How Do I Maintain Healthy Vision?
Maintaining healthy vision is more than having a regular eye examination. Your overall health can impact your eye health.
Here are 6 tips for maintaining good eyesight.
Eat the Right Foods
Fill your plate with foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E. These nutrients may help lower your chance of developing macular degeneration or cataracts. Green veggies, nuts and seeds, salmon, eggs and citrus fruits are a great place to start!
A healthy diet also decreases your chance of diabetes, which is one of the leading causes of blindness.
Use Protective Eyewear
Whether you’re on the job, working on a home improvement project, or playing footy with the neighborhood, always wear protective eyewear or safety glasses to avoid the risk of anything making contact with your eyes.
Always Wear Sunglasses
Don’t just use the free pair of shades you picked up at a concert. Invest in a decent pair that will actually protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays. Too much UV exposure increases your chances of cataracts.
Throw Away Old Makeup
- Did you know bacteria grows fast in liquid makeup?
- Replace your products every 3 months to avoid developing an eye infection.
- Never share cosmetics with others and avoid the store samples.
- Always clean your face before and after using makeup.
Take Frequent Screen Breaks
- When you stare at a computer, tablet or phone screen too long, you may experience eyestrain, dry eyes, neck and shoulder pain, and headaches. To avoid these things you should:
- Take a screen break every 20 minutes
- Find a supportive chair and make sure your screen is eye level
- Keep your glasses/contacts prescription up to date and suitable for staring at screens
- Remember to blink!
Get Regular Eye Examinations
Everyone should be getting eye examinations on a regular basis.
Here are some things you might expect during a comprehensive eye exam:
- A review of your health and family history of eye disease, like glaucoma or macular degeneration
- Vision testing
- A dilated eye exam to check the retina and optic nerve
- A refraction test to determine the sharpness of your near and distance vision
Anyone with symptoms or a family history of eye disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure should see an ophthalmologist to determine how frequently your eyes should be examined.
