Out of the five basic senses, the sense of sight is an easy one to neglect. Many people leave it until they notice a change or feel discomfort before seeking help. However, by taking preventative measures you can reduce the risk of serious eye issues. Here are 7 top tips to keep your eyes healthy.
Regular Eye Tests
One of the best ways to protect your vision is to attend regular eye examinations. No one can tell you more about the condition of your eyes than an optometrist. They can detect deterioration and abnormalities, even if you cannot. Loss of vision and blindness can occur if serious conditions are left unattended. By booking in a routine eye test, you can spot changes and treat them early.
Wear Reading Sunglasses
Whether you love to read by the pool when you are on holiday or you enjoy a spot of gardening in the sun, protecting your eyes from sun exposure is a must. Most people own a favourite pair of shades, but if you need glasses to see clearer then reading sunglasses are a necessity. Just-glasses.co.uk offer a selection of UVA-UVB blocking sunglasses which look great and reduce eye strain.
Reduce Your Screen Time
As more and more people find themselves working from home, it is more important than ever to be conscious of the amount of time you look at a screen. Staring at a mobile phone or a computer screen for long periods of time can blur your vision and give you eye strain. Excessive screen time can also cause dry eyes, headaches and upper body pains. You can tackle eye strain by following the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds, you should divert your attention to something 20 feet away.
Use Protective Eye Gear
Following on from the previous tip, staring at a digital screen can expose you to blue light which in turn can damage the retina, cause eye strain and even affect your sleep. Some people choose to combat this by using glasses that are specially designed to block out blue light. Besides blue light, physical eye injuries can be caused in the workplace or when pursuing a hobby. Wearing protective sports gear can help reduce this risk and using safety glasses can prevent foreign materials from entering your eyes at work.
Do Not Smoke
It is a fact that smoking is bad for your health, but many may not realize that it is directly linked to eye health too. Research shows smokers are more likely to develop cataracts, and there are studies that link smoking to incurable diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Eat Well
A poor diet not only affects your physical wellbeing, it can also have a detrimental effect on your eye health. A balanced diet filled with fresh fruit and vegetables can provide a plethora of vitamins that are beneficial to your eyesight. Not only can eating well decrease your likelihood of getting type 2 diabetes (a leading cause of blindness), healthy levels of zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E can reduce your chance of developing cataracts and AMD.
Keep Your Hands Clean
Your own hands can be the cause of painful eye infections. Rubbing your eyes with dirty hands can transfer bacteria directly onto your eye’s surface. This can lead to nasty results such as corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis (pink eye). The simple act of washing your hands with soap and drying them properly can reduce this risk.
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