While we use all of our senses in our day-to-day lives, there is one that we rely on more than any other – our eyesight. Unfortunately, our sight is something that is very easy to take for granted, even if we need to use prescriptive eyewear. Many of us fail to realize that if our eyes are unhealthy, our vision will be significantly compromised. Therefore, it is important that we are just as committed to the health of our eyes as we are to the health and wellbeing of the rest of our body.
To help you keep your eyes in the best possible condition, here are our top practical tips for taking care of your eyes.
Eating for eye health
Did you know that what you eat can affect the health of your peepers? While many children are told that carrots can help them see in the dark, there are actually a variety of foods that can boost your eye health and support your vision. These include:
- Avocado
- Eggs, nuts and other non-meat proteins
- Brightly-colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, peppers, kiwi and blueberries
- Citrus fruits and juices
- Green, leafy vegetables including kale, spinach and sprouts
- Pork
- Oysters and seafood
- Salmon, tuna and other oily fish
Limit your screen time
For many people, screens dominate their lives, whether it is a laptop, a smart phone or a tablet. Unfortunately, prolonged time spent staring at a screen isn’t good for our eyes, triggering headaches and migraines as well as eye strain. Repeatedly looking at something in close proximity to your face has also been shown to contribute towards a refractive eye condition called myopia which is characterized by good near-vision but a difficulty seeing things that are further away, such as road signs.
Eye doctors strongly recommend that you limit the amount of screen time you have, or, if this is not an option, you at least take regular breaks from looking at the screen. Every half hour, get up and get away from your desk, even for just 5 minutes, so that your eyes can refocus on objects further away from you.
Protect your eyes
Your eyes are very delicate and often we don’t give them the care that they deserve. UV light is one of the biggest contributors to eye health problems, since the delicate tissues of our eyes can be just as affected by UV damage as our skin can. This means that excessive exposure to sunlight can cause issues such as cataracts, macular degeneration and even some cancers. Fortunately, you can purchase sunglasses which offer 100% UV protection and by wearing these when the sun is shining, you can help keep your eyes safe and healthy.
You should also make sure that you wear protective eyewear in certain situations where your eyes might otherwise be at risk. This could include in work or home environments, such as when welding, mowing the lawn or doing woodwork, or when participating in sports such as swimming or cycling.
Quit smoking
This is probably the hardest thing for many people, but giving up smoking really can benefit your vision as well as your overall health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that smokers are significantly more likely to develop eye problems including macular degeneration and cataracts which are leading causes of vision loss. If you can’t give up, at the very least try and cut down as much as you can.
Scheduling regular eye exams is important for overall eye health. Contact Grin Eye Care to schedule your eye exam appointment today.
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