Keep An Eye On It: Top Tips For Keeping Your Eyes Healthy
Good vision impacts all aspects of your daily life. While you can’t control your sight, there are ways to help manage and support your eyes to perform at their best. Make sure you attend all of your eye appointments with your optician, as they will not only check your eyesight but also monitor the health of your eyes with exams and scans. In addition, if you notice any changes, pain or something that concerns you, then make sure you contact a medical professional. That being said, there are some lifestyle factors in your control that you can abide by to aid in maintaining the health of your eyes. Keep reading for some of our top tips!
Monitor Your Screen Time
Indeed, this is easier said than done, especially if you work a job that requires you to be on a computer. However, this is something that you can control when you get home from the working day.
The blue light that’s emitted from screens can be damaging for your eyes over time; therefore, it’s a good idea to take breaks when you can. As opposed to watching television or being on your phone, you could opt to read a book or head out for a walk.
When using your devices, make sure that you blink frequently to retain the moisture in your eyes, take regular breaks, adjust the brightness so that there’s not too much of glare and try to keep the top of your screen just below the level of your eyes.
Watch Your Diet
We all know that consuming a healthy and balanced diet is great for your physical health, and your eyes are part of that. This means eating foods that are high in vitamins (particularly A and C), taking beneficial supplements like CBD capsules and plenty of vegetables and fish. Fatty fish containing omega-3 fatty acids are particularly good as they help to support the health of the macula in the eye, which is linked to your central vision.
If you don’t consume enough vitamins and antioxidants, this can lead to free radicals harming your eyes. Also, this can be the case if you consume too much saturated fats, alcohol and high sugars, as it can constrict the blood flow to the arteries in your eyes. If you’re concerned or need advice about your diet, then you should contact a medical professional for more information.
Maintain Good Hygiene
Maintaining good hygiene habits is key to your overall health and your eyes are no exception to this rule. Washing your hands for thirty seconds with antibacterial soap regularly throughout the day is a good idea. This is especially relevant for people who wear contact lenses, as if you don’t remove the bacteria from your hands before putting them in, it can cause infections.
One common infection is conjunctivitis (which is also referred to as pink eye). One of the leading causes of bacterial conjunctivitis is germs getting into your eyes through unwashed hands. This can also cause you to catch cold viruses.
The symptoms of conjunctivitis include soreness and redness of the eyes, itchiness and leaking of pus and water. We think you’ll agree that this doesn’t sound like much fun! If you’re worried about your symptoms, then contact a medical professional as you may need eye drops. They will check the health of your eyes and make a decision. To help avoid infections like this, regularly wash your hands and avoid touching your face and eyes.
Invest In Sunglasses
Another way to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV rays) is to invest in a good pair of sunglasses. This is especially vital if you live in a sunny place, but it’s just as important to protect your eyes if you go on holiday to a hot and sunny country.
Select a pair of sunglasses that offers UVB and UVA protection. You can purchase these types of sunglasses from opticians, and this can be a good idea as they will be able to answer any specific questions that you may have.
If you wear glasses, then you can also purchase them with built-in UV protection. This is good as your eyes can be affected by the sun on cloudy days and even through windows. In case you spend a good deal of time outside, then this could be something for you to consider. For extra protection against UV rays, you could wear a hat with a brim wide enough to cover your eyes and the sides of your face.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking can cause you a whole host of health issues, such as lung disease, diabetes, some cancers and more. But what you might not be aware of is that smoking can increase your risk of eye conditions. This is because smoking causes your eyes to be exposed to oxidative stress. If you already smoke, then it’s a good idea for your overall health and wellbeing to stop the habit. This is easier said than done; therefore, asking for help from a medical professional will be able to give you the tools that you need to get started.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising regularly is one of the best lifestyle changes that you can make to your routine. There are plenty of different options to choose from, which is ideal because everyone has a different level of fitness. Some popular choices include walking, running, weightlifting, yoga and rock climbing. Exercise can lift your mood and help to prevent a wide range of diseases, as well supporting the health of your eyes. So, get moving!
Final Thoughts
There you have it – some top tips for keeping your eyes healthy and happy. Not only will the tips on our list help to maintain the health of your eyes, but they also support your overall healthy lifestyle. Remember, if you’re ever concerned about your eyes or you notice changes, then contact your doctor/optician, who can give you advice and provide you with medication if you need it.
