Many people experience problems with their eyesight, especially as they get older, as eyesight deterioration is a common part of the ageing process.
Some eye problems can be corrected with contact lenses, glasses, or laser treatment, while other issues require extensive surgery.
Thankfully, we can take steps to protect our eyesight so as to delay or prevent any problems with our eyes in the future.
Consider the following. By taking these steps, you will protect your eyes from damage and disease, and you will maintain good eyesight for longer.
#1: Eat vision-healthy foods
You already know the importance of a healthy diet. When you get your essential vitamins and nutrients, you will protect all aspects of your health and reduce the risk of illnesses and infections.
A healthy diet is especially good for your eyesight. Dark leafy greens, including spinach and kale, contain antioxidants that can prevent cataracts, for example.
Foods that are rich in Vitamin A can be particularly good for your eyes, not only in terms of general eye health but because they can keep your eyes moist and prevent dry eye. Such foods include carrots, sweet potatoes and apricots.
Fruits and veggies that contain Vitamin C can also be recommended as they contain antioxidants that can prevent or delay age-related macular degeneration.
Check out this list of vision-healthy foods and incorporate them into your diet.
#2: Wear sunglasses on sunny days
Many of us wear sunglasses as fashion accessories, even on days that aren’t sunny. And that’s fine – if something makes you look good, wear whatever you please.
But beyond looking cool and trendy when walking around town, it’s especially important to wear UV- protective sunglasses when it is sunny outdoors. You will know this already, of course, but some people neglect to wear sunglasses and as a consequence, they risk damaging their eyes.
The powerful UV rays of the sun can increase the risk of corneal problems, cataracts, and macular degeneration in those people who aren’t properly protected. So, when you’re outdoors and the sun is shining, do more than lather yourself with sun lotions. Shop online for sunglasses for men or women and remember to purchase a pair of protective sunglasses for your children too.
#3: Wear eye protection
Sunglasses can protect your eyes when out in the sun but there may be times when you need to wear other forms of eye protection, such as safety glasses or goggles when at work or at home.
You might wear eye protection when painting your room, for example, as you will protect your eyes from paint spills that could burn and cause severe damage to your eyes. You might also wear protective eyewear when doing any other kind of work in your house where there is a risk of chemicals or debris entering your eyes.
You will already know the importance of eye protection if your job demands it as your employer will have gone through health and safety rules with you. Be sure to follow their instructions as they are unlikely to be held liable for any damage to your eyes if you have gone against the rules they have given to you.
#4: Manage your weight
Obesity can lead to a range of health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Obesity can also lead to diabetes and other health disorders that can lead to glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and even vision loss.
As such, you should do what you can to manage your weight, such as taking part in regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. You should also visit your doctor as they will let you know what a ‘healthy weight’ is for somebody in your particular situation.
#5: Regularly visit your eye doctor
You should regularly visit your eye doctor even if you think your eyesight is fine. If they decide everything is okay with your eyesight, then great! But if they do detect any problems that could one day affect your vision, they may be able to take preventive measures to protect your sight from long-term damage.
It’s important to know that an eye exam doesn’t only flag issues directly related to long or short-sightedness. Other health problems can be detected, some of which can directly impact your vision, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
So, while you should definitely visit your eye doctor if you are having problems focusing your eyes, you should still make an appointment to see them at least once every 2 years.
#6: Regularly rest your eyes
If you work in front of a computer screen all day, you should give your whole body a break, by regularly moving away from your desk and engaging in a little bit of exercise.
This will also give you an opportunity to rest your eyes. It’s important to do so as too much time in front of a computer screen (or a TV or smartphone) can lead to dry and irritable eyes that can blur your vision. These issues are only temporary but it’s still wise to take precautions for your own comfort and general safety.
You should also rest your eyes when at your desk. The National Eye Institute recommend the 20-20-20 rule. So, for every 20 minutes you spend looking at your screen, you should look at something that is 20 feet in front of you for at least 20 seconds.
Remember to blink as well. This is something many of us forget to do when we’re working on a laptop or desktop computer as we are too focussed on the screen in front of us. If we don’t blink, we could experience dry issues or corneal swelling. So, be mindful of this when working and get into the habit of regular blinking if this is something you forget to do.
#7: Exercise your eyes
You already know it’s important to exercise your body as you can alleviate the risk of sedentary health problems when you do something to keep fit on a daily basis. But did you know you can also exercise your eyes?
Eye exercises can help with focusing issues and eyestrain and they can protect the health of your eyes. They can’t cure vision problems – you might still need to wear corrective lenses – but by caring for your eye health, you may delay the onset of eyesight problems.
Check out these eye exercises for a few examples and then look online for other techniques that could protect your vision.
#8: Be hygienic
To protect your eyes from both short and long-term issues, you should practice good eye hygiene. By this, we mean washing your hands before inserting your contact lenses and wiping away any eye makeup before bedtime.
By taking such steps, you will alleviate the risk of an eye infection that could lead to inflammation and other problems within your eyes.
Finally
Never take your eyesight for granted! Sure, you may be able to see perfectly well at the moment but if you don’t take steps to protect your eyesight, you may experience vision problems at some point in the future.
So, keep our suggestions in mind. By following these good practice tips, you will do much to care for your eyes. Be sure to share these tips with your other family members too as you will do much to protect their vision too.
Do you have any other tips that our readers might find useful? If so, share your suggestions by posting a comment below.
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