What is some practical eye care advice?

Although all of our senses are uniquely important to us, many people agree that they rely on their sight more than any other. Being able to see clearly helps us work, enjoy recreational activities and goes a long way towards keeping us safe from danger. Nevertheless, many of us take our eyesight for granted and don’t pay particular attention to the health of our eyes until we find that we are experiencing problems and our vision is compromised. Since our eyes rarely cause us to experience pain, many of the eye-related problems that we do experience can be easily overlooked, or eye appointments postponed indefinitely as we can just adapt or manage. However, any symptoms of a potential problem with your eyesight should not be ignored. While the issues may not seem severe at first, leaving them untreated could severely compromise your eyesight or may even lead to you losing your vision permanently.

There are many different health problems that can affect our eyesight, from common issues like near or far-sightedness to more serious conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Fortunately, there are things that you can to minimize the risk of developing these conditions and more. Here is some practical eye care advice that will help keep your eyes healthy and your vision as clear as possible.

Eat for eye health

It is not just our overall health and wellbeing that can benefit from eating the right foods. There are also certain types of food that can have a direct impact on a specific part of our body. Some nutrients have been identified as having a particularly positive effect on our eyesight and that could potentially help prevent the development of certain conditions including macular degeneration and cataracts. Zinc, Luterin, Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C & E have been shown to be beneficial for eye health, and these can be found in a range of produce including:

- Dark, leafy vegetables including kale and spinach

- Non-meat sources of protein such as beans, eggs and nuts

- Oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits and juices

- Oysters

- Pork

- Salmon, tuna and other varieties of oily fish

If you suffer from diabetes, you could potentially develop an ocular health disease known as diabetic retinopathy that could compromise your vision. However, eating healthily could help keep your weight stable and prevent obesity-related conditions such as diabetes from occurring.

Quit smoking!

We all know that smoking is bad for our health. Unfortunately, many of us do it anyway. However, what many of us don’t realize is that smoking isn’t just bad for our lungs and heart, it can also have a negative effect on a multitude of other body functions, including our eyesight. Research has indicated that people who smoke are more likely to suffer from cataracts and macular degeneration. These conditions also develop much faster and earlier among smokers. Do your body and eyesight a favor and find out about your local Stop Smoking program or visit your doctor to find out what help is available today.

Use protection!

Our eyes are much more delicate that we appreciate and in order to keep them healthy and functioning well we need to protect them from danger. There are many different things that can damage our eyes and eyesight, from rays from the sun and exposure to chemicals to direct trauma caused by an accident or injury. Protective eyewear should be worn whenever there is a chance that our eyes might be at risk. This includes wearing sunglasses to protect our eyes from UVA/UVB rays, and safety goggles for activities such as woodworking or welding, or for playing fast ball sports.

Limit screen time

Do you spend hours working on a computer or laptop? How much time do you spend looking at your smartphone? Studies show that we are spending an increasing amount of time looking at screens year or year, but this isn’t good news for the health of our eyes. Blurred vision, headaches and migraines, dry eyes and even an increase in the number of patients with refractive vision problems are all largely attributed to this prolonged use of screens. However, by limiting screen time and taking regular breaks when we have to use them for prolonged periods, we can reduce the likelihood of experiencing these problems.

Visit your optician regularly

Your optician is your best support when it comes to the health of your eyes. Not only can they tell you if you need prescription glasses or contact lenses, but they can also monitor the health of your eyes. With their unique training and experience, your optician will be able to spot any potential problems early so that treatment can be provided before irreversible damage occurs.

Need more practical eye care advice or want to arrange an appointment? Please contact our White Plains, NY office as we would be delighted to help.