5 Ways to Protect Your Eyes
Millions of people around the world are diagnosed with eye problems every year. Some of these eye problems can be as serious as permanent vision loss or even blindness. Most of the time though, impaired vision can be corrected with the appropriate eyewear.
It has been estimated that the number of individuals affected by eye diseases — including macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma will double. Age is also a factor in deteriorating eyesight. Yet, there are ways to protect our eyes from unnecessary damage.
Since our vision is important to our everyday lives, what can we do to protect our eyes? Here are some suggestions:
1. Have your eyes checked regularly
Going for regular eye exams is one of the simplest ways to protect your vision. An eye exam not only determines whether or not you need glasses, but it can also discover eye diseases that, if caught early enough, can be efficiently treated.
What can you expect during an eye exam? The eye care doctor dilates the pupil of each eye during a complete eye check-up. When the pupil dilates, more light enters the eye, allowing the eye care expert to examine the macula, retina, and optic nerve for indications of damage and illness.
Other medical disorders, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, might also raise your chance of developing certain eye illnesses. Diabetes, for example, puts patients at risk for diabetic retinopathy, an eye disorder that can lead to vision loss and blindness.
Consult your doctor if you are concerned that you may be at risk for certain eye problems. You may be able to reduce your risk by taking certain precautions.
Look for warning signs. Make an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as you detect any problems in your vision. Do not put it off! What are some risk factors to look out for? Double vision, floaters, and sore eyes are among signs of potentially serious eye problems that require immediate attention.
2. Eat healthy
Healthy-living begins with you. That means we eat right, exercise regularly and have sufficient sleep. How can we eat properly? As commonly known, carrots are beneficial to our eyes. Dark and green vegetables, have carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are essential for eye health. According to one study, a diet high in grapes protects the retina from the detrimental effects of oxidative stress.
Other studies have showed that eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and halibut, has eye health advantages. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce ocular surface inflammation and the symptoms of ocular discomfort associated with moderate to severe dry eye. They may also aid in the survival of vision cells in the event of future sickness or injury. Protecting your overall health can go a long way toward keeping your eyes healthy! It’s important to make healthy choices and take good care of yourself.
Keep in mind that healthy habits like eating well and being active can lower your risk for diseases and conditions that can lead to eye or vision problems, like diabetes or high blood pressure.
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Being physically active can also help you avoid diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. When you introduce exercise into your life and avoid a sedentary lifestyle, you can experience better eye health. But more is needed. If you keep an active lifestyle but smoke cigarettes, it will negate the good you gain from exercising. Smoking is not just bad for your lungs, it can also damage your eyes as you may have an increased chance of developing cataracts too.
Apart from exercising and avoiding smoking, a third key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is getting enough sleep. With today’s world, increased use of digital devices may rob you of much needed sleep. Your body needs rest, so do your eyes. Recent studies have shown that more and more people are simply not getting sufficient sleep. Over time, this can result in impaired vision.
4. Rest your eyes regularly
If you work all day at a computer screen, you may end up with fatigued eyes by the end of the day. It is recommended that for every 20 minutes that you spend staring at a screen, look at something else that is around 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain. As we spend more and more time on digital devices, we risk damaging our vision. Instead, try to spending more time outdoors and less time on electronic devices. Doing so may protect your eyes, or at the very least, slow down vision loss.
5. Wear protective eyewear
Safety glasses and goggles are intended to safeguard your eyes while participating in particular activities such as sports, construction work, or home maintenance. They are available from most eye care professionals and several sports goods retailers.
When dealing with power tools, always use safety eyewear. Most work-related eye injuries that might result in permanent vision loss can be avoided by wearing safety glasses.
When swimming, wear a pair of goggles. The chlorine in the water can irritate your eyes. The epithelium protects your cornea from irritants and infections by acting as a barrier. But it can be damaged by the chlorine in the pool water over time. So, it is recommended if you can wear a pair of goggles every time you head to the pool. These days, wild-swimming is the rage in some place, due to the pandemic. Wearing goggles while swimming in the ocean or lakes is also advised, since these bodies of water contain various toxins that might harm your eyes.
While sunglasses is generally viewed as a fashion accessory, don’t let this obscure the most important role of sunglasses. It is to cut our glare and protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When selecting sunglasses, look for shades that block UV radiation. Whether you are heading to the beach, cycling on a road, hiking on a mountain, or jogging in the park, be sure to protect your eyes with a good pair of sunglasses.
Sunday Shades is your perfect sunglasses companion. It is especially designed for the active lifestyle. Athletes love the snug-fit, lightweight and no-bounce features. Further, all Sunday Shades sunnies are super affordable and come in a wide array of colours. UV 400 and polarizer protect are standard. Check them out today!
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