If there is one organ in the body that you should never take for granted, it’s your eyes. Your vision is what lets you see the world, perform your day-to-day activities and ultimately, ensure you see your one foot in front of the other. For that reason, it’s imperative you take good care of your eyesight. Here are some ways you can achieve this and retain optimal eye health.
Follow a Balanced Diet
The food you put on your plate can play a key part in your vision and eye health. Now is the time to start incorporating foods like fish, red raw peppers, and dark, leafy vegetables into your diet. Make sure you’re having foods packed with omega-3 fatty acids too. Little changes to your diet can yield brilliant results and help promote eye health.
Exercise Your Eyes
Just like regular exercise benefits your body, regular eye exercises can help improve vision. Simple exercises such as concentrating on near and distant objects, rolling your eyes counter clockwise and clockwise, and blinking rapidly can all help in relaxing eye muscles and reducing eye fatigue. Start practicing any of these techniques today. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be amazed at the eye health benefits you’ll receive.
Adequate Rest and Sleep
A good night’s sleep is important for many reasons. Waking up feeling tired and lethargic isn’t going to help you get through the day. You need to be getting good quality sleep to arise feeling rested and ready to take on anything. Proper rest is also essential for eye health. If you aren’t getting enough shuteye, this can bring on eye strain and dryness. Try and get at least 8 hours of quality sleep each night. This gives your eyes plenty of chance to rejuvenate during the night. If you work long hours, make sure you take regular breaks to ensure your eyes are getting a rest.
Reduce Digital Eye Strain
In 2023 and going forward, it’s safe to say more and more of us are going to use smartphones and tablets to perform tasks. Whether you’re using them for business or pleasure, all of them hours spent staring at a screen isn’t good for your eye health and vision. Over time, you may encounter eye strain, blurred vision, and headaches. To minimise eye strain, it’s important to take regular breaks from the screen during the day. Consider using blue light filters too that can make it easier to look at the screen.
Practice Good Eye Hygiene
Maintaining good eye hygiene can go a long way in preventing eye infections and irritations. One of the most obvious is not to touch your eyes with dirty hands. If you wear makeup, ensure you remove it all before going to sleep. This will prevent clogged oil glands and potential eye infections. If you wear contact lenses, follow proper cleaning and storage techniques to lower your risk of complications. You can check out Lenstore to help you with this. They have contact lens guides and sell coloured contacts which you can wear day-to-day or for special occasions.
Avoid Smoking
If there’s one thing our government is trying to eradicate for good, it’s smoking (and for good reason). While smoking may have looked glamorous in the 1950s, this is certainly not the case in 2023. In fact, smoking can wreak havoc on your vision and cause all sorts of eye problems. For that reason, it’s imperative you think about giving up the habit for good. Some people find switching to vaping helps them on their stop smoking journey. Others use nicotine patches and gum that provide relief. Just do whatever works for you.
Protect Your Eyes
When the sun is beating down, you need to be taking precaution before stepping outside, especially for your eyes. Too much exposure to UV rays can contribute to cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. For that reason, you need to invest in a pair of sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Also, consider wearing a hat or visor when spending extended periods outside.
See An Optician
To be confident you’re looking after your eyesight, it’s vital you make an appointment with an optician. They can carry out eye exams to ensure your vision is in check. Eye exams can be useful for detecting early signs of eye conditions like cataracts or glaucoma. Early detection typically leads to better treatment outcomes, with the end goal of helping you to preserve your vision.
You’re only born with one set of eyes, so it’s your duty to look after them. Maintaining good eyesight doesn’t have to be hard work. Following any or all of our suggestions above can be a tremendous help and ensure you retain excellent vision.