Expert Tips on How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
Your eyes help you navigate nearly every aspect of your day. Vision loss can impact nearly every aspect of your life, making it more difficult to complete once simple tasks. Routine TLC can reduce your risk of eye strain, infections, dry eye, age-related vision problems, and more.
Follow these tips from EyeCare Associates to keep your eyes healthy.
Wear UV Blocking Sunglasses
Regardless of the season or weather condition, be sure to wear sunglasses. Sunglasses help protect your eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
UV light exposure increases your risk of developing cataracts, which can impact your vision and require surgery to remove. Sunglasses also help shield the skin around your eyes from sunlight, which can help to delay wrinkles forming around your eyes.
When shopping for sunglasses, look for ones that have 99 to 100% protection from both UVA and UVB light.
Practice Proper Eye Hygiene
The viruses and bacteria that cause pink eye and other infections are contagious and can be spread easily. Remembering to follow proper hygiene can help you to lower your risk of potentially harmful eye infections. Eye care professionals recommend you avoid rubbing your eyes and encourage you to wash your hands before touching your eyes. Contact lens wearers should follow their lens care instructions to reduce the risk of eye infections or injuries caused by their contacts. Don’t share anything used on your eyes, such as eye makeup or washcloths.
Spend Some Time Off Screen
Giving your eyes a break from digital device screens can be difficult, especially if your job requires you to spend hours every day staring at a computer screen. Make the 20-20-20 rule a routine: Every 20 minutes, look up from your computer and focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will help your eyes relax, reducing your risk of painful eye strain.
Have a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is good for your body’s overall health. Try to eat at least 1 ½ to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables per day.
Try to eat foods rich in Vitamin A, as they can help improve your eye's health. Typically, these foods are deep orange or dark green in color. Carrots and spinach are great examples of vegetables loaded with vitamin A.
Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables are also good for your eyes. Kale, a dark green leafy vegetable, is rich in antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants can help lower your risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
Salmon and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may also help to prevent age-related eye problems.
Make Dilated Eye Exams A Routine
Everyone should make it a routine to get a comprehensive eye exam, even if you don’t wear glasses. Comprehensive eye exams help your doctor identify and treat any potentially harmful eye conditions. This is especially important for those with a family history of health conditions that can cause vision loss, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Those over the age of 40 should get an eye exam at least once a year to screen for age-related vision problems like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. The frequency of appointments can change depending on various health factors, so be sure to ask your eye doctor what they recommend for you.
During the eye exam, your eye doctor will put drops in your eyes to temporarily dilate your pupils. This makes it easier for them to evaluate your eye’s overall health and identify any early signs of vision problems.
Schedule an Eye Exam Today
Start improving your eye’s health with a comprehensive eye exam at your local EyeCare Associates. Our skilled team of optometrists and eye care professionals will work with you to identify and treat any harmful eye conditions.
To begin scheduling an eye exam, find a location near you.