 Finding a Qualified Optometrist, Ophthalmologist or Optician in Indonesia
As with many referrals of service, we suggest you talk with friends who have gotten prescriptions for glasses filled in Indonesia and ask them who has given them service that they are satisfied with. If you wear prescription eyeglasses, it's recommended that you get your eyes checked every six months. Regular check-ups can help spot potential vision problems, before they develop further.
Talk with your primary care physician in Jakarta, or your medical insurance company, to ask them for a referral to a qualified optometrist, Ophthalmologist or Optician in Indonesia.
Look for an optician that is used to dealing with the exactly requirements of international customers. They'll be more understanding and accommodating for your standards.
Filling your Prescription for Eyeglasses in Indonesia
I f you have a current prescription for glasses, be sure and bring that with you when you move to Indonesia, just in case your glasses are broken during your stay and need to be replaced. Be sure and check with your medical insurance before departure to Indonesia, or with your Indonesian based medical insurance company, to see if they will cover the replacement of glasses during your stay in Indonesia.
You eyeglass provider in Indonesia may keep your records from your previous set of glasses, just check with them. If you forgot to bring your prescription, a well-connected eyeglass provider in Jakarta may ask where you had your last pair of glasses made and contact the previous provider to request the prescription, saving you from having your eyes tested again.
If you have health insurance benefits that you haven't used up in the course of the year, getting a new pair of glasses for yourself of family members is something that may be a good thing to do before the end of the year. A new fashionable pair of glasses can make a great present for Christmas or any special occasion!
When eyeglasses are a fashion statement
Now eyeglasses are considered a fashion item and there are many types of frames to choose from. Some people just change frames to be trendy or have different pairs of glasses to coordinate with various outfits.
Be cautious of inexpensive glasses that you purchase from markets, department stores or off the beach in Bali. They can actually allow the sunlight to harm your eyes if they do not block UV rays. Increased exposure to harsh sunlight is believed to be related to the incidence of cataracts later in life.
Take care of your eyes as they are a very important asset!
Laser surgery is available to people that have very severe minus vision issues. But of course you should be extremely careful to make sure the credentials of the doctor are very good prior to surgery. You will probably wish to conduct this surgery in your home country.
 Don’t Underestimate Your Eye Health
A healthy lifestyle and several preventive measures can help protect your eyes against mild and severe eye problems.
Today’s lifestyle and unhealthy environment cause our eyes to be more susceptible to eye health problems. There are many simple things that can be done to keep your eyes healthy such as: living a healthy lifestyle, watching your food intake, wearing prescription safety glasses, routine examinations, choosing the appropriate contact lenses/glasses, and so forth. Unfortunately, not many people are aware yet of the importance of prevention and first aid in eye problems.
The following are several frequently experienced mild eye problems, as well as the preventions and first aid that can be done to eliminate/prevent their occurrence.
Computer Vision Syndrome
Sitting in front of the computer for too long with a wrong sitting position or sitting too close and too long in front the television can increase the risk of eye problems. Dr. Florence Meilani Manurung, SpM of the Jakarta Eye Center, says that a person who works in front of a computer for long hours, plays computer games without stopping, or reads continuously without resting is prone to experiencing various problems such as tired eyes, watery eyes, blurred vision, dry eyes or headaches. “This condition is called the Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS),” she explains.
This is a syndrome which arises due to excessive work of the eye muscles, which then causes eye weariness, leading to a decline in the eyes’ ability to focus on a new object when vision shifts quickly toward another distant or closer object.
The syndrome experienced may worsen and cause inflammation accompanied by a burning sensation or dry eyes if there is any computer radiation impact. This problem can also happen to computer users with refractive eye disorder, whether it is nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. Especially if the glasses they wear are not right or even worse, if they take their glasses off while spending long hours in front of a computer or television.
Dr. Florence explains that no one is safe from the threat of this eye syndrome. “From children to adults – who are in a habit of spending hours in front of the computer or television – they all have the same risks,” she says.
Preventive Means: “To keep your eyes healthy is not a difficult thing. Everyone can keep their eyes healthy,” says Dr. Florence. When you are in front of a computer, make sure that there is a safe amount of surrounding light in the room. Avoid dazzling light refraction by placing the computer monitor next to the window instead of in front of it. Also, do not sit facing the computer monitor while having your back to the window.
Dazzling light on walls and other objects, shiny surfaces or reflection on computer screen can also cause inflammation to the eyes. Another way to reduce dazzling light is by installing an anti-glare filter on the monitor. Consider also to have white colored walls repainted in a darker color.
For those who have to work in front of a computer, it would be desirable to rest your eyes every hour for at least 10-20 minutes. Once in a while, shift your eyes to another spot that is more distant or a green object such as a garden. “This is important so that you are not continuously focused on the monitor,” says Dr. Florence.
When watching television or reading book, set up sufficient lighting and sit in a position with good posture support.
 Eye irritation caused by dust or exhaust fumes
Dirty outdoor air and dust often triggers irritation to your eyes. The habit of riding on highways without wearing any face mask or safety goggles for instance, may cause the eyes to be more easily exposed to dust and exhaust fumes and may trigger irritation in the eyes, which is often marked by watery, stinging and itching eyes.
Especially in cities with high air pollution, like Jakarta and other major metropolitan centers in Indonesia, this is a concern when your eyes are exposed for long periods to the city smog.
In normal conditions, your eyes have natural mechanisms to prevent this irritation, namely blinking, eyelids closing by reflex and also the eyes produce a fluid the function of which is to clear out foreign objects or dust that invade your eyes. But in certain conditions, such as in old age, eye reflexes are already disturbed and not many tears are produced, causing the eyes to become easily infected. “This risk of eye irritation is greater for those who work outdoors, or in places with a lot of dust, fumes, chemical liquids or gases,” Dr. Florence says.
Preventive means: To protect the eyes against dirty air pollution, dust, as well as direct sunlight exposure which contains ultraviolet radiation, sunglasses are highly recommended to be worn outdoors.
However, if you have impaired vision, consult an ophthalmologist, Optometrist or an optician in order to choose the appropriate sunglasses, because lenses that are able to absorb ultraviolet light come in a wide range of colors, with various absorption levels and are available in assorted designs and frames.
Red Eye
Another eye problem which frequently occurs and is caused by environmental factors is red eye, which is often called conjunctivitis (an inflammation of the outer membrane of the eye). The primary characteristic of this disorder is red colored eyes, with reduced visual acuity. There are many causes of conjunctivitis: allergies, eye trauma (collision or getting poked in the eye), viral and bacterial infections.
Red eyes caused by allergies are usually marked by intense itching, watering eyes, and swelling of the lining of the eye. Allergens which often trigger red eye include seasonal pollen, animal waste, dust, pollen and molds.
For red eyes caused by virus, the common symptoms are watering eyes, swelling of the eyelids and sometimes accompanied by feeling dazzled or painful when looking at a bright light or the sun. However, this virus-induced red eye usually disappears on its own 7 to 10 days after the symptoms first occur.
When red eye conditions are caused by bacteria, the occurring symptoms can include: eye pain, swelling, redness, and a moderate to large amount of greenish or yellow colored discharge. The discharge in this bacteria-induced red eye commonly accumulates after sleeping. When children are affected, their eyes are usually stuck shut and covered with dried discharge when waking up.
Conjunctivitis spreads easily. The main cause is when a person suffering from it has a direct contact with bacteria, virus or mold, primarily environmental factors.
Preventive means: In order to prevent red eye contamination, it is recommended that people not haphazardly touch certain objects in public places, especially when there is someone suffering red eye within the immediate environment. Maintaining personal hygiene by frequent hand washing or not rubbing the eyes while conducting activities outdoor are other highly recommended efforts of prevention.
To get rid of the discharge that sticks on bacteria-induced red eye in the morning, wipe your eyes with a warm towel slowly and repeatedly or use eye drops that contain antibiotics, which can be purchased in pharmacies or prescribed by a doctor.
Another simple step that is also important in order to keep your eyes healthy is to have a periodical eye examination once every 6 months for children or once to twice a year for adults, because prevention is always easier than curing eye conditions or diseases.
Nutrition and Good Eye Health
 In addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, as well as consuming antioxidant-rich food sources (vitamin A, C, and E), including yellow to orange-colored fruits, it is also important to maintain good eye health. Other compounds also known to be useful for increasing eye health are lutein, a yellow-colored carotenoid compound, commonly found green vegetables and yellowish fruits, zeaxanthin (found in turnip greens, cabbages, sword beans, broccoli, pumpkin, and corn) as well as astaxanthin (algae and seafood).
Research conducted by Chitchumroonchokchai and colleagues at the Ohio State University in 2004 shows that lutein and zeaxanthin can protect human lens cells against ultraviolet exposure, which serves as the primary cause of cataracts.
Other than that, the research also attempted to compare the antioxidant activities of lutein and zeaxanthin to vitamin E. The results show that lutein and zeaxanthin are 10 times more effective than vitamin E in protecting lens cells against damage caused by ultraviolet light.
Tips on How to Maintain Eye Health
Prevent eye diseases with routine examinations
 Live a healthy lifestyle by consuming balanced nutritious foods. Increase intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables (vitamin A, C, and E).- When conducting outdoor activities, protect your eyes with sunglasses. When working with computers, make sure that the monitor screen uses a filter to ward off computer radiation. Rest the eyes after spending 30-60 minutes in front of a computer.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes roughly and excessively.
- Use sufficient lighting when working or reading indoors.
- To reduce eye fatigue, do simple eye exercises and shift your eyes between objects that are located far away and very close. You can exercise the eye muscles by alternately moving the eyeballs in a circular motion to the right and left.
- Reduce exposure of your eyes to cigarette smoke and environment pollutants
- Reduce the duration of television watching.
- Use eye drops when your eyes become red, dry, and tired.
This article was contributed by Paris Miki Indonesia and translated by Mr. Achmad Kholil. |
