Eye Care 101: Tips for Healthy Eyesight
Your eyes help you to enjoy the world around you. Some people also learn more from the various visual stimuli presented to them.
That’s why eye care should be part of one’s lifestyle. It should be preventative rather than taking action only when your eyesight starts to degenerate.
Here are some tips that you can follow for you to have healthy eyesight.
1. Limit Screen Time
The world at present can only be described as people whose eyes are constantly glued to their iPhone screens or computer screens. Psychologists are even warning against the negative effects of too much screen time on one’s cognitive and emotional functions.
Aside from these issues arising from too much screen dependency, your eyesight could also suffer a lot with this practice. Staring at the screen for long periods can lead to eyestrain.
That’s why it’s important to rest your eyes now and then when staring at screens. The 20-20-20 rule is an excellent practice to ensure that your eyes get adequate rest.
Another effective way to minimize screen time is not to bring any gadgets to your bedroom. Your last exposure to any gadgets or screen should at least be one hour before you doze off.
Sleeping without your phone nearby can prevent you from developing blurry vision or other eye problems. Keeping your phone out of reach at bedtime can also help you have better sleep.
2. Ditch Smoking
Giving up smoking is one healthy lifestyle change that can benefit you in many ways. One of its advantages is to keep your eyes healthy.
Smoking can increase your risks for cataracts, macular degeneration, and damage to the optic nerve.
Once you feel the urge to light a cigarette, distract yourself with more productive things. Tend to your garden, go for light exercise (dancing or cleaning the house counts), or pamper yourself with a massage.
3. Be Proactive with Your Diet
Being proactive with what you eat goes a long way to achieving excellent general health. Some even take the extra step of working with a nutritionist or dietitian to ensure that they’re getting the most from what they put on their plates.
For excellent eye health, the combination is simple. Lutein sources such as spinach and kale and fish rich in Omega-3 like salmon and tuna help to achieve good vision.
You can try your cooking skills and come up with fresh recipes where you can incorporate the abovementioned foods. You can also add to your list (and to your fridge) items like oysters, poultry, and lean meat that are all rich in zinc and are all good for your eyes.
4. Know Your Eye Experts
Your eyes deserve medical care like the rest of your body. Check the best eye clinics according to what you need.
If you only need general eye care, it’s best to schedule an appointment with an optometrist. It’s a different thing, though, when you have serious eye problems (like glaucoma or cataracts) that only an ophthalmologist can address.
Thinking of getting a pair of glasses or some contact lenses? A dependable optician can help you decide on the best choice.
5. Protect Yourself Along with Your Eyes
- Some jobs may expose your eyes to debris or hazardous airborne materials. Welders, construction workers, and renovation contractors should wear protective eyewear when they are on their jobs.
- Frequent handwashing isn’t only to prevent viruses and bacteria. It’s also an effective measure to prevent eye infections.
- Remember to wear eye protection when participating in sports like ice hockey, lacrosse, or racquetball. When swimming, it’s best to wear goggles to protect your eyes from the pool’s chemicals.
Having healthy eyesight isn’t automatic. You must work hard to maintain your vision even as you advance in age.
Do you have an eye care habit that we haven’t included in our list? We would love to hear your suggestions.
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