We are continuously barraged with magazine articles recommending us on how to care for our health, skin, hair, and even our feet, but our eyes receive very little attention. That’s unfortunate, given how much we rely on our vision in our daily lives.
Consider how much your eyes work from the moment you wake up until you close your eyes at night. That is why it is critical to take care of our eyes.
Although taking care of your eyes may appear pointless if you do not have any vision problems, implementing a few simple habits will not only preserve your vision, but will also reduce your chances of developing eye problems in the future.
- Consume a well-balanced diet.
Eating a variety of foods is important for eye health. Consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables, particularly deep yellow and green leafy vegetables, provides vitamins necessary for good eye health. Fish high in Omega 3 fatty acids, such as tuna, salmon, and halibut, also provide important eye vitamins and nutrients.
- Exercise on a regular basis.
Regular exercise can aid in the prevention of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, all of which can lead to chronic eye problems that can impair your vision.
- Wear UVA/UVB-blocking sunglasses.
Sunlight can harm your vision and increase your chances of developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, corneal inflammation (keratitis), or corneal growths like pterygia and pingeculae.
- Limit your time spent in front of digital screens.
Every day, most people spend hours using digital devices such as cell phones, tablets, and laptop computers. These devices emit high-energy blue light waves that can cause long-term eye damage. Supplementing with lutein and zeaxanthin can help your eyes filter blue light.
Keeping your computer screen 20 to 24 inches away from your eyes, as well as adjusting lighting to reduce glare, will also help. Because we blink less when looking at screens, we must make a conscious effort to blink frequently. Finally, take a 20-minute break and focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds to rest your eyes.
- Before touching your eyes, wash your hands.
This is critical for everyone, but especially for people who wear contact lenses. Wash your hands with mild soap and dry them with a lint-free towel before touching your eyes. This is due to the fact that germs and bacteria introduced into your eyes by your fingers can cause eye infections such as pink eye and can even introduce cold and flu viruses into your body.
- Before showering, swimming, or wetting your face, remove your contacts.
While most contact lens wearers are aware that they should not sleep with their contacts on, many are unaware that they should not get their lenses wet. This is due to the fact that your contacts act like a sponge, absorbing bacteria and parasites found in pools, lakes, and shower water, which can cause eye irritation and even severe sight-threatening infections.
- Even the simplest tasks require the use of safety glasses.
While you may not consider yourself as handy as Jonathan Scott and may dislike how you appear in safety glasses, don’t risk your sight by failing to wear eye protection for any DIY home project, no matter how minor. We see eye injuries caused by people doing something as simple as hanging a picture and a piece of a nail or frame breaking off and ending up in their eye. Every day, 2000 Americans suffer on-the-job eye injuries, 90% of which could have been avoided if they had worn protective eyewear. Simply do it!
- Every day, treat your eyes to a warm compress.
The oil glands in our eyelids become clogged with age and do not secrete enough oil into our tear supply. This causes dry eyes. Warm compresses on our lids help to liquify the oil, allowing it to flow freely into our tear supply and keep our eyes lubricated. A warm compress is easy to make: simply wet a clean washcloth with warm water and press it against your eyelids for a minute. Isn’t it simple? Your eyes will appreciate it.
- Quit smoking
Smoking, among other things, harms your health by damaging the blood vessels that supply blood and nutrients to your optic nerve. You are also more likely to develop cataracts and age-related macular degeneration if you smoke.
- Every two years, have a dilated eye exam.
The American Optometric Association recommends that all adults between the ages of 18 and 60 have a comprehensive eye exam every other year. This is critical because some eye diseases have no warning signs.
Regular eye exams, on the other hand, can detect these conditions in their early stages, when they are easier to treat and there is no vision loss. Many eye conditions can be managed or even reversed if detected early.
Taking care of your eyes isn’t all that difficult, and many of these habits are beneficial to your overall health. Isn’t a lifetime of clear vision worth the effort of prevention? We believe so!
Why should you seek eye care from Dr Kamdar Eye Hospital?
Dr Kamdar Eye Hospital’s doctors provide world-class eye care and vision correction, specialising in LASIK, cataract, cornea, retina, and glaucoma treatments. At Dr Kamdar Eye Hospital, you will find cutting-edge medical facilities that combine revolutionary technologies with the most experienced ophthalmologists. Our goal is to assist you in realising your personal best vision.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a consultant, please call or visit Dr Kamdar Eye Hospital.