Keeping Your Eyes Healthy

Looking after your eyesight is something that should be considered as much as you’d consider taking care of your teeth, brushing your hair, or any other daily care thing. Eyesight is precious, and over time most people will see some changes in their sight. 

But there are plenty of things that you can do to help keep your eyes healthy. 

Screen breaks

We are so reliant on technology that we look at a screen of some type from the moment we wake up until moments before we go to sleep. Staring at a screen for hours can cause eyestrain, dry eyes, frequent headaches, blurry vision, and shoulder and neck pain that causes jaw tension. 

Here are some tips to help:

• People who use computers often use blue light glasses to help reduce the glare of the screen. 
• Have the screen at eye level
• Use an ergonomic chair
• Rest your eyes every 20 minutes, look into the distance for at least 20 seconds – and walk away every 2 hours. 

Sunglasses 

Millions of people skip wearing sunglasses in favor of squinting – but it’s more than that. High-quality sunglasses will protect your delicate eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Exposing your eyes to these rays on a regular basis will mean that you are more likely to suffer from macular degeneration and cataracts. 

Look for a pair of sunglasses that offers 100% UVB and UVA rays to give your eyes maximum protection. 

Diet 

Like all health, what we eat greatly impacts our health. There are many ways that you can increase the nutrients in your diet to support your eye health. Here are some of the recommended vitamins and minerals that can help you to improve your eye health. 

• Zinc
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Lutein
• Omega-3 fatty acids

Some foods offer these vitamins in minerals in larger amounts:

• Leafy greens – collards and kale
• Nuts, beans, and eggs
• Citrus fruits
• Tuna, oily fish, and salmon
• Pork and oysters

Blink 

When we are concentrating and staring at Tv screens and computers, we tend to blink less often than we normally would. Some studies suggest that we blink up to 70% less when looking at the screen. This means that our tears don’t get the chance to cover the surface of our eyes and keep our eyes hydrated. 

We often consider blinking as natural, like breathing, where we don’t need to think about it. Keep conscious when you are working or watching something on a screen, and consider blinking more often. 

Lighting 

Bright lights all day long can put a lot of strain on our eyes, which can translate into headaches and a tight jaw. When possible, take some time away from the lighting and into a place with some natural light. Our eyes are more relaxed and accommodating to natural light. 

If you need to work in front of a screen often, then make sure that you take a break regularly and give your eyes a rest from the artificial light. 

Eye test

While you can do many things to help care for your eyesight, one thing you can do that makes all the difference is to have comprehensive eye exams from specialists like Merival Vision Care. You should have eye exams regularly so that any changes can be spotted and tracked – as well as get expert advice for keeping your eyes in good condition. 

Hydration

As well as watching what you consume in terms of vitamins and minerals, it is important that you make sure that you drink plenty of water. When you don’t drink enough water, it’s not just dry skin and tiredness; you will likely notice that your eyes become dry too. Dry eyes are more likely to be damaged by the outside environment. So part of keeping your eyes healthy is drinking enough water. 

Massage 

Almost any part of the body will react well to a massage, and the eyes are included in that. We hold a lot of tension in our faces, eyebrows, foreheads, and more. You can release much tension by carefully massaging the area around the eyes. 

Start by making small circles with your fingertips and gentle pressure on your eyebrows, and carefully work around the eye sockets. 

With your eyes closed, gently place your fingertips on them and repeat the circular motions. Your eyes are just one of the things that you need to make sure you are getting checked regularly: Don’t Let the Year End Without Doing These 10 Health Checks.