10 Tips to Show your Eyes a Little Love
- Dr. Daniel A. Frantz, OD
- Feb 13, 2021
- 2 min read
1) Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses are not just a fashion statement. They also protect your eyes from sunlight and UV rays, protecting you from cornea sunburn, photokeratitis, and age-related macular degeneration. Sunglasses aren’t your thing? There are now UV-protected eyeglasses and contact lenses too. Aim for eye protection that blocks out at least 99% of UV-A and UV-B radiation. A cap, visor, and hat is also recommended.
2) Wear protective eye wear. It doesn’t matter if you work in a factory, are in the construction business, if you place sports, or are completing a DIY project at home, wear safety glasses to prevent eye injuries.
3) Know your family medical history and risk factors. Since many eye conditions are hereditary, it is important to find out whether anyone in your family has had them. This will help your optometrist to monitor and provide the best preventative eye care.
4) Get a comprehensive eye exam. By visiting your optometrist regularly, you can determine your risk for major eye diseases, especially those with no warning signs. Your eye doctor can also ensure that you prescription for eyeglasses and contact lenses are up to date so that you can see as clearly as possible. Unless you have an eye condition that requires monitoring, a comprehensive eye exam should be scheduled:
1-2 years for individuals 65 and over
Every 2-4 years for individuals between the ages of 40-64
Every 3- 5 years for individuals between the ages of 20-39
5) If you wear contacts, take steps to prevent eye infections. Wash your hands well before you put in or take out your contact lenses. Be sure to follow the instructions on how to properly clean and replace them as needed. Over-wearing and frequently sleeping in contact lenses is a major of eye infections and vision loss.
6) Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time using a computer, watching television, or staring at your cell phone, you can forget to blink your eyes, which can then become tired and strained. To reduce eyestrain, try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away at something approximately 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.
7) Avoid smoking. Smoking has many adverse health effects, but it can also damage your vision. Smokers are more likely to develop age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts, which can damage the optic nerve.
8) Eat a well-balanced diet. A diet should rich in fruits and vegetables, which lowers your odds of obesity-related diseases that impact the health of your eyes. Research has shown that foods rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E may ward off vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts.
9) Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes, which can further result in diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. Taking care of yourself helps your eyes too!
10) Get regular exercise. Exercise helps reduce the chance of developing or control of medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Since these diseases can result in vision issues, you actually lower your risk of problems by incorporating regular exercise into your day.
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