Your sight is one of the most important senses you have, which is why it is vital to provide your eyes with the best care. No matter what age you are, make sure you take proper measures to ensure your eyes stay healthy for life. There are many ways you can provide yourself with the best eye care. Here are 4 ways:
Visit your optometrist regularly:
It is recommended you visit an optometrist every 1-2 years for regular eye checkups. Even if you think your vision is excellent, many eye-related conditions are slow and progressive, which is why an optometrist is trained to detect any issues early on. Diseases of the eye include cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma. If caught early, there is a much higher chance of successfully treating and managing the disease. Apart from eye diseases, your optometrist will also be able to detect if you need glasses for long or short distance purposes. This can greatly increase your quality of life by ensuring your vision is performing at its best.
Shade your eyes from the sun:
The sun is great for many things but not so great for your eyes. Overexposure to the sun can cause eye diseases such as cataracts. When out in the sun, make sure you wear UV blocking sunglasses, which blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Not only can they help protect your eyes but also help reduce the formation of wrinkles.
Maintain good hygiene:
Avoid touching your eyes unnecessarily. If you need to touch your eyes, make sure your hands are clean and sanitised. This especially applies when you are wearing contact lenses, to avoid bacteria and germs entering the eye and causing infections. Always try to avoid rubbing your eyes, too, as this can cause scratches on the cornea and other issues.
Adopt healthy practices:
Make sure you eat a healthy and nutritious diet to help support your eye health. Some important vitamins and nutrition that is valuable for eye health include
- Vitamin A - found in yellow and red vegetables and fruits, eggs and dark leafy greens
- Omega 3 - found in fatty fish such as salmon
- Vitamin E - found in avocados, nuts and seeds
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin - found in collard greens and kale
In addition to a healthy diet, regular exercise is important for eye health as it can prevent diseases such as diabetes. Diseases such as diabetes are known to cause issues with eyes.
These are 4 ways you can start supporting your eye health. Your eyes are precious, so it is important you take the best care of them. For more tips, contact a local optometrist.
