We visit the optometrist once per year to ensure we can read thanks to glasses, but there’s more to eye care than that. In fact, how much do you really know about caring for your eyes? If it isn’t much, check out the tips below to learn all you can today.
You should try eating a proper diet to better care for your eyes. A good diet for maintaining eye health should include items that contain zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, vitamin C, and vitamin E. To get these nutrients, try eating items like dark leafy greens, oily fish, eggs, nuts, and citrus fruits.
Keep your eyes protected from the sun. You should wear quality sunglasses to protect them from UV rays. If your eyes are frequently exposed to UVB rays, your risks for macular degeneration and cataracts increase. Try picking a pair of sunglasses that block between 99 and 100 percent of UVB and UVA rays.
You should know your family history when it comes to eyes problems because many eye diseases run in families. The conditions are often hereditary, and knowing about this can help you reduce risk of these diseases. Talk with the older members of your family to get a good picture.
Go to the eye doctor on a regular basis to check for any inconsistencies that may disrupt your vision and impact the quality of your sight. If you have any problems, this doctor can give you contacts or glasses you so that you are not squinting during the day, which can cause painful migraine headaches.
If you are planning on staying outside for a long period of time, wear a baseball hat or visor. This can prevent the sun’s harmful rays from impacting your eyes and can reduce any irritation that you feel. Additionally, your eyes will become less dry if you block the sun from entering in.
Blinking often may be psychological. If dry eyes are not your problem, you might have a nervous tic because of stress. You need to relax, in this case. If tics are not the issue, speak with your ophthalmologist.
Do you use the computer often, either at work or at home? Looking at the computer screen can be damaging to your eyes, causing blurry vision, strain, headaches and even back and neck pain. Keep your eyes safe by resting them every 20 minutes. Simply look off into the distance for about 20 seconds. Make sure you take a break from your work every hour or so as well.
When doing any type of work, avoid injuring your eyes by always wearing protective glasses. This is especially important if you job entails handling airborne or hazardous materials. You should also wear protective eye wear when playing sports since certain sports such as racquetball, lacrosse or hockey can cause eye injuries.
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.
When reading or using a computer, incorporate occasional eye exercises. This is as simple as looking away from your target and blinking rapidly. Then, close your eyes and roll them in both a counter-clockwise and clockwise direction. Make sure to breathe deeply while doing so to help bring more oxygen to the capillaries of the eyes.
Try to get eight hours of sleep at night. Sleep helps to restore your body and keeps you feeling fresh and energetic, which will reduce the redness in your eyes and keep you healthy. Staying awake will also strain your eyes, which will constrict the blood vessels too often, causing inflammation.
If your eyes get irritated or dry when you sleep, apply some eye ointment. An ointment is a good lubrication, but lasts longer since it is not water-based. A disadvantage is that it can cause blurry vision when applied, which is why you use them at bedtime before sleeping.
Don’t rub your eyes. This can be a hard habit to break, particularly if you’ve been doing it since childhood. However, your hands are really dirty, and by rubbing your eyes, you are passing those germs on to your face. If you must touch your eyes, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly first.
Use eye drops sparingly. While eye drops are effective in soothing irritated eyes and reducing redness, you shouldn’t use them too often. Used frequently, the soothing effects will begin to lose effectiveness, and you may end up with a rebound effect. This means that your eyes will be even drier than before. If your eyes need additional moisture, choose a saline only drop whenever possible.
Make sure your living and working spaces have enough light. You may not think very much about whether your working and living spaces have enough light, but the truth is that it is important. If your environment is too dim, your eyes may start aching, or your head can hurt. Pay conscious attention to how well-lit a room is, so you can add more light if necessary.
It is important that you visit your optometrist every year to check your vision, but you should also be checking into the health of your eyes. Learning about eye care today will ensure your eyes serve you well tomorrow. Be sure to make use of every tip so you can see the great results.
