We visit the optometrist once per year to ensure we can read thanks to glasses, but there’s more to eye care than that. In fact, how much do you really know about caring for your eyes? If it isn’t much, check out the tips below to learn all you can today.
As if smokers didn’t need yet another health related reason to quit, this habit also threatens eyes. Since smoking deprives every cell in your body of oxygen, something eyes need every minute, smokers run the risk of damaging their vision with each puff of a cigarette. Protect your eyes by quitting smoking as soon as you can.
If you are in the market for a new pair of glasses, you can often find cheap yet stylish frames online. Some places even offer a pair free or discounted if you are a new customer. All you need is your vision acuity number that you receive from having an eye test performed.
If you regularly wear contacts, keep a pair of backup prescription eye glasses. When experiencing irritation in the eye, you should remove the contact and wear a pair of prescription eye glasses. Keeping a contact lens in your eye while the eye is irritated can turn this seemingly small problem into something much larger, such as corneal ulcer.
Include as many fruits and vegetables as possible in your diet; especially carrots and sweet potatoes which provide beta carotene (Vitamin A). Salmon is high in Omega 3’s and broccoli, brussels sprouts and bell peppers are good sources of Vitamin C. These anti oxidants can help prevent macular degeneration and blindness.
If you start to see more floaters or flashes, see your eyecare professional right away. These may be signs of some deterioration in your eyes. If these go unheeded, it can lead to blindness as you get older. If the conditions are caught early, your eyecare professional can prescribe treatment that can reverse the deterioration.
If you spend a lot of time on the computer, take regular breaks. For a minute or two each hour, focus on a distant object. This will allow your eyes to readjust. You will experience less eye strain and reduce the number of headaches that you experience throughout the week.
If you suffer from dry eyes, this can be painful. You may want to try a high quality saline drop. In addition, little things, such as blinking, can increase tear production. Try to avoid using products that are filled with chemicals. Over time, these may actually worsen your dry eyes.
Wear a quality pair of sunglasses and help your eyes. Sunglasses ward of the suns UV rays. Buy sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB rays 100%. If you drive constantly, try getting polarized lenses. They will help with glare reduction. You need to wear shades even if your contact lenses already offer some form of UV protection.
Consider the air conditioning and heating you use in your home. These are a major cause of dry eyes. Keep a humidifier running to make sure there is moisture in the air. This will keep your eyes from getting irritated and dry.
If you want your eyes to look and feel their best, drink lots of water. The more hydrated you are, the less you will suffer from dark circles. Hydrated skin doesn’t allow the blood vessels to show, ensuring that your raccoon eyes (dark circles) become a thing of the past.
It is important that you visit your optometrist every year to check your vision, but you should also be checking into the health of your eyes. Learning about eye care today will ensure your eyes serve you well tomorrow. Be sure to make use of every tip so you can see the great results.
