How often do you ever stop and think about the health of your eyes? Your eyesight is one of the most valuable of your senses and it is one that you should never be taken for granted. If you were to damage your eyesight, it would have a huge impact on your life.
Have you ever thought about If you started to lose your eyesight what you would miss the most?
Over time, there are a number of ways in which your eyes could start to develop issues. Your eyes may change shape causing your eyesight to become blurry. You could also develop black spots in your eyes or even develop glaucoma.
Even the if you were to have the smallest of changes in your eyesight, this could cause you to start getting headaches or migraines. These changes could also help to make your eyesight so poor that you would not be able to drive safely.
So in what ways could you look after your eyes better?
In this blog post, we’ll talk about some of the ways that you look after your eyes and ensure you’re doing everything possible to prevent any type of damage or loss of eyesight.
Eat A Healthy Diet To Protect Your Eyesight
While you may not associate your diet with your ability to be able to see, the right diet will help you to protect your eyesight.
By eating foods that are rich in vitamin A and beta carotenes including sweet potatoes, squashes, apricots, and carrots you will be better able to look after your eyesight.
Vitamin A plays an essential role in your vision. It does so by making sure that you have a clear cornea. The cornea is the outside covering of your eye. Vitamin A is also found in rhodopsin. This is the protein found in your eyes that allows you to be able to see in poorly lit conditions. It is not just a myth that carrots help you see in the dark.
Avoid Spending Too Long Working at a Computer – Take Breaks
If you are someone that works with computers, you will need to be careful with how much time you spend in front of your screen. If you’re spending a lot of time sitting in front of a computer or phone screens then you must ensure that you take regular breaks so that you can protect your eyes.
It is recommended that you take a break at least every twenty minutes. During your break, go and do something different to allow your eyes to adjust after looking at the screen for so long.
The problem with looking at screens all day every day is that you will start to strain your eyes. Over a long period of time, this will cause your eyes to become damaged. Straining your eyes can also cause headaches and migraines to come on.
Visit The Optician And Have Your Eyes Tested Often
Every two years or so, you should make an appointment to have your eyes tested by an optician. It is essential that you do this to make sure there have been no changes in your eyesight and your ability to see.
When you have an eye examination there will be several short tests that you will need to complete. One of these tests that you will have is designed to see how well your eyes work at a distance. You will be asked to read back letters from a screen on the other side of the room. You may also have tests that look for any blind spots that you may have in your eyes. While you are having your eyes tested, if you are over a certain age, you may also be tested for glaucoma.
After your eye test is complete if you need to have glasses or contact lenses, then your optician will be able to prescribe them.
Wear Any Prescription Glasses That Have Been Prescribed To You
If you have been told to wear prescription glasses then you should make sure and wear them as you have been instructed to do so. You may need to wear your glasses or contact lenses all of the time, or you may be required to wear your glasses when you driving, reading, or using a computer.
If you choose not to wear your glasses as prescribed to do so, then it could cause you to strain your eyes. This again, in turn, will cause headaches and your eyes to get worse.
If you need to buy new glasses, you can buy them online. You’ll find a huge selection of glasses to choose from and you may even get a stylish shape that really suits you.
You can use your prescription that the optician gave you to buy your glasses online.
Take Care of Your Eyes When You Are Out in The Sun
Spending any length of time looking directly at the sun could cause you serious damage to your eyes. It is essential that you don’t ever look directly at the sun, even if there are clouds covering it, or even if you have sunglasses on.
Whenever you are out and about on a bright sunny day, make sure that you take steps to take care of your eyes. Always wear sunglasses. If possible, wear a brimmed hat so that you can keep the sun from your eyes.
You should also be aware that the sunglasses you choose should be suitable for wearing in bright lights. Believe it or not, not all sunglasses are actually suitable for wearing in the sun. You should check to make sure that the sunglasses have a UV rating of at least 400.
Wear Protective Eyewear When Working Or Partaking In A Dangerous Hobby
If you work in a dangerous work environment such as in a factory or on a construction site, then it is possible that your eyes could get damaged by something flying into them. To prevent eye injuries in the workplace, make sure that you always wear protective eyewear where it has been provided.
You may also need to wear protective eyewear for certain sports and hobbies.
Don’t Smoke
We all know that smoking is bad for our health, but did you know that smoking greatly increases the chances of developing an age-related eye disease?
These diseases might include cataracts and macular degeneration. If you are a smoker, think about giving up smoking as soon as possible to prevent any damage to your eyesight.
Know Your Family Medical History
There are certain eye diseases that are inherited.
It is important that you know the medical history of your family. If someone in your family has had one of these inherited eye diseases, there is a much stronger chance that you might also develop it. Knowing about your family history will help your optician or doctor know what to look out for.
Know Your Other Risk Factors
As you age, there is a greater risk of you developing age-related eye diseases, It is essential that you know what your risk factors are because it may help you to lower the risk by changing certain behaviours. These risk factors could be to do with ethnic background, age, or be related to other health problems.
Take Steps To Avoid Eye Infections If You Wear Contact Lenses
If you are someone who wears contact lenses, it is vital that you take measures to stop yourself from developing eye infections. Wash your hands thoroughly before you touch your contact lenses.
You should also make sure that you clean your contact lenses as instructed and replace them as often as is recommended.