Do you know what it takes to maintain your eye health as you age? Have you been to the eye doctor recently? You now have a wake up call if the eye doctor hasn’t seen you lately.
The best advice in eye care is to have regular eye exams. Especially if you’ve reached the age of 40, your eyes need more attention than ever before. Various diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, can have a very negative impact on vision. Regular examinations will ensure eye health is protected.
Always wash your hands before you touch your eyes. Your fingers are covered with bacteria because your hands touch surfaces that other people have touched. If you touch your eyes without washing your hands, you will transfer bacteria to your eyes and cause irritation or even an infection. Therefore, before touching your eyes, wash your hands with soap and water.
If you work in front of the computer all day long, you should rest your eyes frequently. Your eyes tend not to blink when you are staring at the computer screen. This can cause dry eyes and other eye stress. Look away every ten minutes or so and blink to rest your eyes.
Drink plenty of water to keep your eyes hydrated. Your eyes are made mostly of water, and they need to stay moist at all times to remain healthy. Dry eyes are more prone to eye problems and diseases. Keeping your body fully hydrated will ensure that your eyes stay moisturized.
Include as many fruits and vegetables as possible in your diet; especially carrots and sweet potatoes which provide beta carotene (Vitamin A). Salmon is high in Omega 3’s and broccoli, brussels sprouts and bell peppers are good sources of Vitamin C. These anti oxidants can help prevent macular degeneration and blindness.
If you work in an environment where particles or objects may become airborne, wear safety goggles. Though many construction sites require them, other professions may not. Look around at your work environment. Consider how the various objects may encounter your eyes. If you perceive potential danger, purchase a pair of safety glasses.
Don’t smoke. Along with other things, smoking can really damage your eyes. It can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, and optic nerve damage. Not only that, but it is harmful in other ways to other areas of your body. If you are having a hard time quitting smoking, keep trying, it will be worth it when you are successful.
If you suffer from dry eyes, this can be painful. You may want to try a high quality saline drop. In addition, little things, such as blinking, can increase tear production. Try to avoid using products that are filled with chemicals. Over time, these may actually worsen your dry eyes.
Be sure to not only get your vision checked every year, but have a comprehensive exam. This often includes other tests which peer inside the eye to check for conditions such as glaucoma or even diabetes. The sooner you catch these issues, the easier it will be to treat them.
When you are staring at a computer for long periods of time you blink less often. This can lead to eye fatigue. To combat it, remember the phrase 20-20-20. This means Every twenty minutes give your eyes a break by looking into the distance twenty feet away, for twenty seconds. It will refresh your eyes and prevent eye strain.
Try not to touch your eyes. It may seem hard to do, but your hands carry many germs and irritants that can get into your eyes and cause issues. You should also never scratch your eyes. If you must touch or rub your eyes, make sure your hands are clean and that you handle them gently.
While sunglasses look good, they also provide great benefit to your eyes. Sunglasses help to protect against the sun’s damaging rays. If you have a prescription for regular glasses already, you can get one for sunglasses too.
Practice good makeup hygiene. Makeup worn on and around the eyes, particularly mascara, can be a breeding ground for bacteria. If you want to ensure that your eyes stay clear and free from infection, take a few precautions. Mascara should be tossed after three months. In addition, avoid putting liner inside of the eyelash. This can block the oil glands necessary to keep your eyes protected.
Consume a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables during the day to improve the health of your eyes. This can help to eliminate dry eyes and provide you with the vitamins that you need to stay healthy. Some great fruits are oranges, apples, pears, kiwis and berries for you to eat as the day wears on.
When you sleep, if your eyes feel irritated or dry, apply an eye ointment. This can keep your eyes lubricated, and the ointment isn’t water-based. This may cause morning blurriness due to the thicker consistency.
Maintain your ideal weight. Obesity can lead to diabetes. Diabetics usually have many eye problems like glaucoma. If you are overweight, start focusing on losing those extra pounds and getting into shape. Not only will you feel and look better, but it will be a tremendous benefit to the health of your eyes.
Poor eyesight can result from many different situations. It is very important to understand the components of eye care. After reading the above article, you now know what is required to maintain eye health.
