Five Tips for Better Eye Health
It’s important for us not to take our eyes for granted. Our vision is one of our most important senses, and many eye conditions are asymptomatic, so you won’t know you have a problem until it’s often too late. An annual visit to see your eye doctor is important, but the following tips are things you can do every day to help keep your eyes in good working order.
1. An orange a day keeps the eye doctor away
Well that might not be entirely true, but a good healthy diet comprised of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamin C and E can help prevent age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. These foods can help you achieve good eye health:
- Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale
- Salmon, tuna and other oily fish
- Eggs, nuts, beans and other non-meat protein sources
- Oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits and juices
2. Kick the habit for better eyesight
As if you don’t have enough good reasons to quit smoking, those cigarettes have been linked to an increased risk of cataracts, optic nerve damage and macular degeneration.
3. Bring out the shades
The sun’s harmful UV rays aren’t just bad for our skin, they’re bad for our eyes too. Too much UV exposure can lead to an increased risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Fortunately, prevention is easy, get a pair of sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays, and choose a pair of wraparound shades to help protect your eyes from the side.
4. Protect yourself with safety eyewear
This one might sound obvious, but so many of us are guilty of not protecting our eyes when we’re working with hazardous or airborne materials. The same goes for when we’re playing sports. The bottom line is good eye protection can help prevent injury, vision loss or even blindness. So the next time you’re in the workshop or playing racquetball, put on a pair of protective glasses. And the next time you step on the ice for a game of hockey, be smart and wear a protective visor, or even better, a full face mask.
5. Look away from the computer
Do you spend a lot of time on the computer? Well here’s a tip you can surely use. A recent study has shown that 90% of people who spend three hours or more a day at a computer have experienced a temporary condition called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Some of the symptoms include eyestrain, blurry vision, dry eyes and headaches. Here are some steps you can take to prevent CVS symptoms:
- Avoid glare on your computer from windows and lights
- Position your computer so that your eyes are level with the top of the computer screen
- Remember to blink often to prevent dry eyes
- Adjust the brightness on your computer screen so that it’s the same brightness as your surrounding workstation
- If you can, take a few five minutes breaks throughout your day
- 20-20-20: Look away from your screen at a distant object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes