It’s important not to take your eyesight for granted, because once it’s gone, there’s no getting your vision back. To keep your eyes in good shape, here are five ways you can effectively take care of your eyes.
Eat Well
You may not know it, but your diet can greatly affect your vision. One of the keys to good eye health lies in the foods you eat. Consuming nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, zinc, lutein, and vitamin E will help to prevent age-related vision problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. Eating a well-balanced diet that contains leafy vegetables, salmon and other oily fish, non-meat protein sources like eggs, nuts and beans, and citrus fruits will also help in keeping your body healthy and reduce the chances of going blind due to type 2 diabetes.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is bad for your health, that’s nothing new. But what may be new to you is how smoking can negatively affect your vision. Smoking can increase your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and damage your optic nerves. If you’re trying to quit smoking, potentially losing your vision may just be the push you’ve been looking for.
Wear Sunglasses
In order to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, you’ll need the right pair of sunglasses. Too much sun exposure will drastically increase your chances of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. For the best protection, find a pair of sunglasses with 99 to 100% UVA and UVB ray blockage. Wraparound sunglasses will effectively protect the sides of your eyes, while polarizing sunglasses will reduce glare when driving.
Look Away from Your Screen Often
Staring at your phone or a computer screen for hours at a time can cause eyestrain, blurred vision, dry eyes, issues focusing, headaches and pain in the neck, back and shoulders. If this isn’t something you can get away from, then take the proper steps in keeping your eyes as healthy as possible. Make sure your prescriptions are up-to-date, talk to your optometrist if the eye strain doesn’t go away, lower your screen to change your viewing angle, blink more to reduce dryness, and rest your eyes every 20 minutes.
Visit Your Optometrist Regularly
It’s important for your eye health, no matter how old you are, to visit your optometrist at least once a year. This will help to protect your eyesight and allow you to see the world as clearly as possible. Getting regular eye exams can help in discovering and preventing diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts and more. Early detection is essential for effective treatment in prolonging and improving your eye health.
At Orangeville Optometric Centre, our doctors are dedicated to providing our patients with the best eye care around. Located in Orangeville, Ontario, we offer eye exams, contact lens exams, vision diagnostics, laser vision assessments, and spectacle dispensing. Give us a call or visit our website to schedule your next appointment.
