Great eye health should be a priority. However, you may not realize just how easy it is to keep your eyes healthy.
It's a fact that our eyesight can deteriorate by the food we eat and lifestyle choices we make, but studies have shown that this process can be slowed or even halted with proper education, healthy eating habits and more.
Below are 15 great ways to improve your eye health and vision!
1. Eat Healthy Eye Foods
A balanced diet does wonders for the eyes! Dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard green can reduce eye strain and help improve your overall vision.
Other Must-have foods include include nuts, seeds, beans, avocados and soy.
Source: : National Eye Institute “Keep Your Eyes Healthy”2. Exercise for Your Eyes
Physical activity helps you stay healthy and lowers your risk of developing conditions that can cause eye health and vision problems.
Getting outdoors and moving every day is a great way to protect your eyes.
Take a walk or jog at least three times a week. Be sure to be active with your friends and family too. You'll be glad you did!
Source: : National Eye Institute “Keep Your Eyes Healthy”
3. Quit Smoking
Your eyes are especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of smoking.
Vision problems like cataract and macular degeneration can be caused by smoking.
Smoking can also make your eyes more susceptible to other conditions such as dry eyes, corneal disease, and irritation.
Source: : National Eye Institute “Keep Your Eyes Healthy”
4. Wear Sunglasses
Proper eye care is important especially when spending time outdoors.Protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV radiation by wearing sunglasses. UVA and UVB are not only responsible for getting you a tan; they can also cause eye damage, even in cloudy weather!
Don’t skimp on your eye health! Sunglasses can protect your eyes from ultraviolet radiation in both sunny and cloudy weather.
5. Rest Your Eyes
Looking at screens can tire your eyes over time. This is especially true when you are using your phone, tablet, or computer. Use the 20-20-20 rule to rest your eyes during long time screen use.
Take a break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. While you are doing this, you will not only be refreshing your brain but also relaxing the muscles around your eyes.
Use the 20-20-20 rule to rest your eyes during long time screen use.
Source: : National Eye Institute “Keep Your Eyes Healthy”
6. Protect your eyes
Safety glasses and goggles protect your eyes during activities like playing sports, construction work, or doing home repairs. Eye protection is essential in avoiding damage to your eyes.
Be sure your safety glasses follow the ANSI Z87.1 Eye protection standards. (American National Standards Institute).
7. Sleep well
Your eyes can get into serious trouble if you are not getting a full nights rest regularly. Adequate sleep keeps your eyes strain free which prevents eye spasms and other complications. Also a recent study shows blue light to impact your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. The blue light takes away from the body’s natural circadian rhythm, making it more difficult to drift off and remain resting throughout the night.
Blue-light glasses may be just what you need.
For more check out our article detailing the benefits of blue-light blocking glasses.
Source:: yoursightmatters “Losing an Hour: How lack of Sleep Affects Your eyes”
8. Don't Rub
Eye rubbing is often a sign of other health conditions. Rubbing can be caused by a variety of factors, from allergies to contact lenses.
You should not rub your eyes however as it can cause major damage to the cornea the outer part of the eye.
Source: Healthline "Rubbing your eyes. Is it safe?"
9. Stay Hydrated
Your eyes rely on water to function properly. Dehydration can disturb your tear production and lead to dry eyes.Blurry vision, tired eyes, and headaches are also signs you may be dehydrated.
Source: Canadian Association of Optometrist "How to Avoid Dry Eyes"
10. Get Fresh Air
The front of your eye (the cornea) is one of the few parts of your body that doesn’t have an oxygen supply. This means your eyes the outside world for its oxygen.Air supplies oxygen to your eyes upon contact so be sure to let your eyes take in as much air as possible. Avoid extremely dry air however it can cause dry eyes!
Source: : OxygenWorldwide “Your eyes and Oxygen”
11. Know Your History
It is important that you know your personal and family's health history.Some health conditions such as Diabetes and high blood pressure can increase your risk of developing eye diseases.
12. Use New Makeup
It is recommended that you throw away makeup when they expire, or after three months of use. Infection-causing bacteria can easily grow on eye makeup.For more on the eyes and makeup check out our blog.
Source: : American Academy of Ophthalmology
13. Wear Your Contacts Properly
Prevent eye infections by washing your hands before you putting contact lenses in or taking them out.Only wear your lenses as prescribed and be sure to disinfect or replace them regularly.
14. Look For Signs
Be mindful of any changes in your eyes or vision.Sudden changes in your eyesight such as double vision or seeing floating spots are just a few signs that you may need to consult your eye doctor.
Source: : Harvard Health Publishing “Warning signs of a serious eye problem”
15. Schedule an Eye Exam.
Getting an eye exam is the best thing you can do for your eyes, even if they feel fine!Many eye diseases don’t show any warning signs and an eye exam is the only way to spot them early on.
Conclusion
It’s never too early or too late to start taking care of your eyes. Good eye health is very achievable - with the right habits, you can keep your eyes in great shape and enjoy great vision for a long time to come.
Enjoy the tips!
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