lens case:

The contact lens cases are a common source of contamination by bacteria and other microorganisms. 

Follow the instructions for cleaning and storing the contact lens container in the package leaflet. 

• Replace the tank after every 3 months.

• Manual cleaning: Enter a few drops of cleaning solution on the lens. Rub gently with your little finger over the surface. After about twenty seconds, you can rinse the lens with a rinsing solution.

Who Should NOT Wear Contact Lenses?

Some people should not wear contact lenses:

• Those who have frequent eye infections.
• Those suffer from acute allergies.
• Those who suffer from dry eyes.
• People should not wear contact lenses whose work environment is dusty, gravelly, sandy and dirty.
• If a person is unable to handle lenses and properly keep of cleaning, removing and care of contact lenses, he should not wear them.

Risks associated with the use of contact lenses:

For those who cannot bear to wear glasses for any reason, contact lenses are a blessing. If the contacts are worn as directed, contact lens wearers may symptom-free as long as they have eye exams regularly. Following are some risks which are associated with the use of contact lenses.

 Infections:

People wearing contact lenses are at risk for eye infections. There may be swelling, pain and blurred vision. Excessive tearing may also occur. Consult your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms.

Corneal ulcers:

Damage to the cornea by the virus, bacteria fungi, or a parasite is called a corneal ulcer.  The corneal ulcer is a dangerous eye disease that left untreated can lead to blindness.

Sometimes contact lenses may be responsible for corneal ulcer or corneal injury. This occurs when the contact lenses, especially soft contacts are left in overnight, may cause a corneal ulcer.

Pink Eye:

Pink eye can sometimes result from wearing contact lenses. Since pink eye is caused by viral and bacterial infections and is highly contagious. However, it is not a serious health problem, if you get the right treatment. When you wear contact lenses for a long time, your eyes become red and irritated.

Vision changes:

Visual disturbances may be caused by a variety of underlying diseases or disorders. Some vision problems arise in the eye itself. While other causes of diseases that affect the brain, the central nervous system or other parts of the body. Although many of the diseases that cause vision changes are not serious, and they are easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

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Potato Pancake - Latkes

 Crispy Potato Pancakes 

Ingredients:

• 4 Potatoes
• 1 Egg
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Onion
• 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
• Grounded Pepper to taste
• 2 Cup Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

Cooking Directions:

1. Finely grate the potatoes and onion into a bowl. Drain off any excess water.
2. In a bowl add egg and add salt and pepper. Beat it with the help of fork.
3. Add flour and baking soda in egg bowl and stir with fork.
4. Add potatoes and onion mixture in a egg bowl, stir and mix gently.
5. Add oil in a skillet and heat on medium flame.
6. Spoon 2 tablepoons potato mixture per latke into skillet, spreading into 3-inch rounds with help of fork
7. Fry until one side turn into golden brown.
8. Turn it with help of spatula and fry other side until turn into golden brown.
9. Pre-heat the oven at 350°F and put latkes into oven for 15 minutes.
10. Transfer in plate and serve.

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Waldorf Salad

Waldorf Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup Walnuts, chopped and toasted
• 1/2 Cup Seedless Red Grapes, half sliced
• 1/2 Cup Celery, thinly sliced
• 3 Tablespoons Mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
• 1 Apple, cored and chopped
• Lettuce

Cooking Directions:

1. In a bowl add mayonnaise, lemon juice salt and pepper.
2. Mix all ingredients well.
3. In a bowl add grapes, apple, walnuts and celery.
4. Pour dressing in grapes bowl and fold all ingredient gently.
5. Arrange the lettuce leaves on a large platter, or divide them among 4 salad plates. Place the salad on the lettuce and serve.
   

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Natural Home Remedies for Sore Throat

Natural Ways to Soothe the Sore Throat

A sore throat is a pain or irritation of throat. Infection from bacteria and virus are the main cause of sore throat. Sore throat can be annoying and painful. Common physical symptoms of sore throat may include a dry throat, white patches on the tonsils, swollen glands in the neck, and hoarseness.
Below are simple home remedies for sore throat that will benefit you get started on naturally soothing sore throat, providing the relief you crave.

Keep your Nasal Passage Clear

 

There are many reasons of sore throat, but one common reason relates to post nasal drip. To rid your sore throat that is related to post-nasal drip, you will need to determine why you have post-nasal drip. There are many reasons why someone might have post nasal drip such as illness and allergies.
Once you have determined the cause of drip, then you can easily understand which type of treatment will work for you. Some of the general treatment options include:

• Antibiotics
• Nasal sprays
• Throat lozenges
• Decongestants
• Surgery for severe cases
• Cough syrup

Traditional Saltwater Gargle

When our throats hurt, the cell of mucus membrane has become inflamed and swollen. Gargling with salt water may reduce the swelling. Saltwater shrinks the swallows cells and facilitate the pain. 

• 1 cup of warm water
• ½ teaspoon of salt

Heat water until it is warm. Add salt in warm water and mix. Gargle after every three hours in a day.
Raspberry Tea to Cure an Itching. From raspberry leaf tea you can make a great gargle. To make a mixture, add 1 cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons raspberry tea leaves and stand for 10 minutes. Then strain and gargle with liquid several times a day. Do not drink any fluid you have used as a gargle.

Sage Tea to Cure Sore Throat

Sage tea may also use as a throat gargle.

• 1 cup of boiling water
• 2 teaspoons sage leaves
• 1/4 ounce salt

Pour boil water over sage leaves and keep it for 15 minutes. Then strain, add salt and gargle with liquid as needed.

Gargle with Turmeric

• 1 cup hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Add turmeric and salt in hot water and mix well. Gargle with this liquid twice a day.

Drink Apple Cider Vinegar

Cider vinegar is very useful to treat sore throat. The acidity property of cider vinegar can kill bacteria quite efficiently, and when it mixed with honey, it can soothe the soreness of throat as well. Some doctors still swear that it is surprisingly working wonders.

Method 1:

• 1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 cup of very warm water

Mix the apple cider vinegar and honey in warm water. Drink it while it is still warm.

Method 2:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup warm water

Add salt in the cider vinegar, then mix in 1 cup warm water. Gargle after every 15 minutes as necessary.

Make a Horseradish Cocktail

 

This is one of the oldest fashion Russian sore throat remedy. Following is the simple method to prepare horseradish cocktail to treat your sore throat infection.

• 1 tablespoon pure horseradish (grated) or horseradish root
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

Add horseradish, honey and cloves in one cup warm water. Stir all the ingredients in water and drink slowly.

Use Citrus to Cure Sore Throat

Lemon Juice for Sore Throat:

• 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon honey

Add lemon juice and honey in one cup warm water. Mix them well and sip slowly.

Lime Juice and Sore Throat:

• 1 tablespoon Lime juice
• 1 tablespoon honey

Add lime juice and honey in one cup warm water. Mix and drink.

Keep the Throat Hydrated with Hot Liquids

Especially if you are not good at gargling, keep your throat with hot fluids, such as water, coffee, tea or hot lemonade. Hot liquids lubricate the throat and prevent it from drying out. Hot water is more effective as it coats the tissue in your throat. Warm liquid delivers a benefit similar to applying hot packs to infected skin.

Take Steam to Fight Infection

Steam inhalation is one of old-fashioned remedy for a cold or sore throat. Facial steamers which are easily accessible from the market are appropriate ways to inhale steam. Several scientific studies claimed that steaming can shorten the duration of throat infection. You can also use a traditional method of steaming. Cover your head with a towel and sit over a bowl of steaming water. Steam is also useful to clear the nasal passage.

Drink Cinnamon Tea to Cure Sore Throat

Any type of hot tea can soothe the sore throat, but cinnamon tea can benefit your cold symptoms and it can treat sore throat fast. Boil 2 cup of water and then add 1 inch cinnamon stick. Now strain the mixture and add 1 teaspoon honey and mix well. Drink this liquid several times a day for fast results.

Turmeric to Treat Sore Throat

Turmeric is an herb that keeps incredible medicinal properties. Turmeric acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent and it reduces the swelling caused by sore throat infection. Turmeric when mixed with milk it turns into magically soothing drink to cure throat infection.

• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• A glass of milk

Add turmeric powder and pepper in a glass of hot milk and mix well.

Analgesic for Sore Throat

 

If you are suffering from sore throat pain then acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen can have wonderful effects of throat pain. However, aspirin should not give to the children under the age of 19. Pregnant women should not take the aspirin without their doctor’s advice.

Consume Wheatgrass Juice for Sore Throat

 

Wheatgrass is used to treat the sore throat. Wheatgrass Juice is the best source of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is an antibacterial agent and it uses outside and inside body as a healer. Add freshly prepared wheatgrass juice to warm water and use this liquid for gargling.

Garlic for Sore Throat

Garlic owns the natural properties such as anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial properties. Therefore, it is beneficial in fighting with the bacteria which are responsible for strep throat, throat pain and inflammation. Add a few crushed garlic cloves in warm water and gargle with it.
Consuming garlic tea or raw garlic may help to prevent the attack of the bacterial infection.

Baking Soda to Cure Sore Throat

Calm your sore throat with baking soda. Baking soda is often used as an effective home remedy to calm the sore throats.  Baking soda possesses antibacterial property. It also has an Alkaline PH- which soothes skin irritations such as rashes and bug bites; similarly it will act on the swollen tissues in strep throat.

• 1 cup of very warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 teaspoon baking soda

Take 1 cup warm water, add salt and baking soda, and stir the mixture. Use this liquid for gargling twice time in a day.

Drink Licorice Root Tea

With licorice root tea you can naturally get some relief for strep throat infection. Licorice Root has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties which can relieve you from swelling and irritation, and soothe the mucus membranes of the throat.

• 1 cup chopped dry licorice root
• 1/2 cup cinnamon chips
• 2 tablespoons whole cloves
• 1/2 cup chamomile flowers

Add all ingredients in a bowl. Store in a glass jar and keep it away from light. for tea, add 3 tablespoons of the tea mixture and 2 ½  cups of water in a saucepan. At medium heat, boil this mixture, then reduce heat from medium to low, and after 10 minutes pour into a large mug through strainer.

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• What is Sore Throat - Causes and Symptoms of Sore Throat

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Sore Throat: Get the Facts on Causes and Symptoms

What is Sore Throat?

A sore throat signifies to itchiness, pain, or irritation of the throat. You may feel difficulty in swallowing food and liquids. Throat pain is primary symptoms of the sore throat. But other symptoms are swollen glands in the neck, dry throat, and white patches on the tonsils.

It is one of the common health issues, particularly in winter seasons, when respiratory infections are at the high peak. It can affect the people of all ages, but the risk of sore throat is higher in children, allergy suffers, and smokers.

Causes of Sore Throat

Viral Infection:

Viral infection is one of the common causes of the sore throat. There are several viruses which can lead to cold and upper respiratory infection.  Other types of virus illness include:

• Common cold
• Mononucleosis (mono)
• Flu (influenza)
• Chicken pox
• Measles
• Croup — a common childhood illness

Bacterial infection:

The sore throat also triggers by bacterial infections. Bacterial infections, which cause sore throat include:

• Whooping Cough: disease of the respiratory tract infection of  mucous membrane
• Diphtheria: Infectious disease which causes throat inflammation
• Strep Throat: Swelling of the throat caused by the Streptococcal bacteria

GERD:

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive tract disease which is characterized by the backflow of the stomach acid into the food pipe (esophagus).  GERD may also cause sore throat.

Toxins/Irritants:

Many substances such air pollution, cigarette smoke, and noxious airborne chemicals may also cause sore throat. Medical conditions such as allergies, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), cough, and postnasal drip can cause a sore throat. The intentional or unintentional absorption of certain elements, for example, bleach can cause a sore throat.

Medical Treatment:

Certain medical treatment can such as tonsillectomy, airway management during operation, chemotherapy, antibiotics, or other immune-compromising medications cause a sore throat.

HIV Infection:

A person HIV –positive may have a frequent or chronic sore throat due to secondary infection.
Common problems include oral thrush which is also called fungal infection and cytomegalovirus infection, which is a common viral infection.

Tumors:

Tumors of the tongue, throat or voice box (larynx) can cause a sore throat. Other signs may include difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, noisy breathing, a lump in the neck, blood in the saliva and a lump in the neck.

Symptom of Sore Throat

The Sore throat is a pain in the throat. Symptoms associated with common infectious conditions are included:

• A high temperature (fever)
• Tiredness
• Headache
• aching muscles
• Lack of appetite
• Sneezing
• Chills
• Coughing
• Redness and/or swelling of the back of the throat and tonsils
• White patchy areas on the tonsils
• Swollen / tender lymph nodes in the neck
• Runny nose
• Feeling of unwell

In Young Children:

• Refusing to feed
• High temperature
• Cough
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability
• Frequent crying
• Sneezing
• Diarrhea
• Runny nose
• Tiredness

How to Prevent a Sore Throat?

Following steps you can help you prevent the sore threat.

• Do not share drinking glasses with infected individual.
• Try to avoid close contact with the persons who are infected with the viral infection.
• People who are taking antibiotic for bacterial infections should finish their course of antibiotic to completely reduce the infection and decrease disease.
• Avoid cigarettes smoke, pollution and pollen.
• Stay indoors in high pollen days.
• Use sanitizing cleanser to clean the telephone, television, TV remotes, and computer keyboards.
• Use alcohol based hand sanitizers while soap and water are not accessible.

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• Natural Ways to Cure Sore Throat

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