Our eyesight is an amazing and wonderful thing. The intricate and complex nature of our eyes should be enough to make us not take them for granted. In an average life, we will view 24 million different images. Ensure you maintain excellent vision with these quick and easy eye health tips.
#1 Eat a balanced diet
A healthy, balanced diet is essential for maintaining optimum eye health. Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamin C and E have been proven to help stave of vision problems which are age related including macular degeneration and cataracts. These vital nutrients can be found in green, leafy vegetables such spinach and kale, salmon, mackerel and other oily fish, eggs, nuts, beans and pulses, oranges and other citrus fruits. By eating a well-balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight , this decreases your risk of type 2 diabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults. Having diabetes also increases your risk for glaucoma and cataracts.
#2 Stop Smoking
If you want to ensure that your eyes are given the best chance at staying healthy then kick the habit. Smoking has been linked to a number degenerative eye problems including cataracts, macular degeneration and optic nerve damage. A cataract is the clouding of the lens within our eyes which can cause blurred vision and is the most common cause of blindness in the world. If you have tried to stop smoking and failed in the past, give it another shot as it could save you problem with your eyes in the future.
#3 Wear Sun Protective Eyewear
Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. If our eyes are overexposed to UV rays then this increases our risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. In this day and age of fashion-conscious folk, we often want to opt for the more stylish choice. With numerous luxury eyewear brands producing sophisticated glasses, you won’t have to compromise on style or safety. When choosing your sunglasses, make sure they have the ability to block 99% to 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays.
If you are a contact wearer then you can buy lenses which have UV protection. There are two types available including one for harsh sunlight such as on the beach. However, large-wrap around sunglasses which protect both your eyelids and eye surface from UV are the best option when exposed to intense sunlight for prolonged periods.
#4 Take regular breaks from your screen
If you work at or regularly use a computer then this can seriously strain your eyes as we blink a lot less frequently than the rest of the time. Studies have showed that almost 90% of people that use a computer for at least 3 hours a day suffer from some type of visual impairment or problem, which in turn leads to dry, itchy eyes. To avoid eyestrain, blurry vision, focusing difficulties, headaches and dry eyes, then look up from your screen every 20 minutes for at least 10 seconds and take a 15 minute break every couple of hours.
#5 Get a yearly Eye Test
In order for any eye problems to be detected early a yearly eye test is essential. Everyone, including children should have their eyes frequently examined. By having a regular check-up, this will ensure that you are seeing at your best. As we age, our risk for some eye diseases increases and as there are some vision problems which have no obvious symptoms. Therefore it is vital that you get a regular eye test in order to catch anything early.
